Greeting students at Achievable Dream Academy
Will King, Fred Walker, Bill Gough, Barbara Lipskis, Dona Overstreet, Jim Baker
Six Rotarians led by Will King greeted the children at Seatack Elementary, An Achievable Dream Academy, at the start of their school day on Oct. 29 along with sailors from Oceana. They also toured this Virginia Beach public school, which has a new affiliation with the successful Newport News-based Achievable Dream program whose graduates all go on to college or the military. Seatack Elementary has some of the poorest children in Virginia Beach.
The Academy is similar to a charter school since it is supported by private funding. Parents and students make firm agreements regarding behavior, and social, moral, and academic training.
The school day begins at 8:15 AM when the children in kindergarten through third grade are greeted by Navy personnel volunteers and visitors like our club members. Each child gets a handshake and greeting from the visiting adults and is expected to make eye contact. After the greetings, the children go to their classrooms and then the gym to pledge allegiance to the flag, sing the National Anthem and engage in responsive chanting of positive attitude slogans, such as " do the right thing.” Graduates of the Achievable Dream Academy in Newport News can cite the positive attitude slogans years later. The Virginia Beach program is on track to add a grade each year through grade 12.
The school places an emphasis upon life skills including ethics, etiquette, conflict resolution and proper English so to break the cycle of poverty. The Rotarians visited a classroom where ethics (what to do if your friend ask you to steal something) were being discussed. The group also observed a kindergarten class on etiquette where students used paper plates and cardboard silverware that had to be placed properly.
Five of our Rotary Club members will again have the opportunity to greet the children on Monday, October 26. Bob Powell will be the host.