Message from the Executive Director
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Head Start of Rockland, Inc. means business when
to comes to preparing families to be ready for making
a successful transition between pre-school and
elementary education. This issue outlines our initiative
in this area, so I encourage you to read all about it and
participate!
January 27–February 7
2014 Head Start of Rockland, Inc.
Self-Assessment
We continue to provide for children despite our
surroundings. It’s easy to relax in a holiday spirit this
time of year but the reality is, Head Start continues to
struggle through the government sequestration that began March 1st!
March 25–26
2014 NYSHSA Annual Professional
Training Conference, Tarrytown, NY
Early childhood education programs are a critical service for so many families in
Rockland County. Unfortunately, the current across–the–board federal budget
cuts known as the “sequester” have forced Head Start programs to reduce their
services and even layoff teachers. Head Start of Rockland, Inc. did not escape
these cuts. The summer program for four-year-old children has been eliminated.
Head Start of Rockland, Inc.
fondly remembers Mary Hurler
and Eugene Esterviene
In Rockland, we’re committed to the 1,000 families we serve like never before.
We’re lobbying and raising funds to the best of our ability. We also ask our
parents to help our cause by telling our government how much this action is
affecting our children. Only through active engagement – letter writing, social
media, etc. – can we make a difference.
I wish you and your families a joyful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Ouida Foster Toutebon,
Executive Director
Issue VII • Fall/Winter 2013 Newsletter
FR
OM
HE
AD
S TA R T O F R O C K L
AN
IN
D,
C.
www.headstartofrockland.org 845.429.4122
What Drives Ongoing Professional Development at Head Start of Rockland
By: Cathy Allison, MS ECE
Director of Education
Too often, teachers say that the professional development they receive is rarely applicable to their everyday world of teaching
and learning. Today however there are more comprehensive methods of evaluating teachers that avoid the typical “go to”
professional evaluations forms once used to promote improvement plans for teachers. Head Start of Rockland (HSOR) now
uses the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), a standardize instrument for evaluating teaching staff that uses ten
dimensions of teaching that are linked to student achievement and social development. Each CLASS dimension falls into one
of three board categories: emotional support, classroom organization and instructional support.
HSOR officially began using the CLASS instrument in 2011-12 to drive more meaningful professional development and
to remain consistent with federal expectations. The 11 CLASS reliable supervisory staff must recertify each year to remain
CLASS reliable. The CLASS instrument helps determine the areas of staff development needed to provide the most effective
interactions and learning outcomes for children. Results of observations are assist staff in setting meaningful professional
development goals and plans that will ultimately extend children’s learning in all classroom situations.
HSOR conducts CLASS observations in December, April and June. For each marking period, outcomes data is used to
determine and evaluate areas of strengths and weaknesses for individual children, groups of children, individual sites and the
agency as a whole. Scores in all domains and indicators are reviewed by the HSOR education team and used to set new goals
and plans for children, class groups and sites as well as to determine the professional development needs of our program staff.
In addition, agency-wide professional development days are held each fall prior to school opening, on Election Day and in
March. Teacher topics are determined using CLASS, outcomes reports, feedback from previous trainings, current research and
best practices.
As educational leaders HSOR must act with knowledge and purpose to make sure young children acquire the skills and
understanding they need to succeed. Using our teachers’ strengths as an overall guide we will continue to assist them in
becoming more “intentional” teachers who keep in mind the key goals for children’s learning and development in all domains
by creating supportive environments, planning curriculum and selecting from a variety of teaching strategies that best promote
each child’s thinking and skills.
Head Start Learns “You Are The Best Thing You Have To Offer!”
The Head Start staff started the year off with a Pre-Service Day that focused on:
“You Are The Best Thing You Have To Offer!” This mantra is the rally cry from
special guest, Susan L. Talyor, editor-in-chief emeritus of Essence Magazine, having
served the publication from 1981 to 2000. Ms. Taylor is now CEO and founder of
the National CARES Mentoring Movement.
