THE CNMI Public School System and Board of Education joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the 56th year of the Head Start program which provides low-income children and families comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition and other services.
On Rota on Oct. 1, BOE, PSS, the Head Start/Early Head Start Program and other education stakeholders proclaimed October as Head Start Awareness Month.
Launched in 1965 in the U.S., Head Start was established in the CNMI in 1984.
The proclamation signing ceremony on Friday was held at Rota’s Sinapalo Head Start Center and the signatories were BOE Chairman Andrew L. Orsini and Vice Chairman Herman Atalig.
Witnessing the event were acting Commissioner of Education Eric Magofna, Head Start/Early Head Start Program Director Lathania Angui, acting Rota Mayor and Municipal Council Member Jonovan Lizama, who is also the Head Start Policy Council representative, and the island’s Head Start children.
In her remarks, Head Start Program Director Lathania Santos said the program helps children build abilities they need to be ready for kindergarten and life.
She said for the past 56 years “the Head Start model has been built on evidence-based practices and is constantly adapting.”
“Every child has the ability to succeed, and, together, we’re supporting more children, families and communities on their path to success,” she added.
“I would [also] like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thank you to our amazing stakeholders: the CNM State Board of Education, our Head Start Policy Council, PSS key management and many PSS departments and programs that assist us one way or another,” Angui said.
“My sincere gratitude as well to the awesome Head Start and Early Head Start team and families…for their patience, hard work and dedication, and for the quality care you provide each and every day.”
Hard work
Acting Commissioner of Education Eric Magofna noted the hard work of Head Start/Early Head Start staff and personnel.
“We all know the importance of Head Start/Early Head Start. The program prepares these ‘young friends’ (which is how Head Start students call each other) for school. It helps build their social skills as they transition into the next level,” he added.
He also praised the parents of Head Start students for trusting the school district; and the BOE for its continuous support.
For his part, BOE Chairman Orsini commended all the Head Start/Early Head Start Program officials and personnel on Saipan, Tinian and Rota “for supporting each other and giving our children the best training.”
The BOE and PSS, he added, “will always stand for that slogan, ‘Students First,’ and I always believe in that. We need to remind everyone that without students, we — educators, leaders, policymakers, myself included — will not exist. We exist because of you, our students.”
He said Head Start is a very important part of our educational system “because this is where it all starts.”
BOE Vice Chairman Herman Atalig likewise commended and thanked the program’s staff and personnel, especially the program director, Lathania Angui, for ensuring that Head Start/Early Head Start is adequately funded.
“The engine behind this program is…Lathaia Angui,” Atalig said. “She will do battle for you on funding. Without her, this whole thing here today will not happen. Thank you director,” he added.
Federal grant
The local Head Start/Early Head Start Program was established in the fall of 1984 through a federal grant awarded to the then-CNMI Department of Education.
Since then, the local program has served more than 17,000 children, Program Director Angui said.
In 2015, the CNMI was awarded the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Grant. Seven years later, the CNMI-PSS Head Start/Early Head Start Program remains the lone grantee in the outer Pacific to receive the multi-year grant award.
Students, parents, and staff of Rota Head Start/Early Head Start pose for a photo with Board of Education Chairman Andrew L. Orsini, Vice Chairman Herman Atalig, acting Commissioner of Education Eric Magofna, Head Start/Early Head Start Program Director Lathania Angui, Public School System managers, and acting Rota Mayor Jonovan Lizama following Friday’s proclamation signing for Head Start Awareness Month at Rota’s Sinapalo Head Start Center.
A program was held Friday at Sinapalo Head Start for the Head Start Awareness Month proclamation ceremony. Jolene Guerrero Sablan, Head Start’s family & community partnership manager, left standing, was the emcee.
Head Start/Early Head Start Program Director Lathania Angui, left, speaks during the Head Start Awareness Month proclamation ceremony program at Sinapalo Head Start on Friday.
Head Start children participated in the proclamation signing ceremony at Sinapalo’s Head Start Center on Friday.
In photo are middle school representative and Chacha Middle School principal Martha Kintol, high school representative and Marianas High School principal Jonathan Aguon, Special Education Program Director Donna Flores, Human Resources Officer Lucretia Borja Deleon Guerrero, Finance and Budget Director Arlene Lizama, and elementary school representative and Kagman Elementary School principal Dr. Ignacia Demapan.
Acting Commissioner of Education Eric Magofna, left standing, speaks during the proclamation signing ceremony. Also in photo are Head Start children, program director Lathania Santos, acting Rota Mayor Jonovan Lizama, Board of Education Vice Chairman Herman Atalig and BOE Chairman Andrew L. Orsini.
