Row 1: Dawn Wacek, Theresa Undem, Karen Collins (NNPS Key Contact), Jody Peck, Elisa Lindau, Noreen Barnes, and Nancy Bitney. Row 2: Diann Parker, Stacey Wucherpfennig, Patty Cummings-Reinert, Ann Schroeder, Jane Eaton (Principal), and Ryan Predni.
Meeting the challenge to involve more families
Spooner Elementary School’s ATP aims to reach more families and improve student learning in many activities that are planned and implemented. To increase student achievement in math and to continue to strengthen school-family-community partnerships, the ATP collaborated with the Title I Resource Team to plan, organize and implement the third annual Family Math Day. Spooner Elementary is a rural school serving a vast 540 square mile district, with pockets of residents in 21 widely-spaced townships. The ATP aims to create a close community among parents who may feel isolated and secluded. They also want to include retired community members who may have few ties to the school. The ATP recruited 43 volunteers from all locations to assist with Family Math Day activities and game stations. School board members, police officers, area business owners, senior citizens, and high school students helped school staff and ATP members make this event a success for students and their families.
The ATP created signs to identify math stations, ordered games with available grant monies, created take-home math packets, recruited volunteers, and supervised activities. On Family Math Day every room, hallway, computer room, and “nook and cranny” of the building was filled with families engaged in math games and activities such as making origami figures and conducting math movement games in the gym. About 70% of the students and their families participated, and new community volunteers helped build a bridge from the school to the far-reaching sections of the district.
Reach results for student success in school
Another activity to reach families and increase student success is Spooner’s Tutoring/Mentoring Program (TMP) aimed to meet the challenge of involving more families. An AmeriCorps (VISTA) volunteer and the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) supported this activity. Nineteen community volunteers were recruited and prepared to work, twice weekly, with 54 K-4th grade students. The volunteers and student teachers offered students encouragement and extra help during the regular school day or after school to students who were at risk of failing.
TMP aimed to increase student achievement in math and language arts and strengthen school and family partnerships. The one-on-one help for students by caring parents and community members increased students’ confidence and feelings of success in school. Teachers reported back to all parents about their children’s progress and how to support their child at home. The program’s leaders also reported progress to the full faculty and discussed ideas for improving the services for students.
Students increased their test scores, which, in turn, encouraged even more parents and community members to join TMP, including several retired senior citizens. Linking the program to the Search Institute’s Developmental Assets, one ATP member noted, “. . . Support from positive adults has the power to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults.”
Visit the school at http://www.spooner.k12.wi.us/ELEMENTARY_SCHOOL/index.htm.