The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 41, Milford, Kosciusko County, 22 November 1989 — Page 10

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., November 22, 1989

10

School news

Better reading skills are promoted through Chapter I

Bv MITCHELL STINSON and MARY JANE LORTON Staff Writers The earliest stages of a child's education can determine whether he or she will become a good reader. With this in mind, the Indiana Department of Education is trying to make sure that Hoosier students will have adequate reading skills by the time they leave the second grade.

11l WBi ' 11 ~4j LOVING GUIDANCE — Jan Perzanowski. on left, helps Justin Gerber, on right, with a reading activity. Perzanowski is the reading coordinator and reading director for the Chapter I program for Wawasee’s school corporation. As the program's director, Perzanowski stresses loving and understanding a student first. "The first way to a child's mind is through the heart.” Perzanowski maintained. (Photo by Mary Jane Lorton)

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DINOSAUR ENTHUSIASTS — Mrs. Engelberth’s first grade class recently completed a study on dinosaurs. The children studied the different kinds of prehistoric creatures, what they ate, and how large they grew to be. Here the children show some of the individual dihosaur projects. Stftmff frnm ipft arp xichnlas McCool. Kalina Salazar. Mandie

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Funding from the state's Chapter I reading program is be ing used to work toward that goal this year. Wawasee’s school corporation is getting a little more than $150,000 for its portion of the program, with most of that money going for extra reading instructional assistants. The extra personnel allows schools to give more attention to students with reading problems. Children are tested for their reading skills, and then given help individually and in small groups. "Now we identify the children and their specific problems, so

there's an individual assessment. " said Jan Perzanowski. the Wawasee School Corporation reading coordinator and Chapter I director. Some students with reading problems have "slipped through the cracks” in the past, according to Perzanowski. It's easy for individual needs to be neglected when a student melds in with the masses, "But through individual assessment, they won’t go through the cracks,” she said. "We ll find out why (there's a reading problem! and get them in the reading process so they’ll all be readers." Kindergarten, readiness and first grade students "are individually screened in the fall in an effort to identify children's level of readiness and to provide instruction for varying needs." Perzanowski said. Children are placed in the Chapter I program based on the results of the screening, with students with the greatest needs being placed in the Chapter I program For these grade levels the screening consists of a three-part teacher made test The program doesn't stop with kindergarten, first and second grade. It's there for the higher grades too. Students in grades two through five are also screened in the fall. For these levels placement is based on ISTEP scores, reading grades and reading levels. Again, students with the greatest needs are placed in the Chapter I program. The overall plan is to meet a student's special needs all the way through high school, if need be. "We re starting a program that should follow a child all the way through graduation." Perzanowski said. A reading file, which tracks a student's reading record, is developed and kept for each student. Students are then

Sawyer, Kayla Brumbaugh, Nakia Shoemaker, and Anthony Solina. Standing to the left are Eric Kaufman, Jennifer Grevenstuk, and Travis Henson. On the right are Michael Wilson. Amanda Johnson, and Dusty Krull. Peaking through the window are Dustin Miller. Marshall Morris. Mark Jackson, Jessica Kozon, and Brandi Wert. (Photo bv Stacey Lesch)

encouraged to better their own scores. "Competing with their own records instead of with other students will help a child see improvement,” Perzanowski explained. The key for future generations of readers appears to lie in the early, formative years. Organizers believe that early identification of problems and appropriate remediation will be the key to a successful Chapter I program. Ideally, some of the kids in the program will advance to thtj point where they don’t need special attention anymore. There are nine reading instructional assistants spread between , Milford. North Webster and Syracuse schools. Cheryl Manning and Kathie Kiefer work in Milford, while Tish Clevenger, Deb Holderman and Virginia Neises man the Syracuse location. Bea Haddock. Margaret Meyer. Joyce Moore and Judy Wheat serve at North Webster. When working with the instruc-, tional assistants. Perzanowski said she emphasizes the idea of loving and understanding. "The first Way to a child's mind is through the heart." Perzanowski explained. The Chapter I assistants work closely with the classroom teacher and use material that teaches to the child's strength. Perzanowski noted. "This will help build a child’s self-esteem." she said. ’There are many underachievers because we don't understand their learning style," Perzanowski said. Chapter 1 seeks to present reading in away that will capitalize on each child s method of learning. "We hope to eliminate most reading problems by careful early intervention and individualized reading instruction flexible enough to accommodate differing needs," Perzanowski added.

