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woman smiles with arms our as an elementary school girl excitedly pumps fists in the air
old black and white newspaper clipping of photo of dentist looking in little girl's mouth.

Cowley County Head Start is celebrating 60 years of the national program’s impact on early childhood education. Established in 1965, Head Start began as a summer program to break the cycle of poverty. Cowley County joined in 1985, serving 34 children at its first location in the Presbyterian Church, thanks in part to the efforts of Dr. Nick Rogers. Over time, the program expanded to serve 147 children in Arkansas City and Winfield with a $1.8 million grant.

Director Tara Taylor highlighted Head Start’s role in shaping the community: "For four decades, Head Start has provided children with the foundation they need for a successful future." Plans are underway to celebrate this milestone while focusing on continued success in early childhood education.

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  • district
Preschool student smiles at the camera while coloring, another young girl and teacher color in background

Today was a big day for our PreK students as they attended their very first day of school. Their eyes were sparkling with curiosity and excitement and we loved watching them make new friends, explore learning stations, and dive into imaginative play. Here’s to a wonderful adventure full of learning, laughter, and endless possibilities! We know they’re going to do great!

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Photo of PreK playground equipment

Our maintenance crew has been especially hard at work this summer designing, constructing, and installing PreK playgrounds. Each elementary school will have a new PreK playground soon if they don’t already. The playgrounds promote wellness and increase safety for our youngest students because the equipment is designed for their size and developmental needs. These playgrounds are also designed to provide our earliest learners with opportunities to develop social skills through active, creative play.

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  • Families
  • PreK
  • district