Head Start Family News News from Lorain County Community Action Agency Head Start • December 2023
No Batteries Required Director with Open-Ended Toys Named
Acting CEO Dr. Shauna Matelski has been named Acting CEO for LCCAA, according to the agency’s Board of Directors.
Matelski has served as Head Start Director since October 2011. She Toy Insider’s 2023 top picks for preschoolers include toys that encourage has more than 30 years experience imaginative roles, pretend play and STEM (Science, Technology, Engi- with the agency and is considered neering and Math) exploration. Additional ideas include exploration with an expert in the early childhood music, arts, crafts and toys that foster active play to get kids outdoors and education field. exercising. Matelski will work closely with You can’t go wrong with any of the toys that develop these skills. Educa- departing CEO Jackie Boehnlein tors encourage parents to stay away from flashy electronic toys that run on whose last day with the agency will batteries and can only be used one way. be Dec. 15. Open-ended toys can be used dozens of different ways and provide infinite “LCCAA will be in capable hands,” possibilities for children’s imagination. Children never grow tired of Boehnlein said. “Shauna is a playing with open-ended toys and they spark brain boosting skills that will thoughtful leader who has a heart serve them well in school and throughout life. for service.” When exploring with open-ended materials, you never get the same result Matelski’s appointment will be twice. Therefore children are using their imagination, creativity, vision and effective Dec. 16. patience. And don’t forget their trial and error and problem-solving skills. “Jackie leaves big shoes to fill,” The most sought-after toy in our preschool classrooms is Magna Tiles! she said. “We have worked well Magna Tiles (such as the giant ones pictured above) are great for devel- together for a number of years and I oping fine-motor skills, coordination, cognitive skills and creativity. hope for a seamless transition as we For other gift ideas, don’t forget children’s books both classic and new continue to serve and empower the people of Lorain County.” Continued on page 2
Head Start Works! www.lccaa.net 1-888-245-2009
Respecting All Holiday Traditions This Season Celebrating holidays in schools is familiar to many parents. They may have their own fond memories of decorations, crafts, songs, and classroom parties that they want their own children to experience.
Exploration Fueled Fall Field Trips
But we must remember that our school families can be very diverse, with different beliefs and traditions. Even families that do celebrate the same holidays can do so in very different ways. This poses a challenge to educators, who must work to ensure that all children are respected and represented. To keep from alienating families or children, teachers must think of holidays as a time to learn and share, rather than participate. Teachers can have children share stories and photos, and families can participate in recipe exchanges. Dramatic play centers can be stocked with food boxes and spice tins that are used by families. Different types of music can be played during class. In these ways, children can share with their teachers and friends the things that are meaningful to their families.
Head Start students enjoyed several field trips this fall. Firelands students (above) visited a nearby apple farm to explore and pick apples. Wellington students enjoyed their annual walking trip to the fire station (below) in October while Griswold students had the fire department come to them.
Teachers can also create unique celebrations during traditional holiday seasons. All Head Start directly operated centers will be celebrating Winterfest on December 15th with a planned activity and special snack. If you would like to share your family’s holiday traditions with the class, please speak to your child’s classroom teachers.
No Batteries... Continued from page 1
or non-toy gift experiences to create lifelong memories. Great Open-Ended Gift Ideas: X Wooden blocks, Duplos, Legos, Magna Tiles, gears
X Play-Doh
X Mini golf & ice cream
X Art materials (paper, crayons, glue, scissors, etc.)
X Ice or roller skating
X Dress up & role play items (ex. costumes, tea set, doctor’s kit, pretend school or restaurant)
X Lessons for sports, music, art, etc.
X Baby dolls & accessories (ex. stroller, bottle, blankets, etc.)
X Animal figurines
X Wooden doll house with furniture and people
X Musical instruments
X Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars & track to build
X Play fort kits/playhouses Non-gift Experiences: X Zoo, museum or park passes X Afternoon at an arcade
X Sledding & hot cocoa
X Kids cooking class X Trip to bookstore to pick out a special book to read together X Pick out a new board game for family game night X Visit to an indoor/outdoor waterpark.
