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When the community is the classroom
By LOGAN NEILL
© St. Petersburg Times, As she and her students approach the produce aisle, Joyce Lewis decides the time is right for a quiz. "Let's see if anyone can find the broccoli," she says. Eager faces scan the shelves, looking for something that has been described to them often by their teacher in recent days. Suddenly, a hand pops up in her face. "Little trees!" shouts Nicky Wheeler, holding up a package of fresh broccoli. "They look just like little trees." For the 14 varying exceptionalities students in Lewis' class, the monthly visit to the Publix at Barclay Square in Spring Hill is much more than just another field trip. For these children, many of whom struggle with emotional and mental challenges, the simple act of grocery shopping is a valuable real world activity that helps enhance skills in critical thinking and social awareness. For the past several years, the store has been welcoming Lewis' ESE class about once a month to shop for supplies for classroom cooking projects. Many of the employees know the children by name and smile and wave as they stroll down the isles. "They've always been very open to us and very helpful," Lewis said. "Every time I tell the kids we're going shopping, they can't wait." Lewis is among dozens of Hernando teachers who have come to depend on the help pledged by businesses in and around their school's community. From large corporations such as Publix, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Winn Dixie and Wal-Mart to local companies such as Spring Hill Lanes, Florida Rock Industries and Withlacoochee Power and Electric, schools have been able to garner support for projects that might have otherwise gone unfulfilled. In Lewis' case, much of that support has gone toward a project called Spuds R' Us, a class lunchtime business that raises funds for social outings and activities for the students. Once a month, Lewis and classroom paraprofessional Debbie Horvath supervise the students while they take orders and prepare baked potatoes for teachers and staff at the school. Through the cooperation of Publix manager Joe Corwin, Lewis is able to buy items such as potatoes, sour cream and cheese at cost or at a discount. All the profits from the sales go directly toward funding student trips for activities such as bowling, miniature golf and to restaurants. "Without the store's help we wouldn't be able to do the activities we feel are important for the kids because they get to do more things that normal kids get to do," says Lewis. Corwin, who has managed the store for four years, says his support of Lewis' project reflects his company's desire to develop strong ties with schools in the community they serve. His store routinely supports both Floyd Elementary and Powell Middle School with goods and services for activities such as school dances, open houses and fundraisers. Also, Corwin is an active member of Powell's SAC committee, and is a DECA club adviser at nearby Springstead High. "I think most people realize that schools are under stress to provide more than they're capable of giving," Corwin said. Two years ago, when West Hernando Middle School principal Ken Pritz began planning for a wooden bridge that would be built solely by students, he began seeking support from local and regional businesses for donations of supplies and materials. Donations for the bridge project included excavation work and more than a dozen wooden pilings by Withlacoochee Power. Local merchants such as Home Depot and Wal-Mart provided additional supplies to help with the bridge's completion. But perhaps most important says Pritz is his students ability to recognize how valuable community support is to educational goals. "They see that it's all part of being a member of their community," Pritz said. "When they become employees and employers themselves, they will hopefully remember that and will want to continue in the same fashion."
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From today's Hernando Times |
