During the third week of March, Ware County School students received their third report card of the year for nine weeks. At Center Elementary, students were looking forward to the annual Report Card Conferences that are held twice a year in the fall and spring! Around 40 community members joined administrators and teacher leaders to spend time mentoring the students. Many of the Center Scholars shared their dreams of what they want to be when they grow up! Center staff members are always looking to increase partnerships with the Waycross community as their motto is to build relationships with parents, students, teachers, staff, and community members. They feel that by doing this, they have the opportunity to achieve optimal student growth! Center’s fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. LeGena Clark-Wooten commented, “As a teacher, I really appreciate all of the community members that volunteer their time to come and support our students. The impact they are making on our students' lives is evident by the expressions on the students' faces. After the conferences, they share with me the positive comments and praises given to them during the one on one conversations. As a result of our local leaders showing up for our students, we are forging relationships that will forever be remembered and will solidify our community as one.”
Mentors counseled and congratulated our students for their academic progress made during the third nine weeks of school! During the conference, a caring adult introduces himself/herself and asks a few questions to get to know the child. The big idea behind report card conferencing is to engage students with an adult (other than a teacher, parent or family member) who cares about them. It is a two-way conversation to promote student reflection about their education. In essence, the mentor acts as a mirror for the student to reflect upon their grades, their school year, and their goals.
Among our participants were Ware County educational leaders Jim LeBrun, Superintendent, Buster Tyre and Denton Dial, Board Members. Susan Wester, Barbara Jordan, Deborah Taylor, and Marni Shuman, Retired Educators. Pastor, and retired educator, Albert Bussey attended the conferences. Center’s staff including Mrs. Beulah Jacobs-Evans, School Counselor, and Mrs. Mary Morgan, Special Education Coordinator, Mrs. Pamela Barnhill, RtI Interventionist, Mrs. Susan Tison, Instructional Coach, Mrs. Aimee Mancil, Parent Engagement Coordinator, Mr. Le Var Garner, Assistant Principal, and Mr. Tyler A. Bennett, Principal also participated in the conferences.
Waycross civil servants present included police officers Taylor Luciano, Jessica McIntosh, Lieutenant Gregory Young, Sharon Martin, and Donna Waters. Other Waycross civil servants who participated were fire department officers, Joseph Herrin, Tracy Taylor, Steven Head, and Matt Hall. Former Mayor of Waycross, Clarence Billups attended the conferences, as well. The trend continued with many of the students asking to speak with the police and fire department officers who were dressed in their official uniforms.
Members from the banking community joined Center for this event including Angela Murray, Gloria Sorrells, and Jessica Trull from PrimeSouth Bank, Mr. Dan Tanner from FIrst Southern Georgia Bank, Gina Lee, Samantha Carrino, Artelia Weatherspoon from Heritage Bank. Harrison Lee, Arlene Howard, Chad Carver, Duane Skipper, and Jenna Warren, Employees of the Pepsi Company here in Waycross were also in attendance.
Dina Hendrix, Anthony Hendrix, Michael Angelo James, Janice Williams, and Carlos Nelson, Members of the Kiwanis Club participated in the conferences. Also from the business community, Ms. Summer Williams from Action Pact-CASA attended the conference.
Mrs. Susan Tison, instructional coach at Center mentioned, “It was amazing to see so many new community members join us today. At a recent Kiwanis meeting, Mr. Bennett encouraged Kiwanis members to join us at this event, and they came in full force! Other new participants were members of the Pepsi community. We could not have this type of event for our well-deserving students if it weren’t for devoted community members. It is very humbling to see so many people who are interested in our students. We can always use more volunteers for our upcoming school year. The conferences take place twice a year in October and March. The time spent with students truly inspires and motivates them to do their best!”