Bishopville Head Start observes Spirit Week

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

A hundred 3- and 4-year-olds can make a lot of noise when they are playing with streamers and balloons.

Such was the case Thursday at Dennis Park as students at Bishopville Head Start Center gathered to participate in another day of fun activities during the weeklong observance of Spirit Week.

On Thursday, the children went to Dennis Park to release balloons and to shake red, white and blue streamers to show off the school colors, said Bishopville Head Start Director Betty Rogers.

"The main purpose of Spirit Week is to build an awareness of Head Start," Rogers said. "We want people to know what we are all about. And we are about providing learning experiences for young children in low-income families. It's all about the children."

Wateree Community Actions Inc. serves more than 800 3-and 4-year-old children in Head Start programs in 10 centers in Sumter, Lee, Kershaw and Clarendon counties, Rogers said. Head Start is a federally funded initiative designed to provide free preschool to 3- and 4-year-old children in low-income families

For the Bishopville Head Start Center, 102 youngsters participated all week in various fun activities during Spirit Week, Rogers said.

"And since this is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all of our staff members have been wearing a pink ribbon," she said.

Machelle McElveen, a literacy coach with Lee County First Steps, said Spirit Week activities provide important learning opportunities for children.

"Children learn and they have fun while they do it," she said.

Head Start Teacher Monica Wilson said the children love Spirit Week.

"It's been a fun week," she said. "Yesterday they wore their pajamas to school. They loved that. It builds a sense of pride in their school. And it builds self-esteem."

Other Sprit Week activities included a hat day and mix-and-match clothing day.

On Friday, the youngsters wore a Halloween costume to school and carved pumpkins.

Head Start Family Services Worker Hannah Hickmon said the school has been "doing something a bit different for Halloween." "We have been promoting healthy eating choices," she said. "We have asked parents to donate healthy snacks for children instead of candy for Halloween."



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.