Hello, Head Start!
The four one hundredth of an inch of rain was an amazing experience for me! The rain might have just dusted the trees and not watered them, but I appreciated it immensely. The life giving rain drops lifted my spirits and gave me hope for the future. I might sound overly happy about our rainy morning, but I have a well, so the annual summer dry spell causes me to change my daily routines, knowing it is always possible the well could run dry.
We are currently living in a time where the “well is running dry” for too many families. Parents are trying to figure out how they can go to work when their children are involved in virtual learning at home; how to pay bills without a paycheck. Oregon children are experiencing something none of us have dealt with in our lifetime…. schools are closed and not opening anytime soon. It behooves us all to increase our commitment to providing supports and services to Early Head Start and Head Start families. The Agency has been planning and working to ensure we can stay in communication with enrolled families, showing we really care about their well being and their child’s learning environment.
I would like to have a thankful shout out for the staff providing full day services and summer school experiences for over 200 families! Early Head Start continues to provide quality home visits weekly. Home visitors….you are a lifeline of support. Managers, Consultants, facilities crew, kitchen staff, support staff…..thank you for ensuring a healthy and supportive environment for the children and the staff in our centers and at home offices. Staff, please know we are all doing our best to focus on your physical health and social/emotional health.
Our school nurse, Valerie Haynes has been an amazing force of nature during the pandemic! Did you know that Val consults with supervisors and staff on every identified (or presumptive) Covid case, be it staff or child or family member? We would not be in the place we are now……providing in person summer services to preschoolers without her consistent guidance and occasional fire and brimstone lectures! Thank-you, Valerie!
Have a great weekend, everyone. Be kind,be healthy, and be masked!
Annie Soto
Executive Director
541-747-2425 (1205)
asoto@hsolc.org
Ensuring that our Youngest Children have a Solid Foundation for Life
