Published: Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2009 / Updated: Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2009 01:26 PM
Middle school opens media center to parents
INDIAN LAND --
Middle school isn't just for young people anymore, at least not in Indian Land.
On Sept. 8, Indian Land Middle opened the doors to its media center to allow parents a place of their own within the school. In the new Warrior Parent Center, parents have access to two computers and printers along with work desks and a sitting area where they can look for jobs online, research employment information, apply for college or financial aid or work on homework.
The idea was the brain child of Media Specialist Sherri Alston, who had concerns that some parents without Internet access in their homes aren't able to check their students' online assignments and class information. Each teacher at Indian Land Middle School has an eChalk page with detailed information about the class, including a syllabus and information about assignments.
But without access to the Internet, parents can't check those pages and help their students stay on task.
Alston also expects the center to be useful to parents who are looking for employment and parents who are in school themselves.
“With the economy like it is, it's important for parents to have a place they can come, work on a resume, and I'm here to instruct them if they do need help,” Alston said.
Since opening, the parenting center has already had several visitors, Alston said. Some parents are bringing along younger family members that need to use the computers or the quiet work stations for homework, Alston added. The center has “pretty much” an open door policy, Alston said.
In addition to helping the parents by giving them a place to work and get online, the Warrior Parenting Center is also helping connect the parents and the school, something that gets more difficult as their students get older.
“It makes them visible, and it's important for the kids to see their parents here, but it also helps form that bond between the parents and the school, something that is lost after elementary school sometimes,” Alston said. “We want to form a partnership and let parents know you can come here and do things that will benefit you, yourself and as a parent.”
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