Asset Corner #69

September’s Asset Category:  Commitment to Learning.  A love of learning will take them far Education has improved immensely in the past 20 years. Today, more young people are taking high-level courses, fewer of them are dropping out, math and science scores are on the rise, and more students are entering college after high school. But that doesn’t mean a commitment to learning happens naturally in all young people. Instilling this important trait involves a combination of values and skills that include the desire to succeed in school, a sense of the lasting importance of learning, and a belief in one’s own ability. This commitment is strongly influenced by the school environment and relationships with family and peers. 

COMMITMENT TO LEARNING Assets Include: 

                #21 Achievement Motivation – Young person is motivated to do well in school. (65%*)
                #22 School Engagement – Young people is actively engaged in learning. (55%*)
                #23 Homework – Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day. (47%*)
                #24 Bonding to School – Young person cares about her or his school. (52%*)
                    #25 Reading for Pleasure – Young person reads for pleasure 3 or more hours per week. (22%*) 
                

Here are the facts
Research shows the more young people are committed to learning, the more likely they are to grow up healthy. 

Tips for building these assets
By supporting young people and reminding them of the built-in rewards of learning, you can help them deepen their engagement in learning at school, at home, and in the community. Focus on young people individually to help meet distinct needs, styles, and preferences. Schools and youth programs often offer different options. And remember: Learning happens everywhere, not just in school. 

Since school is just now underway, check out this expanded list of asset-building ideas:

In your home and family:

• Stay in contact with teachers about children’s progress. Don’t wait for report cards.

• Help your child stay alert in school by ensuring that they eat well and get enough sleep.
• Monitor homework. Don’t hover, but check in with your child every so often and ask “How’s it going?”
• Limit television watching.
• Provide a quiet, comfortable, well-lit place for your kids to study without distractions.
• Make it a point to attend school conferences and special events. 

In your neighborhood and community:

• Volunteer in a school as a tutor, club leader, reader, to young students or in other helping roles.
• Recognize entire schools or classrooms. Reward students for good attendance.
• Offer community education classes for one whole family.
• Attend school performances, plays and concerts.
• Have a community-wide drive to gather used books then donate them to needy families. 

In your school or youth program:

• Provide many opportunities for parents and other adults to volunteer at school.
• Pair younger students with older students who love to read.
• Help students to write their own books; start a classroom library of student-created books.
• Affirm and encourage achievement in diverse areas as students discover their own interest and capabilities
• Make your classroom a warm and welcoming place to be. 

ASSET RELATED NEWS 
The Collab’s Mobile Food Pantry is scheduled this month for Thursday, Sept 10th. This, plus a host of other programs/services, are always in need of help. If you’re interested in volunteering, give the Collab a call at 440-887-4873. 

Here’s an opportunity from our MyCom unit: MyMedia 101 is an eight week after-school program where students will learn about journalism and video production by creating a WordPress blog and producing a short documentary about a topic they feel affects their community. By the end of the session, students will have learned about information gathering and research, journalistic storytelling techniques, interviewing techniques, video shot composition, and professional video editing on Adobe Premiere Pro. Any students between the ages of 13 and 17 with an interest in either writing or video production are encouraged to apply; prior experience isn't necessary. 

The fall session begins September 22th, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Idea Center, 1375 Euclid Ave, Cleveland 44115, and will continue every Tuesday until November 10th. Snacks, dinner, and bus passes for the students are provided along with a stipend for their work. Applications are due by Sept 11th at 4:00 p.m. and can be obtained by calling Kathy Hall, our MyCom Youth Advocate, at 440-842-7043.

In collaboration with UH/Parma Medical Center, Parma Early Childhood PTA is having a TOUCH-A-TRUCK event on Sunday, Sept 13th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the UH/PMC Health Education Center located at 7300 State Rd in Parma. In addition to all kinds of trucks to see, touch, and climb on, there will be a balloon animal artist, face painter, a play area, and concessions.  Admission is free with the donation of a canned good to be given to a local food pantry. 

In a highly competitive grant process, the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) was awarded $118,996 by the State of Ohio for the “CBS Connects” initiative. The funding will be used to coordinate a mentoring program between students in the Parma City Schools and adult volunteers from the community. The grant will be used to support a collaboration of the Chamber, the Community/Business/Schools Partnership, Community Ambassadors, and the PCSD to provide mentors for district students. Implementation details should be available soon.

If you haven’t heard, the Board of Education held a Special Meeting on August 19th to hire Mr. Carl Hilling as Interim Superintendent of the PCSD for the 2015-2016 school year, effective Thursday, Aug. 20th. Mr. Hilling was a prior Superintendent in the district, serving from 1989 to 1995. During that time, he was the catalyst responsible for the creation of the Community/Business/Schools Partnership as well as the Byers Field Foundation - both organizations which have helped to continue growth and collaboration in our community. He has a distinguished career in education that spans 40 years. 

A special thank you to the donors, volunteers, and staff  of the Parma Education Foundation, KIKS Office, Parma Christian Church, Broadview Church of Christ, Ridge Road UCC, Parma Lutheran Church, Walmart, and the Parma Area Family Collaborative for their work collecting/distributing school supplies and backpacks to our area’s needy students.  An outstanding effort! My apologies if I missed acknowledging any group or individual. Please know that your efforts were appreciated.

The new school year brings changes in administration and a host of great new programs along with opportunities for you to get involved. Stay in touch by regularly checking the district’s web site at www.parmacityschools.org.

SHARE YOUR ASSET BUILDING IDEAS AND/OR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTAL ASSET CONCEPT BY VISITING THE “ASSET CORNER” FACEBOOK PAGE. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

Visit www.parmacityschools.org/character and www.search-institute.org/assets for more information about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them. Or go to http://www.parentfurther.com for great asset-based parenting tips, tricks, activities, and ideas.