Adoption Of Myra A. Noble Elementary School

The adoption of Myra A. Noble Elementary School is another important step in the Rotary Club of Bakersfield East (BERC)’s commitment to make the East Bakersfield community a better place to live.

Myra A. Noble Elementary School is part of the Bakersfield City School District serving over 800 students from K through 5th grade.  The school, originally founded in 1949 and located at River and Columbus Boulevards (“La Cresta area”) has seen a dramatic shift in its socio-economic and demographic population over the years, which mirror the dynamic growth and diversity of Bakersfield itself.  The School has a deep connection with BERC through PDG George Palmer serving as it’s first Principal in 1960.  In fact, Myra Noble was George Palmer’s seventh grade teacher.

Over 95% of the student’s families are below the poverty level and Spanish is the predominant language spoken at home.  These factors create immeasurable obstacles for Noble School to comply with California (STAR Testing) and Federal (“No Child Left Behind”) mandates.  The challenge to attain these mandates is further compromised with the decrease in public funding from the District to the Federal level.  The Noble School student is “at risk” of falling behind in the educational and social/civic needs which are available to his/her peers in other areas of Bakersfield.  Recognition and actions to curtail these risks will hopefully stimulate a positive environment to improve the future of East Bakersfield.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEND A HAND

BERC’s adoption of Noble Elementary provides assistance with Noble School’s ongoing programs as well as partnering with the school to provide outreach to the students’ families.

Ideally, the program’s projects will individually touch each student in hopes of fostering an educational as well as an emotional foundation for each child.  Many of these students face dire conditions in their homes.  While these families struggle to provide the basic needs of food and clothing, the student may also face issues of disillusionment and abandonment within the family structure.  Rotary’s commitment to “Service Above Self” and caring demonstrates impressionable values which will allow a child’s imagination and creativity to grow.

CURRENT PROJECTS

During 2003-04 BERC has addressed five areas of need:

 

 

1.      Restored the “Take-Home Book” program that had been discontinued due to funding cuts.  Each student will receive a book for summer reading that he/she can keep as their own.  Not only will the book donation foster continued interest in reading but provides a sense of pride of ownership.

2.      Supplemented support of the school’s “Uniform Fund.”  Noble is a uniform school due to economic concerns of its students as well as the ability to create unity.  Many families are unable to afford the $25 uniform or replace pieces of the uniform throughout the year.  BERC’s contribution allows Noble to provide an allowance to cover these needs.

3.      Enacted a monthly “Spare Change Day” to assist students with their on going school supplies and build a library fund for Noble.  Many student families are unable to afford the basic items (pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) to complete homework assignments,  BERC helps the teachers provide these necessary supplies.  In addition, District funding cuts have hampered Noble in replacing old worn out books and purchasing new titles for its library.  Rotary’s library fund restores that sense of pride and inquisitiveness when a child shares a library book with his/her family.

4.      Weekly “Speaker Gift Books” are donated to the library at Noble School.  In addition, our membership will participate in the Bakersfield Community Reading Program as well as develop other mentoring projects throughout the year.

5.      The most important and largest contribution BERC will make to Noble is to provide 700 “Back-Packs” filled with needed school supplies to be distributed at the beginning of the 2004/2005 school year.  Each student’s family will no longer have to worry over the burden of this necessary expense.  The new backpack and supplies provides a fresh and positive start that certainly will contribute to academic pride.

PROJECTS FOR 2004/2005

TRUANCY

Truancy is a paramount concern for Noble Elementary.  While the School and its students are socio-economically challenged, nothing can replace simple attendance to build an educational foundation for each student.  STAR scores reflect lack of attendance by students, which in turn affects funding and support for the school’s needs.  There are direct correlations between truancy and juvenile crime in East Bakersfield.  In addition, the profiles of correctional inmates show that many of their backgrounds began with truancy issues.

Last year was the first year for Noble to participate in the Bakersfield’s District Attorney campaign to achieve 95% student attendance.  Noble would like to launch a series of incentives for good attendance to maintain and increase the existing level.  Currently, the District budget for the truancy incentives is limited to small items like pencils, cookies and small trophies for perfect attendance. 

Noble School would like to expand the incentives to include drawings for bicycles, a home computer, “Leap Pad” devices, sets of books and subscriptions to National Geographic.

The expanded incentives for Noble’s truancy program demonstrate Rotary’s commitment to supporting innovative solutions to gauge improvement and interest at the student level.  BERC hopes these incentives could be expanded to improve attendance on a district wide basis.

FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND PARTICIPATION

To build an educational foundation and improve a child’s aspirations and dreams, Noble needs to involve the student’s family for support.  The family project is separated into two equally important components: 1. direct assistance with food and 2. household needs and sponsorship of monthly family nights.

Student families constantly seek emergency food baskets throughout the year.  It is impossible to imagine a child trying to meet academic challenges on an empty stomach.  Rotary plans on working with the local supermarkets to provide Noble with redeemable coupons so student families can have food available during difficult times.

Secondly, Noble wishes to plan monthly family night programs with the focus on the importance of family participation in education.  Specific topics might include dental care, family math and reading, and a game night.  These monthly programs remind a student’s family of the care and sensitivity Noble School not only provides to the student but for his/her family too.

SUMMARY

The truism of Rotary’s “Service Above Self” is based on dedication, foresight and intelligence to act where there is a need.  Providing a good education to the students of Noble School and improving the lives of their families is at the heart of BERC’s adoption of Noble Elementary School.