HEAD START...50TH ANNIVERSARY

HEAD START CLASSES ARE 50 YEARS OLD THIS MONTH.    AND MAQUOKETA CELEBRATED WITH A PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE YESTERDAY AT THE CLASSROOM ON EAST QUARRY STREET.  
    I TOOK MY CAMERA ALONG.....

HERE IS THE MAIN CLASSROOM BUT THERE ARE 3 OTHER AREAS WHERE KIDS HAVE CLASSES OR
FUN. HEAD START OFFERS SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, AND MOTION ACTIVITIES.

THERE ARE 20 STUDENTS IN MAQUOKETA, WITH ROOM FOR A COUPLE MORE.    NOT LONG AGO, THERE WERE 2 CLASSROOMS IN MAQUOKETA AND
ONE IN PRESTON.   THIS CHANGED WHEN PRE-SCHOOL CLASSES WERE STARTED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
THERE ARE INCOME GUIDELINES FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS AGE 3 AND 4.   

THE KITCHEN FOR PREPARING BREAKFAST AND
LUNCH.   HEAD START CLASSES ARE TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8:30 A.M. UNTIL 2:30 P.M.

WEATHER PERMITTING, THERE IS DAILY FUN FOR THE KIDS AT THE OUTSIDE PLAYGROUND.

THE HEAD START OFFICE IS IN DUBUQUE AND SERVES DELAWARE, DUBUQUE AND JACKSON COUNTIES.    THIS FEDERAL PROGRAM WAS 
STARTED BY PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON 50 YEARS AGO AND JACKSON COUNTY STARTED THEN ALSO.    THE STAFF HAS MANY YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE.    LEFT TO RIGHT:   WHITNEY REKEMEYER, COOK, 5 YEARS.   RENEE GERARDY, TEACHER ASSOCIATE, 5 YEARS.    BEV DIRKS,
WHO WAS THE 2ND CLASSROOM TEACHER AND NOW IS AN ASSOCIATE TO SUE.   SHE HAS BEEN 
WITH HEAD START FOR 23 YEARS.   AND FAR RIGHT,
SUE DEMOSS, TEACHER, AND IN HER 25TH YEAR.
THERE ARE KIDS IN JACKSON COUNTY THAT 
QUALIFY FOR HEAD START, ESPECIALLY 3 YEAR-OLDS.   STOP IN AND TAKE A TOUR AND
DISCUSS HEAD START WITH BEV OR SUE.
THE CLASS ROOM IS LOCATED ON EAST QUARRY
STREET, RIGHT NEXT TO THE SENIOR CENTER,
AND NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE FAIRGROUNDS.

DENNIS VOY
kmaq@kmaq.com