Monday, March 22, 1999
Students in transition get answers
Book introduces junior high school
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — For students making the jump from sixth grade at a neighborhood elementary school to junior high on a large, urban campus, there are often lots of questions and some fears.
To provide some answers and help students feel more comfortable about going to junior high, Covington parents created a resource guide for students and parents.
“There is no Recess in Ju nior High” attempts to answer students' most frequently asked questions, details important information about Holmes Junior High and provides notes to parents to help them stay informed and involved in their child's education.
“We tried to answer the questions as honestly as we could,” said parent Lisa Bodkin. Her two sons experienced the transition, and she has children in first and second grade at Glenn O. Swing Elementary. “We wanted to do something to help the kids do well.”
The books and other materials will be given to all sixth-grade students at an April 17 reception at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
The project that produced the 24-page book started last year, when Ms. Bodkin, Trisha Brundage and Betty Davis attended training at the Prichard Committee's Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership. The institute encourages participants to complete a project that will increase parent involvement in schools.
The three parents decided to ask sixth-graders what they thought about going to junior high. One of the most-asked questions was, “Is there recess?” The answer is no.
“The kids wanted to know a lot about their classes, gym and what they will take,” said Ms. Brundage, the parent of two first-graders at Sixth District Elementary and a fourth-grader at Latonia Elementary. “It's really touching how young the kids still are. Even though they are going to the high school campus, they are still kids.”
The book is decorated with artwork from some of the district's 450 sixth-grade students. Questions include everything from showering in the gym (not required) to the number of stu dents in a class (23-25) to the cost of lunch ($1.20).
Q: What should I do to fit in?
A: Always be yourself! You should never have to change to be someone's friend! True friends accept you for who you are.
Q: How much time is there between classes?
A: 5 minutes.
Q: Will we go on field trips?
A: Generally no, but there are exceptions.
Q: Can we talk at lunch?
A: Yes. But remember to use normal speaking voices.
Betty Davis, parent of a second-grader at Latonia Elementary, said she learned a lot about the schools and the school district by preparing the booklet. She served on the Holmes High school-based decision-making council when her son was a student there.
These parents volunteered their time. Each works a full-time job and raises a family. With the help of other parents such as Jerry Sammons, and donations of time, money and services from Cinergy, the Prichard Committee, the city of Covington and Covington Schools, the ROTC parent boosters, Jim Huff Realty, Nurre-Caxton Manufacturing, Kmart, Kroger, Star 64 and Toyota the resource guide will be distributed to every sixth- grade student.
Ms. Bodkin even got her parents, Don and Betty VanPelt, and her brother Mark VanPelt to pitch in. They helped transport supplies and frame student artwork for display at the convention center.
The only things left to do now are find donations for T-shirts and organize speakers for the reception.
“This is what we hoped parents would go out and do,” said Bev Raimondo, director of the parent leadership institute. “And we hope this will spur other parents to get involved.”
And that's exactly what the three moms who put the book together want to see happen. They are sending invitations to every family with a sixth-grade student, inviting the entire family to the April 17 reception. TANK will provide transportation for those who need it. Dress is casual. Food and drinks will be served.
Ms. Brundage said, “We want to make certain parents understand the impact they can make in the schools and on their children.”
For information about the resource guide and the April 17 reception, call Trisha Brundage at 292-5980, extension 14.
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