New partners join forces with PIE

May 02, 2007

May 2, 2007 in the Columbia Tribune

Partners in Education welcomed seven new partners to the program this year.

Partners in Education brings schools, businesses and the community together to share resources, strengthen school programs and enhance economic growth.

The new partnerships include:

● Target Stores and Fairview Elementary

● TRYPS and New Haven Elementary

● Little Dixie Kiwanis and Benton Elementary

● We Always Swing Jazz Series and Columbia Public Schools K-12

● Koomzaal and Lee Elementary

● U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Lee Elementary

● MU Human Environmental Sciences and Lee Elementary

Target Stores and Fairview declared their partnership at the beginning of the 2006-07 school year. The focus is on reading and language arts. In addition to providing reading buddies for students, Target donates one percent back on purchases made with the Target credit card to Fairview through its Take Charge of Education program. Annually, Fairview receives about $800 back to purchase books and other supplies for the school.

We Always Swing Jazz Series also joined the school district as a partner early this school year. The non-profit group has been working to bring appreciation for jazz music to schools. This year, they piloted “Jazz in Schools” at Field Elementary. The program, underwritten by Field’s partner US Bank, brings jazz artists to the school several times a year to expose students to music.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Columbia Ecological Services Field Office officially kicked off its partnership last month, but have been working on a new project called SEEDS for much of the school year. SEEDS — or Students, the Environment and Endangered Species — teaches Lee fifth-graders about nature.

At the partnership kickoff, Charlie Scott, field supervisor for the Fish and Wildlife office, said the office chose Lee because of the school’s location. “We felt [the students] needed a little extra help learning about nature because the school has little green space,” he told the students at the kick-off assembly.

Through SEEDS, biologists have brought live animals into the classroom and taught students about what they can do to help endangered animals. The Fish and Wildlife Service also donated a fish aquarium to the school. The aquarium is kept in the media center for all students to enjoy.

Many of our schools are in need of partners to help enhance the educational experiences and academic achievement of their students. If your business is interested in becoming involved in PIE or would like information about other school/community programs such as volunteering or mentoring, please contact Columbia Public Schools’ School/Community Program office at (573) 214-3960.