Her message resonated with the staff. She noted how “working with children and
families is an important profession. It requires giving of oneself. The statistics are
amazing on how much of an influence one person can have in a child’s life.”
Ms. Taylor added that it’s important to learn how to avoid burnout while still giving
one’s best.
Photo caption: From left to right: Triva Stansbury,
Susan L. Taylor and Shaqui Payton.
Issue VII • Fall/Winter 2013 Newsletter
The day included topics designed to help the Head Start of Rockland, Inc. staff
prepare to receive the children and families they serve with enthusiasm, sincerity
and a strong hope of making a positive difference in their lives.
www.headstartofrockland.org 845.429.4122
What It Takes to Reach Our Teens
The Home Base Team
from Haverstraw Early
Head Start has engaged
a group of eight teen
moms from North
Rockland High School to
join the Early Head Start
Home Based Program.
Through this program,
home visits are made
to pregnant women or
parents of children up to
the age of 5, providing
them with health,
nutrition, education and
family services.
The meeting with
North Rockland teens
– called the Teen Tour
– was six months in the
making, but came together thanks to engagement from a 20year Haverstraw Head Start staff member and communication
with teen moms who come to the Haverstraw Head Start Food
Bank. The teen parents need assistance on accessing parenting
information and community resources.
Eight teens and a social worker participated in the Teen
Tour. An enrolled parent and child also participated in a mini
demonstration of a home visit, that included a nutritious meal.
Currently, the Haverstraw Head Start Home Visitors go to North
Rockland once a month to cover topics such as nutrition, early
literacy, stress, and they even hold yoga lessons. This collaboration
between Haverstraw Head Start and North Rockland High means
five teen moms are now fully enrolled and participating in the
Haverstraw Head Start Home Base program. It isn’t easy, as the
program involves working around their busy school schedules
and delicately grafting supportive family members into the
conversation. But the results will be worth it in the end. Head
Start plans to track the development of these young families
as they are shepherded through all the valuable resources and
opportunities Haverstraw Head Start has to offer.
Head Start Happenings
Spring Valley is in a Parent
State of Mind
A strong focus on parent is marking the year in Spring Valley.
It started with ESL classes for parents to learn basic words,
conversation and writing skills. Preschool teacher Alissa
Mistrangelo conducted a 10-week session, where parents
received a certificate for participation upon completion. Look for
more classes in the spring.
Parents also participated in an EPIC (Every Person Influences
Children) workshop, Love is a Powerful Vitamin. During it, parents
discussed different ways to show children that they are loved,
build self-esteem and how to respect one another.
School readiness activities for parents were held with the
Education and Family Community Engagement departments to
help prepare children for kindergarten. Parents learned ways to
promote cognitive skills within the home using material that exists
around the house. For example, taking socks and matching them,
teaching them numbers, colors, how to roll them and toss them
(small motor coordination skills) etc.
Finally to measure progress, parents complete a survey every
month on a different topic.
Training Makes for Great Cooks, Too!
Members from the Head Start of Rockland Food Service
Departments took part in a Staff Training Day this November. As
part of the event, the site’s Food Services staff received a cooking
lesson at Marcello’s Restaurant in Suffern.
Issue VII • Fall/Winter 2013 Newsletter
www.headstartofrockland.org 845.429.4122
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MONSEY, NY
PERMIT NO.246
117 Route 9W
Haverstraw, New York
10927-1404
Coming up in our next issue
• Health
• Head Start Happenings
• Program and Planning
Please consider a donation in 2013!
Your tax-deductible contribution to Head Start of Rockland
will help us assist more children and their parents
___$10 ___$25 ___$50 ____$100 ___$250 ___Other
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
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Checks should be made to: Head Start of Rockland, 117 Route 9W, Haverstraw, NY 10927
Thank you!