BCSS COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Developing a true community learning center is part of a successful Community Education program that is an evolving process, which is always changing to meet the needs of those being served, to be the best we can be, and do what is best for all children and the community in which we live. The Boaz City School System Community Education Program has undergone extraordinary advancement in becoming a vital component in reaching the Boaz City School System goal of becoming a “world class system” in five years. There is a deep commitment to develop quality programs that provide engaging learning activities in a safe and supportive environment.  The safety and security of students is a top priority of the BCSS Community Learning Center. Our programs strive to meet students’ needs for personal attention from adults, inclusion in positive peer groups, and enjoyable experiential activities that build self esteem, as well as, provide a supportive bridge between home, school, and community. The school year extended day program and the summer camp are designed to supplement and support each student’s academic success based on relevant data and survey of needs. Because young people spend only 20% of their time in school, how and where they spend the remaining 80% has profound implications for their well-being and their future.

Family and community lifelong learning and enrichment opportunities are offered to everyone in the community in academic, recreation, health, social service, and work preparation programs for people of all ages.

Examples of successful project activities include:

• Remedial education activities and academic enrichment learning programs, including special assistance to struggling students to improve academic achievement
• Mathematics and science education activities
• Arts and music education activities
• Tutoring services (including those provided by senior citizen volunteers) and mentoring programs
• Programs that provide after school activities for limited English proficient students that emphasize language skills and academic achievement
• Recreational activities
• Telecommunications and technology education programs
• Expanded library service hours
• Programs that provide parental involvement and family literacy
• Programs that provide assistance to students who have been truant, suspended, or expelled to allow the students to improve their academic achievement
• Drug and violence prevention education programs, counseling programs, and character education programs
• Serving students with disabilities

A summary of some key quality out-of school- program 2005-2006 and early 2007 projects include:

• Lifelong Learning Family Education expansion. This evening family literacy program encompasses the four components of Adult Education/Literacy, Early Childhood Education, Parent Education and Parent and Child Interaction. It is a great success and enrollment increases weekly. We provide early literacy activities, offer tutoring for individual school-age student needs, offer parenting education, have family activities and provide adult education beginning with English that has progressed to reading and G.E.D. preparation with several students.

• Alabama Preschool Inclusive-Collaborative project grant award. The Boaz City School System has joined the call for “excellence in early childhood education” and is developing a model preschool inclusive- collaborative for the State of Alabama. The model preschool integrates children with and without disabilities in a high quality program that meets the needs of all children. Two classes are designed according to the philosophy that every person is a valued, participating member of the community and that people with and without disabilities benefit when they, learn, work, and play side-by-side. Children with disabilities will be provided with on-going services and supports that they need to succeed in regular settings.

• Homeless Education program for those identified as in need. These funds will facilitate enrollment, retention and the educational success of all homeless children and youth within this LEA's jurisdiction.

• Family Involvement program development to further assisting all families in establishing home environments to support learning and provide ideas and programs for parents on how to help the child succeed in school. This program also strives to design more effective forms of communication to reach parents; get every family involved; not simply those most easily reached; increase the percentage of parents who visit the school; and pay special attention to parents who work outside the home, divorced parents, and culturally diverse families; as well as, assist schools and families in collaborating with community organizations and businesses to encourage their help in effectively educating children to become productive community members.

• Art in the Park became an annual event last year in which student art is on exhibit and may be purchased. Last years Compassionate Kids for Katrina Art in the Park proceeds went to Alva Elementary School in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. This year proceeds will benefit the Boaz City Relay for Life Team.

• Civil Air Patrol was established at Boaz Middle School. This program provides through experiences as CAP cadets, young people the opportunity to develop into responsible citizens and become tomorrow's aerospace leaders. The leadership skills, self-confidence, and discipline cadets gain through CAP prepares them to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves in life. CAP is the volunteer, non-profit auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force which is directed locally by Dr. Randall Haney. Its three missions are to develop its cadets, educate Americans on the importance of aviation and space, and perform live-saving humanitarian missions.

• T.E.A.M. (Tutoring Elevates Achievement in Math) is a new BMS math tutoring program that was designed to meet the specific needs of the learner. Instruction moves from the concrete to the abstract, when appropriate for the student.  It often begins with hands-on materials and pictorial representation and then advances to symbolic computation and problem-solving.  Computer software programs are provided for practice and reinforcement of previously taught material.

• OSCAR (On School Campus Alternative Remediation) was developed this year to provide an alternative for suspension outside of school during school hours. The goal of this program is to deter future problems for suspended students by providing the support and encouragement needed for their educational success in an after school setting instead of removing students during important class time.

• After Hours project for at-risk eighth graders supported by a grant of the Marshall County Juvenile Court System and BCS Community Education.

•  “Babies First Book” Superintendent’s project.   Each newborn in the Boaz City School System jurisdiction was presented with a baby bag enclosed with a book and valuable literacy information for the parents. A t-shirt with the prospective student’s graduation year is also included to convey the BCSS expectations of success in school.

