Date: Fri 01-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

schools-Middle-Gate-parents

Full Text:

Monday Night Is Family Night At Middle Gate

W/3 PHOTOS AND SIDE BAR

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Parents of children attending Middle Gate School who want to help their

youngsters achieve can now tap school resources Mondays from 7 to 8:30 pm.

That is the hope of volunteers who want to help make a five-goal school

improvement plan a reality.

The extended hours of the computer lab, media center/library, and parent

resource room are just one small part of the goals established by Middle

Gate's School-Based Management Council (SBM) in a 1994 action plan.

Middle Gate Principal William Bircher believes Monday nights are a "great

success" in many ways.

"The facility's use is being extended through the evening, bringing parents

and children together in a learning situation - and that is our goal," he

said. "We know when that happens, student achievement increases."

"I know parents love to go," said Marla Sherman, SBMC parent representative.

Having school facilities open one night a week allows parents to meet one

another and provides more opportunities for involvement of working parents,

she said.

"[The resources] belong to the community - the parent community. It should be

a comfortable [setting] for parents on down to little ones," said Chris

Russell, one of two parents who run the library every Monday evening. "We want

it to be a family night."

Volunteers are now trying to add monthly programs, such as story time, to

attract more parents to the facilities. On November 27, author Wendy Matthews

of Bethel entertained 37 children and 23 adults by reading a selection of

books including her own, The Gift of a Traveler .

The media center is a place where parents can help children research topics.

At the computer lab, they can type their own resume while a youngster types

homework or plays a game. And if the parent wants to see the math curriculum,

they can sit and peruse it in the Parent Resource Room. Books on successful

parenting along with pertinent magazines are also available in the resource

room, and may be borrowed.

"This is something we can do together," said Andrew Davies, who enjoyed

helping his children Kevin, 6, and Ryan, 8, with computer programs in the lab

last Monday night. Programs are tied to the topics being studied by the

students. For instance, Ryan learned what provisions were taken on an

expedition, and how explorers swapped goods with Native Americans.

Volunteer parents who open and operate the three learning facilities on Monday

night feel they want to give something to the school. Gail Nathan said she

enjoys her volunteer work at the library because she is able to see parents

encourage students to better themselves.

"This would never happen if it weren't for the work of our volunteers," said

Mr Bircher. "They have certainly taken the ball and run with this. They should

receive the majority of the credit for Monday nights."

Middle Gate School operates under a school-based management model which

focuses on the continual improvement of the quality of education. The School

Council - comprised of 14 members representing faculty, parents, support

staff, community members, and the principal - makes consensus decisions about

school goals. This type of governance is based in the belief that better

decisions are made when those affected play an active role in making the

decisions.

The Monday night hours for facilities at the school is a piece of the

council's third goal:" We will provide tools and opportunities for parents to

learn how they can help their child(ren) be successful."

And, true to the philosophy of the SBM, these endeavors are constantly

evolving and being adapted to meet the changing needs of Middle Gate students

and their parents.