Mission Statement

The mission of the Cavs in the Classroom Program is to give a boost to the classrooms of Charlottesville and help children adapt and improve in school. The program concentrates on the volunteer's relationship with preschool through sixth grade children who need assistance with specific skills.

The Head Start Mission

The Head Start Program is designed to serve low-income, disadvantaged, and special needs/disabled preschool-age children and their families within their home, classroom, neighborhood, and greater community. It provides quality comprehensive family-centered services and a safe and enriching social learning environment. The program identifies and coordinates services for families as early as possible to help parents develop the confidence to identify their own needs and knowledge to utilize community resources.

History

The Cavs in the Classroom Program (formerly known as Boosters) originally started with the objective of aiding kindergarten and first grade classrooms. In 1987-88 enrollment in the program grew suddenly. A change in the structure of the program was found fitting. In 1989, the program expanded to include second grade classrooms. When the 1989-90 academic year approached, the program again required structural changes. Senior volunteers headed each site and one program director oversaw all the operations. Third and fourth grades were added to try to fulfill a wider variety of needs. During the 1990-91 academic year the program established a new leadership style, with 8 program directors (one for each site) and one Head program director. As another addition, we began volunteering at two of the four Head Start programs in Charlottesville. Today, Cavs in the Classroom continues to be one of the fastest growing programs at Madison House. We now match about 250 volunteers each semester to work with preschool through sixth grade, after school, and all four Head Start sites. The Cavs in the Classroom Program also increased the number of program directors to 13 and one Head program director.