Pouring Into Local Schools
Let’s care for the whole child!
Even into adulthood we remember our favorite teacher, the lunchbox or TrapperKeeper we adored…and we remember the harder things about school – whether social or emotional or educational.
Kensington is a pretty big church, but when we zoom out and look at the world, we’re small.
But our God is big and He’s in the habit of using our little to accomplish great things! (See last Sunday’s teaching, God of Just A Little Bit, here.
Don’t underestimate the impact you may make by donating a pile of notebooks, a few polos, or some of your time reading in a classroom. Your generosity doesn’t cause just gentle ripples – it causes waves!
We know God sees the individual. He knows each of these children from our local partner schools – even the number of hairs on each one’s head! (Luke 12:7) So let’s move out to meet needs in Jesus’ name this fall through our School Partner’s Back-To-School initiative – there are many ways to help, and several teachers and staff have taken the time to share how this partnership is making a difference.
Read on!
It is not a cliche to say that education is the key to success, and it unlocks doors…learning provides an opportunity to increase their skillset…knowledge and skill lead to personal and professional advancement.
– Dr. Jaronique Devezin, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Pontiac Schools
What do you want the reader to know about your school(s) and its students?
The City of Pontiac School District’s … goal [is] to provide an education that creates a whole person … to become a graduate and a productive citizen in the world. We want to educate, empower and excite. We want to give students tools to make sound decisions about their education and their emotional/social well-being.
– Dr. Jaronique Devezin, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Pontiac Schools
Although I know the families struggle financially (as so many families do nowadays), my students are loved and well taken care of by their parents. Education is a top priority in their lives.
–Lori Paulson, 4th grade teacher at I.L.A. (International Language Academy), Pontiac School District
What are some typical challenges your elementary students face?
The Mt. Clemens school community has some unique challenges, likely related to historical social and economic conditions (oftentimes generational) that are indeed profound. The community that we serve is aptly described as a community with significant needs, for both the adults and young people. Within the district borders there are plenty of “choices” for families and their educational pursuits, but this public school district is the destination for families that are typically without the additional resources necessary for private school tuition or even transportation to the local charter that does not provide school buses for transport.
– Michael Fringer, Counselor at Seminole Academy, Mt. Clemens Community Schools
Attendance is a number one challenge for our district. When transportation is not sound for parents and the school district this poses a challenge for students to get to school and/or attend valuable opportunities outside of the district.
– Dr. Jaronique Devezin, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Pontiac Schools
My students in Pontiac encounter some challenges, but are still successful. I work at International Language Academy, and most of my students speak both Spanish and English, but their families usually speak mostly Spanish. Since many of their parents speak very little English, one of the challenges my students have is their parents sometimes can’t help them with homework. However I am incredibly impressed with my students’ parents and how much they are willing to go above and beyond to help their child.
-Lori Paulson, 4th grade teacher at I.L.A. (International Language Academy), Pontiac School District
How is Kensington’s School Partners program making an impact?
Kensington School Partners bring joy, peace and happiness to The City of Pontiac School District … The church considers ALL aspects of a person’s life by offering prayer, supplies, financial resources, facilities and anything our minds think of as a need for the community. Kensington Church is limitless in opportunities they provide.
– Dr. Jaronique Devezin, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Pontiac Schools
Kensington’s School Partners have been such a blessing to me and my students. This past year, I was fortunate to have two amazing volunteers from Kensington. Stephanie was an immediate perfect fit for me and my students…They would beg to work with her … She truly helped my students academically and especially emotionally. She was able to connect on a different level with them than I could. Stephanie became not only part of our classroom family, but my friend too. I look forward to working with her again this school year!
About halfway through the school year I was fortunate to have Patty start working in my classroom too … Patty is a retired lower elementary teacher and some of my students were reading at a beginning kindergarten level. Being a fourth grade teacher I’m not strong in teaching phonics and basic reading skills. Patty really stepped in to help … Every person I have encountered from Kensington is truly a phenomenal human. I am so grateful to have met these people and love that they volunteer in our Pontiac schools. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
-Lori Paulson, 4th grade teacher at I.L.A. (International Language Academy), Pontiac School District
I have had the privilege of having volunteers from Kensington come and support my classroom for the past 3 years. These volunteers have read with students, played fun educational games, and have been open to help in any way they can…My students are always excited on the days when we have a volunteer come in and are always asking to work with them. I’ve seen my students grow in all areas, and I don’t think some of the growth would have been possible without the support of volunteers. These volunteers have not only been supportive of my students but have supported our classroom as a whole by donating things we need to make our day a success: school supplies, snacks, books, gifts around the holidays, headphones for our Chromebooks, and more!
-Amanda Ziegler, 1st grade teacher at Owen Elementary, Pontiac School District
What else do you want the Kensington Church community to know?
Kensington … make[s] us as staff feel appreciated around the different holidays by bringing in goodies for us to enjoy and … graciously hosting our district for our professional development days. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with Kensington volunteers as I know their support makes a positive impact in my students’ lives. I will always be open and willing to have volunteers in my classroom in any capacity, whether it’s for 30 minutes or the whole day!
– Amanda Ziegler, 1st grade teacher at Owen Elementary, Pontiac School District
As a consequence of this somewhat condensed pocket of challenges we can always benefit from additional hands and hearts. Oftentimes the challenges at any elementary school can be resolved proactively and quickly with additional adult guidance … if adults are present … THIS is how volunteers can help us to help our students thrive … and an intervention from additional hands and hearts might be the intervention that will contribute to a child being able to be more fully engaged with the content that can lead to the changes that can potentially lead to a BETTER life!
– Michael Fringer, Counselor at Seminole Academy, Mt. Clemens Community Schools
Learn more at kensingtonchurch.org/schoolpartners.
Questions? Email [email protected].