THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 12, 1995 TAG: 9505100145
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Students, faculty and staff of Oscar F. Smith High School want it clearly understood: ``Parents Are Welcome.''
Using the acronym ``PAW'' as a rallying cry, they have established a new Parent Resource Center at the school, invited parents to a festival and set up a special telephone communications system to encourage and support parental involvement in the life of the school.
The new Parent Resource Center, which is scheduled to open Saturday, is a small, comfortable reading room located near the main office, designed to provide information and to encourage parents to be an integral part of their child's education.
``Too often parents participate in activities in primary and intermediate school, but when children get to high school participation decreases,'' said Lee Ann Rikard, the resource center coordinator and physics teacher. ``Now, it's even more important as parents that we stay involved through the high school years.''
The Parent Resource Center will be open during regular school hours.
``It's an open-door policy,'' said Rikard. ``Parents are always welcome.''
She said visitors just check in at the main office and then are on their own to browse through books, pick up brochures, watch a video or consult with a counselor or staff member by appointment.
Rikard said that there will be training, awareness programs and support groups on drug abuse, self-esteem, children having children, job skills, suicide watch, parenting skills, crisis intervention, career plans and other subjects beneficial to students and parents. Parents can also schedule to meet other parents to exchange information or concerns.
``Parents must stay involved,'' stressed Sheryl Gonzales, a parent, a substitute teacher and an active volunteer at the school. ``Parents need to be aware of all the diversity, peer pressure and choices that face young people. Get involved, know what they are doing, be a leader and a strong role model.''
Gonzales is compiling book lists, reviewing videos and organizing materials for the center. As the mother of a senior and a rising freshman, she tries to keep up with teen concerns and school activities. She's also busy recruiting other parents to get involved.
The center will also provide up-to-date literature on subjects such as health concerns, emotional issues and college facts.
Oscar Smith students are doing their part for the center. Damon Jones, 19, worked several weeks to design a banner which will hang in the foyer. The banner depicts their school stamped with a big Oscar Smith tiger paw flanked by students representing various cultures.
To kick off the opening of the center, the first ``PAW Fest'' is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The family event is intended to promote a partnership between teachers, students and families.
There will be displays, snacks and treats, followed by entertainment by the ROTC drill team, the Smith Singers, Chesapeake Pride, the Unity Choir and the AACC Step Team.
A drama presentation and dedication of the theater is planned for 12:30 p.m. A student-faculty basketball game will get under way at 1 p.m.
After the preview of the Parent Resource Center, Gary Parker of South Norfolk will auction new and slightly used treasures. All the proceeds from the auction will benefit the resource center.
The biggest goal for the center and the school is a $12,000 master telephone communication system. The school is testing a telephone system that provides recorded information for incoming calls. About 300 calls a day are already being logged on the system, even though only one test line is in use.
Parents, students or community members can call for recorded information about sports events, senior activities or general school news. Students can call the homework line for assignments or classroom updates. MEMO: The number for the Oscar Smith information line is 548-0531.
by CNB