Head  Start XXI provides a wide variety of developmentally appropriate experiences in the areas of education, health and nutrition for young children and has many community linkages with local social services to assist families in meeting their daily needs.  Hot lunches are provided to the children during class. Transportation is available to and from Head Start centers.

Parents/guardians are welcome in Head Start. Active family involvement in services is encouraged and highly valued.

Head Start centers, open Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5  p.m., operate both half day or full day sessions. Preschoolers attend class for 130 days. The school year follows typical public school schedule,  September through May. In limited areas, there are sites which are expanding to full-day, full-year, with youngsters attending from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There are 27 classroom sites in East Chicago, Gary, Hammond,  Merrillville, Hobart, Cedar Lake, Lowell, Hebron, Portage, Chesterton and Valparaiso, Indiana -- U.S.A.
Call the Geminus Head Start XXI central office to find the classroom site nearest you.

What really makes Head Start work?
Head Start XXI is one of the most successful people programs ever created. Head Start nationally has touched the lives of over 17.7 million preschool children and their families since it began in 1965. Research tracking the lives of children indicates that for each single dollar spent on full service early childhood programs, this returns seven dollars in reduced public expenses. These savings are due to a reduction in need for special education, reduced teen pregnancy, less drug use and increased levels of employment as young adults.

Head Start Goals

• Help the child's emotional and social development by encouraging self confidence, self expression, self discipline, and curiosity.

• Improve and expand the child's ability to think, reason, and communicate with others.

• Develop math and reading readiness skills.

• Provide children with varied experiences to broaden their horizons, increase their ease of conversation, and improve their understanding of the world in which they live.

• Give young children frequent opportunities to succeed which helps to erase patterns of frustration, fears and failure.

• Increase the child's ability to get along with the family, and the family to understand the child development, and to strengthen family ties.

• Develop in the child and the family a responsible attitude toward society and foster feelings of belonging to a community.

• Recognize, support and value multicultural experiences.

• Improve and maintain the child's health and nutrition.

• Help both the child and the family to have confidence, self respect, and dignity.

Teaching Technology
In each Geminus Head Start classroom is 21st century touch-screen computers which engage preschoolers along with wooden blocks and story books.  In the year 2000 Geminus purchased 83 computers for every Head Start center. These computers offer  flexibility to children who can't use a mouse yet to simply touch the screen.

At Head Start technology is seen as an extension to all learning centers.  Learning centers already in use are: science, literacy, math, housekeeping, hand coordination, puzzle, structure building and creative arts such as drama and play.

These twin unit computers which are easily child friendly were purchased from a company which specializes nationally with early childhood computer access. Software on the computers includes literacy skills, number recognition, counting skills, critical think and creative expression. Because of Head Start's strong family component, parents can work on projects on these computers too.

For details about Head Start call 219-757-1840

or

Email  kay.jackson@geminus.org

Get a Head Start for Your Child Today!
Call Geminus Corporation  Head Start  XXI
8400 Louisiana St., Merrillville, Indiana  46410-6353
219-757-1840
Or Toll Free 1-888-893-6891