(Photo by Robert Herrington)
Thankful. Head Start Director Christine Garza said that word best described her feelings to the volunteers who spent a day at 17645 Oakmont Dr., Noblesville, assisting the Hamilton County nonprofit agency instead of at their usual jobs.
Employees from Capital Group provided volunteers, time, effort and supplies to enhance the center’s outdoor classroom. Garza said this was the third year the school has received assistance from United Way and volunteers.
“Without assistance, it wouldn’t get done,” Garza said, adding the school is federally funded and families are not charged to attend. “There is not money in the budget.”
United Way of Central Indiana joined Capital Group and Family Development Services’ Hamilton County Head Start to update the center’s playground and build additions to the outdoor classroom. Head Start teacher Stephanie Covey said the outdoor classroom includes a science area with rocks, balance scales and water wall.
“Children are experiencing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning,” she said.
Capital Group also built a chalkboard for literacy and math skills, benches, a slide and playhouse.
“Children will learn by exploring the outdoor classroom – making the outdoor fun is the key,” Garza said.
The Hamilton County Head Start Program is a service for low-income at-risk children and families.
“Low income is probably the No. 1 factor,” Garza said. “It’s spread across every community in Hamilton County.”
Garza said Head Start has 142 students from 6 weeks to age 5 with eight infants and toddlers and 134 preschool students.
The center was previously housed at Monon Trail Elementary in Westfield and Conner Elementary in Noblesville before finding its new location, a former Polly Panda. “It’s nice to be in a place that was built to what we do,” Garza said.
