CDS Lakeshore Head Start offers many early childhood education programs to promote health and education for children and families living in Ottawa and northern Allegan Counties.
Parent participation is encouraged during home visits, parent meetings, and policy-making groups. CDS programs provide a safe, caring environment for children in a group learning setting.
Curriculum
The curriculum focuses on the whole child in the areas of Health, Nutrition, Science, and Social Skills. On a typical day children are offered circle time, language activities, free play and small group activities and occasional field trips.
Services
Children and parents participating in CDS programs receive the following services:
- Preschool Education
- Meal and Snack Provided
- Children’s Health Program
- Support Services to Families
- Special Needs Assistance
- Parent Involvement Activities
- Volunteer Opportunities
Opportunities
Parents are the first and most important teachers to their children. CDS offers a variety of opportunities to help parents with this important responsibility including:
- Offering parent trainings on topics that are of interest to parents
- Helping Head Start parents recognize their strengths
- Assisting Head Start parents in setting and working on goals
- Providing resource information and referrals to Head Start parents
- Offering Head Start parents opportunities to participate in Family Nights, Policy Council, Education Advisory, and Health Advisory Committees
- Encouraging parent involvement in the classroom and on field trips
- Providing opportunities for family literacy
- Providing opportunities for father/positive male role model involvement
- Parent-Teacher Conferences and Home Visits