Thursday, officials with the Excel By 5 Mississippi Childcare Resource and Referral Center in Poplarville, would like to invite parents and preschoolers to their open house and the celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
Poplarville became an Excel By 5 certified community in June 2015.
Carolyn Tedford, certification manager for the Poplarville team, said Excel By 5 is an innovative early childhood certification process that focuses on families with children ages birth to 5.
“Families, early childhood educators and grandparents can visit the resource center,” she said. “They can check out resources and also use our laminating machine, die cuts for projects and cut out letters in our workroom.”
PRCC lab students can utilize the center for their early childhood classes, she said. Through the Early Years Network, they are able to provide training for parents and daycare and Head Start teachers, Tedford said.
There is also an area for children to play while parents utilize the resources. The center publishes a resource guide, which provides parents with information about things such as immunizations, Tedford said.
“We also host a health fair and school readiness event,” Tedford said. “There is a lot of community involvement from the hospital and health department. We provide any resources that we think parents need.”
According to biography.com, Dr. Seuss was born on March 2 and the cartoonist and writer published more than 60 books including ‘‘The Cat in the Hat,’’ ‘‘Green Eggs and Ham’’ and ‘‘Fox in Socks.’’
“We try to focus on reading and developmental things,” Tedford said. “We also participate in Read Across America. We focus on our community and celebrate learning so our children will be healthy, happy and ready to learn when they begin kindergarten.”
The birthday celebration will be held Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Excel By 5 Resource Center, located on the Pearl River Community College campus. It can be accessed by taking the stadium entrance on Wildcat Drive.
The center is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Contact staff by phone at 601-403-1492.