Annual Head Start fest provides fun and recruitment opportunity

Samantha Titus watched with pleasure as her young sons played on inflatables and engaged in other activities like face painting and games during the annual family festival at the Aiken/Barnwell Head Start center Saturday.

Her son Bryson, 5, attends the Head Start facility in Gloverville.

"He's improving so much," said Titus. "They've worked on his speech, and now he's counting and doing basic adding and subtracting. He's not only ready for kindergarten, he might go directly to first grade if he does well on a test."

Head Start provides early childhood services for kids 3-4. The theme for the festival this year was "I Am My Child's Role Model."

The Palmetto Kiwanis Club co-sponsored the event and provided a number of volunteers. Other volunteers included students from the early childhood class of Aiken High teacher Linda Harmon.

"This is a community fair and recruitment venue for our fall enrollment," said Head Start director Shadie Hall. "We wanted to provide families with children a day of fun."

Steven Moses brought his four children to the event. His three older kids attended Head Start, and Christian, the youngest, will be eligible in the fall.

"It's a big part of life for them to get started with school and get ahead," Moses said. "I want them to make the best of their lives."

While painting kids' faces, Kiwanis president Angela Boyette said Head Start is a "young children's priority" organization for the club, which provides other assistance as well.

"We have volunteers who read to the children each week and help out in the classrooms," Boyette said. "This is our first community-wide project with Head Start, and it's fun."

On a warm day in early spring Saturday, Hall said with a smile that Christmas is coming much earlier this year. The program will receive some federal stimulus funds soon. The allocation will be especially welcome after a reduction four years ago and no funding increases since then.

Hall said she hopes to upgrade transportation, technology and facilities.

"We're not sure of the amount of funds yet, but it will be a big help," she said. "We'll certainly improve the quality of services for our children and families."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.