AUBURN – Pamella Beliveau, a resident of Lewiston, recently served as Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care’s Artist-in-Resident. Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care received a grant from Early Starts Artist-in-Residency program to have Beliveau provide staff training, classroom presentations for the children and parent training.

Beliveau visited nine of the Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care classrooms and read to the children for approximately 45 minutes. Staff were present during the reading and were able to model their own storytelling after the instruction that Beliveau provided.

Staff were also provided training in how to make storytelling come alive, choose books that were age appropriate, engage children in storytelling activities and other topics.

Head Start parents were invited to join Beliveau for a storytelling session at the Walton School classroom in Auburn. Parents watched the reading, then received instruction from Beliveau on the importance of reading to children, as well as reading age-appropriate material.

The parents learned how to work with their child to teach them a love of reading as well. Parents had many questions. Each parent left with a new book for their child.

Beliveau has a long history of working with children and families in the Lewiston and Auburn communities. She has been recognized by the Maine Arts Commission for her quality children’s storytelling programs and performances.

She has shared her storytelling residency programs in elementary schools, pre-schools and libraries in Maine. Beliveau, while employed with the Lewiston Public Library, created early literacy programs, shared weekly story time with babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. She also coordinated and facilitated Hooked on Books, a parent and child book group.

Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care has provided child development services to pregnant women, families and children, newborn to age 5, for more than 40 years. Centers are located in Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon Falls, Livermore Falls, Mechanic Falls and Turner.

Applications for all Head Start programs are accepted at any time. Call 795-4040 for more information or visit www.androkids.com. Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care is a United Way funded and Lewiston and Auburn Community Development Block Grant supported agency.

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