Lake Elkhorn Middle School Partnership Update
Our partnership with Lake Elkhorn Middle School has continued into fall this year thanks to the creation of a new position at LEMS. Cindy Drummond is the Community School Site Coordinator at LEMS and one of her responsibilities is to work with Christ Episcopal Church. I met with Kevin Lee, the Pupil Personnel Worker, who helped with the students supplies delivery, and Cindy Drummond in mid-October to brainstorm ways in which CEC might assist students, families and teachers.
Last Monday I got a request from Katie Lee, the Sixth Grade Administrator, asking whether we would be willing to provide prizes to recognize the students’ academic and social progress during the first quarter of the school year. The only “catch” was that they needed the items delivered to the school by Thursday since they were announcing the presentation of prizes on Friday and distributing them during the lunch period on the following Monday, Thursday, and Friday. I looked over the list that Katie sent me and, although I knew how to find sports t-shirts, gift cards, gel pens and sunglasses, I had to catch up on what exactly fidgets, stuffies, and TAKIs were! However, after receiving Father Manny’s go ahead, I was able to make the delivery on time. I am sharing with you the email that I received from Katie after the event on Friday.
“Today was so amazing! The students were so excited and loved all the positivity that was directed at them today. This was all possible to your generous donation.
Today was all about our 6th grade students and ensuring they are set up for success both academically and behaviorally. Our 6th graders just finished their first quarter of middle school and while some had a quick smooth transition, others are still feeling the shock of wrapping their heads around all that middle school is. This is the first time they have new freedom that did not exist in elementary school and with that comes more responsibility, such as getting to classes on time, checking their own grades, submitting their own work, etc. Our teachers noticed some students struggling with this responsibility and having a hard time being successful with the new expectations now that they are in middle school.
We gave our teachers 'permission to pause', meaning they paused instruction to make meaningful connections with their students, build positive relationships between staff and students, and revisit all things middle school. Each class spent time talking about school-wide and classroom-based procedures, policies, and expectations. Throughout the day students earned tickets by showing up to class, being on time, participating, asking questions, being kind, etc. Students had the chance to select which prizes they wanted to put their tickets towards and very excitedly did so.
All day long, I heard students talking about how awesome the prizes were, how they were strategizing which prizes to put tickets in for, who was partnering with who to have more chances to win and then share the prize, etc. They were truly excited beyond belief. I heard teachers talking about increased student engagement in today's lessons and how they heard students speak up in class who rarely ever talk.
We will be drawing names next week to announce our prize winners and will do a couple prizes each day. I know our students would love to have you there. They were talking about the generosity all day and couldn't believe that someone would do this for them. They definitely felt the love!
Today was such a positive day for all involved, staff and students alike, and I can't thank you enough.”
~Katie
I was fortunate enough to attend the first prize distribution on Monday on behalf of our church, and I can assure you that the students were really thrilled with the prizes. The choices of prizes for Monday were displayed at the front of the cafeteria. They had a hard time sitting in their seats because they were all so excited to see if their name would be called for the various prizes for which they had submitted tickets.
The students made a special thank you card for Christ Episcopal Church (top image) with some of the prizes displayed. The contributions of our congregation were deeply appreciated.
In the past, we had a committee for the LEMS partnership and I believe it is time to reconstitute it. If this partnership sounds like something you would like to be involved in, please contact me. We have been asked to help with a Food Pantry on the first or second Monday of December from 3:30 to 4:30. We will need people to help distribute food as well as buy supplies. Other possibilities for the future include helping with an appreciation breakfast or lunch for teachers or just getting to know students during their lunch.
Thank you for sharing Christ’s love with our neighbors.
Cathy Whittaker