By Bri Miller
Volunteer Engagement Intern
Bright smiles and big personalities can be easily spotted on the playground of South Kearns Elementary School. Creating a positive learning environment for all children at South Kearns Elementary is one of the main goals staff, partners, and community members strive to achieve. Now, there is a way YOU can help!
Volunteer at this year’s Day of Action on Friday, June 16th! Bring your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to assemble registration packets, help organize the library, deep clean classrooms, organize the school’s food pantry, put together math and literacy games, and do community outreach in the surrounding neighborhoods!
Rosemary Mitchell, the Community School Director at South Kearns Elementary, says 80 percent of students at South Kearns Elementary are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program.
“Research shows that students who grow up in poverty are more likely to be chronically absent, be behind on grade level in math and reading, and dropout of high school,” Mitchell said.
South Kearns Elementary is a turnaround school, which means the school has received additional funding to support a complete overhaul of their school that includes hiring new teachers and principals, more professional development opportunities, and additional reading support teachers. A big goal South Kearns Elementary has is to improve community aspects such as: after school programming, a family center, medical and dental partnerships, and the establishment of an onsite food pantry to support the basic needs of their students and families.
The overall school climate and attitudes towards education have improved. By the middle of year reading testing, the school had already reached the amount of growth they had hoped to accomplish for the entire school year!
“A school cannot be successful without the help of a strong community,” Mitchell said. “We have so many needs at our school that we rely on outside support for. By volunteering at Day of Action, volunteers will reduce the workload and stress level of teachers, and provide them more time to prepare for the following school year as well as inform families how to access resources through 2-1-1. South Kearns Elementary School is like a home away from home for many of our students and teachers, Mitchell said. “We live and breathe education here and are so proud to see our students succeeding!”
For those looking to volunteer and make a positive impact on the students of South Kearns Elementary, you can find out more information and register for the event at dayofaction.uw.org.
