Chapter 8: Remaining Grounded in Relationships as Ministry Grows

September 2005-August 2006

School got off to a good start, bolstered by the wonderful experience so many students had enjoyed at Micah Summer Camp. Volunteers helped again on the first day to welcome students back and to assist with a smooth opening. Ms. Taylor returned as principal, with Betsy Carr as Micah Outreach Coordinator, Phyllis Moyer and On-site Coordinator and Buford Scott leading the St. Paul’s Micah Committee. Our new partner, Woodville Presbyterian Church, sponsored a classroom throughout the year.  

Scholar Reward and Incentive Programs continued for Scholar Roll students and their parents:

In all, 122 students and 44 parents participated and 29 volunteers assisted in these programs.

Class Enrichment Trips, sponsored by Micah, included the following:

In the fall, the death of Woodville student Montrell Riley, who was hit by a car while riding his bicycle, was a sadness to the entire community. Many attended his funeral and joined in sorrow and sympathy for his family.

At Christmas, a group headed by Nan Ellen Ritsch created Put Happy on a Face, a fund-raising program to encourage St. Paul parishioners to send a Woodville student to camp by giving day sponsorships in honor of friends and family. Lois Biddison donated her skills as a calligrapher in personalizing acknowledgement cards. The very successful efforts raised $6,000 to be used to fund the summer camp program for 2006.

 In the mid-year evaluation in January, the Micah Committee recommitted to our core mission, that Micah Ministry remain grounded in relationships. We needed to continue to provide mentors and to maintain, sustain and nurture our volunteers in their work. Mrs. Taylor was happy to report that Woodville had been designated a model school and the administrative team was featured in Education Week ("In Struggling Schools, 'Turnaround' Leaders Off to Promising Start"). She also reported that the P.T.A., under the leadership of Mrs. Gregory and Mrs. Easter, was holding regular meetings and showcasing students’ performances. Parent support was growing.

St. Paul’s parishioners continued to provide assistance and expertise to the program. Al Lacy led efforts to work through the City to build a marquee for Woodville and saw success. This was greatly appreciated by all—especially Mrs. Taylor. Al was also asked to serve on Family Lifeline’s Board and later on was appointed to the Communities in Schools (CIS) Board. Parishioner Bruce Cruser connected Woodville with the Milk and Cookies program, which works with children who have incarcerated parents.

In the spring, Micah Outreach Coordinator, Betsy Carr, was appointed to the Richmond City School Board.

The Micah Committee provided funds for 16 fifth-grade student leaders to attend a conference at Virginia State University sponsored by the Foundation for Excellent Schools Century Program. This program encouraged fifth-graders to consider careers for which college is necessary.

To prepare students for summer camp, a free health clinic was held on May 13 at Woodville Presbyterian Church. Physicians from the Medical College of Virginia, led by parishioner, Dr. Michelle Whitehurst-Cook, conducted physicals and completed health forms for summer 2006 campers. Volunteers from St. Paul’s, Good Shepherd and Woodville Presbyterian assisted and helped parents fill out necessary forms

Along with our partners Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Woodville Presbyterian Church and Overnite Transportation, there were 110 Woodville volunteers who worked one-to-one with students, were classroom assistants, prayer partners, reading and math buddies, library assistants, book group leaders, chess teachers, field trip and summer camp chaperones and gardeners to beautify the school grounds. Seven mentors have continued to work with their students after the students have left Woodville.

We were thrilled to learn that Woodville had passed the AYP or Average Yearly Progress and achieved Standards of Learning (SOL) success in every area. Woodville was also named an open enrollment school.

SUMMER 2006

Thanks to generous contributions, including the Put Happy on a Face fundraising campaign and other individual gifts, the camp experience was again enlarged to include more students. We also expanded transportation to include two vans and drivers. We used our church van, which Mary Banks drove for us, and RRHA provided a van and part-time driver. We also hired an intern, Sean Runyon, to assist Page with a myriad of duties.

160 campers enjoyed 225 camping experiences at 35 different camps—13 residential and 22 day camps. Fifty-five volunteers rode the van with the students and assisted in many other ways. We continued to build relationships with parents through the camping program, as the trust level and “camp culture” continued to develop. Most parents were happy and enthusiastic about the summer opportunities camp offered their children.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:

OTHER CHALLENGES: