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When fathers are active partners in their children’s learning and development, everyone benefits.
For the third year in a row, Luzerne County Head Start participated in the nationwide Million Fathers March. A project of the nonprofit Fathers Incorporated, the initiative encourages fathers, father figures and other male role models to demonstrate their commitment to their children’s education by escorting them to school.
The agency’s Head Start, Pre-K Counts and Early Head Start sites throughout Luzerne and Wyoming counties invited their children’s fathers and fathers figures for special activities, including a dance, breakfast and playground picnics. It was an incredible day for family engagement at LCHS.
That’s why Luzerne County Head Start is laying the foundation for infants, toddlers and preschoolers in its early childhood programs to become lifelong readers.
Thanks to a grant from the PNC Foundation, LCHS launched the Head Start Home Library Project this year and hosted a series of literacy events meant to help children from birth to age 5 build up their home libraries.
Research shows that having access to books at home is one of the strongest predictors of academic achievement. A home library not only impacts the development of children, but their future success. Children with extensive home libraries read more, have higher-level literacy skills and attain more years of education than their peers with access to fewer books. However, starting and maintaining a home library as a child grows up can be cost prohibitive for low-income families like those who qualify for LCHS services.
To bridge that gap, LCHS hosted 16 book fairs between its Head Start/Pre-K Counts and Early Head Start programs and distributed more than 1,800 books. Events were held in Hazleton, Edwardsville, Plymouth, Dallas, Nanticoke, Plains, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Pittston and Exeter.
Each child selected three books, mainly focused on social-emotional development, kindness and friendship, that interested them. Bilingual books were available for Spanish-speaking families. Parents and caregivers, as well as PNC employees, volunteered at the events.
LCHS also invited community partners to provide families with literacy resources. The United Way of Wyoming Valley attended to enroll families in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a free program that provides new, age-appropriate books each month to children from birth to age 5. Several local libraries participated to sign families up for library cards and provide information on their services and children’s programs.
Children were thrilled to have new books to take home and read with their families. For parents and caregivers, the experience not only emphasized their role as their child’s first and most important teacher, but allowed them to be active participants in their learning and development. Families were encouraged to continue adding to their home libraries and reading together at home to build their children’s early literacy skills.
Chewy is helping set Luzerne County Head Start students up for a successful school year.
Team members at the online pet supply retailer’s Wilkes-Barre fulfillment center participated in a back-to-school donation drive benefiting LCHS classrooms in Luzerne and Wyoming counties. Chewy employees collected a variety of school supplies for LCHS throughout the month of August, including crayons, pencils, glue sticks and construction paper.
Pictured from left: Chewy Culture & Communications Coordinator Ally DeRitis, Luzerne County Head Start Executive Director Beth White, and Chewy HR Business Partner Kaity Cruz.
“Early Head Start has greatly helped my son develop his gross and fine motor skills and learn his shapes, colors, alphabet and numbers through cooperative play. He learned the importance of good hygiene and eating healthy with a hands-on approach. His teacher, Alyssa, was able to recognize when intervention and evaluation were needed. It’s a wonderful program that I encourage all parents of young children to explore.”
“I would most definitely recommend Early Head Start to all the new moms and dads out there. This program has shown me what a good parent is and having that special bond with your child. I have seen Joseph grow and develop in such amazing ways. From the start of home visits, he developed a lot of different skills, from learning how to crawl, to learning how to walk and eventually how to talk. At socializations, Joseph has made so many new friends along with new bonds with the educators. This experience has prepared Joseph for Head Start. I cannot wait for Joseph to make new friends and bond with his new teacher.”
Ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, we will host Health and Wellness Fairs in Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton for all new and returning children. See the flyers below for details.
Attending the Health and Wellness Fair does NOT guarantee your child’s acceptance.
Antes del inicio del año escolar 2025-2026, organizaremos una Feria de Salud y Bienestar en Wilkes-Barre y Hazleton para todos los niños nuevos y que regresan con nosotros. Consulte los folletos a continuación para obtener más información.
Visite https://forms.gle/si9z7xLJuHsX9Ecj9 para pre-registrarse. Preguntas? Llame al 570-829-6231 o envíe un correo electrónico al lchsinfo@hsweb.org.
