The City of Petal recently received its 5th recertification as an Excel by 5 Early Childhood Community. Petal is the one of the longest lasting Early Childhood Communities in the state, having been the first city in Mississippi to receive the designation in 2006.

The Hattiesburg Excel By 5 organization held its first meeting of the year to discuss the importance of child development.

One of the biggest fundraisers of the year by Excel By 5, the Duck Derby is set to kick-off for the third time.

Excel By 5 kicked off its “Readiness by Reading” program Tuesday evening with a reading event held at Zaxby’s in Petal.