Here is a list of places offering meals for students during Spring Break.
Dec. 14, 2018 | Though a dreary mist darkened the midmorning sky outside, it was all brightness and cheer in the offices of UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, as 19 preschool carolers from UAMS Head Start Sherwood came to spread the holiday spirit.
The happy singers, led by teacher Tami Dickerson, came in elf attire, reindeer shirts and Santa hats.
“Oh my goodness! Just look at you guys!” gushed Patterson as he welcomed the 3- and 4-year-old guests to his office, bent over to greet them face-to-face, then offered high fives with a resounding “booyah” to each one.
The preschool class was continuing an 18-year tradition of caroling the UAMS chancellor just before the winter holidays, though this was the first concert for Patterson, who joined UAMS as chancellor in June 2018.
After lining up so as to be flanked by a handmade saxophone and plastic guitar, the singers launched into a jazzy rendition of the iconic holiday classic “Jingle Bells” as Patterson and numerous onlookers danced and swayed, many with cameras in hand recording the whole holly jolly proceeding. All verses covered, the sax and guitar each got their turn for a “solo” before all singers came back in for a final, emphatic chorus.
Afterward, Patterson handed out clementine Cutie oranges to each student, and they collectively gave the chancellor a green Christmas card signed by the class.
Pictures taken, the group moved on to visit Richard Turnage, M.D., vice chancellor for clinical programs and CEO of UAMS Medical Center. For him, five elves split off and gave a five-line elf cheer full of well-wishing before the entire ensemble broke into “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
From Turnage’s office in Hospital Administration, the group progressed to the hospital’s Lobby Café, where they split into two lines, girls on one side and boys on the other. In this formation, the children performed a “Where Is Santa?” song to the tune of “Frère Jaques,” then those in reindeer shirts took center stage as the whole group sang “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Finally, the youngsters repeated “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” for the gathered audience of UAMS staff, guests and patients who were passing through the hospital lobby.
Their concert tour complete, the preschoolers then headed toward the exit, but not before stopping to take a picture with a group of UAMS police officers they encountered as they waited for their bus.
UAMS Head Start serves 928 preschoolers at 17 sites in Pulaski County. UAMS has administered the Head Start program in Pulaski County since 1998.
By Spencer Watson
Though a dreary mist darkened the midmorning sky outside, it was all brightness and cheer in the offices of UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, as 19 preschool carolers from UAMS Head Start Sherwood came to spread the holiday spirit.
The happy singers, led by teacher Tami Dickerson, came in elf attire, reindeer shirts and Santa hats.
“Oh my goodness! Just look at you guys!” gushed Patterson as he welcomed the 3- and 4-year-old guests to his office, bent over to greet them face-to-face, then offered high fives with a resounding “booyah” to each one.
The preschool class was continuing an 18-year tradition of caroling the UAMS chancellor just before the winter holidays, though this was the first concert for Patterson, who joined UAMS as chancellor in June 2018.
After lining up so as to be flanked by a handmade saxophone and plastic guitar, the singers launched into a jazzy rendition of the iconic holiday classic “Jingle Bells” as Patterson and numerous onlookers danced and swayed, many with cameras in hand recording the whole holly jolly proceeding. All verses covered, the sax and guitar each got their turn for a “solo” before all singers came back in for a final, emphatic chorus.
Afterward, Patterson handed out clementine Cutie oranges to each student, and they collectively gave the chancellor a green Christmas card signed by the class.
Pictures taken, the group moved on to visit Richard Turnage, M.D., vice chancellor for clinical programs and CEO of UAMS Medical Center. For him, five elves split off and gave a five-line elf cheer full of well-wishing before the entire ensemble broke into “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
From Turnage’s office in Hospital Administration, the group progressed to the hospital’s Lobby Café, where they split into two lines, girls on one side and boys on the other. In this formation, the children performed a “Where Is Santa?” song to the tune of “Frère Jaques,” then those in reindeer shirts took center stage as the whole group sang “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Finally, the youngsters repeated “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” for the gathered audience of UAMS staff, guests and patients who were passing through the hospital lobby.
Their concert tour complete, the preschoolers then headed toward the exit, but not before stopping to take a picture with a group of UAMS police officers they encountered as they waited for their bus.
UAMS Head Start serves 928 preschoolers at 17 sites in Pulaski County. UAMS has administered the Head Start program in Pulaski County since 1998.
