Newsletters 2013-14 Focus newsletter, [1] fall | страница 12

A N K
H E
C OOMAM- U NNI N EY I N OCN O O E C TSITO N S
T P CS HN L DI RICT

District volunteers
donate over
$4 million worth
of time

O

ver 11,130 volunteers
contributed more than
185,620 volunteer hours,
valued at $4,044,739, in the
2012-13 school year, according to
Sue Archbold, supervisor of
Volunteer services for the school
district.
Volunteers may help in a variety of ways, both in and out of
the classroom. Opportunities
include fundraising, tutoring,
assisting students one-on-one
with reading or math, judging
science fairs or academic-related
competitions, cleaning up or
planting trees on school grounds,
organizing or participating in
school/district committees and
much more.
Each school has a volunteer
services coordinator who helps
recruit volunteers and match
them with opportunities. Anyone
interested in volunteering in an
Anoka-Hennepin school may
contact Sue Archbold at 763506-1585 or the school’s volunteer services coordinator.

Narrowing the achievement gap,
one volunteer hour at a time

S

ix years ago, Dwight Tole added, “volunteer” to
his list of parenting duties, and a number of students at Northdale Middle School are better for
it—including the Anoka-Hennepin School District itself.
“I attended the National African American Parent
Involvement Day (NAAPID) celebration at Northdale,
and staff gave a presentation illustrating the achievement gap between white students and students of color,”
he said. “I sat there looking at the data, wondering how
kids living in the same neighborhood, attending the
same schools—and sitting in the same classes could be
performing so differently.”
Roused into action, Tole reached out to the
counselors and the volunteer service coordinator
at Northdale to find a way to help. Together, they
established the Young Men’s Group, and aimed to
recruit students that may need encouragement or an
extra push to reach their academic goals.
His work as a volunteer to help narrow the achievement gap in Anoka-Hennepin is making a measureable
difference. Last May, the Minnesota Campaign for
Achievement Now (MinnCAN) announced that the
Anoka-Hennepin School District is a leader in closing
that gap—with multiple schools rated as top-performing
schools for Black, Native American and Asian student
performance.
“Dwight is instrumental in organizing NAAPID at the
school each year,” said Gretchen Foht, Northdale’s volunteer service coordinator. “Not only does he have a
profound impact on the Young Men’s’ Group, but also
on other families and students attending the school.”
Today, Tole stresses the importance of parents and
families getting involved
in their child’s education,
whether it’s working at
the school carnival or
book fair, attending parent-teacher conferences
or simply asking their
children how their day
went.
“When your child sees
you at their school or
notices you showing an
interest in what they do
each day—they realize
that you care and they
will begin to care, too,”
he said.

Dwight Tole's "Young Men's Group"
poses together after one of the
group's service opportunities.

In addition to Tole’s involvement in NAAPID and
the Young Men’s Group, Laurie Jacklitch, Northdale
principal, credits him for work in developing a parent
partnership, PIE (Pa rents Involved in Education). The
group supports students and their families in achieving

Anoka-Hennepin parent-volunteer Dwight Tole with one of
the students in the "Young Men's Group" he created at
Northdale Middle School

educational goals and worked closely with the
Northwest Suburban Integration District to reduce the
achievement gap and support a culturally responsive
environment at Northdale.
Since its inception, Tole has brought countless
opportunities to the Young Men’s Group. At each meeting, they discuss life lessons, and how to use them to
better problem-solve and focus in their classes. In addition, Tole has scheduled youth service opportunities at
Feed My Starving Children and has invited role models
to share their own inspirational life experiences—one of
which was his own son, James, a senior at Blaine High
School who plans to attend the University of Minnesota
through the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO)
this year.
Each time the Young Men’s Group meets, he encourages students to get into a routine and concentrate on
their “job” each day, which is going to school. “I want
them to see the value in attending school, completing
homework and participating in class,” he said.
It comes full circle when Tole remembers a past trip
that he arranged for the group to tour a local business
and community college, hoping to inspire the boys to
realize their future academic and career goals.
“When we left the school to tour my office, Seagate
Technologies, the students were sitting in the back of
the bus. By the time we left North Hennepin Community
College and were headed back to the middle school, the
students were all sitting in the front of the bus, asking
tons of questions,” Tole recalled. “They were really motivated and excited—college suddenly was not an afterthought, but rather a mindset.”
Teachers, principals, secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, nutrition services staff, community members, volunteers and so many others play a role in helping our students achieve. Anoka-Hennepin Schools have made great
progress in narrowing the achievement gap, but the work
isn’t over. To learn how you can get involved, call AnokaHennepin Volunteer Services at 763-506-1585. ■

‘Putt-ing’ Kids First:
Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation’s
54th annual golf tournament set for Sept. 7

G

ive back and support Anoka-Hennepin schools, all while also playing some golf.
Everyone, from parents, students and staff, to the experienced golfers and novice,
are invited to “Putt-ing” Kids First, the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation’s
(AHEF) annual golf tournament set for Saturday, Sept. 7, 8 a.m., at Greenhaven Country Club
in Anoka. All proceeds from the event go to the foundation, which supports the district’s
early childhood education program, talent development, and career and college readiness for
students—among other things.
Registration is $75 per person for teams of four and includes a 12:30 p.m. lunch as well a
day of golf filled with contests, prizes and even a chance to win a new car. Golf cart rental is not
included, but available if desired.
Last year, the AHEF raised more than $14,000 to support Anoka-Hennepin students and
schools through the golf tournament.

P A G E

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F O C U S

To register, visit www.anoka.k12.mn.us/ahef.
Anyone with questions can contact the AHEF Office
at 763-506-1105.
If golfing with a team, please provide the names
and contact information of all teammates. Don’t have
a team? No problem, you will be placed on one. ■

F A L L

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