Volunteers needed at jr. high

If anyone in the Coulee area has a few hours a week to volunteer at Lake Roosevelt’s junior high school for a good cause, now is your chance.

“We are looking for some dependable volunteers who are willing to commit anywhere from two to six hours per week to help in the junior high school,” Principal Sara Kennedy told The Star in a Jan. 28 email. “We need help with lunchtime and hallway supervision, hall monitors, and support in classrooms.” 

“Support in classrooms would entail being an extra set of hands during activities such as science experiments or projects, or just helping a student who might need a little help on an assignment,” she added. 

Junior high students, who are in seventh and eighth grade, have had behavioral issues lately. 

Kennedy sent an email to parents on Jan. 19 that addressed the issue.

“We acknowledge that throughout the last two years students have experienced inconsistency in their lives both in and out of school, as well as trauma, and other complications,” the email reads. “Our number one goal is to provide a safe, caring environment for our students and staff. We want to be understanding and trauma responsive, but we also cannot allow disrespectful and insubordinate behaviors at our Junior High School to continue.” 

That behavior has included, on a daily basis, “profanity towards peers and staff, refusing to follow directions, being mean to each other, and using technology inappropriately,” the email says, then adding to the list of issues an increase in vandalism and property damage.

“We are not seeing these issues at the High School level and we want to address them and get our Junior High School students on the right track and successful before they move up,” the email says. 

The school is currently providing counseling services, communicating with parents, giving lunch detention to the students, and more to address the issues.

“Our junior high students have been greatly affected both academically and behaviorally by COVID,” Kennedy told The Star. “For example, the last time our current seventh graders had a completely ‘normal’ school year with no pandemic interruptions they were in fourth grade.” 

“We can’t address everything on our own without the help of parents and community,” she said. 

“Volunteers will have a training session to learn about district policies, do’s and don’ts, and strategies to engage with kids in a positive way,” she explained. 

Those interested in helping at the school who “can help supervise, set a good example, and build relationships with students” can contact Kennedy by email at skennedy@gcdsd.org.