DEERING – Elizabeth Howell watched Tuesday night as children, with parents in tow, cruised past shelves of books at Dawson-Bryant Elementary School.

Wednesday, September 13, 2000

DEERING – Elizabeth Howell watched Tuesday night as children, with parents in tow, cruised past shelves of books at Dawson-Bryant Elementary School.

Many parents grabbed for their checkbooks at the PTO’s first book fair and school spirit activity, said Mrs. Howell, president.

"We’re really excited," she said. "We’re starting a new year and we want to say don’t you wish your kids went to Coal Grove."

The goal this year? To get as many people – from parents to neighbors without kids in the school system – involved at Dawson-Bryant Elementary, Mrs. Howell said.

The open house served not only as a PTO information night but a chance for parents to meet teachers and staff and learn about this year’s school plans, new principal Eric Holmes said.

"This community’s always had a sense of pride in their school, and we have a great PTO, so this is a great night for us," he said.

First-grade teacher Joy Tackett agreed, adding that the students deserve a lot of credit, too.

"We more or less let the kids show the parents around," Mrs. Tackett said. "It gives them a lot of self-esteem to do it themselves and these open houses gives the teacher and parent a better relationship."

Holmes and new assistant principal Susan Heyard met with PTO officers and parents to spread word during the open house about the 21st Century grant and the newly-revived fall festival.

The grant, a federal program aimed at providing afterschool programs, will feature an additional three hours of classes each school day this year, Holmes said.

"Ours is ‘After School Mall,’" he said. "It’s a continuation of the school day but hopefully a fun school day."

Classes such as arts and crafts, science experiments, music or any creative activity will be considered, Holmes said.

The program will let children stay until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday for classes, snacks and a bus ride home, he said.

The school is currently looking for ideas and people who could be hired as aides to teach a variety of classes. Administrators distributed a survey Tuesday, asking parents and students what classes the would like to see. Bicycle safety, cooking, piano lessons, dollmaking, dance and cartoon drawing were just a few of the classes listed.

The program presents a type of daycare for working parents while continuing children’s education, Holmes said.

The PTO plans to boost children’s education, too, by hosting family-oriented programs at school, bringing parents and teachers together at meetings and maintaining that sense of school spirit, Mrs. Howell said.

"We want suggestions, too," she said.

The school boasts 48 teachers, about 80 staff members and parents for 620 students, so there should be plenty of ideas, she added.

"We want a school to be proud of."