Asistir a la Feria de Salud y Bienestar NO garantiza la aceptación de su hijo/a.
Samantha has watched her son, Joseph, grow and develop in incredible ways during their Early Head Start experience.
Along the way, Samantha has gained confidence as a parent, as the home visiting program emphasizes her role as Joseph’s first and most important teacher and allows her to be an active participant in his learning.
“I would most definitely recommend Early Head Start to all the new moms and dads out there,” she said. “This program has shown me what a good parent is and having that special bond with your child.”
Early Head Start provides comprehensive child development and family support services to expecting parents, infants and toddlers up to age 3, and their families. Families participate in weekly home visits with a family educator and have opportunities to attend socializations, also known as Family Days, at their EHS center with others in the program.
Samantha enrolled in Early Head Start when Joseph was one month old because she wanted him to begin learning as soon as possible. They were paired up with Jess, a family educator in the Edwardsville Center. For the last three years, Jess has developed a close bond with the family as she visits weekly to work on learning activities, goal setting and more. Samantha and Joseph are also regular guests at Family Days.
“From the start of home visits, he developed a lot of different skills, from learning how to crawl to learning how to walk and eventually how to talk,” Samantha said. “At socializations, Joseph has made so many new friends, along with new bonds with the educators.”
Joseph is always excited to see Jess for their home visits. As soon as she comes inside, he sits down, ready to learn. Afterward, Joseph helps pass out the resources Jess leaves for Samantha to look over throughout the week. Then, he gives Jess a hug or a high five and says, “See you next time.”
Now, Joseph is ready to transition to a Head Start classroom. Samantha is confident that her son is prepared for preschool, and she looks forward to seeing him continue to learn and make new friends.
For Jess, it was meaningful to arrange Joseph’s classroom visit and reflect on how far he has come since their first home visit.
“I have watched Joseph hit all of his milestones: sitting up, crawling, pulling himself up to stand, taking his first steps, saying his first words and now on the path to transition to a Head Start classroom in the fall,” Jess said. “I am very proud to be his family educator and cannot wait to hear all the great accomplishments he will make in the classroom.”
Luzerne County Head Start continued its investment in the health and wellness of its workforce by hosting a staff retreat at Keystone College.
The event brought together LCHS staff from all service areas for a day of rest and relaxation. Individuals from LCHS and Keystone led a range of activities focused on movement, mindfulness and creativity, giving participants tools to manage stress and center themselves physically and mentally.
Yoga, guided meditation and Zumba classes were available. Staff were also found outdoors exploring the college’s Woodlands Campus. Others opted for activities like puzzles, board games and card games indoors. Creative workshops were another highlight of the day, including chunky hand knitting, crocheting, friendship bracelet making and a garden gnome craft.
Thanks to the partnership with Keystone, staff also had opportunities to participate in fencing, beekeeping and more. Geisinger Health Plan, another partner committed to helping LCHS achieve its staff wellness goals, provided hand grip and bone density screenings.
Staff are the heart of the Head Start mission. LCHS recognizes that being in a helping profession, while rewarding and fulfilling, can demand so much from the heart and result in stress, burnout and vicarious trauma. Opportunities like the Staff Wellness Day help ensure LCHS staff can show up to work as their best selves and provide the community’s children and families with the compassion and care they deserve.
“Our children and families need to be well to do well — and the same is true for our staff. Staff wellness isn’t separate from work; it’s the foundation that allows us to bring our best to it,” said LCHS Executive Director Beth White. “Prioritizing well being is not about stepping away from responsibility, it’s about sustaining the energy and passion needed to carry it forward. When we take care of our staff, we reduce stress and burnout, making space for creativity, resilience and meaningful impact. Our team is changing the trajectory of children and families’ lives, and they matter deeply to this organization. That’s why we’re committed to supporting their wellness in every way we can.”
For Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. meal service delivery in Luzerne and Wyoming County. Meals must meet the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program as outlined in schedule C, and Head Start Performance Standard guidelines. The bidder must have adequate plant facilities for food preparation with approved licenses and certifications that meet all applicable state and local health, safety and sanitation standards. The bidder must have capable transportation, sanitation and packaging. Hot meal packaging containers and overlay must have an airtight closure, be of non-toxic material and capable of withstanding temperatures of 400 F (204 C) or higher. Cold meal unit containers and overlay are plastic or paper and non-toxic. Cartons are to be labeled with processor’s name and address, meal type, date of production and quantity of individual units per carton.
