Teens, preschoolers play, learn together

A group of Noblesville High School students called Big Sisters act as mentors and friends for area preschool children, while learning a few lessons themselves.

Every Thursday morning, the Noblesville High School Big Sisters help out with the Noblesville Head Start Program.

The Big Sisters are students in Child Development classes at the high school.

Head Start is an early childhood development program for 3-, 4- and 5-year-old children sponsored by Family Development Services. Housed at Conner School in Noblesville, it serves for the 110 children and their families.

It also provides a valuable service for the Big Sisters.

"I started to see a need for my students to interact with young kids," said Mrs. Jean Fleming, a consumer and family sciences teacher and
coordinator of Big Sisters. "The little kids needed a role model, too."

Each Thursday during their seminar class time, the 20 Big Sisters break off into groups and act as assistant teachers in each classroom at the
Head Start facility. They paint pictures, play games in the gym, read stories and spend quality time with the students.

When Mrs. Fleming started the program in the fall of 1999, it was designed for girls who may want to work with children in the future. It has been so
successful, she hopes to incorporate Big Brothers, a similar program for boys, beginning in the fall of 2000.

"It's such a positive experience for the big girls, it also helps with their self-esteem," said Mrs. Fleming. "They feel like they're really helping out."

Noblesville Head Start serves all of Hamilton County and provides classroom instruction, snacks, breakfast, hot lunches, field trips, and training courses for parents. Because the school has so much to offer, Debra Gould, the center's director, said the kids and the teachers look forward to all the volunteer help they get.

"We love it," she said. "We have built such a good relationship with Noblesville Schools. And the kids love them, they like having a big sister."

Kathy Kirby teaches the 5-year old children, and says her classroom gets wild when the high school students come.

"It's pretty hectic," she said. "They (the preschoolers) get really wound up, but they (the high school students) are really good with
the kids."

Moniquea, a sophomore, enjoys having the children play around her and paint all over her clothes.

"I may work in a day care one day," she said. "I get to spend time with them and teach them how to do certain things."

Melissa Dorsey, a 1997 Noblesville High School graduate, had such a good experience working with Head Start, that she decided to return and work
as an assistant teacher.

"I just like working with the kids," she said. "It helped make my decision, and I couldn't have made it without Mrs. Fleming."

(Reprinted with permission from The Daily Ledger)