By By Lisa Tindell
The Friends of Education group was a vision, which began three years ago with five Atmore women. That vision became a reality last year with the group’s first educational program, HIPPY, which was well received by parents and students during its first year.
A group meeting was held Tuesday with parents in the community to discuss the basic ideas and plans of the group in its second year.
Dianne Rose, a retiree of the Escambia County School’s system, serves as the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) coordinator for the foundation. Group meetings are held each month for parents and children in the program at the Atmore Public Library. Rose said the meetings always include activities.
Rose said McKinley presented information about computer programming to be used by members of the group.
Rose said a total of six computers will be made exclusively available to HIPPY participants two days each month.
Rose said the learning materials will help parents teach their children about colors, shapes, letters and numbers.
Currently, HIPPY has an average of 45 children participating in the program, Rose said.
Sallye Longshore, director of Federal Programs for the State Department of Education was in Atmore Wednesday to get a first-hand look at the program and some of the families being served.
Funding for the program is primarily provided through the Alabama Department of Education. Additional funding is made available through the Federal programs coordinator through Escambia County Board of Education, Rose said.
The next meeting of the group will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the Poarch Creek Indians Tribal Center, Rose said.
To make a donation of a new or used book to be used at home by children participating in the program, simply drop off books at the Atmore Public Library at the HIPPY donation box