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But the instructional assistants can't fill in a child's learning gaps alone. Perzanowski stresses that parents need to be involved in the educational process. Chapter I workshops are being provided for parents. "I think that's a real important part of help ng the child." Perzanowski explained. This is the first year for the program in Wawasee’s school corporation and Perzanowski said things are going very well. "The staff and administrators have been great," said Perzanowski. But the real test for the pro-

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READING PROGRAM — Brandi Spitler, left, and Arlene Stuckman are part of the Chapter I reading program at Syracuse School. The two second-graders are shown as they read in Sharon Wright's class last Monday. (Photo by Mitchell Stinson)

Slave auction at North Webster

A very entertaining time was had by parents as well as students Wednesday. Nov. 15. at the first “Just Say No" slave auction in the North Webster cafeteria. “Just Say No" Members who had parents in attendance were auctioned as slaves for various domestic jobs These chores included dusting, sweeping, scrubbing kitchen floors, helping fold laundry, cleaning garages, and the most popular job by parents — the

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ORNAMENTS FOR THE CAPITAL — Each year 92 Christmas trees are decorated at the state capital. The ornaments are made by school children and depict some special aspect of their county. This year, Syracuse Elementary fourth graders were chosen to make the ornaments for the Kosciusko County tree. Students decorated sailboats which were then placed on blue

gram will come in the spring when students are evaluated a second time. “The goal of the program is to have them score at least one point above their score on the test" from the preceding year Perzanowski said. Perzanowski. the instructional assistants, and the students are hard at work trying to meet this goal. In the meantime, Perzanowski said the program will continue to strive to make reading an "interesting and creative mental activity for students at all grade levels. ’ ’

dreaded bedroom. In all. 30 members went on the auction block and were auctioned off by Mrs. Betty Berger. December will find the members celebrating the holidays with a skating party on the 15th. Members will depart the school at 4 p.m. and return at 7 p.m. The next “Just Say No" business meeting will be in January. Any and all students are encouraged to join the group in the fun of just saying "no.”

Student aid available

Every year, millions of eligible students miss out on their share of the $26 billion available from state and federal student aid programs either because they don't apply or they do not know how to complete the state and federal student aid applications in a manner that will insure the best chance of receiving an award. To assist families in determining exactly how much money they are eligible for in the form of state, federal, special campusbased student aid programs, ‘Dollars For Scholars” is now offering a sophisticated computer service that analyzes a student’s individual family circumstances and prepares a computerized step-by-step outline illustrating,

.“0 * I t_ A Bp f ■tjj NORTH WEBSTER CHEERLEADERS — The North Webster School seventh grade cheerleaders are pictured here in one of their pyramid poses. Shown at the ground level, from left, are Ashkea Judd, Tricia Preston and Leisa Church. Standing on top of their cohorts are Clarissa Dußois and Amanda Ertel. (Photo by Mitchell Stinson)

School menu

WAWASEE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL November 27-December 1 MONDAY — Homemade vegetable beef soup w/crackers, tri tater, fresh bananas, brownie, and milk TUESDAY — Taco salad w/corn chips, buttered corn, fruit slush, bread and butter, and milk WEDNESDAY - Fish sandwich w/tarter sauce, mixed vegetables, pineapple chunks, lemon cheesecake, and milk THURSDAY — Beef and noodles, whipped potatoes, buttered broccoli, mixed fruit, deviled egg, bread and butter, and milk FRIDAX’ — Cheeseburger pie, buttered green beans, pear half, bread and butter, and milk

blocks of wood. The name of a Kosciusko County lake was written on each sailboat. The unveiling of the trees is scheduled to take place on December 2. Holding their ornaments, from left to right, are Steve Mast, Sarah Williams, Lisa Schafer, Gabe Combs, Natalie Scarbeary, Cliff Schwartz. Robert Stouder, and Taia Pletcher. (Photo by Mary Jane Lorton)

what action the student needs to take to b<j assured of qualifying for his share of the $26 billion in student aid that is available for the 1990-91 school year. According to the company’s spokesman, Richard Brown, students complete the short background questionnaire that asks about their income, expenses, academic abilities, and a list of the schools that they are considering attending. This information is entered into a computer that analyzes each student’s particular circumstances and prepares a 40-page report, guiding the student through the steps that they need to take to complete state and federal student aid applications ina manner that will insure the best chance.of

MILFORD SYRACUSE NORTH WEBSTER ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH November 27-December 1 MONDAY — Beef and noodles, whipped potatoes, mixed fruit, nut cluster, bread and butter, and milk TUESDAY- Cook’s choice WEDNESDAY — Homemade vegetable beef soup w/crackers, bologna sandwich, pear half, cookie, and milk THURSDAY - Italian spaghetti. buttered green beans, fresh apple slice, cheese bun, and milk FRIDAY — Submarine sandwich, corn, diced peach and banana, baked item, and milk Menus are subject to change.

receiving an award. Included in the report is a complete printout of the special campus-based student aid programs available at each school the student chooses and the steps necessary to apply for each of these programs. Member of BS University Chorus Alicial Schackel, Syracuse, has been selected as a member of the University Chorus at Bal] State University. Schackel, 18, is the daughter of Ric and Margaret Bchackel. 8 East Shore Dr., Syracuse. A graduate of Wawasee High School, she is a freshman majoring in telecommunications.