When parents and educators work together to support learning, children are more likely to do well in school, stay in school and enjoy school.
But the children aren’t the only ones who benefit.
According to Hephzibah Head Start Director Melissa Smith, parent engagement programs also build bridges between families. When a family is new to America, these connections are even more critical. “We have families from Egypt, Iran, Libya, Mexico, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and Saudia Arabia in our program,” says Smith. “Because we want every family to feel welcomed and respected, we’ve responded to the needs of our diverse community in a variety of ways.”
In the past year, Smith and her staff offered a “Know Your Rights” presentation for immigrant families through the National Immigrant Justice Center, hosted potluck dinners featuring foods from different countries and celebrated the community’s holiday traditions.
The staff also celebrated the children’s cultural identities with traditional clothing and costumes in the dress-up area; multicultural play food sets; and books in languages such as Arabic, Farsi and Mandarin. “It’s all about building relationships and building trust,” says Smith. “By exposing our Head Start families to different cultures and traditions, we’re also helping to eliminate stereotypes and create a more inclusive, connected community.”
The Head Start Program recently started its eighth school year and a limited number of spaces are still available. To learn more about registering for the program, please contact Melissa Smith at msmith@hephzibahhome.org, (708) 649-7119.
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