Schools invite parents to visit for American Education Week

Olivia Rhodes jumped up when her parents arrived, buried her head into a quick bear hug, and tugged them over to her desk at Alma Schrader Elementary. There she explained the rules to a math game she and two of her fourth-grade classmates were playing.

"We're looking for multiples of three," she said as she rolled dice and studied the numbers.

As Jeanie Rhodes flipped through Olivia's binder of work, Joel Rhodes glanced around the classroom. The parents were there for an open house to kick off American Education Week.

The week, in its 86th year, was created by the National Education Association and is meant to showcase the importance of "a quality public education, and the need for everyone to do his or her part," according to the NEA's Web site.

In Cape Girardeau, Blanchard, Clippard, Franklin and Alma Schrader elementary schools held open houses Monday, and parents at Jefferson Elementary can have lunch with their child on Thursday or visit classes any time during the week. An open house allows parents or guardians a glimpse into the daily workings of a school.

Central Junior High students have adopted the theme, "We each may be a small fish in a big pond, but together we make one cool school" in recognition of the week. Students are writing essays about how they can make a difference in the school, literature teacher Donna Bedwell said. Top essay winners will be able to "fish for a prize," and essays will be displayed during an open house Wednesday.

Children's author Stephanie Tolan will speak at 9:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Central High School library today, and tours of the school will be given throughout the day. Tolan will speak about gifted education at 7 p.m. today in the library.

In Jackson, there was a flag-raising at the junior high Monday. A luncheon for retired teachers will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the middle school, a tradition for the week.

More than 180 parents attended the open house at Alma Schrader. Principal Ruth Ann Orr said that a good parent base shows in a child's behavior, and having a parent attend school benefits a child in two ways.

"It's important for kids to know they are loved, and research shows that if kids see their parents in school having positive interactions, it impacts positively on their achievement," Orr said.

Parent Tamara Smee watched her son Hayden complete a computer test for the Accelerated Reading program and saw the counselor present a lesson on good citizenship.

"The children like to show you where they go and what they do," Smee said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611 ext. 123

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