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' »v v / A .,' .v,AiIStick puppets tell the story of the first Thanksgiving at Dogwood school, Park Forest, in a program presented by the second and third grade students of Catherine Kerns and Deanna Anthony. The youthful puppeteers, who created their own stage and cast of characters, are part of a team-teaching group program.VolunteersAt Dogwood school in Park Forest, a primary center in District 163, parents form an important part of the program, performing voluntary functions that make many projects possible.According to Principal Tina Schwartz, parents can be found in the classroom listening to a child read or helping with craft activities; in the health services office; in the learning center helping children use the reading, math and spelling self-correcting programs on the System 80 machines.* Parents organize book exchange programs, help with newly-designed individualized gym activities and with the picture program. Fathers have built book cases and added shelves to the school. Working mothers make telephone calls, help with baking and publicity as well as make educational games at home.LAST MONTH Dogwood sponsored a half-day institute for teachers and parents that featured a film on the importance of parent involvement in the school plus workshops explaining how to develop math, dictionary and reading skill games for classroom use. Parents also recorded stories on tape for the students.These workshops, led by both parents and teachers, were followed by the actual performance of the activities learned. In turn, District 163 awarded a $200 grant to the school to buy supplies for the games parents may now make at home.In addition, Dogwood parents have a once-a-month newsletter planned that will be sent to a Geographic Area Representative for Dogwood member so that he or she may pass along the information to other Dogwood parents on the block.Mrs. Schwartz said the idea isto “enable communications inthe neighborhoods represented in Dogwood school.”FOR THOSE parents who wish to volunteer time but have preschool children, there is a PTO-sponsored co-operative nursery every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and on special event days. The law requires that a parent of a child cared for in the school nursery be present in the building. In turn parents are asked to donate one day of service for every four times their child uses the nursery.The PTO does more than sponsor the nursery at Dogwood. It acts as the coordinator for all the parent volunteer activities in the school under the direction of its two co-ordinators, Lynn Anderson and Marlys Schrag. The board, made up of 21 parents plus four administration and staff members, represents all school neighborhoods.According to Mrs. Schrag, the volunteers are a “fantastic group. Everybody feels comfortable at Dogwood. It’s friendly. We have a parent’s parlor where we can get a cup of coffee and exchange views with other parents and a bulletin board in the hall where ideas may be left.”Aneita Matthews, a first grade teacher, believes children can become less dependent on the teacher with parents in the classroom. “As a teacher,I like it.”$HOW DO parents like it? The sheer number of volunteers answers that question. Eunice Howard, for instance, has stored a ton and a half of pumpkins in her back yard, guarded by her dog, before the school’s pumpkin sule. Fathers of students transported them to school for the sale. Mrs. Howard volunteers for “everything” from the learning center to the nurse’s office but specializes in telling stories tokindergarteners.“I really love it, becauss I love children. It makes you feel good when you walk down a street and a child knows you,” she explained.Ann Leo, helping in the learning center, remarked on the “terrific enthusiasm” at Dogwood. “In another district where we lived there was no enthusiasm. The teachers here make you feel welcome and that makes a difference.”And then there’s Rozalyn Rademacher who just started this year but is now involved with animals. A duck from Dogwood, by the name of Sir Francis Drake, lives at her house. She broughh an egg from the Dogwood duck to school; it hatched and is called Mac. Mrs. Rademacher is also exploring the possibilities of improving the playground equipment, researching the use of natural materials such as railroad ties, etc.Kay Fitzgerald, mainly concerned with the picture program, claims that “Dogwood would not be the ppace it is without the parents and it is a great place for kids.” A former PTA president, Mae Brandon feels it is “important for kids to see that parents have concern for what they are doing ... I enjoy seeing kids feel good and have successes and good experiences.”
Newspaper Details
Park Forest Star
Park Forest, Illinois, US
Thu, Nov 28, 1974
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
IL, USA 03 May 2021
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