Science projects:
The parent-run Hands-On Science program at the St. Vincent de Paul School in Salt Lake City, Utah, just celebrated its 19th year. The program, targeted at 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students, covers a broad range of topics, from levers and pulleys to astronomy and electricity. The program runs 10 weeks each year and students attend once a week. The idea is to help better prepare these students for middle school and high school science.
The great outdoors:
A group of student volunteers, helped by several parent volunteers, created a community garden at the Desert Hot Springs High School in Palm Springs, Calif. The students, part of the community service club at the high school, raised funds and received a grant to cover costs. The parents assisted in the project and one parent, who is an irrigation specialist, designed the trenches for the group to dig. Altogether, they moved 30 yards of planting mix into the garden. Students also built wooden garden beds and compost bins.
Literacy programs:
In Montebello, Calif., parents and older students are working together to boost reading skills for students at the Washington Elementary School. With the Reading Incentive Program, both parents and high school students visit the elementary school regularly to work one-on-one with students. The readers earn credits for pages read and can get a T-shirt and school-wide recognition when they reach 50 credits. They earn one credit per 25 pages.
Running a Business:
The PTO at the Freehold Intermediate School in Freehold, N.J. held a fundraiser that gave students a chance to run a business for four-hours. In this case, the students were lucky in that the business was Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices. The students and parents took orders and scooped ices and also learned how to greet customers, ring up a sale and, importantly, how to clean up! Ralph’s owner generously donated his store to the PTO for the four hours. The group earned about $1,000.
