The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 35, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 October 1987 — Page 12

12

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — W«U October 14.1987

School news

? fl K VMM / * ‘ WlilF I *Jfl

Wt JB VflJ U s ■ft c ~ 7 — in jin i .-nn n It v >dß I V V kl w . * -3? fiVV ,fIL x ■*■ fl Kk ' i

Mutual Federal presents: j£k ™<ttj»lCK<k ACCOUNT \ A plan that lets you write your own loan — with a line of credit based on your home equity! A line of credit can be established for you, based on - the equity in your home. You can draw against that line of credit anytime, anywhere, just by writing a check. No need to apply for a new loan each time you need to use your line of credit with “QUICK DRAW”. Just write a check for a loan in any amount up to your individual limit. Your loan will be activated at a low rate when your check is processed. Lines of credit are available from $5,000 to the maximum of your home loan equity. That’s a “QUICK DRAW” from the LOAN STARS at Mutual Federal Savings Bank, of course. See us or call .. 2678186 for more details. - ■ - —- . -- tdUM MUMS LKNOER mutual federal wMNBL. savings bank WARSAW— 219 WEST MARKET STREET • 267-8186 NORTH WEBSTER-MID LAKES SHOPPING CENTER • 834-2879

i COLUMBUS SAILED THE OCEAN BLUE - In 1492 ColumI bus sailed the ocean blue — and a now hundreds of years later ■ students are still celebrating that if great day. This year’s Columbus I Day was celebrated at the North I Webster Schools with a skit by g Mrs. Heath’s/ second grade ■ reading group. In the top photo, from left, stan- ■ ding, are David Rabb, Haili I Singrey and Ann Corbin. In the I left corner Dina Coverstone is ■ seen peeking around. The bottom photo has Carissa I Coverstone pleading with her I husband, the king, “Columbus is I right. The earth is round,” she I said. (Photoby Carla Gaff)

RAREMZ/he By H. DEAN EVANS Superintendent of Public Instruction

For the last several years, the Indiana Department of Education has sponsored “Indiana Grandparent Week” to encourage schools to bring young students and senior citizens together in classroom settings. While it has become a priority of my office and the DOE to encourage greater parental involvement in educational matters, it is also important for grandparents, other family members, and the overall community to become actively involved in local schools. The benefits of active senior involvement and participation as volunteers in our schools are significant for those at both ends of the age spectrum. We often hear that our population is growing older each year and that the fastest growing segment of our population is the elderly. It has been reported that shortly after the turn of the 21st Century, one in four Americans will be 60 years or older. Given this largely untapped and vast resource of wisdom and experience, I believe we should provide greater interaction between students and their elders. This wellspring of knowledge should be tapped and shared with school children of all ages. This year’s Grandparent Week has been scheduled for October 19-23. Grandparents and seniors will be invited to participate in school tours, have lunch in school cafeterias, and attend special programs. 1 encourage all schools in Indiana to open their doors to grandparents and seniors to permit them to see firsthand what is happening in today’s classrooms. Grandparent Week is an excellent opportunity for schools to develop activities that will continue long after the week has ended. And although we encourage and promote these activities for one week each year, the involvement of grandparents, older adults, family members, and community groups Should take place throughout the school year. There are numerous activities that a child and older adult can share in a classroom; and though

