+ THE DALLAS POST, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1984 13 ne Program statistics announced In the Spring of 1983 the Lake- Lehman School District participated in the Educational Quality Assess- ment Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. tify areas in the instructional pro- gram which shows strengths and growth beyond predicted ranges. These predicted ranges dre gener- ated statistically through a formula which covers several characteris- tics of a school district including: size-population; social and eco- nomic status; teacher, parent and pupil relationships; teacher educa- tion ane experience; pupils’ after school activities, pupils’ perceptions of expectations, etc. In the Lehman-Jackson Elemen- tary School, the fifth grade class scored within the predicted ranges in following areas: Communication Skills: Writing; Interest in School and Learning; Societal Responsibil- ity; Knowledge of Law and Govern- ment; Health Knowledge; Creative Activities; Appreciating Human Accomplishments; Knowledge of Human Accomplishments; Informa- tion Usage. They scored below the predicted ranges in the areas of: Self Esteem; tion Skills: Reading; Mathematics; In the Lake-Noxen Elementary above the predicted range in Self- Esteem. They scored within the predicted ranges in: Understanding Others; Mathematics; Interest in School and Learning; Societal Responsibility; ment; Health Knowledge; Creative Activities; Career Awareness; - ments; Knowledge of Human . Accomplishments; Information * Usage; Communication Skills: This class did not score below the predicted range in any area. At the Ross Elementary School, They scored above the predicted + Communication Skills: Reading Comprehension; Communication Skills: Writing; ~Mathematies; Interest in Seheel and Learning; Knowledge of Law and Govern- ment; Creative Activieis; Appre- Knowledge of Human Accomplish- ments. : They scored below the predicted range in the following areas: Under- standing Others; Societal Responsi- tion Usage. In the Junior High School, the eighth grade class scored within the predicted range in 11 of the 14 tested areas. Interest in School, and Learning and Knowledge of Human Accom- above the The highest scores were and Knowledge of Human Accom- other scores In the Senior High School, the 11th Writing Skills, Interest in School and Learning, and Appre- The class scored within the pre- munications Skills: Reading Com- Creer Awareness, Knowledge of and range in Understanding Others, Mathematics, Societal Responsibil- ity, and Health and Safety Prac- tices. X The results of the Educational Quality Assessment can provide a school district with target areas for improvement and a means to evalu- ate actions previously taken. These results have been reviewed by the faculty in each building, and Guid- ance Counselors and Principals are developing strategies to affect improvement in certain target areas. More specific information regard- ing the Educational Quality Assess- the Guidance Office in each school Although the Educational Quality Assessment has served the Lake- Lehman School District well in the past several years, in helping to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement in the instruction program, pending legis- lation (HB 1181) may, if passed, Assessment. Have A News Tip? Call 675-5211 Exchange students seek hosts The American Scandinavian Stu- dent Exchange (ASSE) is seeking local families to serve as hosts for 15 Scandinavian, German, Swiss and British high school students who are part of the ASSE exchange visitor program, according to Cyn- thia Wright, Eastern Director of ASSE. The non-profit ASSE is affiliated with the Swedish and Finnish Departments of Education and is officially designated by the U.S. Information Agency as an Exchange Visitor Program. The students, 16 and 17 years old, are fluent in English and are care- fully selected for the program based on their high school performance, good character and interest in the ASSE program. : All the students are covered by comprehensive medical and liability insurance and have adequate money for personal needs supplied by their parents. The host family furnishes meals and housing. Families interested in serving as hosts for the 1984-85 school year should contact ASSE’s local Area Representative: Mrs. Alma McLaughlin, 100 Birch Hill Lane, Dallas, PA 18612. Tel: (717) 675- 4308. ‘PTA Today’ Kidnapping, child sexual abuse - it would be nice if the world were free of such concerns, but since it isn’t it helps to know how to protect children from these dangers. Arti- cles in the December-January issue of PTA Today, the National PTA’s magazine, discuss child sexual’ abuse, and ways parents can keep their children safe on the streets. Child sexual abuse is a topic frequently avoided by parents because they do not believe it can happen to ‘‘their’’ child, says Bev- erly Slan an active member of the Washington School PTA in Glen- view, Illinois, and author of one of the articles in PTA Today. ‘No child, anywhere, is immune to the possibility of being sexually abused,” says Slan. Most parents worry that child sexual abuse offenders are stran- gers, when in actuality they are more likely to be persons you would least expect. In the article, Irv Miller, Assist- ant State’s Attorney in Cook County, Illinois, advises parents, ‘Don’t be so trusting. I have seen cases where the offender was a youth organiza- tion leader, a church teacher - one case even involved a therapist at a children’s hospital.” Such offenders usually gain the child’s confidence in order to estab- lish a close, unbreakable bond. The child often admires the offender and wouldnot turn him in, or is simply embarrassed and frightened to admit the abuse. Better communication and educa- tion are the keys to protecting children from sexual abuse, accord- ing to Slan. An open relationship between parents and children will help adults feel comfortable about giving children information on sexual abuse, and also help children feel close enough to their parents not to be afraid to tell them any- thing. Many PTAs sponsor fingerprint- ing programs for children, which former New York state PTA presi- ance policy - ‘something parents hope they never have to use, but are of Luzerne County Community DuBois honored : The Board of Trustees of College ‘Misericordia, Dallas and Temple Israel, Wilkes-Barre recently honored their joint scholar in residence Father Marcel DuBois at a reception held in the home of College Misericordia President Dr. Joseph R. Fink. During his week-long visit, DuBois presented lectures on the relationship of the Jewish and Christian traditions. He spoke to the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, College Misericor- dia, King’s College, the University of Scranton, Temple Israel in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, and Temple B'nai B'rith in Kingston. Shown above, from left, are Sally Connor, Temple Israel Administrator; Monsignor Andrew McGowan, Chairman of College Misericordia’s Board of Trustees; Pauly Friedman, Chairman of the DuBois Planning Committee; Father DuBois: June Blum, Temple Israel president; Sister Carol Rittner RSM, College Misericordia’'s Board of Trustees; Dr. Joseph Fink, College Misericordia’s President and Ralph Connor. discusses important to have if needed.” PTAs are adopting guidelines, working with police departments and have even obtained funding for these programs. Since fingerprinting is only a means of identifying children but can not prevent child abduction, parents should consider preventive measures to protect their children. In an article in PTA Today, Child Find, a nonprofit organization dedi- cated to finding missing children, suggests the following: Don’t leave children unattended in vulnerable places, such as a parked car, in public bathrooms, or any- where in shopping malls; Adopt a family code word and instruct your children never to go anywhere with an adult - even one they know well - unless the code word is given first; Keep young children - up to age six - under adult supervision at all times; Make sure children age four and older know their own telephone numbers and how to make long- distance calls; Most important, talk to children about the possibility of kidnapping and teach them how to get help if they are abducted. Another way many PTAs have helped protect children is by start- ing block parent programs. Typi- cally, block parents agree to watch for children when they walk to and from school. If children feel ill, frightened, lost, or are being fol- lowed or bothered by someone, they are welcome at block homes identi- fied by signs placed in their win- dows. The National PTA says it is cru- cial to involve local police depart- ments in the planning, regulating Property Tax Office. and screening of volunteers for such programs. Copies of the December-January issue of PTA Today are available for $1.00 each by sending a check or money order (made payable to National PTA) to National PTA, 700 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611 (312) 787-0977.