Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. Receives Grant to Put Local Children’s Books and Lesson Plans in Classrooms

BROOKVILLE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc., a 501(c)(3) announces that it has received a $5,000 grant from Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania through its NiSource Foundation. The 2021 book provided to Head Start classrooms is, “Christmas Treedition,” written by poet, author and marketing entrepreneur, Pam Selker Rak, who is a native of Clarion, PA and now resides in Pittsburgh, PA.

The books center on the importance of simple life lessons that come from simple moments in a child’s life. The author grew-up in Pennsylvania and shares important memories and lessons of being raised in a blue-collar family in a small, rural Pennsylvania town. Her books come with corresponding lesson plans that tie into these five areas, which are also part of Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood:

• Scientific Thinking
• Language & Literacy
• Learning Through Creative Play
• Health & Wellness
• Social Studies & Cultural Learning

According to Pam Johnson, Executive Director of Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. “We are so grateful to Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, and its foundation, for this generous grant. This money enables us to provide Christmas Treedition to our Head Start children and classrooms and that is so important to our goals. Part of our mission is to increase book ownership with our students, as this leads to lifelong readers and learners. We chose Christmas Treedition because of the lessons it teaches, and because the author has shared many of the same experiences as our children. It’s very relatable and it’s a perfect fit.”

For individuals, corporations, and foundations who wish to help fuel this learning program to more children in the Head Start Program, contact Pamela Johnson, Executive Director of Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. at 814-849-3660, ext. 112 or [e-mail].

About Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc.

Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation that serves as the administrative entity for child and family development programs including Head Start, Early Head Start, Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV), the PA Pilot Home Visiting Program-Opiate Use Disorder/Substance Use Disorder, and Parents as Teachers (PAT). Each of these programs has our fundamental mission at its core which is to provide comprehensive services to children and families. Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. has been providing quality comprehensive services to nearly 700 children each year in both Jefferson and Clarion Counties in Western Pennsylvania for thirty-nine (39) years.