Several Options Available for Babywearing Babywearing, or securing your baby to your body with some type of cloth, has been practiced around the world for thousands of years. Mothers and caregivers worldwide have understood that wearing your baby provides a hands-free option to take care of daily tasks while providing close attachment and care to their infants and toddlers. In addition to making life easier, babywearing helps to soothe a baby, helps digestion, and regulates their body temperature, heart, and respiratory rates. Current evidence-based research has shown that babywearing also helps to support child development and early learning outcomes. Developmental areas addressed when wearing your baby are the same as those outlined in Head Start’s Early Learning Outcomes: social and emotional, language and literacy, cognition, and perceptual, motor and physical development. Social and emotional development begins when parents learn and respond to their infant’s needs, establishing trust that their needs will be met. Babywearing provides many opportunities to bring the baby close enough to Head Start’s Pregnancy Support Services their caregiver to provide both interaction and comfort.
Community Health Worker Melissa Carroll provides assistance to parents interested in learning how to wear their babies. Above, Christina Cates tries out a new baby carrier with her son Isaiah. Below far left, Maurice Cleveland learns how to wear his son. Below left, Janessa Brown, 9, learns about A number of studies in recent years demonstrate the babywearing by practicing with a doll. Language development and conversations can occur with infants from birth. Babywearing allows the infant to have face to face engagement, including eye contact and observation of non-verbal communication. With the caregiver right there, it is easier for them to notice and respond to baby’s cues. They can interact and begin to have conversations.
differences in infant and toddler brain patterns when seats, swings and bouncers. Combining skin to skin they are carried versus when they are separated in cribs, contact with meaningful interactions with nurturing adults leads to brain activity and cognitive development. Babywearing also provides many opportunities for a child’s physical development. When babies are worn in a carrier, a baby’s muscles are engaged and their head, neck, back, torso and leg muscles are all stimulated and used. For more information on babywearing and the types of carriers available contact Melissa Carroll at 440-4570187 or mcarroll@lccaa.net. Learn more from the Center for Babywearing Studies at centerforbabywearingstudies.com or the Growing Great Kids curriculum from Jump Start.
Little Libraries Installed and Stocked Four LCCAA Head Start centers now have Little Free Libraries thanks to volunteers from Avient Corporation and the United Way of Greater Lorain County.
Avient employees installed a total of 15 libraries throughout the county on Sept. 28. Little Free Library is a national free book exchange that encourages individuals and families to take a book and leave a book. Millions of books are exchanged every year worldwide. Little Free Libraries were installed at the Central Plaza, Griswold, Hopkins-Locke and LaGrange Head Start centers. Each installation includes notations on how to get more information about Head Start. While Head Start students were on fall break, management staff spent an afternoon at United Way of Lorain County working in groups to prepare books to be distributed to Little Free Libraries throughout the county. More than 450 books were delivered to 30 different locations.
Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown
Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown by Eric Litwin is a book to get you up on your feet counting and getting some physical activity. Find creative ways to help preschoolers use their energy and learn at the same time. Head Start implements I’m Moving, I’m Learning, which is exactly that: adding PE to academic skills.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 2 to 6 years old have one hour or less of non-academic screen time per day. We need to remind kids that “old-fashioned play” is more fun than a tablet! Look for Litwin’s Groovy Joe books at your local public library.
Upcoming Days Off X Dec. 11: X Dec. 15: X Dec. 18-29: X Dec. 24-25: X Jan. 1: X Jan. 2-3: X Jan. 12: X Jan. 15:
No School, Conference Day Early Release Day, 3 p.m. Winter Break Agency Closed Agency Closed No School, Professional Development Early Release Day, 3 p.m. Agency Closed
Story Time
LCCAA’s Central Plaza Head Start location hosted the Lorain County Imagination Library for a special story time event. Tim Alcorn, the voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers, read “There’s a Monster in my Book” by Tom Fletcher. Lorain County Imagination Library streamed the event live.
Sweet Potatoes Tried, Quinoa Up Next Students and their families had a chance to try sweet potatoes in LCCAA Head Start’s most recent Try Day experience.
