Head Start Awareness Week kicks off Monday with Red, White and Blue Day

Thirty-seven years ago, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October as Head Start Awareness Month on Friday, October 22, 1982. Today his words still vibrate throughout the Head Start Community.
The week of October 21, 2019 is Head Start Awareness Week, and St. Mary/Vermilion CAA is celebrating with an abundance of activities, including Fun Day in the Park on Thursday, October 24. This event takes place at Caffery Park on Barrow Street in Franklin. Families and individuals are encouraged to visit the centers during this time to see what services the agency has to offer.
Monday, October 21, is Red, White and Blue Day. On that day, you are invited to the Head Start Proclamation signing day by local mayors and the parish president. The signing will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Central Office for the Franklin and Baldwin mayors and the parish president. Another proclamation signing begins at 9 a.m. at Baby Bear Head Start Center, for the mayors of Berwick, Patterson and Morgan City. Literacy Awareness is also on October 21, as local officials and community representatives are asked to select a Head Start Center to visit and read a story to the children.
The week culminates with the “Head Start Awareness FUN Day.” Community partners and vendors will set up tables to give out information and fun bags for the Head Start students and families. Community partners participating include: Teche Action Clinic, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, Anytime Fitness, The St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce, Teche Regional and Franklin Foundation Hospitals and Scruff McGruff. St. Mary CAA also invites all fathers, father figures, elderly citizens and locally owned businesses to participate and display community resources and programs available to the public through partnership with St. Mary Community Action Agency. If you have any questions or inquiries about any Head Start Awareness Week activities, please call Pearl Rack or Cynthia Prince at (337) 828-5703.
St. Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency/Head Start Program has strived to build on the Head Start success by involving parents, volunteers and the community. Their commitment for nearly 54 years and the services provided by dedicated Head Start staff have been instrumental in creating a quality program that provides young children with a “head start” in life.
The National Head Start Program has helped over eight million low-income pre-school children and their families. In doing so, it has earned recognition and support for its success in early childhood education and development.