Headstart holds open house

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Franklin County Times
The Russellville Headstart Program held their second annual Christmas Open House and Storytelling event yesterday.
Children were treated to Christmas stories and a visit from Santa Claus.
While the event is geared toward getting the Headstart students excited about reading, parents, grandparents and siblings were invited to the event to promote parental involvement and family learning.
"One of our goals is to get the parents involved with their child's learning," Center Director Sheila Pierce said. "When you have involved parents, the children get excited about learning and it really makes a difference."
Pierce is a believer in not only helping students but also helping parents make a better life for their families.
Russellville Headstart strives to provide a solid foundation for every child that enters the program.
The Russellville Headstart Program has 60 students enrolled and is federally funded. The National Headstart Program was established in the 1960s by President Lyndon B. Johnson to help provide poor American children with a quality education prior to entering elementary school.