Classes begin at Tallatoona Early Childhood Development Center

A new term has begun at the Tallatoona Early Childhood Development Center, 312 South Piedmont Avenue in Rockmart.

A total of 54 children are enrolled in the Head Start and Pre-K programs, according to Yashinda Wright, center manager.

“We have filled available space,” she said. “However, we have a waiting list if any parent wishes to be added.”

There is an income eligibility requirement and children were required to be age 3 by Sept. 1, 2016 to participate in the Head Start program or 4 by Sep. 1, 2016 to participate in the Pre-K program.

Applications were sent out and parents who enrolled their child provided: a birth cer- tificate, shot records, social security card, completion of a physical, proof of income and proof of insurance.

Wright said that parents are encouraged to take part in activities at the center, including a special event each month. “Parents are always welcome to visit,” she said.

Several parents accepted the invitation to attend a “Friendship Salad” event for three and four- year- olds in the classroom of Charlene McCallum, teacher and Belinda Campbell, assistant.

They joined their children during snack time and shared in the preparation of a fruit salad. It also helped introduce a unique experience for the youngsters, according to the teachers.

A fall festival is also scheduled later this term for parents to celebrate the season with their children.

“Such events build parent-child relationships and maintains strong connections within the Head Start program,” Wright said.

Head Start is a federally funded program for pre-school children. Children who attend Head Start or Pre-K participate in a variety of educational activi- ties, receive free medical and dental care, have access to healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting at no charge.

Wright said teachers are required to be responsive to needs of individual children by providing a balanced daily program of activities.

She said staff recognizes children have individual rates of development as well as interests, temperaments, languages, cultural back ground and learning styles.

“Teachers follow The Creative Curriculum, a research based plan that addresses the strategies used to implement 8 Domains and the 100 indicators by the program performance standards,” Wright said.

The curriculum is designed for children, ages 3 to 5. It has a firm foundation of research and responds to requirements for addressing content and defines the role of the teacher in teaching and learning for preschool children.

Classrooms are filled with learning activities that support the teacher’s role in addressing content in literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts and technology. Attention is also given to those who have special needs or are second language learners.

The center is open from 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p. m. five days each week.

Ashley Goddard is the family advocate and Judy Akins, kitchen manager at the center.

Tallatoona CAP, Inc. is a private nonprofit 501c3 Community Action Agency formed in 1967 in response to the Equal Opportunity Act of 1964, which kicked off the War on Poverty and authorized Community Action agencies all across the country.

The goal of the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership is to increase the opportunity for more infants and toddlers to have access to high quality, comprehensive services.

Currently there are more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies covering the 50 states all working on behalf of the poor to root out the causes of poverty, meet the needs of low-income individuals and families and help families achieve economic independence.