ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 29, 1996 TAG: 9608290060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY WAS A DAY OF discovery for children at Total Action Against Poverty's Head Start programs and their parents. They learned health and safety tips and got an audience with Sparky the fire dog and Snapdragon the seat-belt safety dragon.
Four-year-old Jody Young never expected to get to sit in a huge fire engine when she enrolled in Head Start.
Jody clutched a coloring book and new toothbrush tightly as she was lifted into the vehicle by a firefighter. Her braided hair swung loosely as she leaned over to look down at her mother.
She seemed to be in awe of the fire truck. When she got down, she stood quietly and looked back up at it.
Later, Roanoke Fire Capt. Gary Conner explained to Jody and several other preschoolers how firefighters use air packs and masks to enter burning houses.
"It's hard to breathe unless you have an air pack," Conner said. "This allows us to go into buildings and fight a fire."
The children learned about fire safety Wednesday at an orientation for the new year for 14 Head Start centers that are operated by Total Action Against Poverty. The centers will open Tuesday for 904 underprivileged children ages 3 to 5.
The orientation was for new and returning children and their parents to provide information on the centers, offer health and safety reminders and generate enthusiasm for the new year.
There were also fun activities with cartoon characters and snacks for the children at the Forest Park Baptist Church in Northwest Roanoke.
Sparky, the fire dog from the Salem Fire Department, entertained the children and offered safety tips. The preschoolers flocked around him.
Snapdragon, the Department of Motor Vehicles' seat belt safety dragon, reminded the parents and children to always use their seat belts. And he gave free car safety seats to parents who needed them.
For some children, not everything was fun, however. They got their arms stuck at an immunization clinic held by the Roanoke Health Department.
The children were given toothbrushes, and Head Start workers outlined the dental and health services available to them and their families.
One mother said her child has several cavities and recently had two abscessed teeth, but she doesn't have the money to pay for dental work.
"We'll help you," said Bobbie Brogan, health services supervisor for the Head Start centers. "That's why we're here."
Brogan said the centers will help the families with their health, dental and nutritional needs. Other workers briefed the parents on transportation, food and family services.
Katie Weddington, supervisor of family services and parent involvement, said the Head Start centers have workers who will make home visits and help families with special needs.
"We want to be your friend and part of your support system," Weddington said. "We're not out to find anything wrong with your family."
A new TAP T-shirt designed by two Head Start children was unveiled at the orientation. The shirt bears the image of a man's face with the sun and the anti-poverty agency's slogan, "Unlocking Futures."
Sharrod Clayborne and Keri Witcher are the budding artists who did the drawing for the shirt.
Cleo Sims, director of the Head Start centers, presented a shirt to Clayborne, but Witcher was unable to attend.
Clayborne said he enjoys drawing and singing, which he described as the "most fun" things during his two years in Head Start. He will attend kindergarten at Lincoln Terrace Elementary School this year.
Shirts were given to the first 50 people to arrive at the orientation. They will be sold for $10 at TAP to raise funds for the agency's programs, Sims said. PHILIP HOLMAN Staff. 1. Lateasha Boswell, 4, cries in anticipation of an injection she received Wednesday as part of Total Action Against Poverty's orientation day for its 14 Head Start centers. 2. Children eye a Roanoke fire engine parked outside the Forest Park Baptist Church on Wednesday. Mascots such as Sparky the fire dog and Snapdragon, the Department of Motor Vehicles' safety dragon, were on hand to talk with the kids about various safety issues. color.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB