Midcoast Maine Community Action’s Head Start + Early Head Start programs recently celebrated graduations for children leaving preschool. Graduation events were held at several of MMCA’s Head Start + Early Head Start locations, including Bath, Brunswick, Pejepscot, and Salt Bay in Newcastle. 
Parents, teachers, and friends gathered to celebrate the children with balloons, bubbles, and hugs. The children made tie-dyed shirts and learned special songs. They sang them for everyone in attendance, and the teachers gave each graduating child a certificate of achievement.
The Head Start Approach to School Readiness means that children are ready for Kindergarten, families are ready to support their children’s learning, and schools are ready for children. Each of children graduating from an MMCA Head Start program has developed the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success in school and for later learning and life. 
MMCA’s Head Start +Early Head Start programs provide free, high quality early childhood education for income-qualified families. Early Head Start serves children 6 weeks to 3 years old, and Head Start serves preschoolers 3 to 5 years old.
Head Start features a Whole Family approach to education, which includes support for parents including home-based Head Start services. Parents are invited to be active participants in whole family learning on topics including pregnancy, baby and child health care, nutrition, immunization, child development, child safety, and more. Head Start is also the only national program of its kind that provides support to children with disabilities and their families.
Head Start + Early Head Start are accepting applications for the 2021 school year beginning this fall.
