Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
As the old saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child.”
When it comes to educating children, it obviously takes a school system, but it also takes the family and community to ensure that all children are educated, healthy and safe.
With that in mind, director of elementary curriculum, instruction and federal programs Kristy Tritapoe formed the Family Advisory Committee.
Tritapoe explained that the FAC is a way to bring the county together to focus on activities that include all five schools. The committee includes parents, community members, Tritapoe and the Communities in Schools coordinators and school counselors.
While the teachers, aides and administration are focused on the education of the students, the FAC is more focused on making sure students don’t go without – whether it be school supplies, clothes or food.
The first event hosted by the FAC was held in September in conjunction with the First Friday event in Marlinton. A school bus was parked across from Discovery Junction where people could “fill the bus” with supplies for the schools. There were also activities provided by students, schools and the Family Resource Network.
“We had some students that volunteered from the middle school, and they came down and did math games with the younger children,” Marlinton CIS coordinator Jeannette Wagner said. “That would pull parents over to the table and show them how to do these math games with cards and dice at home. That was really good.
“Then of course, the FRN was doing a bunch of giveaways and had the bounce houses,” she added.
The “Fill the Bus” event was so successful that Wagner is going to up the ante next year with buses parked at the four Dollar Generals in the county. This will give people in all communities an opportunity to give supplies for the students.
Wagner, who works at both Marlinton Elementary and Marlinton Middle schools says she has always had people in the community who wanted to help, but they didn’t know who to contact or where to go. Now with the FAC in position, people are now able to either join the committee or contact its members to offer their assistance.
“I’ve had churches come out,” she said. “FRN has been phenomenal. They have always been great. That connection with that resource is incredible and we work together, too.”
Wagner is joined by Marsha Beverage as CIS coordinator at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School and Lois Wilfong as CIS coordinator at Pocahontas County High School. Hillsboro Elementary School does not have a CIS coordinator, but school social worker Dana Cutlip is involved with the FAC and works with the CIS coordinators for the school.
Along with providing school supplies, Wagner said the number one thing she tries to keep on hand is clothing. All the schools have a supply of clothing and shoes in all sizes in case of emergency. For years, Beverage coordinated a kids closest at GBEMS and now that she is the CIS coordinator, she will continue adding to the closet as supplies are provided.
“We do have that there,” Beverage said. “The problem has been in the past, we haven’t had a staff member who’s available to coordinate that, but now that I’m in a CIS position, I’ll have more time and flexibility in my schedule to take care of that. So it’s not on the backs of teacher to go in there because they’re busy enough.”
“At Marlinton Elementary and Middle schools, I’ve set up closets, because, like Marsha said, I’m the person now that can do that,” Wagner added. “We’ve always had clothing at both schools, but I had a church come in and drag all the bags out. They washed all the clothes and folded them. They are still in the process of getting them labeled.”
There is always a need for clean clothes when you have youngsters running around. Wagner said it could be for a student who spilled milk during lunchtime or played a little too much in a mud puddle on the playground.
The clothing is also available for families that may suffer a crisis, such as a house fire or flooding.
Wagner said it was also important to note that the program is not income-based. If a child has a need, it will be met.
“If your child is on the playground and their pants rip, they can come get a pair of pants,” she said. “A child spilled chocolate milk on their pants. I gave them a pair of pants and the next day the mom brought me in some brand new clothes and put them in my closet for doing that.”
In addition to large events like “Fill the Bus,” Wagner said they are always open to donations. She has started a program where she features an item each month. For example, February was shoes month and people could drop off to the CIS coordinators.
All the coordinators and Tritapoe said there has never been a lack of help from the community and now with the Family Advisory Committee, that help is more streamlined and organized than in the past.
“Whenever I’ve asked somebody in the community for something, I’ve never been turned down,” Beverage said. “I think the community wants to help schools, they just don’t know how to help. I think Communities in Schools is a great way to bridge that gap between the community and the schools.”
Communities In Schools coordinators may be contacted at their respective schools – Jeanette Wagner, MES, 304-799-6551, or MMS, 304-799-6773; Marsha Beverage and Julian Rittenhouse, GBEMS, 304-456-4865; and Lois Wilfong, PCHS, 304-799-6564.
