Twenty-six youngsters promoted from District 6 & 7’s Head Start program

June 3, 2016

Thomas R. Throssell

Gila River Indian News

The laughter of children echoed throughout the District 6 Boys & Girls Club’s gymnasium, May 20, as 26 youngsters from District 6 and 7’s Head Start program accepted their promotion certificates, surrounded by cheering mothers and fathers.

The children, all around the ages of 4 and 5, were wearing a variety of outfits, from the traditional to the modern and stylish.

While some of the youngsters will continue their education outside of the Community, many of the children will attend the same schools in Gila River and remain classmates.

Bruce Hutchinson, Head Start Family Service Advocate, said of the children’s next steps into the world of schooling, “We are a large Community, with our families [coming] from District 6 and 7…They will have their choice of going to Gila Crossing Community School, the Laveen School District, or other schools in the surrounding area.”

Gila River Indian Community’s Head Start program, which has been in operation since 1965, provides child-care services for children ages 3 to 5-years-old.

The Early Head Start program provides services to children 6-weeks to 3-years-old. The organization provides educational, nutritional, physical, health, and social services to children in an effort to ensure that no Community child is left behind.

Hutchinson said of the children being promoted, “Most of the children [here], they started when they were babies.” He highly encourages Community members to make use of the program so they, as parents, can go back to school or further their work careers.

“That’s what it all entails…keeping families together and close, within our Community.”

“It is a wonderful feeling to have a family go through [the] program and succeed. We want our children to be set up for success,” Hutchinson said.

For more information about the Head Start or Early Head Start programs, call District 3’s program at (520) 562-3423, District 4’s program at (520) 418-3471, District 5’s program at (520) 550-2434, or District 6 and 7’s program at (520) 550-2434.