Meals are to be prepared within 24 hours prior to delivery and are to be delivered daily (5 days per week), unloaded and placed in the designated area. Management supervision must be available at all times to maintain quality control at all levels.
The vendor awarded the contract must certify that they are not suspended, debarred or proposed for debarment pertaining to public transactions per 45 CFR Part 76. All specifications may be obtained from Beth White at 570-829-6231 Ext. 331. A pre-bid meeting will be held at 23 Beekman Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 on June 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Sealed bids are due by 4:00 p.m. Monday, July 7, 2025, and will be opened at 9:00 a.m. July 8, 2025.
Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. held its 60th Anniversary Luncheon on May 19 to celebrate its longstanding commitment to enhancing the quality of life for low-income children and their families. Along with recognizing its staff for years of service, the agency granted college scholarships to former Head Start students and presented awards to its community partners.
Geisinger served as the event’s exclusive Diamond-level sponsor.
Special guests included PA Representative Brenda Pugh and staff from the offices of Congressman Rob Bresnahan, PA Senators Marty Flynn and Dave Argall, and PA Representatives Dane Watro and Alec Ryncavage.
LCHS received recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the PA Senate and House of Representatives, for Head Start’s 60th anniversary.
Alumni Scholarship Program
Now in its 39th year, the Head Start Alumni Scholarship Program – funded by businesses, organizations and individuals in the community – honors the achievements of former Head Start students set to graduate from high school and continue their education. LCHS awarded $25,500 in scholarships this year to 16 seniors from Northeast Pennsylvania, bringing the total to $380,950 since the program’s inception. This year’s scholarship recipients were:
Kelvin Kocher, Wyoming Valley West High School, $6,000 Fran Williams Memorial Scholarship
Petra Pribula, Wyoming Area Secondary Center, $2,500 Mary & Tom Sewatsky Family Scholarship
Brenda Velasquez, Elk Lake Jr. Sr. High School, $2,000 Benco Family Foundation Scholarship
Maia Costagliola, Pittston Area High School, $2,000 Tomalis-Gatusky Family Scholarship
Mariely Sosa, Wilkes-Barre Area High School, $1,500 Eugene Hogan Memorial Scholarship
Georgia Baskett, Bloomsburg Area High School, $1,500 Jeffrey Rehill Memorial Scholarship
Anya Richet, Wyoming Valley West High School, $1,000 Cross Valley Federal Credit Union Scholarship
Nathanael Obrzut, Wyoming Area Secondary Center, $1,000 Cross Valley Federal Credit Union Scholarship
Emilia Alcantara, Hazleton Area High School, $1,000 PNC Bank Scholarship
James Rasimovich Jr., Lackawanna Trail Jr. Sr. High School, $1,000 Navient Community Fund Scholarship
Amanda Dougert, Wilkes-Barre Area High School, $1,000 George & Ann Evans Memorial Scholarship
Khayyona Jackson, Wilkes-Barre Area High School, $1,000 LCHS Board of Directors Lena Taylor Memorial Scholarship
Ashley Peralta Martinez, Hazleton Area High School, $1,000 Luzerne County Bar Association Charitable Foundation Scholarship
Alexis Shotwell, Lake-Lehman Jr. Sr. High School, $1,000 Church of Christ Uniting Scholarship
Ariel Starrie, Pittston Area High School, $500 LCHS Policy Council Claudia O’Boyle Memorial Scholarship and $500 Pittston Tomato Festival Committee Scholarship
Libby Stevens, Tunkhannock Area High School, $500 Coombs Family Memorial Scholarship and $500 Delaney Family Scholarship
Pictured in the front row, from left: Emilia Alcantara, Nathanael Obrzut, Anya Richet, Mariely Sosa, Maia Costagliola, Brenda Velasquez, Petra Pribula and Kelvin Kocher. Back row: Ariel Starrie, Libby Stevens, Alexis Shotwell, James Rasimovich Jr., Khayyona Jackson, Ashley Peralta Martinez and Amanda Dougert. Not pictured: Georgia Baskett.
