Adopt-A-Community Member Program a success!
At the beginning of this school year, Kathy Belsheim, Ogilvie Public School Superintendent, introduced a new program to enhance the community-school relationship. Members of the community, both individuals and businesses, were chosen by Elementary and High School classes to adopt. Once a month, these classes send information to their chosen community member about classroom activities, school information, or an invitation to join the class for an event here at school. Superintendent Kathy Belsheim says, "The response from the community and the excitement generated in our classrooms has been so positive! Students can hardly wait to hear back from their adopted community member – and then plan the next sharing activity for them. We want to share our/your school and LION PRIDE with the whole community!"
This program is also supported by Joell Tvedt, Community Education Director\Community Involvement Facilitator. Joell Tvedt has taken over the program, mailing out the communication information and assisting teachers with ideas. "There are some really neat communications going on between our classes and the community. To my knowledge, community members are visiting classrooms, sending math problems back to our kids, and displaying what our classes are sending them at their home or business," said Joell Tvedt.
This Fall, Mrs. Enyart, second grade teacher, invited her community member, the Ogilvie Raceway, to school to join her class. Mrs. Enyart said, "I found some short poems and read them to the class. When a child heard one they wanted to memorize I gave the poem to them. They had time at home and school to practice memorizing their poems. In the meantime, I called Ogilvie Raceway and personally invited them. 
The day before our program we made holiday cookies for refreshments for our guests. The children chose which type of cookie they wanted to help make. When they were on the cookie sheets we took them to the kitchen to bake. When they were done they were brought back to the room and we stored them in containers overnight. Before the program we put the cookies out on the plates and then after the program, which went very well, the students put the cookies on the tables for everyone to eat. We also had lemonade to drink. The children visited with our guests and thanked them for coming."
More recently, Mrs. Alderman, English teacher, has organized a food drive for her 8th grade class community member, the Ogilvie Food Shelf. It has become a school wide competition to see which grade\class can bring in the most food donations. What a wonderful project to connect with our local food shelf, especially at this time of year!
This Adopt-A-Community Member program will continue through the rest of the school year.