Community Schools a Way to Improve Education (Commercial Appeal, Tennessee)
Knoxville businessman and Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd vouches for community schools – like the one he helped launch at Pond Gap Elementary School – as a way to help low-income students overcome disadvantages in an op-ed for the Commercial Appeal: “Over the years of being very actively involved in our public education system, it has become clear to me that not all education solutions can be solved solely within the classroom…. From local churches to Boy Scouts and Big Brothers, Big Sisters, the school becomes the hub for the community and the access point to reach parents and children…. Turning around Tennessee’s lowest-performing schools will require a team effort. Community schools may be one place to start.”
Bridging Gaps, Building Hope (Washington Post, Virginia)
Through a Hutchinson Elementary School afterschool program, immigrant students are forging bonds with local police officers and learning not to fear law enforcement. Project Hope invites Herndon and Fairfax police officers to the school to participate in fun activities with students, like competing in kickball games, playing cards or enjoying ice cream. The afterschool club helps keep students away from gangs and gives parents and community members, many of whom are immigrants from violent countries like El Salvador and Honduras, peace of mind when interacting with law enforcement. “We didn’t want our parents to be fearful when they come into the school,” principal Ray Lonnett told the Washington Post. “So, we’ve really worked to build this partnership to make sure our entire community can feel comfortable with the police.”
Young People: The Single Most Important Investment in Our Future (Garden Island, Hawaii)
Former state Senator Gary Hooser, who currently serves as board president of the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action and executive director of the Pono Hawaii Initiative, makes the case for more county and community investment in youth programs in the Garden Island: “What would be the impact on drug use and abuse among our youth if their choices of after-school and weekend activities included a strong and wide array of programs including theater, art, hula, skateboarding, mountain biking…. Supporting our existing youth programs and expanding them to accommodate the needs and interests of all of our youth, must be a county and a community priority.”
West Hancock Kids Learn Science Can Be Delicious (Britt News Tribune, Iowa)
Hancock County Extension’s After School Kids Club is teaching third- and fourth-graders about the science behind their favorite foods. Recently, students learned about why Pop Rocks pop and sizzle when they put them in their mouths, and in the coming weeks they will explore the science behind treats like rock candy, cheese and ice cream. Third-grader Sophie Aitchison explained what she enjoys most about the program to the Britt News Tribune: “It’s not just like plain science. You get to eat during the lesson.”
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