Red Clay Consolidated School District

Red Clay News

“Student Ambassadors” Teach Parents about Middle School

A program designed to increase parental involvement at the middle schools, while bolstering students’ leadership and communication skills, was piloted this summer by a group of Alexis I. duPont Middle School (AIMS) students.

Thirteen AIMS students spent five weeks over the summer in the “Student Ambassadors” program, sponsored by Pritchett Associates and the Red Clay Consolidated School District.  The group was recognized by the Red Clay Board of Education at the Aug. 15, 2012 regularly scheduled meeting.

Through the use of student-produced, multi-media documents, parents learned about life at AIMS. The program is based on research that shows parental involvement dropping off at the middle school level and the positive impact that parental involvement can continue to have throughout a child’s school years.
After an orientation meeting with parents at the West End Neighborhood House, students met four days each week to discuss and plan the content of a website, PowerPoint, brochure, newsletter and wikispaces, which are non-interactive student blogs.  Students were asked to consider such questions as how parents can remain involved, what their hopes are for middle school and what challenges they face.
The student’s work was presented at a Parent’s Forum in July and will be placed on a DVD, to be shared with incoming 6th graders at AIMS and other schools. Guests attended the forum, where parents and their Student Ambassadors packed 190 book bags with donated supplies for the incoming 6th graders. 

“The Ambassadors program has made a positive impact on the students that participated in the program,” said AIMS Principal Theodore Boyer. “The students received leadership training that will enable them to be role models at Alexis I. du Pont Middle School and in the community. In addition to leadership training, the students developed their writing and technology skills that will help them academically. The staff at Alexis I. du Pont Middle School is very proud of the Student Ambassadors.”

Plans for the upcoming school year include the Student Ambassadors keeping the wikispaces up-to-date with events and information on middle school, the creation of a community outreach volunteer project for the Student Ambassadors and monitoring the academic progress, attendance and attitude towards school of the group.

 

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