Morgan Elementary Head Start preschool teacher April Throgmorton recently received a Classroom of Excellence Award from the Kentucky Department of Education.

The voluntary Classrooms of Excellence program identifies high-quality state-funded preschool classrooms, based on a comprehensive review of activities and methodology. Applicants participate in an intensive self-study and also must show that their classrooms meet specific criteria:

• use of the Building A Strong Foundation series, which includes preschool standards, parent guides, continuous assessment tools and the Quality Self Study
• a minimum average score of 6.0 on the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R)
• an "Exemplary" category score on the Early Learning and Language Classroom Observation (ELLCO)
• IECE certification or Letter of Exemption for lead teachers
• regional or national accreditation, either current or in progress

Head Start will host a flag football game for Head Start preschool students on Thursday, October 22, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at Clark Elementary.  The game will be held on the field adjacent to the cafeteria, behind the school. 

The Parent's Place (3401 Buckner in the mobile unit behind the school) will host the game and a tailgate party following the game.

For more information, please call Michelle Coleman at 444-5730, extension 3028.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky awarded a grant of $41,000 to provide Hatch Computer Imagination Stations for Paducah Head Start classrooms.  The award was presented at a ceremony at the United Way office on June 27.  Hatch systems are all - inclusive computer systems that include a computer, preschool sized computer table, printer, and age-appropriate software.

Bus Badges Insure Right Students Exit At Right Stops

Students who exit their busses at the wrong stop do so for innocent reasons- they simply forget where they are supposed to get off, or decide to get off at a friend's house- but when it occurs, it can create panic and confusion for parents and caregivers when their child is missing. 

Transportation Director Steve Spraggs hopes that a new bus ID badge will help prevent this problem and help drivers insure that students exit the bus at the right stop.

ID badges for use by the transportation department are being made for district Head Start, kindergarten, and first grade students. Head Start purchased the ID maker for the school system with proceeds from a grant.

“The goal of the badges is to prevent younger students getting off the bus at the wrong place,” said Spraggs. “Regular drivers know where their riders should get off the bus, but information is needed when there is a substitute driver who is not as familiar with the students.”

A tragic accident was the catalyst that motivated Shoulta to begin building birdhouses.  One of his riders from his first Head Start bus route was struck and killed by a car.

“That broke my heart,” Shoulta said.  “I knew I had to do something personal for the kids.”

Shoulta’s wife Sebbie (Sabrina), who currently works as a teacher’s assistant for McNabb Head Start, suggested that he make birdhouses to give to the students.