Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 9-4-18

Birthday
Birthday Celebration Held On Harbour Island
Harbour Island was the site that Eric Drenton chose to celebrate his birthday. He was joined by family members and friends. (Photographs by Julia Jackson)
Local
Early Childhood Education Changing Trajectory
Of Prison Pipeline
Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan is shown with Ms. Eve- lyn McFadden, Hillsborough County Public Schools Head- start Director and Dr. Jacquelyn Jenkins, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Headstart Depart- ment Director.
Birthday honoree, Eric Drenton and wife, Caroly- nann, are shown with friend, Chaddrick Berrner.
Karri Johnson, Veronica Brettaran, and Gene Carlis.
Gloria Harris and Rhonda Lloyd attended the birthday celebration.
Phyllis Threaton attended the birthday party.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
It has often been said that learning begins at birth and continues throughout life. However, learning habits are established during the form- ative years of a child’s life.
The Headstart Programs in Hillsborough County are partnering with Police Chief Brian Dugan to paint a new picture of optimism for the youngest learners. These students are being intro- duced to the 3E’s (Encoun- ters, Experiences, and Employment) in classrooms and community centered around planned positive En- counters with law enforce- ment, sharing of Experiences from staff and families to go and grow their own communities later, and Employment opportunities in the field of law enforce- ment.
Currently, more than 3,500 children between the ages of birth to 5 are served in one of the Headstart Pro- grams. Those programs are the Hillsborough County Public Schools Headstart Program, the Hillsborough
County Board of County Commissioners Headstart Program, the Lutheran Serv- ices of Florida and the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA Program.
The programs are de- signed to provide educa- tional opportunities for the children and to provide op- tions for flexibility in meet- ing the needs of the families.
The programs have of- fered opportunities for self- sufficiency to the underserved population for more than 50 years. They are designed to focus on the “whole child,” with the par- ent as the first teacher, key- ing in on the developmental areas of social, emotional, and school readiness.
In order to qualify for one of the programs, families must meet the federal age and income requirements. Priority is given to 4-year- olds and those in foster care, or those who are homeless.
The Headstart Programs typically enroll students at the beginning of the year. However, students can also be enrolled throughout the year as space becomes avail- able.
Ladies who enjoyed the party were: CeCi Brist, Valeria Rift, Heather Hartman, Lisa Brown, Tina Glueton, Sherri Morrils, Barbara Nelson and Karla Brown.
PAGE 8 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2018