By: Lauren F. Carlson '12
Published on
In Grand Rapids, two elementary schools are forming a vital connection. Initiated
by two sisters and teachers at their respective schools, Lakeside Elementary of East
Grand Rapids and Godfrey Elementary of Wyoming work together to create literacy events
and activities that benefit children from both communities. Encouraging their students
to reach out, forming new connections and experiences, Michelle (Barnes) Day '01 and
Jackie (Barnes) Wearing ’06 were each amazed at the student interest and passion for
the project. Eventually forming a "sister schools" partnership between the two elementary
schools, Day and Wearing are making all the difference in the world for their students.
Day and Wearing, daughters of Aquinas Admissions Staff Assistant Mary Sue Barnes, both graduated with their Bachelor of Arts in Education from the College. However, the two pursued careers in uniquely different school systems—Day, who teaches second grade at Lakeside in East Grand Rapids and Wearing, who teaches language arts to third, fourth and fifth graders at Godfrey Elementary in Wyoming.
"They have limited resources," said Wearing, of the students and families that attend Godfrey. With 50 percent of students still learning the English language and 90 percent of whom take advantage of the free and reduced lunch program, many do not have wide access to reading in the home. Hearing many of the stories of her sister's students, Day sought a way to reach out to them, and held a coat drive last winter as part of Lakeside's Martin Luther King Jr. Day's celebration.
"What can we do?" Day asked, and received an answer in the form of more donated coats than the children at Godfrey could use that winter. This partnership both provided warm coats for Godfrey students and offered Lakeside students an opportunity to experience and serve a diverse community in need.
This year, Day and Wearing worked together to again focus on "kids helping kids," and decided to support this effort through literacy. Facilitating a book drive for Godfrey, Lakeside collected over 2,200 books of all levels, in addition to $1,000 to utilize for later events. At Godfrey, Wearing hosted a Literacy Day, in which 150 parents and students visited the school to discuss reading and reading strategies, play learning games and receive a free book. "Parents were so excited and happy," said Wearing. Many books were also leftover to offer the students of Godfrey during the school days following the event. This event was so successful, Wearing hopes to hold an additional literacy day in the spring.
Most of all, "we want to start a long-lasting partnership," said Day. Able to serve students in need at her sister's school — and now her "sister school" as the Godfrey and Lakeside made their partnership official — Day looks forward to all of the children benefiting from the shared experiences. Now pairing the children from the respective schools as pen pals, these unique sets of students can continue to serve and learn from each other for years to come.
Day and Wearing, daughters of Aquinas Admissions Staff Assistant Mary Sue Barnes, both graduated with their Bachelor of Arts in Education from the College. However, the two pursued careers in uniquely different school systems—Day, who teaches second grade at Lakeside in East Grand Rapids and Wearing, who teaches language arts to third, fourth and fifth graders at Godfrey Elementary in Wyoming.
"They have limited resources," said Wearing, of the students and families that attend Godfrey. With 50 percent of students still learning the English language and 90 percent of whom take advantage of the free and reduced lunch program, many do not have wide access to reading in the home. Hearing many of the stories of her sister's students, Day sought a way to reach out to them, and held a coat drive last winter as part of Lakeside's Martin Luther King Jr. Day's celebration.
"What can we do?" Day asked, and received an answer in the form of more donated coats than the children at Godfrey could use that winter. This partnership both provided warm coats for Godfrey students and offered Lakeside students an opportunity to experience and serve a diverse community in need.
This year, Day and Wearing worked together to again focus on "kids helping kids," and decided to support this effort through literacy. Facilitating a book drive for Godfrey, Lakeside collected over 2,200 books of all levels, in addition to $1,000 to utilize for later events. At Godfrey, Wearing hosted a Literacy Day, in which 150 parents and students visited the school to discuss reading and reading strategies, play learning games and receive a free book. "Parents were so excited and happy," said Wearing. Many books were also leftover to offer the students of Godfrey during the school days following the event. This event was so successful, Wearing hopes to hold an additional literacy day in the spring.
Most of all, "we want to start a long-lasting partnership," said Day. Able to serve students in need at her sister's school — and now her "sister school" as the Godfrey and Lakeside made their partnership official — Day looks forward to all of the children benefiting from the shared experiences. Now pairing the children from the respective schools as pen pals, these unique sets of students can continue to serve and learn from each other for years to come.