n e w s November 11, 1997 N E W S FORUM A R T S SPORTS
Students to decide future MSA leadership today |
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Greek students link with children in the classroom Andrea Arias Staff Writer __Greek students are reliving their wonder years and relearning everything they need to know at several Columbia schools. __Through the Greek Link organization, more than 120 Greek students volunteer at area elementary and middle schools. __"Two [fraternity members] wanted to start it as the adopt-a-school program to put volunteers in schools," said Stacy Hauser, co-director of the five-year-old program. __At Rock Bridge Elementary School, first-graders interact with their "helpers," Tim McGrath and Kevin Bross, both of Pi Kappa Alpha. McGrath and Bross volunteer for a couple of hours per week. __"I heard from friends about it, and they told me it was a great experience," said McGrath, who is in his second year with Greek Link. "I wanted the chance to work with kids again." __The volunteers help Robin Sherman and Angie Greenwell's first-grade students during writing workshop. __McGrath helped another first-grader write the sentence, "We have a new dog." The first-grader carefully wrote the letters between two dark lines and used his finger to space the words "so they don't get mixed up." __Participation in the program is voluntary. __"I'm doing something positive instead of just going to school and wasting the rest of the day," Bross said. __Rock Bridge Elementary has been involved with Greek Link for several years. __"Volunteer programs are extremely important in schools right now," Sherman said. "It's hard to work with kids on an individual basis; there's not enough time for one-on-one teaching." __Greek Link volunteers help to alleviate some of the stress teachers have with large class sizes. __"They give the kids the individual help they need, especially during the first year when they're learning to read and write," Sherman said. __The benefits of the Greek Link program reach volunteers as well as the schools. __"It's been a rewarding experience to get out there and do something with the day and get out to the community," McGrath said. |
