This story is sponsored by Knox County Head Start.
Back-to-school shopping and preparing for the next academic year is in full swing as summer is winding to an end. Although this time of year is bittersweet, getting back into an everyday routine is important.
Head Start’s six centers in Knox County are among the many schools excited to welcome their children back in late August.
Although some of their programs, such as the home-based visits and full-day, full-year program run all year round, the other classrooms will begin again in August or September.
Head Start knows the beginning of an educational year can be overwhelming and scary for a child as well as their parents, especially if it is the first time a child will be attending school.
The staff at each Head Start center tries to ensure the smoothest transition for both the student and the parents.
“It’s part of our mission statement to say parents are their child’s first and most important teachers,” Child Development Coordinator at Head Start, Cassandra Hoeflich said.
To help keep the families connected with their student, Head Start teachers will schedule two home visits as well as two parent-teacher conferences throughout the year to continuously set goals for the child inside and outside of the classroom.
One of these visits will take place before the school year begins so the child and parents have the opportunity to meet with the teacher one on one, according to Danville Center Manager and Lead Teacher Alysha Hoadley.
Head Start recommends that families familiarize their new student with the school before the year begins to guarantee an easier transition.
“Take them by the building. Say this is the way we will go to school in the morning, this is the door you will probably go in. Help them get comfortable and tell them this is a place you are going to spend time in and it is a safe place we are going to drop you off at so you can learn,” Hoeflich said.
Each center also has an open house before the first day of school so the students can become acquainted with the building, know where their cubbies are to put their belongings in, explore their classroom and play on the playground, according to Hoadley.
Teachers and faculty at Head Start also suggest creating a routine for a child before they come to school. A great way to do this is by implementing visual schedules at home.
“The biggest thing would be to start early. Get them in a routine and start it as early as possible,” Hoadley said.
Aside from getting a new student accustomed to their new surroundings and routine, it is also important that a child has basic self-help skills such as using the bathroom as independently as possible, washing their hands and putting on shoes, socks and coats by themselves, according to Hoadley.
Children should also have some sort of socialization before starting school whether that is playdates, going to the park or being around younger family members.
“The social and emotional domain is really the most important job we have. [We] help them improve their ability to interact with peers and adults,” Hoeflich said.
Head Start is unique in its ability to offer a variety of programs to the public, but each student will go through relatively the same schedule whether they are a full-day, full-year student or a traditional four-days-a-week student.
In Hoadley’s classroom, each day starts off with arriving in the classroom and washing up to have breakfast. Then, the students will gather on the carpet and have a ‘Brain Start Smart’, where they will sing their welcome song, greet one another and look to see what is on the calendar for that day. From there, they will have small activity tables and then a story will follow before it is time to go outside. The students will have lunch after running all of their energy off on the playground before it is time to say their goodbyes until the next school day.
Some school days will start to look a bit different as Head Start has plans for all of the preschool classrooms to visit the Outdoor Classroom at the New Hope Early Education Center on a rotating schedule.
“We really want all of the children to experience [the outdoor classroom] regularly because it is truly amazing,” Hoeflich said.
There are also quarterly family fun nights for the students and their parents to look forward to that are filled with fun, educational activities so families can learn how they can implement play-based learning at home, just like their child has at school.
Head Start works closely with Knox Public Health to help take the necessary precautions in slowing the spread of Covid-19 and help keep their students and staff as safe as possible. Large disinfecting machines have recently been purchased to help sanitize toys, books, crayons or anything else every child uses on a daily basis. Sanitizing schedules are put in place in every classroom.
Head Start begins their school year between the end of August to the beginning of September depending on the center.
Knox County Head Start receives federal funding for Head Start and Early Head Start services from the Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
Locally, the program benefits from generous funding from the Knox County Foundation and the United Way of Knox County. For more information about Head Start or to fill out an enrollment application, visit their website.
