Front Page - Engaging community one school - Engaging community one school at a time

Folks at the March Shingle Creek Neighborhood Association (SCNA) Meeting learned from local residents about the need for equipment and supplies at Loring and Jenny Lind Elementary Schools and Olson Middle School.  School enrollment at Jenny Lind is 596, Loring 435 and Olson Middle School 360; for a total of 1391 students.  SCNA learned that, despite the best efforts of teachers, there are many students in need and at risk across the area. Much needed supplies, books, sport and theater equipment, etc. would increase test scores, and engage students, parents, families and the community. SCNA agreed to help.

Two months later, for the first time, students, teachers and parents from all three schools attended the May SCNA Board Meeting to report on the difference SCNA’s support of $1871 had made. Latoya Grier from Olson Middle School reported students were engaged by having the $500 SCNA support for sports equipment. This equipment was used to engage/keep 50 to 90 youth active in healthy and positive activities this spring. 

The Loring Footlights! drama club and Nora Sidler reported they have 34 members who are learning to engage community through their theater productions. Their skills are being enhanced by the professional touch of two real spotlights. And the amount of people engaged by this (the 34 Loring Footlights! club members and their parents, teachers) has spilled over the railroad tracks into the full Camden Community. On May 20, Loring Elementary students produced and performed Tops & Bottoms. The investment of $656 that SCNA provided seems trivial knowing the amount of people who will be engaged and touched by this investment. 

Jenny Lind School received 175 books valued at $720. Jenny Lind Kindergarten specialists Marlys Svobodny and Crystal Ballard explained what a difference having a book for each student has made in students’ reading and writing skills. Typically, in a class of 20-25 students, teachers would often read to the students while they shared one or two books. With SCNA’s support each student was able to read along in their own books.  Some of the students speak very little English and wrote ineligible scribbles, but two months later their writing became legible and they began to form sentences. The differences were astonishing.

This project has helped SCNA engage with area schools, students, parents, teachers and community. Hopefully, this small investment will change lives for teachers, parents and students, not only this year but for many years to come!