About Head Start:
The office of Head Start (OHS) helps young children from low-income house holds prepare to succeed in school through local programs. Head Start and Early Head Start Programs promote children’s developmental growth through services that support early learning, health, and family well-being.
La oficina de Head Start (OHS) ayuda a los niños pequeños de hogares de bajos ingresos a prepararse para tener éxito en la escuela a través de programas locales. Los programas Head Start y Early Head Start promueven el crecimiento del desarrollo de los niños a través de servicios que apoyan el aprendizaje temprano, la salud y el bienestar familiar.
Biwo Head Start (OHS) éde jèn timoun ki soti nan ti revni pou yo réyisi nan lékòl atravè pwogram lokal yo. Pwogram Head Start avèk Early Head Start la pou ankourajé devlopman timoun yo atravè sèvis ki sipòte aprantisaj bonè, santé, avèk byennèt fanmi an.
Marla Russell, Director
Hello my name is Mrs. Marla Russell and I am the Director of Head Start and VPK for Monroe County School District. I have been the Director for over 12 years! 😊 I have a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership/Administration from Florida State University. In addition, I have worked with Monroe County School District for over 35 years! I was an Elementary School Teacher for approximately 13 years and a Building Level Administrator/District Administrator, until now. I enjoy helping children and families, while working hard on a daily basis to ensure high-quality programs for our Pre-Kindergarten students. I’ll see you at school!
Jennifer Walker, Education & Professional Development
I'm Jennifer Walker, Education and Professional Development Manager for Head Start and VPK. I have worked with Monroe County School District for just about 25 years, first as a parapro, then as a middle school classroom teacher for fourteen years, and for the last ten years as a Pre-K administrator. Having been born and raised in the Keys, I love working with the families in our community. Our goal is to ensure all students leave PreK Kindergarten ready and that families and students feel valued, respected, and welcome in our schools.
Ellen Masters, School Social Worker, ERSEA/PFCE
Hello, my name is Ellen Masters. I’ve been a social worker for over 30 years, with the majority of my career spent in Illinois. During that time, I worked in various capacities, including child welfare, school social work, and private practice, primarily focusing on teenagers and families.
In 2019, my family and I relocated to Key West, where I’ve been working with Head Start ever since. Transitioning from working with teenagers to preschool children has been a rewarding experience—sometimes, it feels like they’re not so different! I truly enjoy witnessing the social-emotional growth of our students throughout the school year and staying connected to my roots by providing 1:1 services to select students.
Currently, I supervise the program's Family Advocates. Together, we’ve made significant strides in how we engage with our families, resulting in a complete transformation of our data over the past few years.
Ashley Ravelo, Health & Safety, RN
Hello, my name is Ashley Ravelo. I was born and raised here in Key West. After Highschool, I attended the College of the Florida Keys where I received an AA and an Associates of Science Degree in Nursing. I began working right away as a nurse in the Pediatrics and Labor and Delivery Department. After a couple of years, I was so excited to begin working with the Monroe County School District, Head Start and VPK Program as the Health & Safety Manager, R.N. While working in Head Start, I was able to continue my education and obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This is my 9th year with our pre-k program, and I absolutely love being a nurse and love working with our little ones. My goal is having our kids healthy and safe, and I look forward to helping our children and families with their health care needs.
Nichole Gelabert, Disabilities & Mental Health
Hello! My name is Nichole Gelabert and I provide student support for disabilities and mental health. This includes in-class academic and social learning resources for teachers to use with students in need, school counseling, and step-by-step assistance when referring for screenings or evaluations with specialists and outside counseling services. Students develop at different paces and I am here to meet them where they are so they can progress towards Kindergarten Readiness!
Key Largo School
104801 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
Family Advocate: Ashley Hernandez (305) 453-1255 ext: 57400
Stanley Switlik Elementary
3400 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Family Advocate: Delvis Cabrera (305) 289-2490 ext: 59309
KLS
9/5: NFL Kick Off Day
9/9: Open House 5:30-6:30 pm
9/11: Patriot's Day Ceremony 9-10 am
9/16-20: Start with Hello Week (TBA)
9/24: Parent center meeting 9 am
SSE
9/9: Students will visit Marathon Community Library
9/9-13: Book fair
9/16-20: Start with Hello week
9/18: Open House 5:30 pm
9/26: Early Release
Unit of Study: The First Six Weeks
The first days of school are an exciting time for making new friends and having new experiences—and it’s okay for everyone to feel a little nervous! Over the next few weeks, your child will meet new people at school and in the community, learn how to identify and manage his emotions, and become familiar with new rules and routines.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Each month, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a high quality, age-appropriate book to all registered children, addressed to them, at no cost to the child’s family. Countless parents have shared how excited their child is when their new book arrives each month. Many groups and individuals work hard behind the scenes to make that special moment possible for each child.
Parents must register at the link below:
New World's Reading (VPK Voucher students only)
New Worlds Reading’s books and activities support students in strengthening literacy skills, building reading confidence, and nurturing a lifelong love of reading.
Get fan-favorite kids’ books delivered to your door to encourage a lifelong love of reading.
To qualify for New Worlds Reading, students must be:
A Florida VPK student who is not yet meeting age-appropriate standards according to FAST Star Early Literacy.
Applying is Easy!
It only takes 5 minutes to apply. Here’s how it works:
Fill out an application with your child’s information, which language you prefer books in, and which sets of books you’d like to receive.
Check out our free resources for all families while you wait for our team to confirm whether your child is eligible.
You’ll receive an email confirming whether or not your child is eligible. If eligible, you’ll get 9 free books and activities delivered to your door until your child graduates 5th grade!
Happy September! Just a few reminders as we start the school year. Please remember to keep your child home if they are ill. Check for signs and symptoms of illness such as fever, chills, nausea/vomiting, rash, and/or visibly not feeling well. The #1 thing we can do to prevent the spread of illness is to wash our hands!
AHEC Clinics are available in each of our schools for your child's health care needs!
Dental - If your child has not yet had a dental exam and cleaning, please schedule with your dentist of choice. If you would like to schedule with the AHEC Mobile Dental Bus, please contact them to make an appointment: 305-743-7111 ext. 220. Please contact me, Ashley Ravelo if you need any assistance.
Nutrition
Healthy eating is important at every age. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Start with these tips (See links below):
Start Simple with My Plate (azureedge.us)
Emotional Wellbeing: Helping Your Little One Grow Emotionally
Understanding Big Feelings
At this age, your child is learning to navigate their emotions, which can sometimes feel overwhelming for them. It's important to let them know that all feelings are okay! Whether they are happy, sad, angry, or scared, these emotions are a normal part of growing up.
Tips for Supporting Your Child:
Name the Emotion: Help your child identify their feelings by naming them. For example, "It looks like you're feeling angry because your toy isn't working." This helps them learn to express their emotions in words.
Create a Calm Down Space: Set up a quiet corner at home with comforting items like a favorite stuffed animal or a soft blanket. This can be a safe space for your child to go when they need a break.
Practice Deep Breathing: Teaching your child simple breathing exercises can help them calm down when they’re upset. Try "smelling the flowers" and "blowing out the candles" as a fun way to practice deep breathing.
Remember, supporting your child's emotional growth now will help them develop the skills they need for a lifetime of emotional health.