JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Public School District was awarded the North Dakota Recreations and Parks Association Partnership Award for their collaboration with the On-TRAC Learning Center.
Superintendent Dr. Rob Lech reported at the School Boarding Meeting Monday evening that they were nominated for the award by Amy Walters of the Two Rivers Activity Center (TRAC). The collaboration supported early literacy interventions.
“Jamestown Parks and Recreation and Jamestown Public Schools have a decades long relationship of shared facility use and recreational programs, however, in January 2018 a new partnership formed surrounding the community challenge of early literacy intervention,” the organization stated. “Jamestown Public Schools engaged the Two Rivers Activity Center Leadership Team in planning discussions regarding securing grant funds to advance literacy skills, including preliteracy, reading, and writing for students from birth through Grade 12.”
In August 2018 JPS was selected as one of the 15 sites across North Dakota to receive grant awards to support disadvantaged children in literacy skill improvement. Both entities have also partnered to deliver the Family Literacy Camps at TRAC.
“The camps were held weekly at TRAC with the parents and children attending together. The camp begins with a shared story time led by an OnTRAC Learning Center teacher. After the story time parents and children separate to learn important concepts of early literacy. Parent education focuses on creating a literacy rich environment at home, reading with children, and recognizing and engaging children in literacy development opportunities. Children spend this time engaged in an art/project.”
“Heidi Larson and I accepted the award on the district’s behalf on September 11, 2019 at the annual banquet for NDRPA,” Dr. Lech stated in his report.
The school board also received a report on the 2019 seniors, following up on what they’re doing after graduation. According to the report, 64% of the students are enrolled in a 4 year college, 15% in a 2 year college, 1% in vo-tech, 5% in military service, 10% unemployed, and 5% unknown.
In other news, the school is currently in the middle of a social media campaign to educate voters on the Capital Projects Plan, cost of the referendum, and priority needs at each school campus. The referendum is set for September 24th and early voting is currently underway.