1. Formal-Community Health
I did my volunteer service hours or this semester at Statesboro’s Head Start. I
worked with 4 and 5 year old kids on the Fridays that I volunteered. Head Starts
mission is to help develop small children as they prepare for primary school, and to
support their families as they strive to provide a quality childhood.
Majority of the kids were African American and there was one Caucasian girl
in the 4 year old classroom and one Caucasian boy in the 5 year old classroom. The
teachers there were all African American. The kids that attended Head Start lived in
the Statesboro local area. When I would come around 8:30 AM some mornings, the
parents that dropped their kids off were either young or about minimum waged
employees. I barely saw a well-dressed parent dressed up in clothing to go to behind
the desk job. Many of the fathers were dressed in construction or mechanic
uniforms.
I did many activities there. I read them picture books at least twice a day.
That helped their observant, listening, and comprehensive skills as I would point out
pictures and ask them questions after I read a sentence or two. When they went
outside, we watched them and put on their helmets for the one who wanted to ride
the bikes. For Halloween on that Friday they had an activity day. They did face
painting, ate, played on the playground, and did hay rides. I helped pass out candy to
the kids as they walked to each car and helped with the hay ride. When time for
lunch on regular Fridays, I would assist them around 10:30/11:00 A.M. I would help
put out forks and napkins at each chair and then help the kids put their plates down
when as they pick up their plates from the cafeteria line. When we came back from

2. lunch, I helped the teacher with materials like cut out pictures, make copies, and
paste materials down. After I sorted out the kids snacks for when they woke up then
I usually left.
The main health issues that Head Start had were kids were always sick.
There was always a kid with a running nose, and coughing and sneezing openly.
They spread germs and they never really washed their hands after they coughed of
sneezed, making it very easy for the next kid who is near to catch germs that are
spread. I believe that the teachers should completely spray down the rooms and
make the kids wash their hands more while in the classroom to have a safer
atmosphere. They go around and touch other kids and things making it a possibility
to be contagious. Many kids who are sick still are being made to come to school. One
kid came to school, nose running and sneezing. Come to find out, he was sick with a
fever of 99 degrees and was then made to go home. The only way that kids are made
to go home is if they have a fever. You can still be contagious spreading germs even
if you do not have a fever.
There are EIP classrooms for kids in elementary school but I think that it also
need to be one in Head Start to give those kids more attention that they need. When
I was in one teacher’s room, she had two EIP students and the rest of her students
were regular students. Yes it is two teachers to a classroom, but it was still quit hard
to give attention to the regular kids as well as give their extra attention that was
mandatory to the two EIP students that they had. One EIP student was very
observant when it came to things. At his age he still couldn’t speak clearly or if at all.
Most of the time while the other kids are doing learning work, they make him color

3. and draw to keep him occupied. When the kids would sit on a number when they
were about to learn, he would run over there and pick up a color circle and hold it
up to the class for them to say what color he circle was even though he didn’t’ know
what color I was himself. When they watched a movie, he saw a yellow apple on the
TV. He completely stopped coloring and ran over to the play area where he saw a
yellow stuffed apple that looked the same as the one on TV. He picked it up and ran
back over to the TV and held the stuffed yellow apple to the TV because it was the
same.
Teachers play a major role in our lives. People say that it starts with parents,
but I think that it starts with teachers. They have to have patience and know each
kid well to better understand them personally. They have to take their time out to
teach every kid and make sure that no one is getting left behind. No, this experience
had nothing to do with my career pathway, but it did teach me patience. Also as I
was here, I gained a great relationship with the teachers and the principal of Head
Start to where I can come back to volunteer at any time. It first I thought that it was
more of a babysitting service but actually experiencing it, I see that it is more than
that. Many parents do not start their kids early to learn the fundamentals that they
need for primary school and above. It I good to have Head Start so that they can
start early learning those skills getting them prepare. The kids were really learning
in the classrooms, even though I couldn’t see what they learned as much because
when I volunteered it was always on Fridays. Fridays they learned a little bit, but it
was mostly like a fun day, play day. “If not teachers, then who?” is what I always say.

4. Reflection
The organization that I volunteered for was Head Start. When I first got there, I
had to sign in, in the front office. I was not allowed to bring anything (book bag,
food, drink) to the back so I would either keep in in the car or keep it in Ms. Ammie
Hodges office until I got ready to leave the facility. Phones were not allowed inside,
so I didn’t bring my cell phone out until I left the facility also. I was assigned to a
classroom while I was there; most of my time was spent with Ms. Randal and Ms.
Wallace, along with their 5 year olds. I usually got there on Fridays after the kids
have already begun playing games. After that they do an activity like color, say their
numbers watch a movie, or have a book read to them. Then they have a restroom
break. Around 10:30/11 A.M. they go to lunch. They walk in a single filed line with
their mouths in a “bubble.” They all sit at the same table and eat lunch. The teachers
and the helper’s put out plates and forks on the table and help the kids sit down. The
adults had to eat lunch with the kids. We also had to eat the same amount of food as
the kids I found this surprising. After lunch was over we threw away their plates and
took them to the restroom. We also brushed their teeth in the restroom; I thought
that was a great health habit to show the kids. Once they get back into the
classroom, its naptime. They lay down on cots. They sleep for about an hour. While
they nap I separated snacks, and ran errands for the teachers. I was usually free to
go once I finished.
I read different picture books to the kids. I helped them color and glue pictures
on poster boards. I also helped them learn how to pronounce words that they had

5. trouble with. It seemed like the kids already knew me immediately after meeting
them. They were so friendly and comfortable with me. They instantly said, “What’s
your name?” and from there they just talked and asked me things like I was a
personal friend or family member. I like how they were comfortable with me. I liked
being there because I am not use to being around kids at all. I am an only child and
have no younger cousins that I am use to being around. It was kind of like a culture
shock for me. Learning what ages 4/5-year-old skills are suppose to be was
interesting to me. They are actually very observant and smart. I did not benefit from
this experience in the workforce area but I do think that I benefited from this
experience in the personal area of my life for the future.
The teachers of the classrooms were very nice to me. They were very welcoming
towards me. They made sure that the kids were respecting me the whole time. The
educators loved their jobs and they never had an attitude about being there when I
was there. They did not mistreat the kids and they treated them all the same.
Volunteering at Head Start allowed me to gain experience with a population that
I am not at all used to (children). Although I do not see myself working with kids in
the future I learned quite a few vital lessons from this organization. I learned how to
be more flexible and adaptable. My experience here helped me understand what it
might be like for my future in community health. I have no negative feelings about
Head Start, I completely enjoyed the opportunity.