June 2015 News	News page		Archive

After listening to parents, and taking into consideration the ever-changing needs of Washington and Morgan counties, Washington-Morgan Counties Community Action's Head Start preschool program has made some significant changes to its services. Beginning in September 2015, the Play and Learn Center in Malta and The Jane Edwards Center in Marietta will offer 6-hour sessions Monday-Thursday, in addition to the regular morning and afternoon classes. Two of these classroom options will be available at the Jane Edwards Center in Marietta, one from 9-3, and another from 10-4, and one at Play and Learn from 9-3.These 6-hour sessions have no work or school requirement. These classes are dedicated to kindergarten preparation and readiness, and are exclusively for 4 and 5 year old children who will be entering kindergarten the following year. Head Start will be providing busing to and from these centers for the morning and afternoon half day classes only; the 6-hour class will not have busing provided. If a classroom is not convenient or desired then the Home Base option, providing preschool services in the child's own home, is still available everywhere in Washington or Morgan Counties. As with all Head Start services there will be no fees or costs to the families.

Head Start is currently accepting applications for both half day classes and the 6-hour class. Applications may be picked up at any Head Start center or Community Action building. Due to the anticipated response and limited space, applications for the 6-hour session must be fully completed and children determined eligible by June 18th for first priority selection. Any applications received after this date will be considered, pending having space available. There is no deadline for the half day classes, though participants are encouraged to return applications as soon as possible.

As a part of these changes and the declining enrollment at the Chesterhill Head Start site, center-based classes at the Chesterhill Center will be discontinued for the Fall of 2015. The Chesterhill school house will remain a Head Start Home Base center, providing in-home preschool educational services for Morgan County.

For additional information, call (740) 373-3745, (740) 962-3792, or stop any Head Start center of Community Action building in Washington or Morgan counties.