Kindergarten students from across the Alcorn School District recently participated in the annual Kindergarten Health Fair hosted at the Alcorn Career and Technology Center. The event was organized by longtime Healthcare and Clinical Services instructor Tila Johnson and led by students enrolled in the program.
A total of 26 students from the Healthcare and Clinical Services Year 1 and Year 2 classes helped plan and facilitate the event. The health fair, which has been held for more than 10 years, gives high school students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom while serving younger students in the district.
During the event, kindergarteners rotated through stations where they learned about important health and safety topics including proper handwashing, good nutrition, exercise, dental health, and general safety. As part of the experience, the high school students also measured each child’s height and weight and performed a visual acuity screening. The information was charted and sent home with students to help inform parents and hopefully alert them to any early concerns.
“This kindergarten health fair is important to my students for several reasons,” Johnson said. “It provides them with hands-on opportunities to use the skills they’ve learned. It also allows them to medically teach the knowledge they’ve gained and collaborate with students throughout the district while they work together to complete the task.”
Representatives from the Mississippi Department of Transportation also participated in the event. Students enjoyed visits from “Myrtle the Turtle,” who talked about litter prevention and keeping Mississippi clean, while “Mini Rover” helped present seatbelt safety. Johnson said the presentations are always a highlight of the day.
“We always appreciate the Department of Transportation collaborating with our event each year, and the kids seem to really enjoy the presentations,” she said.
While the event requires extensive preparation and coordination, Johnson said the effort is worthwhile for her students.
“It’s a long, fast-paced, controlled chaos kind of day,” Johnson said. “But in the end, I think my students feel the success of the work they put into the health fair.”
The annual event continues to highlight the value of career and technical education programs by giving students practical experience while also promoting healthy habits among the district’s youngest learners.