 Partnering to Make a Difference
Superintendent Praises Club/School Collaborations
Local schools and Boys & Girls Clubs can work in synergy to provide positive places for kids. Clubs located on or near
school grounds are often the only sanctuary for young people who would otherwise have nowhere else to go once the bell rings. Having Clubs in schools makes it easy for kids to attend and instills a sense of security among parents who don't have to worry about how their children will get there.
That sense of security also exists among school staff. Just ask Michael Harding, school superintendent in Michigan City, Ind., an urban district of 8,700 students, 550 teachers and 13 schools. Working closely with
the staff of the Michigan City Boys & Girls Club, Harding has seen firsthand the benefits of the Club/school relationship and the positive effects its proximity has on the entire community. "The Club is a great match for our district," says Harding. "The Club understands our district's mission and works to support and reinforce what the schools do."
Whether they offer a quiet place to do homework with helpful staff or just a break from the day-to-day stresses of school, Clubs complement lessons learned in the classroom, observes Harding. "Boys & Girls Clubs understand the practices
and approaches that are successful with today's children and families. They teach universal values such as respect, responsibility, fairness and teamwork," he says. "Schools try to do this, but we can't do it alone. We now know that what kids do out of school has a huge impact on their school success, so schools simply must work with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs." |
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