Head Start Attendance Award Winners Get Ready for Kindergarten by Shopping for School Supplies Thanks to Foundation Grant
Posted August 7, 2018
News Release
For Immediate Release – August 2, 2018
Contacts: Tony Jordan, Executive Director, Child/Family Services, 238-1800
Leilani Garcia, Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs, 238-1800
Cynthia Fenech, Communications Coordinator, 238-1704
Head Start Attendance Award Winners Get Ready for Kindergarten by Shopping for School Supplies Thanks to Foundation Grant
The Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE), along with 35 Head Start children heading off to kindergarten, will visit Walmart (3848 McHenry Ave, Modesto, CA) on August 6, 2018 at 9:00 AM. Children will have the opportunity to shop for back packs and school supplies thanks to a grant from the Walmart Foundation.
As part of the county-wide Destination Graduation initiative aimed at increasing high school graduation rates, Stanislaus Head Start adopted a sister campaign to increase its attendance rates. “Research demonstrates that good attendance habits in school are developed at an early age and attendance is linked to school readiness and success,” said Tony Jordan, Executive Director of Child & Family Services at SCOE. “Because of this it was important to develop a process to promote family engagement in our program to increase Head Start student attendance and decrease chronic absenteeism.”
SCOE held its second annual “Head Start Attendance Awards” on May 22, 2018 at The Century in Modesto. SCOE, along with eight partnering school districts and one non-profit organization, served 1,470 children and their families countywide in the Head Start program during the 2017-18 school year.
The children participating in the back to school shopping trip were selected for achieving the most improved and highest attendance while attending Head Start last year. All 35 children will enter kindergarten at elementary schools throughout Stanislaus County this fall.
For more information, call or email Leilani Garcia at (209) 238-1800 or lgarcia [ahtsym] stancoe [dhotsym] org.
