Char-Em ISD Focuses on Service in Northern Michigan

Hi, I am Kristin Bates and I am a second year AmeriCorps member with the CharEm ISD. The CharEm AmeriCorps program, located in Northern Michigan, is made up of 10 members who are assigned to nine different elementary schools across the Intermediate School District. The main focus of the AmeriCorps program is to mentor at-risk students in literacy and to provide services that strengthen community responses to environmental and social issues.

Under the direction of a site supervisor, who assists in creating areas of focus within the school setting, our members work with a caseload of 15 to 20 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Our AmeriCorps members receive training and information on school protocol, classroom management, conflict resolution skills, reading assessment, as well as exercises in teaching fluency. All members have completed First Aid Training and CPR. During their 10 months of service, each member is encouraged to complete a community service project, give two outreach presentations about the AmeriCorps program, attend three governmental meetings, and enlist 25 volunteers.

This year, for community service projects we have completed a coat drive benefiting 80 elementary students, a food drive  that collected more than 2,700 items for a local pantry, and Santa for Soldiers – a program where 40 servicemen overseas will receive a package full of military supplies this holiday season. We aren’t done yet!

Currently, four of our members are involved with the Food 4 Kids Backpack program, which is sponsored by the Manna Food Project. This program allows children to take a backpack full of food home for the weekend. Between the four sites, we are serving more than 300 children each week.

Three of our members are involved with the Girls on the Run program. This is a program aimed at boosting self-esteem in third through fifth grade girls. The program runs for 10 weeks at each site and will finish with a 5K race between all participants/schools and their mentors.

Another member has incorporated a “peer to peer” program into her site by pairing up fourth graders with kindergarteners with disabilities. The fourth graders assist the kindergarteners in the morning and during their lunchtime routine.

Another new program was started by one of our members called “Morning Stars.” For two mornings a week, our member meets with a group of 10 girls ranging in age five to 11 where she provides proper hygiene information as well as encouraging them to take responsibility for getting themselves ready for school.

For our signature service project, we will be cleaning up Camp Daggett, an outdoor adventure camp located on Walloon Lake.

The 2010-2011 CharEm AmeriCorps members are: Kristin Bates, Boyne City elementary; Jennifer Bergmann, Charlevoix elementary; Ann Chatterson, Sheridan elementary; Mark Forton, Alanson elementary; Tina Holm, Ellsworth elementary; Catherine Keck, Pellston elementary; Rebecca Mathers, Central elementary; Molly Preston, Lincoln elementary; and Tara Palmer and Amanda Stanek, East Jordan Elementary.