• Community based collaborative program with Drug Free Marshall County to educate parents on internet safety and substance abuse.

•  Relay for Life team participation in the annual cancer fundraising event.  BCSS was bestowed the bronze award for their efforts.

•  Extended Day Program continues to grow and is committed to providing a quality program that provides engaging learning activities in a safe and supportive environment, with a balance of recreational, enrichment, and educational activities. It is a safe, educational climate where children may remain for a limited time at the end of the regular school day until picked up by their parents or other designated adults. It also offers a broad array of activities such as drug and violence prevention education, counseling, art, music, recreation, technology, and character education programs.

• The 2006 Camp Boaz had a 45% enrollment increase from last year. This 6 week summer camp experience is for students in PreK through age 13. A staff of certified teachers and trained counselors concentrate on the development of each child as an individual.  Campers build self-esteem and make new friends while acquiring new skills and participating in a wide range of age appropriate activities. 2006 Camp activities included:
   •  Universal Literacy Time Warp Series
   •  Math, Science, and Social Studies   
   •  Creative Writing 
   •  Success Maker
   •  World of Discovery-Outdoor Study
   •  Basketball Camp
   •  Cheer Camp
   •  Walking Club
   •  Soccer Camp
   •  Swimming, Skating, Bowling
   •  Theater, Movies
   •  Arts/Crafts
   •  Board Games
   •  Learn to speak Spanish!
   •  Cooking
   •  Computer
   •  Dance with Kohl: Productions
   •  Organized Games
  
  **Weekly field trips

• Camp Boaz collaboration with Marshall County RSVP to provide life-skill learning such as anger management, bullying and violence prevention.

• A new garden arbor is completed and will be a central meeting space for informal assembly, celebrations, recreation and learning. This area in the courtyard area beside the lunchroom is perfect for picnicking, outdoor classroom activities, and informal community /school events. Camp Boaz has plans for an herb garden adjacent to the structure. It will be a central gathering spot on the campus providing a beautiful setting for a variety of activities.

• The Community Education Resource Center is near completion and will house the new Migrant Education Even Start family literacy program. This will also be a central location for many community involvement activities and a comprehensive parent education library, and computer lab.

• Sight for Students project provided eye exams for 32 students resulting in 27 students receiving glasses. A local optometrist was instrumental in helping these children see their world more clearly.

Collaborative partnerships and tuition payments are key to program sustainability. Active collaboration with community agencies provides a network of support and opportunities that families and staff can draw on. Collaboration with other agencies are essential in offering the variety and quality of services and cooperative projects needed to help ensure each family’s needs are met. Access to available services will be given to children and their parents.

Collaborations include:

 

·        Availability of immunizations, birth certificates and consultation through the Marshall County Health Department.

·        Continuation of the relationship with The Department of Human Resources to identify and inform children and their families that could qualify for assistance in food stamps, SSI, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.

·        Meeting physiological needs by offering a meal program through the BCSS Child Nutrition Program.

·        Visitation of the school nurse to monitor health checks and referrals needed for special health concerns.

·        Active involvement of Community Education, a branch of the Boaz City School System which 21^st CCLC is a component of, in offering services in the areas of adult education, parenting classes, enrichment, and securing community service.

·        Support from the Boaz City Board of Education to provide facilities, utilities, janitorial services, and other resources as needed.

·        Consultation and presentations offered by Marshall County Health Department as needed for teachers, parents and children.

·        Availability of the Boaz Public Library for participants of children and families for weekly story hours and visits as well as a summer reading program and a resource for books, tapes and VCR's at no cost.

·        Coordination on matters of parenting, child development and special needs are established with the Migrant Education Even Start Program, Boaz City Title I Preschools, Boaz City Schools Preschool Special Education Consulting Teacher and the Speech-Language Pathologist.

·        Crisis intervention availability in cooperation with Marshall County Child Advocacy Organization, Home Place, United Way (First Call For Help), the school counselor and the Multi-Needs Child Service Facilitation Team.

Coordination of services include  those with existing programs under the Improving America's School Act which includes the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, Bilingual Education Program, Migrant Program, Safe and Drug Free Schools,  the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program (Title II) and Innovative Education (Title VI) assist in providing staff training.

The Boaz City School System 21^st Century Community Learning Center met the SDE academic goal in that 73% of students in the extended day/year program who attended over 30 days and took the SAT 10 improved at least two percentile ranks on the STA10 in reading, math or language. We expect outcomes for coming year to continue in this positive trend. This program continues to grow in participant numbers and in popularity with the community.

The Boaz City School System Community Education program is about “providing people of all ages with the knowledge and tools to better their education, communities, and each other’s lives.  Education is a powerful force, and potentially an equalizer to enable people to work towards and attain common dreams.  Community Education advocates for the support of all community people and the strengthening of communities, schools and families through the creation of multiple educational services and programs.” (Strengthening Communities Through Education”, Joel Nitzberg)