A School Based Health Center Success Story: Jones Jaguars Girls on the Run

Below is a wonderful reflection on the Girl's on the Run Program at Jones Elementary through the School Based Health Center. We appreciate this partnership and the impact it has on our students. 

A School Based Health Center Success Story:Jones Jaguars Girls on the Run

Embarking on year two of implementing a School Based Health Center, known as The Wellness Center at Jones Elementary School in Springdale Arkansas, the Physician’s Assistant and Licensed Clinical Social Worker looked for an educational outreach venue that would support both physical and mental health. The students at Jones are overwhelmingly the children of poverty and speak English as a second language; they lack financial, social and transportation resources to participate in organized sports or extracurricular activities.  Living a few miles down the road from Bentonville Arkansas, the home of Wal-Mart, the students live in the shadow of wealth.  As a complement to the Wellness Center at Jones and in efforts to improve access to physical activity and to address the childhood obesity epidemic, the personnel at Jones applied for and received a Joint Use Agreement (JUA) grant from the Arkansas Department of Education in 2010. With the $10,000 awarded in JUA funds the school district purchased supplies and materials to build a quarter mile trail on school grounds. The City of Springdale agreed to provide the manpower and equipment needed to install the trail. The JUA trail at Jones Elementary is now available for use by students, faculty and staff when school is in session and by the community at other times. The staff from the Wellness Center in recognition of the resources provided through the Wellness Center combined with the facility provided by the Joint Use Agreement trail decided to use the Girls on the Run program. The program is ideal because it addresses the physical, emotional and social needs of the child. Girls were invited to join the Girls on the Run Team and were provided with generic running shoes through the district’s social service fund. They participated in physical training for six weeks as well as bonding exercises, self esteem building activities, anti bullying curricula and art projects. The entire process was a great success. Girls expanded their physical activity parameters, explored character traits and positive pro social interaction and experienced enhanced self esteem through feelings of accomplishment and through recognition provided by classmates, parents and community members.

On the morning of the race, the Jones Jaguars Girls on the Run Team was transported via school bus the twenty or so miles to Bentonville Arkansas. Running side by side with the Physician’s Assistant, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Administrative Assistant from the Wellness Center at Jones Elementary, the girls competed in a 5 K run.   The festive atmosphere, balloons, food and thousands of cheering spectators provided for an over the top exciting experience for the team. Parents proudly watched and waved hand-made signs. The pride of accomplishment achieved through training for and completing a 5-K run is one that would not have previously been within reach for the girls from Jones.

To add icing to the cake, the Principal at Jones arranged a surprise victory run-through for the girls when they returned to school. Students from each classroom decorated signs and the entire student body stood cheering in the hallways as the girls ran a lap through the building. Their accomplishments uplifted the students, faculty and staff and provided an example and incentive for future participants.  The Girls on the Run Program optimized the use of the Wellness Center and Joint Use Agreement grant funds to educate and support wellness in a proactive manner. The Wellness Center at Jones Elementary serves the school and students in ways that are above and beyond just treating the sick students and providing wellness checks, although those are important aspects of service.  As a part of the school’s family of adult employees, the Wellness Center Staff have a unique view of the lives of their students. They are able to observe both social interactions and classroom dynamics and to come to informed decisions about the needs of the students and families that they serve.  The looks on the faces of the girls, PRICELESS!

Department of Education Documentary about Local Wellness Center - NWAhomepage.com

Department of Education Documentary about Local Wellness Center - NWAhomepage.com

Arkansas Department of Education was at Jones Elementary to interview teachers, parents, students and administrators about the school's health and wellness center highlighting how the wellness center benefits our school.  

Family Literacy at Jones

Here is a story published by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette with background on how the Toyota Family Literacy Program came to be at Jones Elementary.

AR: Language learning helps entire families

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

• By: EVIE BLAD
• Organization: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
• Link: http://www.nwanews.com

SPRINGDALE - A woman who could barely speak English a year ago stood before a room of peers Tuesday to share how the success of conquering a second language seeped into other areas of her life.

During school days, Raquel Perez, a permanent resident from Mexico, sat alongside her son Brian in his kindergarten classroom at Jones Elementary School. At night, she attended classes as part of the first year of the Springdale School District's Toyota Family Literacy program.

The work helped her learn the language, a necessity to obtain citizenship, and gave her skills to help her support her children's education, Perez told a group of 70 other participants and educators at a celebration of the program's first year, held at the Jones Center for Families.

"I have learned to help my children with their school work," she said. "I have a better understanding of what they are required to do at school."

Three elementary schools - Jones, Lee and Elmdale - joined the national program in the fall, and quickly set an example for other schools across the country.

Inspired by the success of parents like Perez, the district will seek funding and staff to add five elementary schools to the program next year.

The program, built on the idea that parents' literacy and involvement contribute to their children's success, targets Hispanic parents whose children aren't fully fluent in English. It's financed through a $600,000, three-year grant from the Toyota USA Foundation and in-kind and financial contributions from community organizations.

