Jamyria L. West, 7, a student at Milam Elementary School and the daughter of Staff Sgt. Kariema Depina-West, demonstrates her ability to play Twister Moves, a game where players twist, dance and move to the music.
Photo by Clarence Davis III.

Lessons learned at WBAMC fall festival

Clarence Davis III 

WBAMC Public Affairs

More than 30 children of the William Beaumont Army Medical Center staff participated in the Fall Festival at Bradley Park Oct. 11.

The event was sponsored by the WBAMC Family Readiness Group and students from the Licensed Practical Nurse Course, who planned and organized the event with oversight from the cadre.  

“This event celebrates the fall season and is a safe venue for our children to celebrate Halloween,” said Mary Fran LeMar, FRG leader. 

Before the fun activities began, LeMar was presented a personal thank-you note for more than five years of service as the WBAMC FRG leader by Col. James. M. Baunchalk, WBAMC commander.  

The children participated in several events held at different stations throughout the park.  

“The Fall Festival is one of the senior class projects and is a course requirement,” said Sergeant Maj. Sandra L. Ford, PNC chief instructor. “The students prepared the games that were age-appropriate for the various age groups. It is important that the PNC student get a chance to interact with children and their parents in other than a clinical setting. Students get a sense of belonging and can show their pride in the community.”   

The festive environment helped students observe how children in various stages of development interact with each other and how they respond to others, “especially how they respond to questions when asked,” Ford said.  

“Examples of skills for different developmental stages include development of hand-eye coordination, thinking and creative skills, imagination, self confidence, strengthening social skills and physical fitness,” said Staff Sgt. Kariema M. DePina-West, PNC class adviser.  

During the festival, children were allowed to select activities they wanted to participate in. West said interacting with adults and other children helps improve their skills necessary for formal learning throughout the developmental process.   

Ford said it was also a great opportunity for the faculty to evaluate the PNC students on how they interact with parents and children in a non-clinical environment and to improve any foreseen predicaments. 

“Theses shortcomings can be addressed before the student graduates, thus making a more professional nurse,” Ford said.

The goal is to provide all beneficiaries the best in health care. Each patient’s case is different and requires flexibility to address those needs systematically. Training events such as these provide future nurses the ability to think out of the box by listening and responding to Soldiers and their families, said Lt. Col. Pedro Ramon-Hernandez, PNC chief.

Festival activities included dodgeball, a bouncing house, therapy dog and Twister moves. Students and children equally participated in the dodgeball game where everyone had to protect themselves and their fellow team members from the ball. Dare, a 2-year-old Great Dane and WBAMC therapy dog, also participated in the event. Dare has been a therapy dog for six months.