Head Start, a pre-school program founded in 1965 for low- income families, is currently looking for help at Wheaton College. To find out how you can be of assistance, please contact Deb Doucette, the Education Specialist at Norton Headstart, at ddoucette@selfhelpinc.org.

Headstart’s mission is to help foster the development of children from ages three to five. At Head Start pre-schools, the kids gain are able to develop the behavioral and academic skills they will need for the rest of their lives. Not only does Head Start provide teachers who dedicate their time and effort to nurture and care for students as well as provide a stable environment for them to grow and develop, but also Family Advocates and Behavioral Specialists are often on-hand to help get families involved in their children’s lives.

The program seems too good to be true for families who can’t afford a good pre-school education for their kids. Unfortunately, the dream is shattered when funding comes into the picture. The federal government recently cut five percent of the funding towards mental health. While five percent may not seem much, it greatly affects Head Start because the program’s budget is further limited. Because of the funding cut, the school year is cut short and for the spring of 2013 school will close two weeks early. School will also start around two weeks later in the fall of 2013.

Interested parties can also see Dean Vereene at the Service, Spirituality and Social Responsibility Office in the Chapel Basement. If anyone wants to help out with gathering donations of office supplies, non-perishable foods, arts and crafts materials, etc., please contact Tiffany Sze at sze_tiffany@wheatoncollege.edu. This is a great opportunity if you are looking for experience in a classroom or early developmental education, so please contact us to let us know how you can help. Thank you!