April 21, 2010 > Head Start read-a-thon Head Start read-a-thon Submitted By Michele Celino Photos By Michele Celino Child, Family, and Community Services' Ash and Whiteford Head Start Preschool Classrooms of Newark kicked off this year's "National Week of the Young Child" with a read-a-thon promoting early literacy awareness. According to readfortherecord.org, an early literacy prevention website, nearly 50 percent of children from low income families start second grade two years behind their peers, and hear on average 35 million less words by age four. The children of Head Start currently represent this statistic. On April 12, Newark officials and families came together to read a book to a child in hopes of breaking the barrier of low income children's education success rates. The day-long event was a great success with the support of community volunteers. Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look forward to having a 2nd Annual Read-a-thon next year! Child Family and Community Services Head Start Enrollment Office Hacienda Center 35699 Niles Blvd., Fremont (510)796-9512 www.cfcsinc.org