School/community integration efforts

A group of Horizons participants ( Dr. Vern Harpole, Barbara Sexton, Oren Johnson and Bob Hansen) met with Lyle High School Principle Phil Williams and Martin Huffman yesterday, February, 26th, to explore ways to increase school/community integration. The following is a DRAFT of the results of that meeting. The results have yet to be reviewed by all participants.

Phil and Martin,

Thank you for the very informative and product conversation we had yesterday. The following are my notes that best reflect my understanding of current procedures and possible outcomes and responsibilities.

In general, the notion of community service has evolved over the past 20 years. No longer do high school students simply do community service. Rather their "community service" requirement can be met in one of four ways, as a Culminating Project:

1) Research project

2) Original artistic creation or performance

3) Job Shadow or Internship

4) Community Involvement or Service

If the Horizons program, or any other program, wants to provide a possible community involvement project, they need to develop a summary of what is involved ( what, when, where, why, etc). A project/resource form is attached which will be entered in to a data base for reference by students and school administration. All projects are voluntary and at the mutual descretation of the students and faculty.

Other possible ways of integrating the community and the school:

1) Assemblies ( for presentations by such groups as Native Americans)

2) Art exhibits by high school students at local venues

3) Monthly movies... the idea is that a group of students and community volunteers could learn to operate the movie projector and the popular movies could be restored.

4) Increased coverage of school activities in the Lyle newsletter... similar to what is happening in Dallesport. This could lead to an eventual merging of community and school news into a single newsletter, saving the school the printing and distribution costs.

5) Dr. Harpole indicated a willingness to help the school with physical examinations sports teams participants.

6) Providing announcements of opportunities

7) Possible vendor opportunities to raise funds for the three main groups... Play It Forward, Honor Society, and Renaissance Club

8) Presentations on Wednesday at weekly meetings of Play It Forward, Honor Society and Renaissance Club

8) Greater involvement by the community in the Renaissance Club activities

9) Involvement in the after school program administered by the ESD from 3-5 pm. Involvement could include presentations and service projects. This program might be mostly for 7th-8th graders. It appears that there is a lot of competition for students time.. between school, sports, family activities, and computer/iPod time.

10) Community members could integrate with the school by helping at athletic events including working the gate and moving the chains at football games.

11) High School student representative on Lyle Community Council and/or student report at Lyle Community Council meetings ( so the students do not have to stay for entire meetings)

12) Help with plays. Volunteer opportunities could be listed in the community newsletter. To facilitate that, someone from the community ( and a student?) need(s) to be identified to get the information to Glenda Lovejoy.



Some of the constraints in community/school integration include

1) lack of money or other resources

2) student safety and liability issues

3) background checks of volunteers

4) transportation in school buses only.. no private vehicles