Students were served sweet potato chunks with maple seasoning as part of their Thanksgiving themed lunch on Nov. 17. Earlier that week, they and their parents had a chance to try the dish in the center’s lobby – and it was a hit! Try Day events are multi-sensory experiences designed to expose children to new foods. Classes receive the food in raw form, talk about how it is grown and can feel, smell and see it before they taste it. Foods that are well-received can be added to Head Start’s regular menu. The next Try Day experience will involve quinoa, an ancient grain that has grown in popularity in recent years. On Jan. 26, students will be served Quinoa Mango Salad with their lunches. Lobby tastings will occur at Hopkins Locke on Jan. 23 and at Griswold on Jan. 26.
Cooking Classes Offered Again
LCCAA Head Start Nutrition Staff will host virtual cooking lessons again. The Build a Balanced Plate: Out-ofthe-Box Recipe Series will feature hearty minestrone and a tasty fall salad. The two-part class will take place on Dec. 6 and 13 by Zoom. Both classes will meet at 1 p.m. Registered families will receive boxes of ingredients to build a recipe and Registered Dietician Marge Robison will show how to prepare the recipe. Robison will provide nutrition and meal planning tips along the way. Use the QR code to register.
RSV
Flu
Symptoms
Average Duration
Coughing,Runny nose Fever, Congestion Wheezing, Rapid breathing Apnea in infants
2 weeks
Sudden Onset of Symptoms High fever, Coughing Runny nose, Congestion Body aches Mild conjunctivitis (red/irritated eyes) Possible vomiting/diarrhea
1-2 weeks
Common Cold
Runny nose, Congestion Coughing, Sore throat Possible fever
Strep Throat
Sudden Onset of Symptoms Sore throat, Trouble swallowing Fever, Stomach pain Headache
Stomach Flu
Vomiting, Diarrhea Stomach pain Mild fever Headache Fatigue
5-14 days
Resolves within a day of treatment
1-5 days
Source: https://www.childrens.com/health-wellness/5-common-winter-illnesses-in-kids
Firelands Parents Learn Knife Skills
Firelands Head Start parents enhanced their kitchen skills at their last parent meeting. Chef Brittany Reilly taught knife skills and shared some new recipes as well. Reilly’s business “In the Kitchen with Britt” offers cooking classes and prepared meals. “We made two delicious and healthy dips that everyone agreed their families will enjoy,” said Site Administrator Pam Caruso. “We also talked about what’s going on in our classroom and with our ‘school family.’” “Chef Brittany was very knowledgeable at what she was presenting,” said parent Stacy Hall, adding it was the best parent meeting she had ever attended. Ashley Farrell agreed: “She was really friendly and taught me a new skill. Her instructions were clear and easy and made an easy recipe that was healthier than store brands.”
Parent and Committee Meetings If you would like to join one of our committees, contact your Family Service Assistant. Parent meetings are held monthly at our larger centers and every other month at our smaller centers.
Scan this code to see the latest menu for most of our Head Start Centers.
X Dec. 8: Parent Meeting, Hopkins-Locke, 3 p.m. X Dec. 12: Parent Meeting, Central Plaza, 9 a.m. X Dec. 12: Parent Meeting, Griswold, 3 p.m. X Jan. 9: Parent Meeting, Central Plaza, 9 a.m. X Jan. 18: Policy Council, Central Plaza, 5 p.m. X Jan. 25: Education Advisory Committee, Central Plaza, 9 a.m.
Wild About Event Successful LCCAA Head Start is Wild About Families. Dozens were welcomed to the first event of the year on Oct. 4.
The “Wild About You” event held at HopkinsLocke included games, food and lots of family fun. Watch for more fun family events this school year. For more photos, please visit our Facebook page.
Home-Based Socializations Dec. 8: Preschool, 10 a.m. Dec. 15: Preschool and EHS, 10 a.m. Jan. 5: EHS, 10 a.m. Jan. 12: Preschool, 10 a.m. Jan. 19: EHS, 10 a.m. Jan. 26: Preschool, 10 a.m.
Families are invited to join their children’s classroom in some winter activities at 2 p.m. on Dec. 15. Listen to a story, have a snack and complete a mitten activity. Jan Brett’s The Mitten follows the adventures of little Nicki who loses his white mitten in the snow. A curious crew of woodland animals happen upon it and have mischievous fun. Talk to your child’s teacher about details for their classroom.