Kelvin Kocher
Petra Pribula
Brenda Velasquez
Maia Costagliola
Mariely Sosa
Anya Richet
Nathanael Obrzut
Emilia Alcantara
James Rasimovich Jr.
Amanda Dougert
Khayyona Jackson
Ashley Peralta Martinez
Alexis Shotwell
Libby Stevens
Ariel Starrie
Congratulations to our scholarship winners!
Outstanding Community Partners
LCHS established the Outstanding Community Partner Award over 40 years ago to recognize businesses, organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to Head Start. This year, the agency honored four Outstanding Community Partners based on nominations from LCHS staff:
LCHS also recognized 39 staff members, Foster Grandparents, bus drivers and board members for their years of service to the agency. This year’s honorees were:
40 YEARS
Suzanne Christian: Program Manager, Early Head Start Wilkes-Barre/Tunkhannock
35 YEARS
Lisa Malarkey: Director of Human Resources, Central Office
30 YEARS
Lynn Meizanis: Teacher, Pittston New Street Center
20 YEARS
Rebecca Eck: Associate Teacher, Church of Christ Uniting Center
Tammy Harvey: Classroom Aide, Lynn Evans Biga Center
Susan Snyder: Administrative Assistant, Central Office
15 YEARS
Alba Castillo: Family Worker, Hazleton Integration Project Center
Michelle Granahan: Associate Teacher, Plains Center
Charles Josulevicz: Maintenance, Central Office
Kursten Nah: Teacher, LCCC Nanticoke Center
Joann Puterbaugh: Associate Teacher, Lynn Evans Biga Center
Justin Temperine: Early Childhood Education Specialist, Central Office
10 YEARS
Marta Atiles: Center Manager, Carson Street/Hazleton Integration Project/LCCC/Hazleton/Vine West Centers
Heidi Birkel: Family Worker, LCCC Nanticoke Center
Daisy Nunez Mendez: Recruiter, Hazleton
Hiddekel Olivo: Associate Teacher, Hazleton Integration Project Center
Kathleen Pittack: Teacher, Lynn Evans Biga Center
Yajaira Roman: Family Worker, Carson Street Center
Julia Scott: Data Entry Operator, Central Office
Brittany Wojciechowicz: Family Worker, LCCC Nanticoke Center
5 YEARS
Anjelica Camacho: Teacher, Lynn Evans Biga Center
Michael Drazba: Maintenance, Central Office
Kathryn Hrivnak: Center Manager, Plymouth New Street/LCCC Nanticoke Centers
Melinda Kiddish: Center Manager, Dodson/Rice/Fairview Centers
Karina Martinez: Associate Teacher, Carson Street Center
Joann Matusick: Classroom Aide, LCCC Hazleton Center
Kippie Morgan: Associate Teacher, Edwardsville Center
Julianne Pettit: Family Worker, Tunkhannock Center
Anna Marie Silkowski: Teacher, Church of Christ Uniting Center
Inocencia Torres-Reluzco: Early Childhood Education Specialist, Central Office
Jessica Vanchure: Teacher, Edwardsville Center
Katelyn Wolfe: Associate Teacher, LCCC Nanticoke Center
FOSTER GRANDPARENTS
10 YEARS
Arline McClure: Lynn Evans Biga Center
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
20 YEARS
Leah Winslow: Lynn Evans Biga Center
30 YEARS
Dennis Faux: Back Mountain Center
Lori Faux: Mehoopany Center
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
5 YEARS
Teri Ooms
10 YEARS
Phyllis Mundy
George Rable
5 Years
Pictured from left: Michael Drazba, Anna Silkowski, Inocencia Torres-Reluzco, Julianne Pettit, Kippie Morgan, Kathryn Hrivnak, Katelyn Wolfe, Joann Matusick and Anjelica Camacho. Not pictured: Melinda Kiddish, Karina Martinez and Jessica Vanchure.
10 Years
Pictured from left: Brittany Wojciechowicz, Heidi Birkel, Kathleen Pittack, Julia Scott, Marta Atiles, Hiddekel Olivo, Daisy Nunez Mendez and Yajaira Roman.
George Rable, LCHS Board of Directors.
15 Years
Pictured from left: Charles Josulevicz, Justin Temperine, Michelle Granahan and Kursten Nah. Not pictured: Alba Castillo and Joann Puterbaugh.
