Published: August 02, 2009 07:49 pm      

Schools ready for ‘First Day’

Program shared across America

DUNCAN — Duncan Elementary Schools will open their doors to parents and students alike as part of a new tradition shared by thousands of schools across America on Aug. 13.

Emerson, Horace Mann, Mark Twain, Plato and Woodrow Wilson will be participating in the First Day of School America Campaign, a family involvement program that was initiated in Bennington, Vt., in 1997.

This is the third year that Duncan has been involved in the program.

“We were attracted to First Day’s approach,” said Dr. Sherry Labyer, superintendent of Duncan Public Schools, “because of its inclusion of area employers in the mix. Most of our students’ parents work outside of the home, so they would be unable to attend our First Day programs for parents unless their employers allow them some extra flexibility on that day. In this third year of our program, we have several area employers offering a release time to their employees who are parents of elementary-age children. The First Day of School America Campaign is turning our opening day into a real community-wide event.”

First Day is a part of the Dream Duncan’s Destiny goals for improving our community. The Education Committee is specifically trying to increase awareness of literacy needs in our community through increased parent and community connections to schools.

One of the committee’s goals was to implement a Centennial Literacy Project in 2007 that would encourage parental involvement and ensure third-grade reading skills meet or exceed state-mandated requirements by 2008 and beyond. As a result, local businessmen and the Duncan Chamber of Commerce & Industry will again provide all kindergartners a copy of “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” by Bill Martin Jr. on their first day of school. This year, all first-graders will receive a copy of “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes and second-graders will receive “Frog and Toad All Year” by Arnold Lobel. The Duncan Chamber of Commerce held its second annual Bid Bash in June to help raise money for the books ... improved reading will begin on Day 1.

As a part of the First Day line-up, Labyer is inviting parents to ride the bus to school if their children have bus passes. All parents will be treated to programs at each site that are designed to encourage year-round family involvement in education. Parents can join their children for breakfast, go to class with them the first hour, and enjoy other events planned by the schools. The buses will take parents home at 9:30 a.m.

Horace Mann teacher Judy Carroll, district kindergarten-grade level leader, led discussions among fellow kindergarten teachers on the success of “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” being used in kindergarten on the first day of school last year. All kindergarten teachers said their students were delighted to get to take their very own copy of a book home. Some said the 5-year-olds literally hugged their new book. When she asked her colleagues if they wanted “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” again in 2009, “yes” was the unanimous response.

First-grade experiences with “Chrysanthemum” were similar. Second-grade teachers have anticipated their chosen book for the 2009-10 school year, “Frog and Toad All Year,” too.

For some students at some schools, these three books given by the community may be the only books available in the home.

Parents or community members who would like more information about events at their school should check with the principal’s office. Letters about the third First Day event will be mailed to parents in early August.

Duncan patrons who are interested in supporting books for students on the first day of school should send their contribution to Duncan Public Schools, earmarked First Day Books.