Preschoolers at Head Start at the Oak Harbor School District office spent Monday flying kites.

It’s one of the activities that the preschool program is doing to make up for the field trips they had to end because of reduced federal funding.

“Rather than going on excursions, we’re bringing in some community people to do activities with the children,” said Betty Judd, center manager for Head Start. “It’s been nice to see people respond in the community.”

A new local business, Mariah Kites Windsports and Hobbies, furnished the kites for the children to use. Preschoolers cut out, decorated and flew the kites in the playground located in the parking lot behind the district’s administration offices. Glen Kehl, owner of the kite shop that opened last fall, said Head Start approached him to visit the preschoolers. He provided kites for the kids to use and keep.

Judd said the activity was positive because the process of putting together and playing with a paper kite helps with gross motor development.

Head Start is a preschool program that helps prepare students for kindergarten. The program offers a morning and afternoon preschool for families with children ages three and four. Judd said activities also help develop language skills, reading abilities, math and science knowledge.

The program also encourages parental involvement with their child’s education.

Judd said the preschool works to make sure every child is included in activities.

“We need to provide experiences and activities no matter what level,” Judd said.

Head Start also has a program for children from birth to three years old in which an employee visits families once a week to provide support and assistance for educating their child.

Currently 36 families have children enrolled in the preschool and 20 children are enrolled in the early Head Start program.

Head Start, which is federally funded, took a 1 percent cut in money this year.

To deal with the funding loss, officials eliminated field trips and reduced transportation costs for students.

Judd said Head Start teachers have tried to find ways to bring those experiences to the classroom.

When they weren’t able to visit a pumpkin patch last fall, staff brought pumpkins from a local farm to the students. The students had a pumpkin hunt, removed and dried the pumpkin seeds, measured each gourd and made stories, Judd said.

Staff members were able to put together money for annual student excursions to the swimming pool. Judd said staff made presentations to officials at the Navy Chapel and the Pizza Factory who donated $500 and $200, respectively. That paid for transportation and fees for four trips to the pool.

She credited Head Start teachers with finding the outside support to continue the activities. Another change to a traditional activity takes place in May when firefighters and police officers will bring their vehicles to the program so the children can take tours.

The budget cuts also forced changes in transportation to and from the program. Parents will have to bring students in for the morning preschool while school district buses will take them home at midday. Then the buses will bring students in for the afternoon preschool program and parents will have to bring them home at the end of the day. Judd said that was the best way to keep transportation for the preschool. She said she has to work with parents to resolve any transportation issues as they arise.

“We’ve tried to accommodate the best we can,” Judd said.

She said the funding is expected to remain the same next year. However, that is still a reduction because it doesn’t account for inflation.