BERLIN – Local parents, children and community members celebrated the 50th anniversary of Head Start with a special ceremony in Berlin.
On May 18, students and teachers from the Berlin Head Start Center marked the founding of Head Start five decades ago by planting a rose bush.
“These programs were developed by the local community to meet the needs of the local community,” said Michelle Kogon, operations supervisor at the Berlin Head Start. “After 50 years, thosues remain unchanged.”
Head Start programs throughout the country celebrated the milestone anniversary with similar events. Rose bushes were planted to commemorate the start of the program, which was first announced May 18, 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the rose garden at the White House.
The Berlin Head Start Center, located on Flower Street, was the first Head Start program opened by
Berlin Councilman Elroy Brittingham helped to plant a rose bush at the Berlin Head Start Center on Monday. Photos by Charlene Sharpe
area non-profit SHORE UP. The organization now operates 17 Head Start programs serving more than 1,150 children throughout Eastern Shore.
“I’m so proud of Head Start,” said Elroy Brittingham, chairman of SHORE UP’s board and a member of the Berlin Town Council.
Head Start is designed to prepare students between the ages of three and five who come from low-income families for school. There are about 80 students enrolled at the Berlin Head Start Center. They showed off some of what they’ve learned with song Monday.
“Look at this,” Brittingham said afterward. “This is it. You all know how important it is to get a head start. I’m really proud of all these kids.”
Wendy Rossi, one of the teachers at the center, recalled how she’d started as a volunteer when one of her children attended Head Start.
“Here I am 20 years later as a teacher,” she said. “I love my job.”
She said she particularly enjoyed watching the kids learn and grow during their time at Head Start.
“I know they’re going to be successful in the years to come,” she said, adding that one of her former students was now her assistant.
Denise Allen, SHORE UP’s Head Start director, thanked the program’s staff members for the hard work they put in and thanked parents for their support.
“This rose bush represents our continued commitment to Head Start,” she said.
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