2008-2009 Program Calendar Meeting Dates for 2007-2008 How To Enroll Your Child In Head Start RCS Head Start Centers How Head Start Can Help Your Family Benefits of Participating in the Head Start Program Wrap Around Services Components of RCS Head Start The Director's Corner Further Links	The Benefits Your Child Will Receive from RCS Head Start Because the Head Start program focuses on the whole child, we provide comprehensive services to meet the Social Service, Health/Dental, Mental Health, and Nutrition needs of your child. Your child's teacher will make at least 2 visits to your home during the Head Start program year to establish goals for your child, and to find out more about your child and family. You will also be asked to attend at least 2 parent teacher conferences to discuss your child's progress. At Head Start, we believe that children ages 3-5 learn the best through play. That is why our classrooms are divided into 9 or more "Centers," or learning areas. We employ highly skilled professional teachers who use both teacher directed and child directed activities in order to maximize the "teachable moments" they observe throughout the day. We also focus on "individualization," meaning that we understand that each child learns at his or her own rate and will work with each child individually in the area(s) that will allow them to get the most out of their Head Start experience. For example, while one child in a classroom may just be beginning to recite the alphabet, another child in that class may already be reading sentences. The teacher would take the time weekly to work with each child individually so that each one is continuously learning and being challenged. RCS Head Start uses a report card (of sorts) to measure the skills the children have mastered in 8 different areas. These areas are: (1) Approaches to Learning (such as initiative and curiosity, engagement and persistence, goal setting), (2) Creative Arts (such as music and movement, visual art, dramatic play), (3) Early Math (such as counting, beginning addition, subtraction and fractions, geometry and spatial senses, shapes, patterns, and measurement), (4) Fine and Gross Motor Development (such as coordination and balance, dexterity and control, and hand-eye coordination), (5) Language and Literacy (such as listening and understanding stories, songs, poems, directions and vocabulary, speaking and communicating, conversation, sound recognition, book knowledge and appreciation, print and alphabet awareness), (6) Nature and Science (such as using senses and scientific devices to learn, observation and description, predicting, gathering and presenting data, and explaining), (7) Physical Health Practices (such as eating and nutrition, hygiene and exercising, dressing and toileting practices), and (8) Social and Emotional Development (such as knowledge of self, family and community, diversity, cooperation, conflict resolution and self control, independence, and initiating and maintaining relationships). Report cards are completed once in the fall, once in the winter, and once in the spring so we can track each child's progress. Teachers discuss with parents the skills children have learned, and the next skills that will be worked on. In addition to school-readiness, children also learn the importance of caring for their bodies by eating healthy foods (Head Start provides breakfast, lunch and a snack equaling up to 2/3 of their daily nutritional requirements), brushing teeth after eating, frequent hand washing throughout the day, and visiting the dentist and doctor on a regular basis. RCS Head Start staff will complete any vision, height, weight, Hematocrit and developmental screenings that are not completed on a child's physical within 45 days of enrollment. We work closely with Nurses, Health Departments and Dentists to provide these initial screenings. Family Advocates assist parents in providing any follow-up treatment as needed. RCS Head Start classrooms are to be set up in such a way that is conducive to good mental health. Our Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator will provide mental health activities that can be used in the classroom or sent home. If there are behavior concerns with a child, he or she may be referred to our Mental Health consultants for observation and follow-up. Parents will be notified of any concerns about their child, and must give permission before any referrals or observations are made by the Mental Health consultants. Children with special needs will be included in all activities unless otherwise specified in a child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Special activities will be scheduled into each teachers' lesson plans in order to work with any children who may have an IEP. Multi-Disciplinary Team Committee (MDTC) meetings will be held annually to gather information on each child. These meetings will be held after completion of initial screenings and are made up of the RCS Head Start Component Coordinators, teachers, Family Advocates and parents. Follow-up will be provided and monitored throughout the year as a result of these meetings. Special MDTC meetings may be held on an as needed basis when children with disabilities enter the program throughout the program year. RCS Head Start also works closely with therapists for any children who may need this service during the Head Start day. All information regarding Health, Mental Health, or income is kept strictly confidential.