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DONNA SUMMERALL
Staff Writer

The Children’s Health Fair sponsored by North Mississippi Medical Center – West Point and Excel By 5, has been teaching children healthy habits for 17 years. The Children’s Health Fair is held each May, during the last month of the school year, at The Civic. It gives the students a break from the classroom for a field trip where they are learning in a fun environment. Students ages 3 – 5, from area child care centers, ICS Head Start, Pre-K and kindergartens go through the different stations to learn how to stay healthy.
“All of the schools and day care centers signed up to be with us,” Sherri White, director of Excel By 5, said. “This has been the best year so far. We scheduled each school to come at a different time and it has worked out so well.”

White said during the 17 years of sponsoring the Children’s Health Fair with North Mississippi Medical Center, they have yet to see children behave badly.

“They stand in line and wait their turn,” White said. “They are so sweet at this age. They are so eager to learn and are so excited to be here. They all have a good time and hopefully learn something that will help keep them safe and healthy.”

Judy Ashmore of the Pilot Club of West Point, was giving the children “Brain Minders” coloring pages. All members of the Pilot Club are proponents of keeping children safe with proper head gear and partner with the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability at MSU.

“We of the Pilot Club of West Point are part of this Pilot International signature program,” Ashmore said. “Brain Minders was originally designed in 2001 to teach safety to children to help prevent brain injuries. We also partner with the Career and Technology Center’s Childhood Development class. Usually they provide a puppet show, but they were in costumes today talking to the children about protecting themselves from head injuries.”

White said the students from the WPHS CTC were amazing to perform for the children in full costume this year. It was the highlight of the day.

“We gave away door prizes for our volunteers,” White said. “We appreciate everyone who came and helped us.”

NMMC presented each teacher with a first-aid kit for their classrooms.

Captain Virginia Rich of the WPPD was talking with the children and handing out coloring books on behalf of the police department.

“We want to be approachable to children,” Rich said. “We want them to come up and talk to us and see that we are their friends. We explain to them that we want them to be safe and if they need our help, please come and tell us what is wrong.”

The Tobacco-Free Coalition of the Golden Triangle talked to students about the harmful effects of tobacco products.

The Bryan Public Library gave away bookmarks, the Wellness Center had an obstacle course set up outside The Civic. West Point High School set up a germ station so the children could hold their hands under a black light and see the dirt and bacteria on their hands, then wash them and see the germs were gone. The MSUES county agent Natalie Ray talked to children about avoiding poisons in the home, the West Point Fire Department allowed the children inside the fire truck, the West Point Children’s Clinic, East Mississippi Community College and Sally Kate Winters Family Services were also volunteers at the event.