What is STAR Kids? STAR Kids stands for Super Thinking and Responsible Kids. This program
of CYFS uses the resiliency-based curriculum, Al’s Pals: Kids Making
Healthy Choices, designed for children ages 3 to 8, to provide prevention
services to approximately 230 children in Monticello Area Community Action Agency
(MACAA) Head Start classes in the City of Charlottesville and the counties of
Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Nelson. The curriculum is designed to develop
children’s personal, social and emotional skills for life. It helps create
a classroom environment of caring, cooperation, respect and responsibility.
How does it work?
The Al’s Pals curriculum is delivered by trained educators twice
a week from October through May of each year for a total of 46 lessons. The
lessons last approximately 15 to 20 minutes each. The Head Start Teachers assist
during the lessons and then reinforce and model the key Al's Pals concepts
during interactions with the children throughout each day.
Using the puppets – Al and His Pals – music, movement, dramatic
play, brainstorming and creative learning activities, young children learn to
get along with others, manage their feelings, think independently, control their
own behavior, cope with difficulties, solve problems, and make safe and healthy
choices. Regular communication is sent home to the participants’ parents
to engage the whole family in the “make healthy choices” message.
An end-of-the-year party is held to celebrate the children’s accomplishments
in the program and the new skills they have learned, again reinforcing positive
messages about the child.
For more information please contact Christy Arrington
296-4118 ext 225, or send an e-mail to: carrington@cyfs.org
