Head Start Students Get to Celebrate Finish

The 170 preschoolers in this year’s Head Start program almost didn’t get a graduation party.

Because of a tight budget, “we thought two months ago we wouldn’t be able to give the children anything,” said Josie Montoya, a parent coordinator for the federally funded social development program.

So Montoya and other volunteers mobilized, staging a fund-raising benefit carnival, helping the children raise money with a walkathon and seeking donations from businesses. The community responded, and its generosity led to an end-of-school party with all the trimmings.

Themed “Dia de la Familia” or “Day of the Family,” Wednesday’s celebration at the Head Start facility in McFadden Park featured a miniature train for the children, an Aztec dance troupe, games and a barbecue.

The fund-raising campaign was so successful, in fact, that after paying for the party the parents had enough money left over to purchase T-shirts, storybooks and toys, which will be presented at the children’s graduation ceremony today.

“This year is very tight for us--everything is just very costly,” said Yvonne Bailey, an area coordinator for Orange County Head Start Inc.

In previous years, Bailey said, she was able to set aside money for field trips and other special Head Start activities in Placentia, Brea, Garden Grove and Yorba Linda. This time, however, only $1,000 was available to split among the four cities.