EDUCATION EXCELLENCE: MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS
Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) - Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Author: David dipino dddipino@tribune.com
For the second year in a row, the City Commission and Education Board will work with Carver Middle School to host learning programs for students in sixth through eighth grades during Florida City Government Week Oct. 17 to 23.
The programs will focus on students in the school's Morning Program who have put in community service hours and displayed exemplary behavior. About 200 children participate in the Morning Program, with parents paying $35 for the 35 weeks of the school year and the city picking up the rest of the tab. Each morning, students are dropped off at the school as early as 7 a.m. and participate in arts and crafts, physical education and reading initiatives.
"This is the third full year of the Carver Morning Program," said Janet Meeks, education coordinator for Delray Beach. "The principal came to us three years ago concerned, as working parents were dropping off students at the school often two-and-a-half hours before school started. The Education Board went to the city, which agreed to help. Since then, we've written a grant, and for the third straight year we have teachers staffing the Carver Morning Program."
Two dozen Morning Program students will build their own campaigns over the next week, asking students for votes, participating in a candidate forum and a mock city commission meeting in which elected student officials will consider and vote on agenda items that incorporate current city issues and projects. At the City Commission's Oct. 19 meeting, eight of the students will mirror the five elected city commissioners and three nonelected officials: the city clerk, city attorney and city manager.
"The mock city commission takes place in Carver's gym," said Carver Middle School Principal Lena G. Roundtree-Wallace.
Late last week, Delray Beach Clerk Chevelle Nubin spoke to the students about campaigning and gave them detailed information about the City Commission.
Officials say the program has evolved over the years. "It's not just a one-day event anymore," said Rich Reade, Delray Beach's sustainability officer. "It's sponsored by the Florida League of Cities. In this budget crunch we're in, it's amazing we're able to do this program."
Reade and Assistant City Manager Douglas Smith said that learning about city government helps the students fill a void. Civics is no longer taught in public schools, so Florida City Government Week provides an opportunity for students to learn how Delray Beach officials make decisions.
"One of the commission's priority goals is education," Smith said. "At a local level, cities provide a higher level of service than most governments and generally receive a higher approval rate than any other level of government. Many residents, however, are unaware of how city services impact their lives by enhancing the quality of life in their communities."
Call the city's education coordinator, Janet Meeks, at 561-243-7231 or e-mail meeksj@mydelraybeach.com.
The programs will focus on students in the school's Morning Program who have put in community service hours and displayed exemplary behavior. About 200 children participate in the Morning Program, with parents paying $35 for the 35 weeks of the school year and the city picking up the rest of the tab. Each morning, students are dropped off at the school as early as 7 a.m. and participate in arts and crafts, physical education and reading initiatives.
"This is the third full year of the Carver Morning Program," said Janet Meeks, education coordinator for Delray Beach. "The principal came to us three years ago concerned, as working parents were dropping off students at the school often two-and-a-half hours before school started. The Education Board went to the city, which agreed to help. Since then, we've written a grant, and for the third straight year we have teachers staffing the Carver Morning Program."
Two dozen Morning Program students will build their own campaigns over the next week, asking students for votes, participating in a candidate forum and a mock city commission meeting in which elected student officials will consider and vote on agenda items that incorporate current city issues and projects. At the City Commission's Oct. 19 meeting, eight of the students will mirror the five elected city commissioners and three nonelected officials: the city clerk, city attorney and city manager.
"The mock city commission takes place in Carver's gym," said Carver Middle School Principal Lena G. Roundtree-Wallace.
Late last week, Delray Beach Clerk Chevelle Nubin spoke to the students about campaigning and gave them detailed information about the City Commission.
Officials say the program has evolved over the years. "It's not just a one-day event anymore," said Rich Reade, Delray Beach's sustainability officer. "It's sponsored by the Florida League of Cities. In this budget crunch we're in, it's amazing we're able to do this program."
Reade and Assistant City Manager Douglas Smith said that learning about city government helps the students fill a void. Civics is no longer taught in public schools, so Florida City Government Week provides an opportunity for students to learn how Delray Beach officials make decisions.
"One of the commission's priority goals is education," Smith said. "At a local level, cities provide a higher level of service than most governments and generally receive a higher approval rate than any other level of government. Many residents, however, are unaware of how city services impact their lives by enhancing the quality of life in their communities."
Call the city's education coordinator, Janet Meeks, at 561-243-7231 or e-mail meeksj@mydelraybeach.com.
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