Wildwood elementary grade of D: can you volunteer?
 

Wildwood elementary school ranked in the lowest 300 elementary schools in the state this year, receiving a grade of D on the scales used for evaluation by the state. This is down from a grade of C the prior year, and B the year before.

I hope that some of you will consider volunteering in an effort to turn this trend around.

Kitty, what are the "scales used for evaluation"? Is academic achievement diminishing, or is this a cry for mentoring? I already am mentoring in an after school program and I see the positive impact that it has on those in the program.

Coach Joe

School Accountability Report
The evaluations are fairly complicated, and the above site, at the bottom shows the calculations used.

The data are collected on academic achievement primarily.

I became interested because of mentoring a couple of girls from my church who go to school in this area. I don't know yet what specific responsibilities of volunteers could be, but will report that when I have more information.

School starts August 7.

More than likely they will be assigned to School in Needs of Improvement status and will be working closely with Florida Dept. Of Education. It looks like they have a new principal and possibly under a restructuring plan. Schools will be under a new grading system this coming school year. However, new standards, new test, higher levels of rigor..... may take a while to get where they need to be.
Mentoring and taking an interest with individual students will help this school community! The teachers and staff will need help and support while the DOE is there as well, lots of work to do for Volunteers if they have a good volunteer program. Go Kitty!

Kitty, ask you mentioned in another thread, they are in need for children's underwear. I checked Wal-Mart online and there is free shipping on $50 order, if snowbirds want to contribute. I will have an order sent when school starts in September,in care of nurse. Thank you

Slipcovers, what items specifically, and what sizes? I haven't bought those items in 30 years.

It's a fact across the nation. You can have great teachers, but living in poverty, poor role models, unstable homes, etc. makes it almost impossible for schools like Wildwood to "measure" up to schools in more affluent neighborhoods. Volunteers in the classroom can really help these kids to know that people care about them.

If one child - only ONE child - can be helped by a caring volunteer, it would be a wonderful gift. I understand that there are retired teachers who actively post on this forum. What a great gift it would be to give time to those needy children.

You are correct, Princesspat, these children need to know that people care about them.

Please volunteer. You don't have to be a teacher. Just being with them and reading to them and modeling what a good adult is helps.

Volunteers Make a Difference In a Child's Education


STARFISH POEM

One day an old man was walking down the beach just before dawn.* In the distance he saw a young man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.* As the old man approached the young man, he asked, "Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?"* The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.* The old man exclaimed, "But there must be thousands of starfish.* How can your efforts make any difference?"* The young man looked down at the starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea, he said," It makes a difference to this one!"

Slip, thanks for your willingness to do this. Staff are working already at the school, and teachers start Aug1. School starts not in Sept., but August 7, should you wish to proceed with sending items.

Wildwood Elementary actually benefitted from the "one letter grade drop protection". Meaning they earned an "F" point wise. But because they were a "C" school last year, they could only drop to a "D".

Good idea, Slip. But we are in Florida. School starts in August.

Thanks for the info, Doug and Pam, long time educators...encouraging words appreciated.
I will do my best to learn more about needs for clothing and school supplies and post a new thread Monday. Hopefully we can do some collections locally.

Folks in other counties may wish to help the schools nearer to where they live.

We have tax free days on clothing and school supplies August 1-3.

Tutors for Kids has been highlighted in the paper looking for volunteers. I contacted them and will be assigned to Wildwood where there is a great need. Lots of poverty there...90% of the school population.

this if from an email I recently got from Tutors for Kids:

Please mention Tutors for Kids to your neighbors and friends. We still need help. For example the new Principal at Wildwood, John Temple, has asked us to double the amount of tutors from 42 to 84. Other schools have asked for doubles as well. We had an excellent response from two published articles about Tutors for Kids but we still need more.

Thanks and we will keep you posted.

F and C

Frank Russo and Carolyn Ruhe
Founders and Coordinators of Tutors for Kids, Inc.
352-245-9709 email: tutorsforkids@att.net

these are elementary schools.....

I will be placing an order this week, and shipped to the school. I want 2 of my grandchildren to help pick them out, just to get them involved.

Hurray, Jackie!

Delivery needs to happen during school staff hours, I assume. You might want to track delivery and give the school a heads up.

This thread begs the question, where does all the property tax money go? The schools should have whatever they need to teach. I know they are putting an addition on one library and the other library on Powell is very impressive. I guess maybe because children don't vote?

what we are talking about is being able to give one-on-one help to students who may be struggling. Unfortunately, many of these kids don't have someone at home who can or are willing to spend the time helping with their education for whatever reason. Even with limiting class size, this is helping with specific children who need a little more. What's exciting about doing this, is that you can a difference to a child when there's the best chance of making an impression on the child...showing them the value of education. From what the leaders of Tutors for Kids say, it has really made a difference in performance of the students.
I have to admit that in addition to wanting to help, I miss seeing children and interacting with them...I think children keep us young and more open....so it's win/win for me.

by the way, we're not talking about huge time commitments. it can be as little as one hour a week.

Bvie, thanks... Here is the website for tutors for kids...
Home

Thanks for the link.
I've sent an email to Tutorsforkids

This is the life experience of Frank McCourt, author of Angelas Ashes. Brought up in extreme poverty, but along the way, a few wonderful people took an interest, gave him the confidence in himself and motivation. He always gave those few people the credit for turning his life around.

Please, Please, Please, also consider helping in Southern Marion County. Stanton-Weirsdale, Harborview and Lake Weir Middle are all within a couple of miles of The Villages. Lake Weir Middle has roughly 1300 students and 85% are free and reduced lunches. I believe nearly 60% of these students are in remedial reading classes. In many cases, these students don't even get a PE class because of their academic needs. Please contact Principal Stephanie Callaway at Lake Weir Middle School :: Marion County Public Schools, Summerfield, FLorida if you can help in any way. The staff, students and the community would be positively impacted by ANY help. Thank you

I hope you will consider starting a new thread to recruit help. I think people in your area will be more likely to read a plea with a title of schools near them.
Blessings,
Kitty

I got the same email. I was so impressed by the Guidance Counselor from one of our local schools that came to our village meeting and told us what a difference we Villagers were making with our help from Backpack programs to volunteering with the kids.

PLEASE think about helping. Just reading to them. It may be the first time someone did that other than their teachers.

Not wanting to delay beginning to help the kids, I went to the school today and filled out the application, which is also available to you in the original post. The new principal will be appointing a teacher to the position of volunteer coordinator, who will be the point person for individuals not working with the tutoring program that will start later.

Teachers will ask the volunteer coordinator for help with individual students or particular classes and be appointed to do that in a flexible way. This will work better for me.

For those interested in making donations targeting Wildwood elementary and Wildwood middle high, look for a new thread later today.