seniors would be skilled assistants in helping with the daily lessons, I believe the students would benefit most of these shared activities captured the i rich experiences and wisdom of this older generation. Senior adults are wonderful storytellers; and this skill should be shared with younger students in particular. Grandparents and other seniors can tell a child about growing up in a different era, detailing such things as what school was like in the past. Old photographs and books could be used to talk about the old hair styles, fashion trends, cars, and other topics of interest to children. Seniors can help students understand the past by demonstrating pioneer crafts such as weaving, woodcarving, candlemaking, soapmaking, and toy making. It is important for all Indiana citizens, and particularly its students, to become more aware of the physical, mental, and emotional changes experienced during the aging process. Formal and structured activities such as Grandparent Week could lead to active senior citizen involvement in our public schools a c volunteers. Given the limited resources available for public education, and given the fact that seniors represent the fastest growing segment of our society, senior school volunteers could become an important asset for our public schools. Governor Orr recently called for Hoosiers of ail walks oi life io volunieei to help in our local schools and I believe that senior citizens can lead the way in this effort. When the young and old have the opportunity to interact and spend quality time together, the experience leaves a lasting mark on both lives: Parent Commitment Cards r The Department of Education /has begun distributing “Parent Commitment Cards” to school officials as one way to help boost parental involvement in education. The cards are being sent to elementary principals who are being asked to send one home with each student. The students are then asked to return the card after it is signed by a parent, pledging the parents’ commitment to become involved in nine educational, motivational, and social actZvities with their children. These nine simple commitments capture the essence of parental involvement in education. If adhered to by parents, they will lead to improved learning and achievement among our youngsters. I hope that thousands of parents will sign these cards and make the commitment to become involved in their children’s education. The nine commitments: • I will talk with my child daily; • I will praise my child's efforts . and achievements; • I will read or listen to my child read fifteen minutes each day; • I will build self-discipline habits in my child's behavior; • I will stress the importance of regular school attendance; • I will encourage my child to complete all homework assignments; • I will communicate with my child’s teacher(s) on a regular basis; • I will attend parent-teacher conferences; • I will participate in or attend at least three school functions this year. College night to be held A college night, designed to provide information for high school students, is planned for Monday, Oct. 19, at Goshen High School. The program will feature 34 institutions for higher education and a financial aid program. Area high school’s invited to the educational program includes Bethany Christian, Concord, Northridge, Fairfield, North Wood, West Noble, Westview, Wawasee, Jimtown, Elkhart Central and Elkhart Memorial. Students are parents are invited to meet individual college representatives during the program two hour program which begins at 7 p m The financial aid program will be held in the high school auditorium. College representatives will share, admission requirements, tuition fees and other prevalent information dealing with the college they represent. Area schools that will be represented include Goshen, Fort Wayne Bible, Huntington, IUPUFort Wayne, Manchester and Marion. Other schools represented include Ball State, Purdue, Tri-State, Vincennes, Western Michigan and Valparaiso. The program is being coordinated by Goshen High School counselor Herb Amstutz. V

to be held

va i 1 SMART SHOPPERS — Third grade students in Mrs. Stookey’s class at Syracuse Elementary learn firsthand how to budget their money for shopping, with experience in front and behind the counter being given at the Neighborhood General Store in their classroom. Students are using the skills they’ve learned in mathematics, such as adding three digit numbers, counting money, and making change. All of the children agreed that shopping is both fun and hard work. Shown from left are: Carrie Rinker, Jody Brown, Ric Speakman, Ryan Harper, and Jason Kit-

■wdlL .1 a mur—I 1 ’ I ••«*< 'i- X-Ji • 11 —<l - B ’X 1 I EBL—Weds Oct 5-D-83o| PTO PREPARES FOR HALLOWEEN — It’s time again for the annual Halloween Carnival, sponsored by the Syracuse PTO. The carnival will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the Syracuse Elementary Gym. Committee members of this year’s carnival, pictured left to right, are Ed Sorenson, games chairman; Kathleen Boyts, publicity chairman and assistant Country Store chairman; Sally Sorenson, carnival chairman; and Courtney Blue. dunk tank chairman. There will be some new games thisVear — many fun games for both the young and old to enjoy. Teachers will be volunteering to sit in thi dunk tank as students will have the chance to “dunk" them. Bonnie Bauer has planned the menu inthe cafeteria for those persons with “goblin” appetites. There will be taco salad, nachos dogs, pie and ice cream bars. The Country Store will be offering homemade items such as food and crafts, donated by parents, teachers and friends. Marcia Fryback is chairman of this carnival event. The haunted house, sponsored by Beta Sigma Phi, will feature Count Dracula. Cris Griffith will be in charge of this “maze of horror.” The next big event for the Syracuse PTO will be a craft bazaar to be held December 5. For more information on thi.s, persons may contact Marcia Fryback, chairperson, at 457-2384.

Second graders like t 0...

£ A A V E v Ji iTFoI PREPARING FOR HALLOWEEN — Second grade students at Syracuse Elementary School like to celebrate holidays by decorating a bulletin board, as they are shown readying the room for Halloween. From left are: Melissa Hill, Jennifer Holly, Ryan Miles, Matthew Grady, Natalie Scarbeary, and Jason Gaskins. >

kt COLLECT LEAVES — The students in Dorothy Gall’s second grade class at Milford Elementary School enthusiastically attacked their homework assignment recently and collected many varieties of differently shaped fall leaves which accumulated on a table in their home room. The collection was part of a study of how plants grow and how leaves help make food for the plants. Displaying some of the differently shaped leaves are, from the left. Mary Cockburn. Abby Bultemeier, Rachel Hurd and Travis Coy. (Photo by Glen Long)