Volunteers needed to fill in gaps at schools

There are numerous ways for parents and community members to support schools and become mentors for children.

By MICHELE MILLER

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 6, 2000

With the kids heading back to school, opportunity abounds for parents as well as other community members to get involved and play some part in the education of today's youth.

Children who look to their elders for guidance are likely to come away with a yearning to learn more if adults set an example by showing that education matters to them as well. Those who want to make the most of their children's education are wise to take advantage of at least some of the involvement opportunities schools offer.

No matter how busy the schedule, parents should plan on attending the school open house, where they are given a glimpse into their child's school day: the classroom, his or her classmates and the teachers who often will hand out a syllabus or share their expectations for the coming year. This is the time to ask questions (but remember that this isn't the time to conduct a parent-teacher conference) and get that vital information: which days the kids should wear sneakers for gym class, when that weekly spelling test will be given or how many pages that term paper should be.

Parent to Kids Nights is a program that offers parents instruction on how to make reading an exciting and fun activity, and it comes with some free giveaways. It has proven to be a big draw in elementary schools that offer the program. Geared for kindergarten and first grade students and usually held in the evening, this program gives parents a variety of tips, from how to sit next to their children rather than face them and how to use voice inflection to make a story more exciting. These nights have become so popular that many schools are parlaying the idea into family nights that offer fun activities along with a little math instruction, arts and crafts activities or information about that dreaded FCAT test. For information, contact your school media or reading specialist.

If you're finding your child is light years ahead of you when it comes to computer technology, you might want to take a lesson or two at the school Media Night. Schools such as Northwest Elementary in Hudson have worked hard to meet the needs of parents' schedules, keeping the media center open for evening hours once a month. Those who stopped by were able to take part in a family workshop, check out books and parenting material or learn how to build their own computer Web sites. Contact your school media specialist.

Children don't come into this world with their own set of operating instructions or troubleshooting guides, but guidance counselors in schools throughout the county have been willing to put in extra hours to host parenting classes that focus on such subjects as discipline, child development and anger management, as well as parental vs. school expectations. Some guidance counselors also offer group meetings or counseling for children of divorced parents or those dealing with the loss of a loved one. Contact your school guidance office.

If your child is in his or her junior or senior year, college looms on the horizon, and you have no idea where to start. College and Financial Aid workshops offering the "how to" advice are usually offered once a year at three separate locations for east, west and central Pasco high schools. Some schools, such as Gulf and Pasco high schools occasionally open their guidance and career offices for extended hours so parents and their children can get advice, check out college handbooks or use school computer programs to see what's out there. It's a good idea to at least touch base with your child's guidance counselor to make sure they're on the right track: that they will have enough credit hours to graduate and that they have taken the correct courses to get accepted to state universities, among other concerns. Contact the guidance office or career specialist.

When it comes to volunteering, there are always plenty of openings, from helping out in the classroom, to fielding phone calls in the front office or perhaps helping out in the maintenance department.

Parent Teacher Volunteer groups (PTO, PTA, etc.) usually meet monthly. These are the people who provide invaluable services to students and faculty alike -- hosting fundraisers for a sorely needed playground, funding school enhancement activities like a visit from the infamous "Reptile Man" or planning the schoolwide carnival. If you haven't already signed on, you might want to contact the PTA/PTO at your child's school and give it a go.

School Advisory Councils are another way in and are an important link with the business community. Made up of parents, community members, faculty and in some cases students, the group usually meets on a monthly basis to brainstorm, take a look at the school strengths and weaknesses and help draw up and implement the School Improvement plan for the coming year. Contact the school principal.

The VISTA/America Reads program always needs tutors to read with primary students who might benefit from the extra one-on-one attention. The program draws on teenage, adult and senior volunteers who can offer at least one hour a week. Contact the America Reads volunteer coordinator at participating elementary schools.

Mentoring is something that can be done at the school or in the workplace. Some schools, such as Zephyrhills High and West Zephyrhills Elementary, have started their own mentor programs where adults come in on a weekly basis to listen to students and offer encouragement. High school career specialists often seek out community and business members to help students find out whether a specific career might suit them or not. Those looking for a one-day stint might consider shedding a little light on the real world by signing on for the The Great American Teach In. Usually held in November at schools throughout the county, the event has business and community members visiting schools to tell students about their careers. Contact the school's volunteer coordinator.

While the majority of school volunteers tend to be female, don't count the men out. Each year Lacoochee Elementary hosts a Dad's Story Day, where dads and male community members come out for one day to set an example by reading to students throughout the school.

At Denham Oaks Elementary School, assistant principal Scott Mitchell heads up the Dad's Club, where some 25 dads get together once a month for an organizational/brainstorming meeting. Some of their ideas have been real winners: an outdoor movie night, Valentine Cook-Out and a special "Dad's Day on Campus" that had the men-folk helping out in the classroom, the cafeteria or the media center. The Dad's Club has been an asset to a school, a way to parlay skills, Mitchell said. "I think this has been a great way to get the dads involved, and the kids like that.".

And remember, being involved doesn't have to be all work. Being a chaperone often means a getting the group discount rate when it comes to attending a local museum or a fun theater event that might be too costly otherwise. Whether you're there to cheer on your own child or sit beside them in the audience at the school play, chorus or band concert, art show or the Friday night football game, it's yet another way to show support and let your child know just how much you care.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.