May 08, 2008 10:49 am
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The Illinois State Board of Education presented awards to the District 80 Nutrition on Weekends Program and the Vision For Kids program.
The two programs target specific needs of students and are grassroots efforts that grew from staff members’ observations. The NOW program began with the food services staff and their concerns that some children didn’t have food on long weekends and school vacations. The Vision For Kids program began when school nurse Diane Metje realized children weren’t getting the glasses they need due to a gap in the way the All Kids Insurance program works.
Through those beginnings, members of the community jumped at the chance to make a lasting, visible change in the life of a child. Educators and staff realize they are impacting children through their work every day. Members of the community, while realizing that children are the future, don’t have that opportunity as often to make a direct difference.
The partnership between the community and the school are part of what make the programs so special — and successful. When people work together, large problems are addressed and more people helped.
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