Community Connections

A Springfield teacher is reaching out to local businesses and organizations for a new project that will invite local people to speak with young students in an effort to connect the classroom with the community.

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2016-09-02 / Front Page Community Connections 3rd grade teacher launches program to engage students with community By TORY JONES BONENFANT toryb@eagletimes.com Union Street School teacher Elizabeth Harty is launching a new program this year to bring representatives of businesses and nonprofit organizations to the school to share their experiences with third-graders. — TORY JONES BONENFANT Union Street School teacher Elizabeth Harty is launching a new program this year to bring representatives of businesses and nonprofit organizations to the school to share their experiences with third-graders. — TORY JONES BONENFANT SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield teacher is reaching out to local businesses and organizations for a new project that will invite local people to speak with young students in an effort to connect the classroom with the community. Elizabeth Harty, a third-grade teacher at Union Street School, is launching the Community Connections project at the beginning of this school year, which began Wednesday, Aug. 31. While she was the one who “got the ball rolling” on the project for her classroom, all third-graders at the school will be able to take part in the presentations, she said. Harty said on Thursday, Sept. 1 that she hopes to see her students “connect with their community, and learn what’s in it.” “It’s also an opportunity for businesses to come into the school and see what we’re doing here,” she said. The school has approximately 80 third-graders this year. In the volunteer program, speakers from Springfield will each present to the whole group, once a month, she said. Harty said she has received numerous responses from members of the business community and from nonprofits expressing interest in taking part. At this time, she has speakers booked from now until March, and plans to have one speaker a month for the entire school year. “Kids’ reality is what’s around them,” she said. Apart from school and home, some children may only see the few places they go regularly with their families, so she thought this would be a good way to help bring the community to the students, she said. Harty contacted Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Caitlin Christiana this summer, asking if the chamber would be willing to help spread the word to local businesses who may want to take part, Christiana said. “I told her we would be happy to reach out,” Christiana said. “I think it’s a really positive idea.” In her email to the chamber, Harty said that in an effort to create an “engaging and authentic relationship” between her third-grade students and the community, she would like to invite representatives from Springfield businesses into her classroom to discuss their business and its role in the community. Students will then have an opportunity to ask questions. Each speaker session would last approximately 30 minutes, she said. The sessions will likely be held in a common area such as the cafeteria. Christiana sent an email earlier this week to ask for chamber members’ and the public’s help in connecting with area youth and “impressing upon them the value of hard work and the rewards of being in business.” “Please consider participating in this effort to continue to build our bridge between Union Street School and our community,” she said in the email. Christiana said that she wants to get people “jazzed up” about the new program. It is not only for businesses, she said. The invitation is also open to local nonprofits and organizations that work with the community “in a positive way.” “As most of us are well aware, one huge obstacle our area businesses currently face is workforce and the search for competent, reliable employees. With an aging local population, and a shortage of young professionals in our region, it is a significant challenge to adequately fill existing jobs, let alone expand or grow,” wrote Christiana, in an email message accompanying the teacher’s request for volunteer speakers. “This is not a problem easily solved overnight; however, there are ways that we as a community can start to address this issue from the ground up. If we instill pride in our area youth and provide them with an understanding of what it means to work for a living in Springfield, perhaps together we can begin to rebuild a stronger foundation for our workforce in the future,” Christiana said. At the school on Thursday, Union Street School Principal Nancy Weise said that she “loves” Harty’s program. “It gives kids the opportunity to get to know members of the community, and understand things in their community,” Weise said. Wesie also said she would like to have a community service day for the students, possibly in the spring. Harty said that if the program is successful, she would consider doing it again next year for the next third-grade class. For more information on Community Connections, or to volunteer as a speaker, contact Harty via email at eharty@ssdvt.org to schedule a date and time.