Head Start children's art show a success

Friday, May 8, 2009

by Stephanee Jones

Mountain Home News

The Friends of Children and Families Annual Head Start Children's Art show was held Thursday, April 30.

The school was filled with Head Start 4- and 5-year-old students, their families, school faculty and special guest Mayor Tom Rist.

The event started with an art gallery opening, displaying all the student's work.

Jose Martinez, supervisor of Head Start, was pleased with the big turnout. "The students put a lot of time and effort into their art projects. I am very proud of them. It gave the students a chance to be really creative and use their imagination."

The art projects had everything from a 'candyland' made from recyclable material, to paper trees inspired from the story Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, that was read to the students by their teacher, Tina Mespelt.

Mespelt said that "reading to the children really helps with their imagination and creativity."

Another project involved Author/Illustrator books made by the 4- and 5-year-olds telling stories through the pictures they drew. The teachers helped with the story writing part.

Next to the art gallery, another room was for the children to do assorted activities, such as making bookmarks. Volunteer Patti Phillips said "I'm having a good time helping the children with the bookmarks. Happy to see them smiling and enjoying themselves."

Outside on the school playground booths were set up with balloon making, fingerprinting, magic tricks and snacks.

The balloon-making booth, run by Christine Valdez, was busy. She said "all the children, including my daughter, seem very happy and excited. "

Another booth that was busy was the fingerprinting booth. Steve Ramirez of the Mountain Home Police Department said that "these child identification cards are important if your child gets lost or is missing. The cards have areas to put a photo, personal and physical information, fingerprints, even a dental chart.

"You keep the card in a safe place and if anything should happen to your child, everything we need to know to help is all in one pamphlet card."

As the children were going around to the booths, others enjoyed watching the dancers. The center of playground was used as a dance floor and the dancers were dressed in colorful dresses and outfits.

After the dancing all the students were given a chance to break open a piņata.

The final display of the event, was a fire engine parked next to the school's front fence where the children, adults, teachers, and Major Rist placed 'Blue Pinwheels' in honor of Child Abuse Month.

In a final note, Jose Martinez said: "I really appreciate the support from the local business. They offered their parking areas for us to use during the event. It was also nice to see police officers helping with traffic, since our location is right next to American Legion Boulevard.

"Also a big thanks to the parents, teachers, and volunteers for helping with our event."

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