An arrow is always aimed toward its target.
A new program at Aromas School aims to act as an arrow. The
Arrow program was developed to further augment the assets children
learn and experience.
An arrow is always aimed toward its target.
A new program at Aromas School aims to act as an arrow. The Arrow program was developed to further augment the assets children learn and experience.
“We named it Arrow because children need to head themselves in the right direction, to make sure their learning is headed in the right direction,” said Terry Strasser, art teacher at Aromas and school coordinator for Arrow.
Starting in January, teachers at the kindergarten through eighth grade school chose two students to spend their lunchtime participating in Arrow. The program, open to fourth through eighth graders, focuses on bridging the gap between the school and community and emphasizing the 40 developmental assets put forth by the Search Institute.
“We created Arrow to go along with the asset development. There isn’t a whole lot to do in Aromas for kids,” said Ercilia Zavala, principal at Aromas School. “We tried to find things students can do within a school day.
“Also, this gives kids who might not feel comfortable on the playground a place to go to interact.”
Arrow runs Monday, Tuesday and Thursday each week. Currently, Arrow focuses on bringing in guest speakers from the community that have included an expert on nutrition, representatives from the fire department and a scrapbooking enthusiast.
When an Aromas Fire Department captain was called away on duty Tuesday, local artist Evelyn Pogrowski improvised a lesson on fire safety. Students discussed the dangers of fire with Pogrowski and drew illustrations of fire and what they learned on red, gray and black construction paper with pastel chalks.
“(Arrow) is fun, you can learn a lot of things. It can help you decide what you want to do with your future,” said sixth grader Mara, a frequent Arrow participant. “Us sixth graders usually sit and talk during lunch. It can get boring.”
Arrow rewards students who are doing good, positive things. There is already “enough punitive stuff going on in school and society in general,” Zavala said.
Developmental assets are “positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people,” according to the Search Institute Web site. One of the assets is that children feel that their family and community value and appreciate them. Other assets highlight the importance of responsible role models and constructive learning activities.
“We’re trying to develop a bridge between the students and community, about how each views the other,” Zavala said. “Students feel valued by the community when they see community members giving up their lunch to speak here.”
Arrow is in its early stages and gauging interest by students and the community, Zavala said. The program started in January and will run through April. It is funded by a mini-grant for visual and performing arts the school district received, but community members and guest speakers are a big part of the equation.
“We’re inviting parents and community members to be involved. The sky’s the limit,” Strasser said.
For more information on Arrow or to be a guest speaker, call Zavala at 726-5100.
