Parent Involvement
We want ALL parents/grandparents/family members to feel welcome to volunteer in our program anytime!!!!
We offer many different opportunities for parents to be involved in our program. We offer you the opportunity to gain new skills and develop skills you already have.
Monthly Parent Meetings: We hold monthly parent meetings on topics related to parenting, nutrition, literacy, finances, health, and other topics related to children and families. Guest speakers from the community are invited to share information at these monthly meetings. At the beginning of the school year we send out surveys for you to fill out and let us know what kinds of topics you would like to know more about...make sure that you get those turned back in to your child's classroom! We provide child care and a light meal may be served. We invite all families to come out and fellowship!
Parent Training: Our staff and other presenters provide parent training throughout the year on topics that concern parents today such as: Positive Discipline, Sibling Rivalry, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Health & Nutrition, Child Abuse Prevention, and many more.
Topics, dates and times will be provided to all parents.
Parent Center Committees: Head Start is a parent driven program. We need your help and input in all areas! Parent Committees are one way to make sure that you are involved in what is going on in your child's center. Parent Committees are made up of family members only. This group of parents represents their child's center at bi-weekly or monthly meetings.
During these meetings parents are encouraged to make their own choices about how to advocate for and help their child's center. Program staff will attend the meetings only to advise parents of Child Care and Head Start regulations and requirements.
Parents can plan activities, special events, make bulletin boards, advocate in the community, make a news letter, etc. It is a parent driven committee, so parents decide when and what they want to do!
Fabulous Father's Club: This program is designed specifically to involve a male role model in children's lives. We encourage dad, grandpa, uncle, cousin, or even a male family friend to participate with their child.
This club goes on educational field trips and special outings, enjoys time together in the classrooms, and interacts through play and learning.
Look for flyers in your child's mail about all of the above mentioned activities! Also check the Calendar on this site.
Volunteer Policy
Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom when possible; however because of state regulations we do have some guidelines that we must follow:
- Volunteers must be 18 years or older
- To volunteer more than one day per week we must have current TB test and you must fill out Emergency Information
- You may not bring siblings or other children
- You must attend volunteer or substitute training and/or review information on volunteer responsibilities
- You may not be left alone with children (other than your own)
- All volunteers must read and sign the Volunteer handbook
Parent of the Year
Strive to be our Parent of the Year!! The Parent of the Year will respresent our program at the North Carolina Head Start Association Conference each spring and compete against parents from all over the state for the NCHSA Parent of the Year Award! Selection is based on: number of volunteer hours accumulated, teacher recommendation, involvement in Head Start activities, and community involvement.