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This is Charles Witcher Sr., a returning parent from Silver City Head Start. He and his wife were also our policy council representatives for the 2017-2018 school year.
Mr. Witcher came by the office on the first week of school and asked if it will be okay if he does the maintenance on the playground. He said he was really pleased with our program and wanted to be of assistance.
The family has had other children who attended UAMS Head Start programs in the past.
He stated he wanted to show gratitude for everything that Head Start has done for him and his family past, present and future.
He said he likes the new location and he is available at any time to come out and be of support to ensure that this school term be as successful as last year.
Thank You to Mr. Witcher and his family for being an integral part of our Head Start family and for recognizing and supporting the work we do.
Early Head Start accepts applications for infants birth through 35 months, including children with special needs.
Head Start enrolls children 3-4 years old, including children with special needs
(Child’s birth date must be on or before August 1)
Transportation is not available. Listing of Child Care Providers upon request.
Register online:
Click here to enroll your child
Early Head Start acepta solicitudes para niños desde el nacimiento hasta los 35 meses incluyendo niños con necesidades especiales
Head Start matricula niños de 3-4 años incluyendo niños con necesidades especiales
(La fecha de nacimiento de niño debe ser en o antes del 1 de Agosto).
Transporte no disponible. Lista de Proveedorea de Cuidados de Niños disponible a petición.
Registrese por internet:
Haga clic aquí para inscribir a su hijo
Head Start Central Office at: 501.570.5000
Para Español comuníquese al: 501.526.6980 o 501.570.5010
Click the link below for more information.
Haga clic en el enlace de abajo para más información.
https://headstart.uams.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2018/05/LACA_ProjectLift_Flyer1.pdf
UAMS Head Start and Early Head Start has partnered with three Child Care Partners to offer Early Head Start Services to children in those programs. One program is the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church St. Luke Children’s Learning Center. Here is some feedback from a PHUMC Member.
“You are a blessing to these children and families.
I am a member at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church and have worked with Courtney Carl-Lee with the opening of St. Luke Children’s Learning Center/Parent Resource Center.
That partnership with UAMS Early Head Start is just amazing.
High quality, free child care for families and wrap around services for the children and families is so very important, for this city, this state and this country.
I appreciate all you do.”
Heather Schmeigelow
January 29, 2018
Thank you for your generosity in donating gifts and time to UAMS Head Start/Early Head Start. We are grateful for the overwhelming support you have shown us. We could not do the work we do with families on our own. It takes the community. Your contributions of toys and clothing allowed us to provide gifts and necessities to 848 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old at 14 sites within Pulaski County. Families have expressed tremendous appreciation for the gifts their children received. In addition to gifts for children, some people were able to sponsor entire families by providing gifts and necessities for all family members living in the house. A mother came to our office to get the gifts and was overwhelmed with joy. Cars were filled with gifts for families. You truly have been a blessing to our families this holiday season.
UAMS Head Start/Early Head Start program is a quality early childhood program that serves children and their families in the areas of education, health, nutrition, disabilities, mental health and social serves. To date, we service 128 infant and toddlers and 720 three to five year olds. We have also begun a childcare partnership that allows us to serve 40 additional infants and toddlers in community through childcare centers.
For the past eighteen years, UAMS has worked with key stakeholders within our community to assist families in obtaining a quality early childhood experience in efforts to prepare children for school readiness. These community collaborations have contributed to bringing families new experiences, resources and support in an overall effort of preparing children for success in school and beyond. Our primary objective is to teach, heal, search and serve the community while promoting growth and development of preschool children and strengthening families.
One of the cornerstones of our success has been our ability to build partnerships. We are a federally funded program and providing holiday gifts is beyond our capacity. Many of our sponsors this year were repeat sponsors; we sincerely appreciate your continued support and advocacy of our program throughout the years. For all our new sponsors, we look forward to your participation in future years. We could not have completed this project without your partnership and willingness to help.
If you have an interest in assisting our program throughout the year, we would be happy to speak with you about opportunities for donations and volunteering. Thank you again for your support! We hope you found the experience to be as meaningful and memorable as our staff, children and families did.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Pecor Tyra Larkin
Stuff the Stockings Coordinator Program Director
rlpecor@uams.edu tmlarkin@uams.edu
501-526-7645 501-570-5000