Activities planned for American Education Week

Grandparents are invited to visit

elementary schools

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A variety of activities has been planned at local public schools to mark American Education Week Nov. 16 - 21.

Jefferson Elementary School is celebrating Pride Days, reports principal Tanya Schull. Students are wearing different colors each day, to mark an education-related theme: yellow on Monday for "Education Shines," red, white and blue on Tuesday for "Pride in American Schools," and purple and white on Friday for "School Spirit Day."

The theme on Wednesday is "Pride at Jefferson School," says Schull. Each grade level decides what color to wear. Thursday is "Classroom Pride Day," and individual classrooms decide how they want to dress -- in stripes, dots, as cowboys, etc.

In addition, students will be writing and drawing cards to be distributed to restaurants around New Ulm and Meals on Wheels; have invited grandparents or other special persons to lunch at school on Nov. 14 (kindergarten), Nov. 17 (grade 1), Nov. 21 (grade 2), and Nov. 24 (grade 3); and will take turns reading at Herberger's on Nov. 22.

Grade-specific events are part of the program as well, says Schull. Third-graders have written a paragraph on "What I Would Do As Principal For A Day," and several essays have been submitted to The Journal for printing during the week. Second-graders, in turn, are designing a school flag for 2003-04.

* Highlights at Washington Elementary include lunches with parents/grandparents on Nov. 18, 19 and 20, says Principal Randy Voth.

In addition, students will be decorating grocery bags to mark education-related themes and planning recognition "surprises" for teachers and other staff.

* The focus of Education Week at the Middle School is giving, says Principal Steve Weber.

"We'll be looking to the needs of others and focusing on the greater good of the community, through the collection of food for the local Food Shelf," he says.

Home-base classrooms, which include 15-16 students each, will be competing in food collection during the week. The top three "food collection" groups will receive prizes for their efforts.

* "Color-coded" days will mark the week at the High School, according to organizer Barb Hillesheim.

Tuesday is "Wear Your Favorite Life Saver Color" -- "because you can always find a life saver in your school," she says. Wednesday is red, white and blue day, Thursday is "Wear Your Favorite School's Shirt Day," and Friday is purple and white day.

Another idea is a quiz on interesting facts about teachers. The quizzes can be picked up in the office and returned on Thursday. The winners will be announced on Friday and receive prizes.

All week long, slips with the message "You've made a difference because..." are available at the office, Hillesheim also says. Students and staff are encouraged to fill them out and drop them in a labeled box, to be delivered to the appropriate person. The messages could be from student to teacher or support staff, from teacher or support staff to student, or from staff to staff.

In addition, says Hillesheim, a creative writing class is publicizing their work in interviews on KNUJ and articles in The Journal, and teachers and support staff are receiving special treats.

American Education Week started as a joint effort of the National Education Association and the American Legion. The two groups met in 1919 to generate public support for education, after they found that 25 percent of the country's World War I draftees were illiterate and 29 percent were physically unfit.

Conventions of the two organizations adopted resolutions of support for a national effort to raise public awareness of the importance of education. In 1921, the NEA Representative Assembly in Des Moines, Iowa, called for designation of one week each year to spotlight education.

American Education Week was first marked Dec. 4 - 10, 1921. The earliest observances featured a different theme for each day. This changed in 1929, as the co-sponsors decided to select a single theme that reflected a current national concern.

This year's national theme, "Great Public Schools for Every Child -- America's Promise," is intended to remind people that teaching and learning is a home and classroom team effort, national organizers say.

Two special days are being marked this year nationwide. Nov. 19 is set aside to honor education support professionals -- secretaries, paraprofessionals (classroom aides), maintenance people, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and others. Nov. 21 is Substitute Educators Day, newly-designated to appreciate educators who are called upon to replace regularly-employed teachers and other school employees on leave.

Possible sidebar:

The NEA website provides the following information on highlights of American Education Week in 2003:

National Education Support Professionals Day: Purpose and History

Education Support Professionals Day was first celebrated in 1987 after NEA's Representative Assembly called for the creation of a way to honor contributions of school support staff. National ESP Day is a time to strengthen support and respect for support staff.

In 2003, Karen Mahurin, President of NEA's National Council of Education Support Professionals, led a successful campaign to change the formal name from "Education Support Personnel" to "Education Support Professionals."

"The name change to 'professional' acknowledges the major contribution ESPs make to children and public education everyday," says Mahurin, a secretary with 22 years of experience. "We impact the lives of children every day in our own special and professional ways."

The new name reflects a growing pride in the valuable role ESPs play throughout America's public schools. Today's support professionals provide invaluable services that enable students to learn in positive, supportive environments. ESPs are equal and essential partners in the education process.

National ESP Day is observed on Wednesday during American Education Week. This year's date to celebrate ESPs is Nov. 19.

Substitute Educators Day: History and purpose

Substitute Educators Day is a result of action by the NEA Representative Assembly in 2003. The purpose of Substitute Educators Day is to increase appreciation of school substitutes employees. These professional educators provide a critical link in the education of public school children by serving as a bridge to provide continued quality education to children in the temporary absence of regular classroom educators, says the NEA.

Substitute Educators Day seeks to encourage increased respect for substitute education employees; to advocate for all school substitutes to receive wage and health benefits for those who work most to all of a full school year; to receive genuine, continuous professional development in the art of substitute teaching; and to provide a reminder for school staff on effective practices to prepare for, welcome, and support substitute educators.

Substitute Educators Day is observed on Friday during American Education Week. This year's date to celebrate substitute educators is Nov. 21.