Laurence Holland, A Life Well Lived

We join with all of Rockland County in mourning the loss of Lauence Holland, a civil rights leader who left a legacy of leadership, encouragement, generosity, and advocacy. For all of us at Head Start,he allowed us the privilege of sharing his life's partner, Rose Holland, who serves the children of Rockland on our board of directors. We share the grief and hold all of his family and friends in our prayers.

Quality of Life - Rockland Review

Rockland Review in its December 14th issue reports that "Rosie's Foundation funds healthy living," a reference to our $50,000 grant for enhanced nutrition, i.e., healthier meals and snacks for our preschool children in the coming year. We serve over 300,000 meals and snacks over the course of school and summer programs. We appreciate the local coverage and invite others to step to the plate now and in the future. For information on giving, please call Peter Flierl at 845-358-2234.

Hudson Valley Business - Good Things Happening

We are pleased to see that Hudson Valley Business reported our $50,000 donation from Rosie's For All Kids Foundation in its "Good Things Happening In and Around the Hudson Valley" feature. This is indeed a very good thing, as Martha Stewart might say, and will help ensure more then 300,000 healthier meals and snacks for the low income children we serve. The kids and their parents will also take part in nutrition education classes courtesy of Cornell Cooperative extension. And United Way of Rockland was the first to support this special need with a pledge of $15,000 for 2008. Bon appetit. Be well!! be Healthy, Happy & prosperous in 2008.

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS HEAD START LEGISLATION

President George W. Bush Signs "Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007" Into Law
Yesterday, President Bush signed into law the reauthorization of the Head Start Act. NAEYC strongly urges Congress and the President to provide the increased resources needed to expand Early Head Start and Head Start to all eligible children, and to meet the new requirements for the program. NAEYC will publish a summary of the new law on our website soon.
Statement by President George Bush
Today I signed into law the "Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007," a bill to reauthorize Head Start. Over the past 40 years, Head Start has provided comprehensive child-development services to more than 20 million low-income children and their families to promote school readiness. Because of the National Reporting System, we know that more Head Start programs are helping children gain early reading and math skills. But we must take steps to improve Head Start to ensure that low-income children arrive at school ready to learn.
I am pleased that this bill addresses several longstanding Administration priorities, such as increased competition among Head Start providers, improved coordination of early childhood delivery systems, and stronger educational performance standards. Increasing competition for providers will help ensure that we offer the highest quality programs to our nation's most vulnerable young children. Greater collaboration among Head Start agencies, schools, and other programs serving young children, will help ensure our investments are better aligned and more effective. Stronger educational performance standards and an emphasis on research-based curricula and classroom practices will increase children's preparedness for school. I also support the bill's provisions to strengthen fiscal accountability and program oversight, so that dollars intended to serve children are spent wisely.
I am, however, deeply disappointed that the bill ends the National Reporting System, our only tool to examine consistently how Head Start children are performing in programs across the nation. We should be working to provide more and better data to parents, teachers, and policymakers, not less. I am concerned that the bill authorizes spending levels higher than those proposed in my budget. Approval of this legislation is not an endorsement of these funding levels or a commitment to request them. I am also disappointed that the bill fails to include my proposal to protect faith-based organizations' religious hiring autonomy.
I thank Members of both parties in Congress who worked on this legislation. I will continue to work with Congress to ensure that our neediest children are prepared for success in school and a lifetime of achievement.

FOOD FOR CHRISTMAS, THANK YOU

An Anonymous Donor made a marvelous Christmas contribution of 8 gift certificates of $25 each at ShopRite for a total of $200 for Head Start families in need of food. This is a marvelous donation that exemplifies the spirit of this joyous season.

If you would like to make a donation, please send a check made out to Head Start of Rockland and mail it to: Head Start of Rockland, DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, 85 Depew Avenue, Nyack, New York 10960 or go to our website, www.headstartofrockland.org, and make a donation online.

For information on charitable giving, particularly income for life through a charitable gift annuity, please call Peter Flierl at 203-273-5168 or e-mail peterejflierl@gmail.com. Nothing compares to making a difference in the life of a child. Make your gift today!

$50,००० GIFT

ROSIE’S FOR ALL KIDS FOUNDATION FUNDS HEALTHY EATING

Ouida Dawson, executive director of Head Start of Rockland, today announced receipt of a grant of $50,000 from Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation for whole foods and enhanced nutrition and food services for Head Start schools in Haverstraw, Nyack, and Spring Valley.

Dawson said: “We are pleased and honored that Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation has once again stepped to the plate to provide needed funding for low income children. The foundation was the leading private supporter of our capital construction project in Spring Valley. It is gratifying to qualify for support of our programs, particularly our health and nutrition services.”

Healthy Eating: Feeding the Children is an ambitious initiative that provides more healthful meals and snacks to 569 low income preschool children in Haverstraw, Nyack, Spring Valley, and West Street. Guidelines for Healthy Eating at Head Start schools include:

• Reducing and/or eliminating junk foods, particularly high sugar foods and beverages.

• Improving nutritional quality of lunches by eliminating processed foods and serving whole foods.
• Eliminating all products containing partially hydrogenated fats, MSG, and/or artificial sweeteners.

• Increasing use of seasonal, high quality fruits and vegetables.

