LCHS Releases 2019-2020 Annual Report to the Community

October 1, 2020

Our most recent Annual Report to the Community is now available. The 2019-2020 publication summarizes the entire program year and highlights some of the major accomplishments that took place over the course of the year at LCHS. This year, the report also touches on the changes LCHS made to early childhood education and family services as the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout our communities. The full report can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Early Head Start Mom’s Call for Help Answered During Pandemic

September 15, 2020

Early Head Start mom, Keisha, had fallen into some hard times during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Her husband had to quarantine for one month and was unable to work, leaving the family with one income.  Meanwhile, Keisha’s two-year-old daughter, Harmony was in need of a pair of expensive children’s eyeglasses.  However, the loss of income made it impossible for Keisha to purchase the glasses for Harmony. 

Keisha told her Early Head Start family educator about Harmony’s need for the children’s eyeglasses, and that she could not afford the expense.  Through the help of Early Head Start, she was connected with optometrist, Dr. Alan Frank, in Kingston.  Harmony was fitted for the glasses at the doctor’s office and recently received the eyeglasses, all expenses paid. Keisha says she is very thankful for the help she received through LCHS’s Early Head Start program and Dr. Alan Frank’s office.

Early Head Start child, Harmony, receives her new children’s eyeglasses.
Harmony with optometrist, Dr. Alan Frank.

Luzerne County Head Start Reopening Plan

July 14, 2020

LCHS to begin classes virtually for Fall 2020

Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. will begin the 2020-2021 school year virtually on Mon., Aug. 31.

Based on the health and wellness of our community and state, students and staff in federal and state Head Start classrooms, as well as Pre-K Counts, will begin in-person classroom learning on a staggered start beginning Mon., Oct 5. Please note this date is subject to change.

All classrooms will be limited to ten children and will have up to three direct staff per classroom, who will practice social distancing and follow face mask guidelines.

To review Luzerne County Head Start, Inc.’s complete Fall of 2020 reopening plan, please CLICK HERE.

 

A Head Start on Heart Health

January 10, 2020

Children, their teachers and classroom staff at Luzerne County Head Start’s Mehoopany center were featured on Eyewitness News WBRE/WYOU for a presentation they took part in that taught them about the importance of heart health. Head Start regional nurse, Eva Kennedy, talked to the 3, 4 and 5-year-old children at the center in Wyoming County about eating the right food, exercising and not smoking. She offered several demonstrations and held up flash cards that helped the children to understand how to make good decisions that will keep their hearts healthy. Each child then got to listen to his or her own heartbeat with a stethoscope.

The presentation is one of many lessons built into the Head Start curriculum that helps to encourage healthy habits among young children. Click HERE to watch the story put together by Eyewitness News Healthbeat Reporter, Mark Hiller.

“Signs” of the New Year at LCHS

January 7, 2020

Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. recently replaced its large outdoor, building sign at its central office/ Beekman St., Wilkes-Barre location. The design (top picture) has a more modern look and includes LCHS’s updated logo, which was unveiled in the summer of 2019. The updated logo includes the traditional Head Start building blocks along with a small, red heart. The heart is meant to signify the importance of family, trust, relationships, culture, diversity and understanding: all of which are important values in the Head Start program. The old sign (bottom picture) was installed on the building when it opened in the mid 1990’s.

Head Start Children Receive Winter Coats from City’s First Responders

December 20, 2019

Thirty five children who attend Luzerne County Head Start’s (LCHS) Beekman Street, Wilkes-Barre center have a brand new coat this winter thanks to a successful fundraiser conducted by the city of Wilkes-Barre’s fire department and other first responders. For the past several years, the city’s fire department purchased coats through “Operation Warm” for children in need in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District.  Operation Warm is a national non-profit organization that focuses on improving the lives of children living in need through the gift of a brand new winter coat. Thanks to this year’s successful fundraiser, for the first time, city firefighters were able to expand their reach and purchase 35 new coats for children at LCHS. The fundraiser was a joint effort conducted by the city of Wilkes-Barre’s fire department, police department and paramedics. 

Standing, from left, back row – Sean Chandler, former Wilkes-Barre chief paramedic; Capt. Dave Roberts, Wilkes-Barre fire department; Tom Burke, former Wilkes-Barre assistant fire chief; Lisa Temperine, center manager, LCHS; Beth White, assistant executive director, LCHS
Standing, from left, middle row – Head Start children: Naima, Aiden, Tamiya, Blessin, Jaylianna, Adriana, Maurice, Ashanti, Tyree, In’Aise, Elliot, Jayden, Faith, Madison
Seated, from left – Head Start children: Roman, Kylie, Jhanae, Jhene, Bella, Omayri, Arianna, Ashley, Hector, Zion, Zaniyah, Emma, Taya, Isaac, Cameron, Mason

LCHS Families Complete Parenting Education Classes

December 10, 2019

Families whose children are enrolled in Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. recently completed a six-session series of parenting classes called “Understanding Children.” The classes took place in November and December at LCHS’s Wilkes-Barre, Beekman St. center. Trained mental health professionals from Lakeside, a company based in the Philadelphia area, helped parents to focus on better understanding their child’s behaviors, interactions and needs. Families also had the opportunity to talk with other families about their experiences with parenting.

Pictured: LCHS families complete series of parenting education classes

Head Start Children Receive Holiday Gifts from Healthcare Employees

December 6, 2019

Children from Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. (LCHS) will once again have a brighter holiday thanks to employees at Commonwealth Health.  For the past several years, staff from the healthcare network has been collecting gifts for the Head Start program, which provides early childhood education and comprehensive services to children, birth to age five, and their families in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.

This year, employees fulfilled the wish lists of 93 children who attend school at LCHS’s Edwardsville and Beekman Street, Wilkes-Barre centers. Employees from LCHS picked up dozens of gifts that were collected by staff and volunteers at Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and will distribute them to each child’s family before the Christmas holiday.

Standing, from left: Joanne Hite, family worker, LCHS; Rose Ward, volunteer, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital; Cheryl Capese, teacher, LCHS; Bob Stiekes, chief operating officer, Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital; Krystal Daniele, intern, LCHS; Bill Podskoch, director of patient transport/volunteer services, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital; Matt Shaver, patient transport, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital; Joan Lesnoski, family worker, LCHS
Kneeling: Terri Edwards, volunteer, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital 

Video Highlights PA State Treasurer’s Visit to Luzerne County Head Start

November 22, 2019

Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Joe Torsella, visited Luzerne County Head Start in 2018 to kick off the Keystone Scholars pilot program. As part of this demonstration project, babies born or children adopted in 2018 in six counties in PA including Delaware, Elk, Indiana, Luzerne, Mifflin and Westmoreland became eligible for a $100 seed deposit in a Keystone Scholars account established for their post secondary education. For babies born or children adopted on or after January 1, 2019, Keystone Scholars became available statewide.

Mr. Torsella’s visit to LCHS helped to create awareness and acceptance for this new and innovative savings program. To learn more about the Keystone Scholars program, click HERE.

Click HERE to view the video which highlights Mr. Torsella’s 2018 visit to Luzerne County Head Start’s Beekman St., Wilkes-Barre center. 

PA State Treasurer, Joe Torsella’s, 2018 visit to Luzerne County Head Start, Inc.