Written by Michael Berta, Superintendent
When I was a kid growing up in Gary, Indiana much of what I learned about life was the result of the neighborhood I lived in. The area around 11th Avenue and Polk Street was rich in culture and wisdom.
It was common for people in the neighborhood to look out for one another and to help each other out. The art of discussion was alive and well in those days. It was common practice for people to meet together in someone’s backyard or on a front porch most evenings when weather permitted. When the weather was too bad for meeting outdoors, people moved to someone’s kitchen or living room.
These informal discussions covered a variety of topics. Some pretty simple, many complex. There was not always agreement. However, it was always obvious to me these neighbors, although of various backgrounds, had a common goal. They looked out for and helped one another out. The neighbors wanted what was best for the neighborhood. They were the anchors of the neighborhood.
Many examples of collaboration between organizations and the Portage Townships are evidenced each year. These partnerships are developed by school personnel and representatives of a variety of organizations working together to help one another.
Following is a sampling of the types of collaborative efforts I am talking about. Please be aware that our partnerships extend far beyond those that are mentioned in this article.
Town & Country Market has recently sponsored a program that encourages families to save their register receipts. Students bring in their receipts during the collection period and 5% of the total receipt amount collected is donated to the individual schools. Willowcreek Middle School alone received over $11,000 due to this partnership.
The Porter County United Way’s “Reading Buddies” program at Saylor Elementary is a literacy program that provides 2nd graders with a stuffed “buddy” that they read aloud to for at least 15 minutes each day.
This year, with a generous grant from the Arcelor-Mittal Corporation, Willowcreek Middle School adopted the FISH! curriculum, developed by the Charthouse Learning Group. All students, teachers, and administrators work together to achieve the long-term goal of building community and a sense of place within the classroom, improving character and enhancing personal responsibility for behavior.
Sophomore Emily Evans thought that Gabriel’s Horn, a local homeless shelter was a worthy charity so she helped organize an Insomnia event. After staying awake for 12 hours at the Portage High School Field house, the 150 student participants had raised almost $2000 and were ready for a well deserved rest.
Central Elementary School has partnered with Indiana University Northwest to provide elementary education college students the opportunity to work with elementary children. These interns spend the day working with both the struggling students and those that need enrichment.
And who isn’t aware of the services to the community by the students of the Portage High School JROTC program? They are an example for all of us.
We educators are deeply grateful for the many partnerships between the schools and community organizations. The partnerships often develop into relationships with benefits for everyone. Just like back in the old neighborhood, these relationships are the anchor of the community.