By STACEY PLAISANCE / L’Observateur / February 22, 1999

With a lack of recreational facilities in the area, St. John Parish HeadStart employees are hoping to keep children off the streets by providing a safe and enjoyable summer program.

The Head Start Summer Program 1998 was attended by more than twice the number of students from the summer program of 1997, and Head Start director Precious Joseph said collaboration with other community services was key to that success.

The Community Action program provided funding for food and transportation for the students, which enabled Head Start to hire more teachers and serve an additional 258 children, Joseph said. Head Start alsocontracted daycare service for 30 toddlers.

“I’m hoping for more summer programs like that one because there is such a need for recreation and activities in this area,” Joseph said. “I’m hopingto continue to be able to provide that service and even expand it.”With collaboration and financial assistance from community agencies in the parish, the Summer Head Start Program served 388 students, who each received instruction in reading, mathematics, science and recreation, Joseph said. Summer recreational activities included swimming, bowling,dancing, karate and music. The students also attended out-of-parish fieldtrips.

“There were 388 students who were not roaming the streets idle for nine weeks, and 30 toddlers receiving proper care while their parents worked,” Joseph stated in a report of Head Start Summer Programs.

The 1997 summer program served 160 students with a budget of $93,516.

The program lasted seven weeks with a staff including eight teachers and six teachers’ aides.

The 1998 summer program served 418 students and toddlers with a budget of $209,642. The program lasted nine weeks with a staff including 16teachers and 15 teachers’ aides.

The program is scheduled to go on again this summer, and it is hoped that more than 400 students will be able to attend the Head Start Summer Program 1999, Joseph said.

“Last summer was rich in exposure and life, and it was an amazing success,” Joseph said. “We couldn’t have done it without the help ofCommunity Action and other agencies.”

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