LSF Head Start Celebrates

Children's Week Last Month
 

9 May 2008 - TW

The 175 children and 32 staff members of Lutheran Services Florida's P.E.P.P.I. Head Start Child Development Center in Belle Glade celebrated Florida Children's Week last month with activities that included a picnic and Hanging of the Hands Project at local municipal centers.  LSF/P.E.P.P.I. also served as the Lead Facilitator for all of the Children's Week Activities involving child care centers of the Glades.

On Friday, April 4, the children and staff joined with 14 other children's organizations, totaling 800 children, for a Children's Day at Paul Rardin Park in Pahokee, FL.  Parents were also encouraged to attend and meet with elected officials from three area municipalities.  Local community-based organizations, businesses, faith–based institutions, and social clubs provided entertainment, refreshments and support for the event.  Guest speaker at the Children’s Day Picnic was Tana Ebbole, Executive Director of Palm Beach County Children’s Services Council.

According to Autrie Williams, Family Services Coordinator for the LSF/PEPPI Head Start Program, park activities for the children included face painting, snow cone machines, blowing and catching bubbles, sack races, exploring a fire engine, peek-a-boo parachute, exploring a sheriff police car, toss and learn, educational learning game boards center, bean bag toss, egg relay race, story time, talking with Mr. McGruff, and free play.

“April 4 was the 40th year of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.  It is through programs such as LSF/PEPPI and other Early Childhood Development programs such as Head Start, Child Care Provider Programs and Family Day Care Programs, that we are fulfilling The Dream," said Ms. Williams.  "Through the Statewide Children’s Week activities we had an occasion to celebrate our children and their families. The children are our future and this is our opportunity to work with their families to help build positive character in each child. The Dream starts with Early Childhood Development programs such as the ones we have in the Glades community of Western Palm Beach County.”

Two weeks earlier, on March 14, the P.E.P.P.I. Head Start children and staff gathered again with other child care programs for the Hanging of the Hands Project at the City of Belle Glade Municipal Complex, the City of Pahokee Municipal Complex, and the City of South Bay Municipal Complex.

"The children and families made decorative paper cut-outs of children's hands to place in the Tri-City Municipalities of Belle Glade, Pahokee, and South Bay for display in each City Hall during Children's Week in April," explained Ms. Williams.  "The hands were collected by members of the Glades Children Week Planning Committee and LSF/P.E.P.P.I. Head Start Program staff and volunteers."

These municipalities also prepared official proclamations designating April 6 as Parents and Children's Day throughout the Western Communities of Palm Beach County known as the Glades, said Ms. Williams.

The hand prints were also sent to Tallahassee for display in the Capitol Rotunda for the Statewide Hanging of the Hands Project, which occurred on Sun., Mar. 30 and were displayed through April 6.  State Representative Priscilla Taylor's staff transported the hand prints from the Glades to Tallahassee.

Child care partners in the various events for Children's Week in the Glades included State Representative Priscilla Taylor’s Office, Little Hands Learning Center, LSF/P.E.P.P.I. Head Start Program, NOAH Inc. Mary Alice Fortin Family Development Center, Building Blocks, Palm Beach County Head Start, Precious Moments, Agnes Dorsey Family Child Care, FOCH, Mary Simeton Home Day Care, Family Central, ECMHS, PBSO, PBCFD, HIPPY, CSC, the Municipalities of South Bay, Belle Glade and Pahokee.

LSF's P.E.P.P.I. Head Start Child Development Center was established in 1983 to improve the quality of life for at-risk, pre-school children by providing comprehensive services to families in Belle Glade, a poverty-stricken area populated largely by struggling, low-income families and migrant workers.  The initials P.E.P.P.I. stand for Preschool Enrichment Program Parental Involvement.

Each child in the program learns basic educational skills in a clean and safe environment and receives a well-balanced breakfast, lunch, and a healthy mid-afternoon snack daily.  Parents receive referrals to medical, dental, and mental health professionals.  Parents are also required to take an active role in the program.

For more pictures of the Children's Week Kick-Off Celebration and Hanging of the Hands at the City of Belle Glade Municipal Complex, click here.
 

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