Entry #10: Some ingredients of a successful
middle school only come with community support.
Glasgow, Kentucky -- The first employment experience for many teens
includes the phrase: "Welcome to McDonald's, may I take your order?"
But for 36 eighth graders here in Glasgow, Kentucky, they will be saying
"Welcome to BCMS Bank, how may I help you?"
On my second visit to Barren County Middle School, over 100 interviews were
being conducted around campus by several employees of South Central Bank.
The well-dressed applicants were participating in a unique partnership with
the Bank which included weekly visits by financial experts covering loans,
interest rates, budgeting and various economic concepts. This practical
math culminated with students filling out applications, writing resume's,
cover letters and attaching recommendations.
After all hopefuls had been interviewed and given the chance to question
the employees, selections were made for positions such as teller, loan officer,
marketing officer and bank president.
Wanting to find out more about this "applied" learning experience,
I visited a bank branch on the designated shadowing day. Even though the
entire 8th grade had visited the bank on an earlier field trip, the selected
36 were now given the chance to work side by side with the employees and
be trained in bank procedures. With this full-day experience, the younger
employees would then be ready to open the school branch next week, depositing
savings and granting loans (limited to $5, I think). The ribbon cutting
ceremony will kick off the opening, attended by city representatives as
well as bank employees.
While questioning Kathy Way, Personnel Officer of the bank, I wondered if
they were hesitant to work with the middle school students. "I truly
love working with them" she reported, and believes this age group to
be ideal for building strong work ethics. In its fifth year, the program
is growing in numbers and reputation.
I found many others this first week who wanted to work with this age group
as well. That's important since BCMS has recently started "The Clubhouse,"
Barren County's 21st Century Community Learning Center. My wife and I added
our names to the list of volunteers and were quickly assigned to assist
with bowling, basketmaking, tutoring and art.
Have you ever been bowling with 26 middle schoolers? You should try it sometime.
While the destination of the balls was often uncertain, the level of enjoyment
wasn't.
Another scene that tickled me this week involved a squirrely group of 7th
graders. Picture these students bouncing around the room making bookmarks
and coloring. Then Hiro, the school's Japanese intern, began using chopsticks
at one end of the room. Before long, several students were huddled around
a pile of paper scraps following the lead of their mentor. They all went
home with a new understanding of Asian culture as well as a set of authentic
chopsticks.
The Clubhouse runs from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, divided into
two sessions with a free dinner served between. Director Peggy Nims, a former
administrator with the local chamber of commerce, is a perfect fit and has
a three-page list of business partners to draw from.
Authentic experiences, opportunities to serve, after school activities,
and meaningful time with adult role models: these are ingredients of a successful
middle school experience and can only be accomplished with community support.
This is one reason why BCMS is a "School to Watch" -- and one
that we didn't want to miss.
Darrell
[Editor's Note: Darrell Lee is visiting the school of another MiddleWeb
diarist, Michelle Pedigo.]
Read next week's diary entry >>>
<<< Read last week's diary entry
Comment on this diary entry
Read some background about Darrell Lee
Back to Darrell's Diary
Index