• Offering more grains such as whole wheat pastas, brown rice, and whole wheat bread.
• Eliminating high fructose corn syrup and sugary drinks

In addition to changes in meals and snacks being prepared for 569 preschool children each day, Head Start of Rockland is collaborating with Cornell Cooperative Extension to provide Color Me Healthy classes for preschool children and Eating Right Basics for their parents under the direction of Lydia Richards.

Head Start of Rockland serves approximately 204,800 meals, both breakfast and lunch, and over 102,400 snacks over the course of a year. By making meals and snack healthier and providing nutrition education to children and parents, it is hoped children and their families will develop healthier eating habits. This could help lead to a reduction in childhood obesity, childhood diabetes, and other nutrition-related disorders and diseases.

Head Start of Rockland, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is the leading provider of preschool and early childhood education in Rockland County. The agency is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and are also a licensed provider of preschool special education evaluation and assessment services.

बुक DRIVE

DORINA MARAGLIANO reports that Head Start of Nyack is the recipient of proceeds of a Book Drive sponsored by the Christian Service Committee of St. Ann’s in Nyack. The committee us selling new or slightly used books during a blood drive. We are grateful for their special support during this joyous Christmas season.

गूड्स WELCOME

We are pleased to report gifts of food and educational games from three donors, including: Brad Wilson from Spring Valley, Wanda Velez at Nyack College, and Barbara O'Brien from South Nyack. Nyack College donated 12 bags of groceries, a very special gift during the holidays for our families in need.

If you would like to support our children and families, you may send a contribution to Development Office, Head Start of Rockland, 85 Depew Avenue, Nyack, New York 10960. For information on charitable giving, including gifts that pay you for life, please contact Peter Flierl at 845-358-2234 ext 43 or 203-273-5168

NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION WEEK

Head Start of Rockland has joined The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in celebration and observation the week of November 26 to December 2 as National Influenza Vaccination Week. The week’s heightened public awareness provides an opportunity to connect families with influenza vaccination resources in our community and in communites across the nation.

The National Influenza Vaccination Week is designed to highlight the importance of continuing influenza (flu) vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine through the months of November, December, and beyond. This year, Tuesday, November 27, 2007, is designated as Children’s Flu Vaccination Day, with a focus upon vaccinating high-risk children. Each year, over 20,000 children under age 5 are hospitalized as a result of influenza. This day will help raise awareness about the value of vaccinating children – especially high-risk children – and their close contacts.

The CDC website, www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw, contains useful materials for promotion of vaccination. On the left-hand side of the NIVW home page, Free Flu Materials offers downloadable materials for vaccination promotion. Please take advantage of these FREE health education materials.

DAWSON TO LEAD HEAD START OF ROCKLAND

Wilbur Aldridge, president and chairman of the board for Head Start of Rockland, announced the selection and appointment of Ouida Foster Dawson as Acting Executive Director of Head Start of Rockland, the leading provider of preschool and early childhood education in Rockland County serving nearly 900 low income children and their families. Dawson has been selected after an exhaustive national search to replace Mary Jane Pauling-Jones who retired in late 2006 after 32 years at the helm of the organization.

Ouida Dawson received her B.S. in Child Development from North Carolina A&T State University, and an M.S. in Education, School Guidance & Counseling from Long Island University. She earned an S.A.S. in School Administration and Supervision from SUNY New Paltz. She has over 20 years experience working with children and families, including service as a preschool teacher at Church of Our Saviour Head Start in Yonkers and Union Child day Care in White Plains, followed by service as a social worker with the Westchester County Department of Social Services. She joined Head Start of Rockland in 1989 and has most recently served as director of Haverstraw Head Start, one of three major Head Start programs operated directly by Head Start of Rockland.

Dawson is an adjunct professor at Rockland Community College where she has taught an introduction to early childhood education since 1996. She has also taught abnormal psychology at Westchester Community College. She is a 2005 UCLA Johnson & Johnson Management Fellow Graduate, served as a Girl Scout Leader, was chairperson of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Mentoring Program and is past chairperson of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Scholarship Committee. She received the Town of Ramapo Outstanding Community Service Award in 2004.

Dawson is active in several professional associations, including: Habitat for Humanity of Rockland, Past President; meals on Wheels of Rockland, Past President; Palisades Association for Evaluation of Young Children, New York State Head Start Association.

Wilbur Aldridge said: “All of us on the board and policy council at Head Start of Rockland are excited and pleased to have Ouida Dawson stepping into this critical leadership position. She brings outstanding experience and a commitment to young children, plus a real knowledge of the communities and people we serve. We are confident Ouida will continue a tradition of caring and commitment to our most vulnerable children.”

Dawson said: “It is a privilege and an honor to step into this leadership role at Head Start of Rockland. My personal education philosophy believes that we can and should take a child where he/she is and build on their experiences. Children come from families and those families come from diverse cultures. Schools like Head Start, family, and community must all work together for a child to have a successful educational experience.”

She added: “We will be reaching out to all segments of the community for advice and counsel as we build on our first 43 years of success. We want to do everything in our power to help low income children and their families reach optimal potential. We want to see them succeed in school and in life.”

Head Start of Rockland, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is licensed by New York State and accredited by NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It is also a licensed provider of preschool special education evaluation and assessment services.