Charlotte Schools Team Up With Local Businesses to Improve Schools

Office Max Donates Funds to Charlotte Schools

One Charlotte Schools ' member started off the school year with a big boon. Nations Ford Elementary School has received a $5,000 donation from Office Max. This donation is linked to the opening of a brand new Office Max in Rivergate Town Center on Sept. 6. Charlotte School's teachers from Nations Ford Elementary Schools were invited to the grand opening ceremony where they could purchase additional school supplies for their classrooms. This donation will help the teachers get much needed supplies for their students and classrooms.

Along with the $5,000 donation, teachers received pre-packaged "goody" bags filled with office supplies and barbeque from Damon's restaurant. The whole ceremony had a very festive feel. Customers can sign -up for a give away featuring $1,000 shopping sprees and other prizes.

Charlotte Schools Join Up with The United Way

The United Way has a long history in the Charlotte area. The United Way currently operates three programs with the Charlotte Schools: Right Moves for You, A Child's Place and Communities in Schools. Charlotte Schools launched its United Way fundraising campaign on September 21. A rally was held where the Charlotte Schools' Superintendent Peter Gorman and United Way 2006 regional campaign chair Michael Baker spoke. Preschoolers from the Charlotte Schools also joined the rally in order to say thank you to the donors who help meet the year's goal of $44 million. This partnership not only raises funds for the students and children in the Charlotte area but allows students to interact with adults who offer positive influences.

Charlotte Schools' School Resource Officer Program

The Charlotte Schools' School Resource Officer Program is a joint program with Charlotte Schools and the local police force. The program puts police officers in Charlotte Schools were they can help teach the students about character and safety while providing advice on security to Charlotte Schools. A current School Resource Officer Robert Kierce received a standing ovation after returning from ten months of active duty in Iraq to Charlotte School's Jay M. Robinson School.

Kierce was very surprised when the students and Parents welcomed him back to the School Resource Officer position at Jay M. Robinson School. Originally when he left for Iraq with the Marine Corps in June of 2005, the Jay M. Robinson School gave him a send off parade and gave him gifts of phone cards and coloring books for Iraqi children.

Kierce, who has a forensics science degree, will spend time in science classrooms this school year, as well as in history classes, where he plans to talk about some of his experiences in Iraq. He is slowly returning to the routine as the school year begins. Kierce has worked with the Charlotte Schools in the School Resource Officer Program for about seven years.

Charlotte Schools and V101.9 FM Launches "Terrific Teacher Tuesday"

Charlotte Schools is partnering with V101.9 FM to create "Terrific Teacher Tuesday." This program was created to reward elementary school teachers in the Charlotte Schools. On the second Tuesday of the month, V101.9 FM will introduce a teacher and discuss why this teacher is a good teacher. Then the radio station will choose a winner by announcing it on air and then visiting the teacher at school. Teachers can be nominated by parents, students, and staff at all Charlotte Schools' Elementary Schools by writing a 100 word description of why this teacher is terrific.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more information please visit Charlotte Schools

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Community Involvement Can Improve High School Rankings

High School Rankings concern everyone. From the school board members on down through school administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students, High School Rankings show, at a glance, how well a school is doing. Test scores on state and national tests, the successes of students with a low socioeconomic background, and how many students take advanced placement exams are all considered. If you look a bit further into the schools that are at the top of High School Rankings, you will most likely find that an active surrounding community is vital to the success of the schools that find themselves at the top of High School Rankings.

But what about the schools that are on the lower end of High School Rankings spectrum? How can getting the community and community leaders more involved in the school help improve their standings in High School Rankings? Well, the ways to help them are numerous.

For one, local businesses can donate money. Schools that are doing poorly, as reflected in High School Rankings, typically could use some more cash to implement programs that will help them improve. In several states, schools that are at the top of High School Rankings receive monetary bonuses; schools that are struggling receive nothing but shame, and the threat of closure. Supporting local schools with financial donations can help move the struggling school closer to improvement.

Another way those communities can help improve schools that are not at the top of High School Rankings is to donate supplies. Many kids go to school not able to afford basic school supplies, and the schools themselves often divert supply money to try to pay for special programs and teachers to implement them.

Perhaps the biggest and most important way to see improvement in a low-performing school listed at the bottom of High School Rankings for the community to help and support their schools is to donate time. So many kids that attend struggling schools are from single-parent homes, where moms or dads are working multiple jobs just to make ends meet. If these kids have to go home after school and take care of younger siblings and do chores, they are less likely to study and do homework. If the family is poor, kids may be hungry, and that's no way to learn. For kids like these attending schools low on the High School Rankings list, a tutor or mentor is invaluable. Tutors come to the school in question, working with an assigned student in their preferred subject. In other words, volunteer tutors can pick which subjects they'd like to help out in. Mentors can be paired with students to build relationships that they might otherwise lack. These mentors can come to the low-performing school on the High School Rankings list during the school day for lunch or elective classes, or meet up with their student after school. Many mentors get to know the student's family as well and actually inspire them to get more involved in their child's school. In addition, spending time with a mentor helps keep a teen out of trouble.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit High School Rankings

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.