|
STEVENS: Education excitement at Eugene Field
By MARGE STEVENS, Positives in Education
|
|
Many people who are not familiar with education often say to me, “I wish I could work nine months and get paid for the whole year.”
This is a fallacy that I hope this column will destroy.
Last April, at an Eugene Field Elementary School site council meeting, Principal Josh Robinson began researching and making plans for the first day of school Aug. 14. The staff joined Mr. Robinson and brainstormed some solutions to a couple of problems at Eugene Field. They worked through the summer to contact community groups to help them.
Usually on the first day of school, parents drop off their children and, depending on the age of the child, the parents cheerfully and sometimes tearfully leave their child.
This year, the parents are invited to stay for the first half-day of school. They will all line up with their children on the blacktop play area just south of the school. This will be what the children will do each day. Early arrivals in years past went to the gym and /or lunchroom and sometimes by then problems had arose. Now, they will line up and the teachers will pick up their class. Those who eat breakfast will go there and the rest will be invited to come to the room where teachers have volunteered a segment of their plan time for teaching/education/binding time.
On the first day, parents and their children will get a chance to hear the expectations for their child in the classroom. Parents will get to see where their children will be and view the school in general.
The parents then will be invited to the gym to participate in an Elementary Community Education Fair. This fair is two-fold. The school hopes that the information learned there will increase parent participation throughout the year. Also, they hope to show just what opportunities are available in the community to help or stimulate their child.
Those presenting include Boy Scouts, Communities in Schools, Eugene Field Families for Education, Elizabeth Layton Center for Hope and Guidance, Franklin County Head Start, Future Visions, Heart to Heart, Hope House, K-State Extension Office, Ottawa Library, Ottawa Recreation Commission, Ottawa University and Reach for the Stars.
Mr. Robinson is hopeful that a few more entities will be present.
Teachers at Eugene Field have been busy planning. Some staff members have been calling and setting up plans throughout the summer.
At the end of the school half–day, the students, teachers, and parents will get to participate in a special butterfly release. This will signify all of the freedom the students will have at Eugene Field this year and it will indicate just how high the students will soar this year.
The USD 290 board also has had the opportunity to hear about test results for last year.
Mr. Robinson said during the interview, “We have a lot to celebrate this year. Academically, all of our classes improved and they did a great job.”
Even though they did great, they immediately started thinking of ways to improve their educational offering to improve even more this 2008-2009 year. Always working and thinking ahead, even in the summer!
Congratulations, Eugene Field staff and principal. Thank you for giving of your time and talents, even in the summer, so your students can soar. Thank you also for giving up that precious time in the morning to be with your students and offering more student-teacher contact time. I know how much of a sacrifice that is. Thank you, thank you.
Marge Stevens is a member of the USD 290 Board of Education.
|
|
To post a comment click here
|
|
|
0 comment(s)
|
|
