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Highlands Today

School Staff 'Adopting Students'

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By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: January 21, 2008

SEBRING — More than 50 Cracker Trail Elementary students in challenging situations have been paired up with a concerned staff member.

School's guidance counselor Crystal Pella created the Adopt-A-Student Program to promote self-esteem, school attendance, academic achievement and a reduction in discipline problems.

It's a "Big Brother/Big Sister" strategy for meeting the individual student's self-esteem needs, said Principal Rick Demeri.

Cracker Trail Elementary staff members are asked if they would like to be paired with a student who has been chosen based on attendance problems, academic difficulties, divorce or death in their family or low self-esteem.

Pairing up with a student is on a voluntary basis and not a requirement, Demeri said. Parent permission is obtained and all strategies take place during school time on the school campus.

Staff members use a variety of strategies to connect with the students including: daily greetings, smiles, stickers, rewards, pats on the back, conversations, cards, awards, encouragement, review of papers, picture taking, secret pal devices, someone to eat lunch with, a cookie, etc.

So far this year, 56 students have been paired up with a staff member for the program. Pella also developed Cracker Trail Elementary's Student Helpers Program where fourth- and fifth-graders are chosen to assist teachers and other students.

The goals and objectives of this program are to promote personal and academic growth, teach communication and coping skills, provide learning opportunities, improve peer relationships, increase responsibility, accentuate the school's learning climate, mobilize human resources and encourage school attendance.

Students are chosen because they attend school regularly, complete their class assignments, serve as model students, assist others and follow school rules.

Interested students fill out a job application for the positions, which include: teacher helper, office helper, library helper, physical education helper, peer tutor and peer buddy reader.

Once a student has filled out their application, his or her teacher approves the day and time the student can help. Then Pella assigns the student to their job. The student signs a contract and gets permission from their parent or guardian.

Demeri said, "We currently have 40 students helping in a variety of jobs around our campus and loving it." The students are assigned to help for 30 minutes one day per week.

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