WETUMKA, Okla.- The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Wetumka Head Start Parent Committee held a family pizza dinner on April 29 at the Wetumka Public School Auditorium. The event celebrated Head Start students and staff, and gave special attention to the students who participated in basketball and in the Little Olympics. Students could bring up to four guests and each staff member could bring a plus one.
Wetumka Head Start Parent Committee President Eric Yahola (Mvskoke) helped organize the event for the children. The idea came about during their parent committee in April by Head Start parent, Sampson Dyer. Up to Yahola’s knowledge this is their first time doing this kind of event.
The pizza party included a welcoming ceremony and an awards ceremony. Head Start grandparent Dietra Gibson purchased trophies to be handed out to the little athletes. For the children’s entertainment Lewis Yahola brought in a puppet show skit. A prop background for pictures that looked similar to sports signing was also at the ready for smiles.
“Which should be really cute and fun! Not all students played basketball, but they all participated in the Little Olympics. We will recognize ALL students for basketball and Olympic participation,” Yahola said.
Yahola felt that the students have been enthusiastic about the sports activities so far and wanted to do something fun and entertaining for them. Prior to the event, Yahola shared with Mvskoke Media he was looking forward to seeing their facial expressions when they start handing out the trophies, ribbons and certificates.
The Wetumka parents worked together to form the Head Start basketball team and the team played games in March against Dustin and Wetumka’s Pre-K.
“We feel it went great, kids enjoyed it, parents enjoyed the experience. The basketball and sports bbq are something we as parents could facilitate to help them transition to public schools as well as what the Head Start staff are doing educationally. So the idea came up simply as food and award presentation has grown in just a week since,” Yahola said.
Yahola is grateful for having support from the parents and the school and is also pleased to see the participation among students and parents. He also expressed gratitude for the parents coming together to help put on the event, along with other involvements in the past. Since Head Start is only a maximum of two years, there is turn over in students every year. However, Yahola and the committee plan on passing the information to new parents to continue creative activities with future students.
“I am appreciative of the Head Start school and staff for their support of and collaboration with the parent committee. Grateful for the parent and student involvement. We just like to make a big deal of our kids and this is one way of doing that,” Yahola said.
He would also like to thank the Wetumka Public School for the use of their auditorium on short notice, and is glad that they have a great relationship with the committee.
