What your child will need to begin Head Start after they have been accepted and placed into a classroom:

Clothing

Please dress your child in comfortable play clothes. Children's clothing must be easy for them to manage. One piece outfits and undergarments are not recommended. Belts, buckles and snaps can become frustrating for preschoolers, so please keep this in mind. Children will be involved in "messy" activities such as, paint, glue, play dough and sand/water play. Therefore, each child MUST have a change of clothes at the center in case it is needed (shirt, pants, underwear, socks). Please label all clothing and keep sizes and seasons in mind.

The best shoes for school are tennis or rubber soled shoes. Other shoes may be dangerous both in the classroom and outside. Please - no open-toed shoes. When your child wears boots to school, be sure to send shoes to wear in the classroom.

When jewelry is worn by children to school, Head Start will not be responsible for items that are lost, broken or given away. Therefore, please leave all jewelry at home.

We play outside every day! Outdoor play is part of our daily classroom routine. All children go outside to play unless the wind chill is below 20 degrees or it is raining. During cold weather make sure your child has a jacket, boots, hat, and mittens. During sunny weather make sure your child has sun-protective clothing. If your child needs sunscreen, please apply it before sending the child to school.

What your child does NOT need to bring to school:

Food

All centers serve food of sufficient quantity and quality for young children. The free meals served are based on the requirements of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

• Each child will receive a snack and lunch daily.
• Children are encouraged to try new foods, serve themselves and clean their own area after meals and snack.
• Every effort is made to provide for children who have special dietary needs.
• Staff and volunteers eat with the children.
• The food served (lunch and snack) will provide at least 1/3 of the minimum daily dietary requirements for young children.

Toys

Our classrooms are filled with many educational toys and materials. When children bring toys to school the toys could get lost, broken or may cause conflict.

Here is a description of Head Start Service Areas:

Early Childhood Development and Health Services

Head Start is committed to wellness - supporting a complete vision of health for children, families and staff.

The Head Start Health Coordinators and Health Assistant use the health information provided to you to:

• Support you in finding a primary health care provider
• Assess and address your child's overall health status
• Determine if health requirements are up-to-date
• Assist you in making necessary arrangements to bring your child up-to-date with well-child care
• Gather observations and recordings related to your child's health status and track your child's developmental progress
• Provide parent education related to health issues

Education and Early Childhood Development

Head Start strives to provide all children with a safe, nurturing, enjoyable, and secure learning environment. This type of environment allows your child to gain the awareness, skills, and confidence necessary to succeed with tasks throughout school and in life.

Every classroom has an education team consisting of the Parent, Teacher, Teacher's Aide, and Education Specialist. You are an important part of this team in the process of planning and implementing curriculum. As you share knowledge about your child and participate in classroom and home activities, you strengthen your ability to serve as your child's primary teacher.

The philosophy of the Creative Curriculum is implemented in every classroom. This curriculum supports the developmentally appropriate practices that our program follows. If you want to know more about the curriculum, ask your child's teacher.

Teachers enhance curriculum by making two home visits and two school conferences each year.

Creative Curriculum

Macomb County Head Start uses the Creative Curriculum to plan activities and to assess student's development. The Creative Curriculum records conference information and parental input as well as fostering your children's emerging independence and self-esteem. Creative Curriculum encourages children to experiment, explore and pursue their own interests. For more information about the Creative Curriculum please visit www.teachingstrategies.com, the home of the Creative Curriculum.

Mental Health and Disabilities

Head Start has a Mental Health Specialist on staff. If you would like to arrange a meeting either at your child's classroom or in your home, call the Head Start office at 586- 469-5215 and ask for the Mental Health Specialist.

Head Start believes in early identification and intervention when a concern is observed. Head Start staff does screenings and classroom observations for all children. The staff listens to you and addresses your concerns regarding your child.

If you have concerns about your child's development, discuss them with your child's teacher. Your child's teacher will make a referral to a specialist as needed.

Family Service Coordinators

At Head Start each classroom has an assigned Family Service Coordinator (FSC). The FSC will be able to provide resources for emergency situations such as becoming homeless, needing food, or needing a referral for assistance with a shut off notice.

Play

At Head Start, children learn through play. Below is a sample of some activities children participate in throughout the day.

• Small group activity
• Gross Motor Activities
• Music and Movement
• Free Choice Time
• Large Group Activity
• Lunch / Snack
• Story Time
• Journaling
• Literacy Activities
• Tooth brushing

Click here for "Just Playing" poem.

Links for Parents

(These links will take you to websites outside of the Macomb County website.)

• Teaching Strategies, Inc.: www.teachingstrategies.com
• Macomb Intermediate School District: www.misd.net
• National Head Start Association: www.nhsa.org
• Scholastic: www.scholastic.com
• Author Jan Brett's Free Coloring, Video and Activity Pages: www.janbrett.com

Email: mccsa@macombcountymi.gov
When emailing questions regarding services, please include your name, phone number or other contact information, and city of residence. This helps us to serve you more efficiently.