Cape, Jackson schools mark American Education Week

A national education celebration week that brings together teachers, school staff, parents, students and community members in public schools is spurring events throughout the Cape Girardeau and Jackson school districts.

American Education Week is held annually and highlights the importance of many roles in building great public schools. Since Sunday, local schools have held numerous events in its observance. This year's dates are Nov. 13 to 19.

Jackson's city administrator signed a proclamation Monday in honor of the week during a flag raising ceremony at South Elementary School. Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger did the same Wednesday afternoon at the Cape Girardeau School District's administrative office.

Rediger expressed following the signing how important he felt education was in the community and said that he was proud of the school district and its students.

Elsewhere in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday, retired, former and current teachers met at Cape Girardeau Central High School's library during lunch.

Donna Waldrup taught at the high school for one year in the 2009-2010 school year, but that time made enough of an impression on her that she wanted to visit, she said. Those in attendance were told the highlights of recently completed and ongoing improvement projects at the high school, including Tiger Stadium and the in-progress performing arts center and a 22-classroom addition. Waldrup was a "traveling teacher," she said, or one of the teachers without a home room that currently travel from classroom to classroom with materials to teach because the high school has had a lack of space in recent years. She is relieved, she said, to see the school is expanding.

At Jefferson Elementary, around 100 parents and other family members visited the school during breakfast or lunch, or visited students in the classroom. Wednesday is designated as National Parent Involvement Day.

Nakeva Williams has three children who attend the school. She visited her two children in their second-grade class, and her other child in their kindergarten class.

"I was able to sit with them and listen to the teacher and watch them react in the classroom," she said.

Williams said the students were excited to see their parents and others visit the school. She said she was glad to be able to see how the teachers have been working with the students and was impressed with the job they have been doing getting students to listen.

Various events are being held through the rest of the week at all levels in both school districts. Today at Jackson High School there will be a luncheon for retired teachers at 12:30 p.m. in the high school commons. According to superintendent Dr. Rita Fisher, around 70 retired teachers are expected to attend. The Jackson High School percussion ensemble will also perform during the luncheon.

Students throughout the districts are also working on projects to highlight the importance of education in the public school system, such as the "What I Like Best About My School" project underway at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson. The students are taking pictures and creating posters to be completed Friday featuring what they like and are thankful for about the school.

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Third-grade student Julie Hatheway dresses as a veternarian and classmate Connor Craigmiles dresses as a chef Wednesday as they cut out dough in art class. Students of North Elementary in Jackson dressed as what they aspire to be in their future careers as part of American Education Week. (Laura Simon)

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