MERCER COUNTY Head Start gives just that to pupils

The program is in its third year.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Eddie Hammons picked the shape and Noah Mansfield picked the color as the two 5-year-olds were careful to color inside the lines of their worksheet.
The Sharon boys are learning listening skills as well as colors and shapes as part of a summer program meant to prepare them for kindergarten this fall.
The youngsters are among the 42 pupils spending six weeks this summer at West Hill Elementary and 218 pupils overall in Mercer County and Brookfield, Ohio, participating in the readiness program sponsored by the United Way of Mercer County, Mercer County Head Start and the participating schools. This is the program's third year.
The program
Head Start is a federally sponsored comprehensive child-development program. The goal to increase the school readiness of young children in low-income families. The program is under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Jim Micsky, United Way executive director, said the readiness program began in 2004 with 84 youngsters and six school districts. It's continued to grow each year to include all but two Mercer County school districts and now the Brookfield elementary school.
"This will change their quality of life," said Richard Epstein, vice president of the United Way board of directors. "The best way we can help people is to give them an education so they can understand the world they live in."
There are no income guidelines for those involved, and pupils are invited to attend based on each school district's kindergarten readiness screening.
Classes meet weekdays for 41/2 hours a day. A certified primary school teacher and a certified Head Start teacher are in each classroom.
"These kids have to know things like their shapes and colors, but the most important thing they need to learn is sharing. If they can learn that now, the rest will come," said Michele LoGalbo, a West Hill kindergarten teacher who is teaching one of the summer classes.
A $50,000 grant from the Shenango Valley Foundation is paying for the program.
"We've given these kids a jump-start, not just on kindergarten, but on life with this program," said Sheila Schneider, principal at West Hill.
Schneider says data shows that pre-kindergarten programs help youngsters academically, socially and emotionally.
Terri Lengyel, Head Start director, said each pupil is tested at the beginning and end of the program, and their progress is watched throughout the following school year.
She added that each child works at his or her own level.
The youngsters spend the day going through different classroom stations where they may be read to by a teacher or work on letters, numbers, coloring and other skills. Other stations just allow them to play.
After Eddie and Noah moved on from coloring their shapes, they were able to have some fun shaking and turning over soda pop bottles filled with colored liquid to simulate a tornado.
cioffi@vindy.com