ERBA Paris Head Start

10/08/2026

September was filled with all things apples!! We had so much fun finding different ways to learn, explore, taste, and experience all different kinds! We had some hands-on cooking experiences with Fuji, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and even had one of our community partners from the UofI stop in with an apple activity!
So you can only guess how excited we were to visit an actual apple orchard! It was the perfect way to bring everything we’ve been learning to life!
Ditzler Orchard was absolutely wonderful with our preschoolers and families! They were so warm and engaging with our kiddos, encouraged their curiosity, and really took the time to make them feel included in the experience. We even got to pick apples straight from the tree and choose a pumpkin to take home! Thanks again for welcoming us and making our visit so special. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your orchard and your knowledge with us!

We are so grateful for the people who help us create these experiences and share their time with us!

09/30/2026

We will be participating again this year! We have a few ideas but how can we ever top our carnival from last year!? We may need to call upon our community to make that happen! Either way, we can't wait to see you!! 🫶🏻

We are excited to partner again this year with the Edgar County Monster Mash committee to bring you Scare on the Square on Saturday October 31st. Our friends at The Prairie Press will be hosting the Chilli Cook-Off this year and we are glad to be doing that again.

✅Questions about Touch a Truck, reach out to Chief Deputy Boyll or Deputy Jacob Jenkins.

[email protected]

✅Questions about being a vendor or participating business around the square reach out to Deputy Jacob Jenkins or Cliff Macke at Paris Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

[email protected]

✅Questions about Constume Contest

Paris Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

✅Questions about Chili Cook-Off

Contact Victoria Leitch

[email protected]

09/26/2026

Today our preschoolers put their taste buds to work with a little Apple Taste Test! 🍏🍎

Our tasting station was filled with Fuji, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious apples, and our taste testers got to try each variety and decide which one was their favorite!

The cooking experiences we plan monthly give our head start kiddos the opportunities to try new foods, explore with their senses, practice making choices, build confidence, and develop early skills like counting, comparing, describing, communicating their ideas AND supports social emotional development... plus, it's FUN!!!

While we tally up the votes, tell us, which apple would be YOUR favorite?
Check back soon to see which apple was preschooler approved!!

09/19/2026

No Hogwarts letter required! Just grab the family and go make some magical memories in the community! 🪄

Be here before you know it!

09/18/2026

We have been BUSY!!!! 🤎

Nothing says “a great start to the school year” quite like Highland cows, happy preschoolers, and those big smiles we love so much! 🐮🥰
And we’re just getting started! We have so many exciting things happening both in and out of our classrooms this year, and we can’t wait to share all of the fun with you!

Did you know we take two field trips each month and offer special events and activities that encourage family involvement and engagement? We believe families should be included, heard, and supported throughout their child’s education and experience in our program. Our families are always welcome to stop in and say hello, volunteer, share their ideas, and have a voice in our program. Our parent meetings are even led by a Parent Board, giving families an opportunity to help make decisions and shape experiences for our children and families. It truly doesn’t get much more family-focused and parent-led than that! ❤️
Consider stopping in to see us where you can learn more about our program and just what our "why" is! Whether you are a parent, a local business/organization or a community member looking to support Head Start.. We welcome you and we'd be thrilled to have you be a part of Head Start!
To the parents in the community: call 217-500-3110 to schedule a time for you to put in an application for your child, we want them AND YOU... to join in on the fun!

We are so grateful for the partnerships we continue to uphold and build within our community, and even more grateful for the little faces that give us something to look forward to every morning when we open our doors.
Thank you again, Red Tail Ranch for being a community partner and giving our littles memories that will last for years to come! 🐮🐐🦋☀️

07/16/2026

07/14/2026

The perfect opportunity to escape the heat while having family time! ☺️ 🍿 🎥

07/14/2026

Soon to be here. Get your sign booked 😄