Parental Participation Sends Positive Message
Do your kids know you support their education and share their excitement in learning?
The Garden program at Garfield Elementary School enables parents to communicate this message through involvement.
The program serves kindergarten children and is an outgrowth of the Apple program for students in grades one through six.
“These kids are getting the message from their parents that education is important,” says Garden program teacher Beth Calkins, “because the parents are there in the classroom working with the kids. The message comes through by their actions.”
The Garden program is based on the belief that parental involvement provides for a more enriched education. Parents with a child in the program are required to contribute 45 hours per year in volunteer work, which averages five hours a month. Volunteer hours may be accrued through classroom instruction, committee meetings, field trips and take-home projects.
“Most parents put in many more hours than required,” says Calkins. “The kids get the benefit of the parent’s expertise in areas where I am not an expert.”
Created five years ago, the program’s acronym stands for Garfield Alternative Resource Developmental Education Network. More importantly, the name was chosen to symbolize the growth of a child nurtured through the program.
Parents are invited to ask questions and pick up registration packets at a Garden Program Open House on May 22, 7 p.m., in room 109 at Garfield school (222 W. Knox). As part of the application process parents are asked to observe one of the classroom sessions. Registration packets are due June 7.
Participants will be selected on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call 353-3796.
Catch the spirit
High school volunteer work looks great on college applications and employment resumes. But the benefits of volunteer activities also allow teens to explore career paths, develop new skills, and know they are making a difference in the community.
The Prudential Insurance Co. of America offers a free guide to volunteering, “Catch the Spirit: A Student’s Guide to Community Service.”
The booklet includes suggestions for volunteer opportunities, the do’s and don’ts of successful volunteering and a list of national resources. For a free copy, send your name and address to: Consumer Information Center, Department 588C, Pueblo, CO 81009.
Musical merriment
My children’s favorite music is the award-winning line of audio-cassette tapes, “Kids Love Collection.” The tapes have been played dozens of times and are still delightful and beloved.
The five titles are “Kids Love Lullabies,” “Kids Love Sing Alongs,” “Kids Love Counting,” “Kids Love the Circus” and “Kids Love Trains.”
These last two audio tapes have accompanying video tapes which received an endorsement from the Coalition for Quality Children’s Video.
The songs are performed by Red Wagon Music, a multicultural group of musicians who take traditional favorites and add creative variations, like the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” sung with a touch of calypso and a hint of rap (on the “Kids Love Sing Alongs” tape).
Recommended for ages 2 to 8, the tapes are $9.95, videos are $14.95. To order, call (800) 999-0212.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Staff illustration by A. Heitner
MEMO: The Family Track offers notes and information for families. Write to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.