Springdale was one of five districts selected nationally from 191 proposals to share in $3 million from the foundation.

Through the program, parents take part in their children's lessons in the classroom, attend night English classes coordinated by Northwest Technical Institute and Ozark Literacy Council, and participate in meetings designed to address education and family concerns.

Successful parents and program administrators have been featured in Education Week and Parade, said Emily Kirkpatrick, vice president of the National Center for Family Literacy.

"You're setting the example for other districts and other families," she said.

A 2007 study by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation found that 82 percent of Arkansas' immigrant children from Mexico and Central America have at least one parent with limited English proficiency, and 58 percent have both parents with that designation. The study notes that a lack of conversational English skills limits a parent's ability to be involved in their child's education.

Mary Bridgforth, the district's coordinator for English as a Second Language programs, said children with participating parents had noticeable gains in classroom performance throughout the year.

She plans to study standardized test data of affected students to determine how much their parents' involvement influenced their achievement.

"We truly believe that it is making a huge difference," she said.

Participating schools have recruitment and retention plans to fill open spots for parents throughout the year, a task that has become easier as news of the program's success has spread.

At kindergarten registration this spring, mothers who participated in the program, once nervous to enter the school building, helped interpret for other parents and encouraged them to join.

"There are so many wins in this model," Superintendent Jim Rollins said. "There are so many people who benefit from it."

To contact this reporter:

eblad@arkansasonline.com

More information can be found here about Toyota Family Literacy Program in Springdale. 

Angel Tree That Wasn't Made Possible Through Community Partnerships

Springdale students get clothes, food and toys

By Shain Bergan

Posted: December 20, 2011 at 11:45 a.m.

Anthony ReyesNathalie Vera, kindergartner at Jones Elementary school, walks away after filling her arms with goodie bags Tuesday Dec. 20, 2011 at the school in Springdale. The school hosted a program it calls "The Angel Tree That Wasn't" where local businesses provide every student in the school with bags filled with toys, clothes, food, toiletries and a board game.

SPRINGDALE — More than 500 children filed past the tables in the Jones Elementary cafeteria, grabbing bags of clothes, food and toys along the way.

Iven Malachi, kindergartner at Jones Elementary school, walks away with his arms loaded with goodie bags Tuesday Dec. 20, 201... (By: Anthony Reyes)

“I’ve never got this many presents before,” said Jacob Garner, 11. “We’re so excited.”

Local businesses donated $30,000 in money and gifts to give Jones students an early Christmas.

Ninety-six percent of Jones students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and minorities make up 91 percent of the student population.

Many schools have Angel Tree programs, where participants buy gifts for children in need. Having an Angel Tree was not an option at Jones, though.

“When you have poverty as high as we have at Jones, it’s impossible to have an Angel Tree,” said Principal Melissa Fink. “Every child here is an angel.”

Walking Trails at Jones

Jones Elementary was featured on KNWA for the walking trail addition to our school.

Harber Herald The Wellness Center at Jones Elementary Serves Students

Harber Herald The Wellness Center at Jones Elementary Serves Students

High school students reported on the impact the Wellness Center at Jones Elementary is serving students and the community.

Ms. Watkins Music Program Grant

Jones Jaguar Music Program

Ms. Watkins's supplies project at Jones Elementary School in Springdale, AR 

Completed!

September 8, 2010
$542 given
9 donors

Can you imagine a world without music? Most of us can't. Music is a place of comfort, relaxation, and enjoyment and also a source of learning. For my students the everyday struggles they face are a challenge that many adults don't even have to endure and music is their refuge.

Over ninety-seven percent of my students are living in poverty and are members of our free or reduced lunch program. When we think of poverty we think of third world countries but it is right here in America too. Many of my students come to school tired from the lifestyle that is lived in their home. For these children, school is a safe haven and music is a place of expression. Even when a child struggles in school they can excel in music. If these students are not exposed to instruments and music in my classroom, they may not ever be. I have an open door policy with my students. They know that before, after, and anytime I don't have a class my door is always open. I am there to help with homework, talk, or just say hello. Many of my students don't complete their homework because there is no one at home to help them with it. Most of my students speak English as their second language, so they are not only struggling with living in poverty but are also struggling to learn English.

Music gives my students a chance to express themselves and succeed. They are able to enjoy learning about culture, art, science, math, writing, and learning English through the joy of music. The supplies that I have requested would be put to everyday use in my classroom. Each day the instruments would be in a student's hands and the books would be utilized. Without these opportunities in my music class, some of my students may never have them. We will be singing songs that will increase their language skills, playing songs that will help to build brain function that also develops language skills and the activities that we will do as a group will help to expand their knowledge about music as well as the world and academic content material.

Without your help these student will go without. There simply isn't enough money to go around all the schools we have to serve. You can make a difference for these kids. Help them to realize that they don't have to carry on the cycle of poverty, they can make a change. Help them see through the beauty of music that they can have a successful, productive life. My students need various instruments and books to learn about music.