Volunteers help make difference in students' lives

Miner Baptist Church members, youngsters form bonds as they work together

leonnah@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Through a new, weekly after-school program offered at a Sikeston elementary school, local students are getting their chance to shine brighter than ever.

Since mid-March, the Southeast All-Stars have met from 3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Wednesdays at Southeast Elementary in Sikeston with about 14 adult volunteers from Miner Baptist Church.

"One of the main goals districtwide this year was to improve communication with parents, and really get parents and community members both more involved in education," said Southeast Elementary Principal Alecia Jordan.

In doing that, each building was required to put together a parent-community school advisory committee and meet twice a year -- once in the fall and once in the spring, Jordan said.

Southeast's committee was comprised of several staff members, parents and community members, including James Guy, who serves as the associate pastor of children and families at Miner Baptist Church.

"At our first meeting in the fall, I started talking about how our biggest need here was to form more of a bond with at-risk students," Jordan said.

For the complete article and more stories from the Standard Democrat, log in to our electronic edition.