Early Childhood Partnerships

Arkansas City Public Schools and its partners have received a $1,500 grant from the Legacy Regional Community Foundation to support the upcoming Read and Stroll event, which promotes early literacy and family engagement. The funding will provide interactive games for families to encourage learning at home. The event, set for April 22 at Lovie Watson Park, features reading stations, games, resource booths, and giveaways for families with young children.

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.

Learn how our Pre-K classrooms and parents are fostering self-regulation, connection, and safety through the Conscious Discipline curriculum, creating supportive, positive environments at school and home.

The Ark City PreK Program, in partnership with REACH Infant-Toddler Services and the Arkansas City Public Library, hosted a vibrant and engaging "Read & Stroll" event at Lovie Watson Park on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

USD 470 PreK is joining Reach and the Ark City Public Library to host Read and Stroll on April 23 from 4-6 p.m. at Lovie Watson Park.

Thanks to an early literacy grant through the Kansas Health Foundation, Arkansas City Public Schools is able to share family literacy bags with multiple community organizations. 

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!

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.

The USD 470 Early Literacy Initiative is again hosting a local children’s author and inviting the public to attend.  Lindsey Yankey is a Kansas author and illustrator who will be visiting Cowley County June 27-28, 2023. Yankey has written numerous children’s books including Sun and Moon, which was awarded the “Kansas Notable Book” honor. The book will be featured on her visit. 

We are hosting a preschool screening and enrollment event on July 12, 2023, at Adams Elementary School.