Pilot program at Cape junior high to bring more volunteers into schools

Something as simple as a smiling face is enough to turn around a student's perspective on school, according to local educators and officials at United Way.

Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School is piloting a program to bring more volunteers into schools.

The United Way of Southeast Missouri is working with the Volunteer Intergenerational Center to recruit a volunteer base. The program will expand to other schools in the Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City school districts, said Nancy Jernigan, executive director of United Way.

"We hope with this pilot that we can get the process down," she said.

The initiative reflects the work of United Way's Education Solutions Team, a group of school and community leaders that has been meeting since February to address the graduation rate in the Cape Girardeau. Early childhood, elementary, middle school and high school education committees have talked about the challenges of educating students during the monthly meetings. Most committees expressed a need for more positive community involvment.

"We realized that maybe they could use some help in bringing people back into the schools," Jernigan said.

Initially, there will be three volunteer opportunities -- morning greeters, lunch buddies and after-school homework assistants. Junior high principal Roy Merideth said volunteer opportunities will evolve according to the needs of each school. Once the program is established, he said, he hopes to include more volunteers in the classroom.

"We're talking to teachers about what's next," he said.

Merideth said students who have positive adult role models do better in school. Having someone at the door to greet them creates a positive atmosphere, which is sometimes a change from their home life, he said.

"How can you harm someone by saying hello to them every morning?" he said.

Each volunteer must pass a background check and will meet with a building administrator. Anyone interested in volunteering should call United Way at 334-9634.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

For more education news, visit www.semissourian.com/schools.

Pertinent address:

205 Caruthers Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO