Primary teachers return to school in Vilonia

By Carol Rolf

LITTLE ROCK — Teachers returned to Vilonia Primary School in preparation for the 2008-2009 academic year, which begins for students on Monday.

Vilonia Primary School has approximately 480 students in grades kindergarten through four.

Brian Ratliff, principal, and Susan Loyd, assistant principal, conducted the inservice for approximately 31 teachers. The theme for the day’s activities was “Cruisin’ to Good Character Country.”

Administrators welcomed the teachers to the registration table and to the first session of the day, aptly titled, “Start Your Engines.”

In discussing the school’s handbook during the opening session, Ratliff touched upon the subject of wearing hats in school.

“My granddad always told me to take off my hat when I was inside,” Ratliff said. “That’s pretty much the policy we go by here at school. I don’t mind if they bring hats to school, but I don’t want them wearing them while they’re inside.

“Now, if we decide to have a ‘Wear a Hat to School’ Day, then that’s different,” he said. “And I think we as teachers and administrators should wear a hat that day, too. We should participate with our students. If you come wearing a hat, it means a lot to the kids. It means you care enough about them to take part in what they do.”

Teachers visited with each other during the morning break at the “Good Character Pit Stop,” before participating in the second morning session, “Mapping Our Route to a Great Year,” led by the SOAR - Students Organized and Responsible - Team.

Marsha Wallace, school counselor, serves as chairman for the SOAR program, which is designed to promote character development throughout the school year for both staff and students. She said there are 12 teachers and administrators on the SOAR Team. The SOAR Team sponsors a different “positive action” each month. The positive action for August and September is “Be a Friend.” Students will be working on such skills as cooperation, sharing, listening and respect.

Future positive actions will include “Ask for Help,” “Be a Good Citizen,” “Show Kindness,” “ Respect Differences,” “Make Good Decisions,” “Do Your Best,” “Stay Focused” and “Plan for the Future.”

Loyd said the SOAR Team has recently gone out into the community to explain the program. She said the school’s parent center also has resources forparents to help them with their children’s character development.

Following lunch at the “Fast Food Lane,” the teachers were encouraged to “Rev Up Your Engines,” before breaking into small groups in which they discussed “High Road Principles” and “High Octane Engine Starters.” “This was a building session for character development for the coming year,” Loyd said.

Teachers took their afternoon break at the “Good Character Pit Stop.” The afternoon also featured a “Race Track Adventure” or a scavenger hunt, which, Loyd said, was designed to emphasize strategy and team-building. Teams were to collect items, put them in a box and decorate the box. Prizes were given for the best decorated box.

Door prizes were distributed throughout the day at the “Winner’s Circle.” The inservice ended at the “Finish Line.”

River Valley Ozark, Pages 141 on 08/17/2008