x’ The Dallas Reporter Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 27, 1992 3 Chapter 1 gives extra help when it's needed Chapter I is a nationwide pro- m intended to serve students Y®®0 could benefit from extra read- ing classes with a certified Read- ing Specialist. Any pupil who scores from the first to the forty-ninth percentile on the C.A.T. is eligible for the extra instruction. Our Reading Specialists are: Mrs. Trebilcox and Mr. Wega at the Dallas Middle School, Mrs. Hart- shorne at the Dallas Elementary School and Mrs. Mundy at the Westmoreland School. Reading specialists try variety : of approaches @ Jar Our Chapter I Program serves students from grades one to eight. The instructional plan differs at each grade level according to the needs and schedules of the chil- dren. Small groups of students come out of each classroom three times a week. The curriculum emphasizes development of word attack skills which includes phon- ics and “breaking up” words, rein- forcing the vocabulary taught by the classroom teacher and im- ills. Many of the drill type activi- es can be done in the form of reading games. There are “hands fy an of comprehension . an” activities such as practicing ters and sounds by drawing in sandboxes. Stories, words and worksheets from the regular class- room are reviewed. Students write their own original stories using the “Kidwriter” program on the Apple computer. The Tandy computers with Josten's Integrated Learning System are used for individualized instruction. In third, fourth, and fifth grades at the Westmoreland School, one of the classroom teachers and the Reading Specialist work as a team to supplement or reinforce the & reading program with an ntire reading group. The teacher may present a lesson and give an assignment to the group. Then the teacher and the specialist work individually with students to give help where needed. The class may be divided in half with the teacher and the specialist each instructing a small group. In third and fourth grades, the regular reading pro- gram is being supplemented with extra instruction in “breaking up” and “sounding out” words. Fifth graders are concentrating on a thorough mastery of the vocabu- lary and skills in the fifth grade reader. In all grades, the emphasis is on adding extras to make reading more interesting and more fun. If you would like more information on our Chapter I Program in Dallas, please feel free to call us! n This year, there are new road- side signs on Hildebrandt Road indicating that the two mile stretch from the light on the Tunkhan- nock Highway to the intersection at Lower Demunds Road is now being cleared of litter courtesy of the Dallas Senior High Peer Help- ers. The Peer Helper Program is now in the fifth year of existence at Dallas. Each year the Peer Helpers have selected a community service project as part of their involvement in the program. The Adopt-A-Highway project requires a minimum two year commitment. This commitment means that the group maintaining the roadside will collect and dis- pose of the litter that accumulates at the roadside. This activity will take place at least four times a year. Helpers ‘adopt’ road The Peer Helpers have been trained in the safety procedures that have been mandated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and will begin their roadside cleaning on Saturday, May 2nd. The students are proud of their participation in a growing program that helps maintain the beauty of our community. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation estimates that they spend four to five million dollars a year in their effort to remove litter from roadsides throughout our state. By having group volunteer participation in the Adopt-A-Highway Program, it is hoped that the state can signifi- cantly reduce this expenditure. The Peer Helpers encourage other groups to involve themselves in this state-wide project. Middle School TV studio gets new equipment The Dallas Middle School televi- sion studio, WDSD, Channel 7 has recently been refurbished with state of the art production equip- ment, color cameras, computer- ized graphics system, special ef- fects generator, and audio system. Teachers at the Dallas Middle School voted to donate their Penn- sylvania Teachers Incentive Grant to this worthwhile project. Addi- tional funding was provided by the students from their annual maga- zine campaign. Over 50 students a year partici- pate in the Audio Visual Announc- ers Club and AV Technical Club. Since its inception in 1969, this organization has provided students with the opportunity to produce, direct and write a Monday thru Friday Sunrise News program. Fellow students and faculty mem- bers receive the latest information involving current events, school news, sports and weather. Special events are also broadcast through- out the school year. The students are under the direction of Mr. William Roberts and Mr. Paul Warchal. Dallas schools commended for anti-drug programs On Tuesday, April 7, 1992, Ms. Narvia Bostick from the Drug-Free Schools Office, a division of the Department of Education in Har- risburg, conducted an on-site visit of Dallas School District's Drug- Free Schools Program. This so-called monitoring is an opportunity for the Drug-Free Schools Office to assist schools, as needed, in meeting the mandates of Act 211 and the requirements of the Drug-Free Schools and Com- munities Law. Ms. Bostick's day began at 8:00 A.M. in the Administration Offices of the District where she met with Mr. Frank Galicki, who wrote the 1991-92 Drug-Free Schools Grant for the District, and Mrs. Joan Makowski. Home-School Visitor and Student Assistance Team Member (contact persons for the day). They reviewed the Drug-Free Schools Grants for the past five years. At 9:00 A.M., Mr. Galicki and Mrs. Makowski accompanied Ms. Bostick to Dallas Senior High School where she was able toactu- ally attend a Student Assistance Meeting with other Student Assis- tance Team Members. From 10:00 A.M. to 12 Noon, Ms. Bostwick conducted classroom visitation and met with members of the Senior High School's Peer Helper Program for a review of their activities. A luncheon was served at Noon at the Administration Offices. In attendance were community members, Drug and Alcohol Coun- cil Advisory Board Members, staff and parents. Student volunteers from our Foods II Classes assisted in the set-up, serving and clean- up of this luncheon. They were: Tami Landon, Andy Flint, Joseph Kelley, Deann Simon, Amber Simms and Michelle Mellner. After the luncheon, between 1:00 P.M. and 2:00 P.M., Ms. Bostick held small group discus- sions with parents and staff members to discuss their ideas and concerns regarding the Drug- Free Schools Program at Dallas. Mr. Galicki and Mrs. Makowski showed Ms. Bostick to Dallas Ele- mentary School at 2:00 P.M. for a classroom visitation where she met with staff members and students. At 3:00 P.M., Ms. Bostick held an exit interview with Mr. Galicki and Mrs. Makowski at the Admini- stration Offices to discuss her find- ings of the day's events. A follow-up letter was received from Ms. Bostick on April 23, 1992 commending the District on its Drug-Free Schools Program. In 21 categories, Dallas either met and / or exceeded the expectations in 19 of these categories (1 greatly ex- ceeded, 12 exceeded and 6 met). The District received special commendation for an excellent 7th- grade course on self-awareness and for the dedication of the staff who are working with students in a variety of drug prevention-educa- tion activities including Peer Lead- ership, SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) and STAR (Sup- port for Teens at Risk). District received special commendation from state drug-free schools office
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