Family Tech Talk Planned Next Month Parents and caregivers are invited to a Family Tech Talk next month.
Learn the risks your kids face online as well as some general internet safety tips. This free event is sponsored and presented by Trend Micro in conjunction with their Internet Safety for Kids and Families Program. Parents will learn about: X Online gaming and social media insights
Outcomes Report Released
LCCAA Head Start released its Annual Outcomes Report this fall. The report details the exacting standards Head Start follows from both federal and state agencies.
X Managing screentime X App settings for age-appropriate content X Best practices to be safe online X How to prevent online risks X Parental controls and tips on kids’ device setup
Join this free event on Zoom January 24 at 7 p.m. Ask your Family Service Assistant for the link.
Upcoming Spirit Days X Dec. 8: X Jan. 12: X Feb. 9:
Pajama Day Hat Day Sport Day/Super Bowl
“LCCAA Head Start staff and families are thrilled to have the pandemic behind us and proud of how we adapted during and after it,” said Director Shauna Matelski, Ed.D. “These times have been different, but our goal to create lifelong learners has not been thwarted.” The report details the gains in skills and abilities children experience over the course of a year of Head Start instruction and programming. Several success stories are also highlighted. Copies of the report have been mailed to area stakeholders and are available upon request. The report can also be downloaded from www.lccaa.net.
Save the Date! Friday Feb. 16 at 9 a.m. we will celebrate the amazing fathers, stepfathers, uncles, grandpas and special men in our lives. All are welcome for donuts and classroom activities.
LCCAA Opens Produce Pickup Center LCCAA’s new Produce Pickup Center is fully operational in the former Bike Shop at 204 W. 10th St. in downtown Lorain.
Center using Reid Avenue and West 10th Street and not cut through the parking lot at 936 Broadway Ave. Please follow all signs and staff instructions. Staff will bring food orders to your car.
A combination of inflation, the end of COVID-era SNAP benefits and other factors have driven up the cost of most food items. LCCAA is working to fill gaps.
LCCAA operates the Produce Center in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Lorain County residents living at or below 200 percent Ohio and Food Forward Lorain. A start up grant also of the Federal Poverty Level ($60,000 annually for a came from the City of Lorain. family of four) are eligible to order from the pantry. Raised beds next to the facility will supply some Ordering windows are open from 8 a.m. Monday to 11 produce. The beds and accompanying hydroponic p.m. Sunday or until all appointments are full. Pickups system were made possible by a Healthy Places grant are the following Wednesday and Thursday. from Lorain Public Health. The center focuses on fresh produce which can be hard Youth assigned to LCCAA’s Youth Services program to get. In the beginning, pre-packaged boxes will be staff the center and have also worked on the raised beds. distributed but choice ordering will be introduced soon. Visit www.lccaa.net/programs/produce_center for Appointments must be made via the online system and more information or to place your order. honoring appointments is critical. Contact Center Manager Deirdre Paynter at 440-457Those picking up are also asked to approach the Produce 0327.
Winter Crisis Continues Through March
LCCAA’s Energy Services department operates two The Winter Crisis Program will help you if your satellite offices to help residents who need help with primary heating source is disconnected, a disconnectheir utility costs. tion notice has been received, or you have less than a Seniors can walk in at the Lorain County Office on 10-day supply of bulk fuel. Aging in Elyria at 534 Abbe Road South on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Anyone can walk in at Second Baptist Church, 427 Chapman Lane, Elyria on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Appointments for Winter Crisis can be made only online and are conducted over the phone.
If you receive a disconnect notice during the crisis period, make an appointment right away. If you make Hours for both facilities are 8 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to an appointment for at least 48 hours before your sched3:30 p.m. uled disconnection AND you enter your utility account Coming soon, services on Fridays will move to the number, the utility will put a hold on the disconnect Office on Aging’s Wellington location by appointment while you are waiting for your appointment. If you miss or reschedule your appointment, the hold is removed only. and you may lose service. Learn more about Energy Services programs and make Winter Crisis will operate through March 31, 2024. your Winter Crisis appointment today.
Happy Holidays
from LCCAA!
