European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 30, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Education energetic school Volunteer lauded by Jimi Jones education writer it meant a lot to Pat Zelir when All three ludwigs Burg elementary school administrators brought her Flowers after she had foot surgery. But it was genuine reciprocation because Zehrs faithful Volunteer work at the elementary school her Young son attends meant a lot to the administrators. It impressed others too. So much so that the european Congress of american parents teachers and students named her Volunteer of the year. A a in a there every Day for something a Zehr said. A i just have a desire to get out there and find out what a going on in my child a  she and her husband staff sgt. Rickard Zehr have two children 15-year-old Michael and 7-year-old James who is a third grader at ludwigs Burg elementary school. Zehrs attitude is a prime example of what educators and experts say schoolchildren need today a More Parent involvement in their children a learning process. And nil Dren often respond favourably Zehr said. A a he a thrilled to have every child in school know his mom a Zehr said of Young James. Older son Michael looks at her school visits a bit differently she said. A a it a moans and groans if he knows in a going to be in  parents and educators at ludwigs Burg elementary school have recognized the National Call for parents to take part in their children a educational process. As Volunteer coordinator for the schools Parent teacher student association Zehr has helped to recruit an Active Volunteer Force of about 90 parents who Are involved in pal or the parents assisting learning program. Through pal modelled after a stateside program Many parents have become Active classroom workers helping with such tasks As a Reading math Homework assignments and Field trips a said assistant principal Lamont Mebane. A they have become such an integral part of the program they re almost like  for about five years now teachers at ludwigs Burg need Only ask for assistance Zehr said. Teachers request help for special projects or everyday classroom work she said. And members of pal respond. Zehr whose Volunteer hours totalled Well Over 700 hours last school year has done such things As laminate and bind books for teachers make certificates to assist presidential physical fitness awards testing and help teachers with their computer software. Her background As a computer operator scheduler and administrator has helped tremendously in that area she said. The Volunteer program found a Way to attract otherwise Home bound parents and it recognizes their efforts Zehr said. A the pts funds baby sitting up to $10 a week and we recognize those who Volunteer a she said. For example after contributing 25 hours volunteers receive a nameplate. After 200 hours they receive a Coffee Mug and after 300 hours they get their names permanently engraved on a plaque at the Entrance of the school plus lunch with the administrators. Pal volunteers donated More than 7,000 hours or about 875 eight hour Days to its roughly 900 children last year. The schools population is Down to less than 800 this year and still declining because of planned troop reductions. A amps Jim Jonos How parents can help their children learn More than 90 percent of about 10,000 elementary and Middle school principals surveyed in Tho United states and of Vorsas said parental _ involvement in the following activities was essential or highly desirable in a child a education process. Listen and talk with your child paying consistent attention to questions and feelings. Show Pride in his or her academic growth and accomplishments. Regularly encourage your child with schoolwork. Instill a Strong work ethic in your child. Help children see themselves As capable problem solvers. Give priority to schoolwork Reading and other academic activities Over non academic activities like television music videos and recreation. Pm phase of regular planned use of Timo in Tho Homo for studying playing and eating meals Road aloud to your children and have them read to you set standards and expectations for your children. Got to know your child s current schoolwork and school activities. Help with Homework when needed. Have regular discussions with your children and find opportunities to enlarge vocabulary and sentence patterns. Pat Zehr source the new York times a amps Susan hams group s goal for 1991-92 school year is bigger better Parent involvement by Jimi Jones education writer Heidelberg Germany a the european Congress of american parents teachers and students will try to keep parental involvement High in the face of troop reductions that lower the student population the organizations president said saturday. A your focus this year will be bigger and better Parent involvement not a bigger membership increase but just holding our own a said Linda Connelly. A rather than bigger numbers of Active parents id like to have the parents that we do have As members to become Active. Making sure the kids Are getting what they need through Parent involvement. With the draw Down its going to be very  during the troop reduction she said schools can be easily forgotten by the military command. A my Eca pts Board and my local Pat people feel its part of our responsibility to make sure the kids arc not forgotten a she said. A a they re going through enough stress being uprooted some of them before they had anticipated and being shipped somewhere  Connelly spoke after completing a workshop for unit Pat presidents which provided an overview 01 presidential responsibilities. It was one of several workshops presented at the organizations annual one Day leadership conference saturday in Heidelberg. About 100 of 21,000 members from around Germany and the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions attended. The purpose of the conference was leadership training for local unit members and a rally of sorts Connelly said. The training seeks to combat new officer fears and Nelp them plan meaningful successful programs at the local level. The aim is to a catch people at the Start of the school year when they re fresh and give them an overview of what programs Are the same. Also to find out about new things like fast a Connelly said. Fast or families and schools to Gether is a program designed to help parents develop ways to help children Cne fit from school and from education. A fast is at the forefront a Connelly said. The program designed especially for parents of department of defense dependents schools students began last year in the Pacific Region and is being piloted this year in the Nairn Borg Germany school District. Eca pts Board members elected this year Are a Steve Butler first vice president. A Heidelberg High school student Karina Jensen second vice president. A Mike Curley Secretary. A Larry Green treasurer. A George Androni assistant treasurer. Regional vice presidents arc Cheryl Colaw Atlantic Richard Jensen Germany and Julie Castner Mediterranean. Mebane said the program can give the school a positive image in the Community. When new parents arrive pal members can share firsthand knowledge of the school Mebane said. They can talk to new parents a about the school books kinds of tests and the kinds of things you can do to become actively involved a he said. Children especially military children May be in Mannheim today but next school year could be in Kenya Africa he said. A the Only stable Force in the child a life will be the Parent. If parents Are not up to Date on things like the curriculum and what a happening in the development of the child he will fall through a bit. A i Tell parents that school is like a wheel. It has spokes a teachers librarians parents a and that each spoke is As important As the other. In order for that wheel to turn each spoke must do its share a Mebane said. Zehr said the attitudes of the principal and his staff toward parents has made the difference in getting parents to Volunteer. A they make you feel so Welcome and wanted at that school a Zehr said. A that has everything to do with it. Parents would not come in if the administration was standoffish. You will never find these people in their offices a they Are always dealing with people meeting with parents and solving  the staunch school supporter said she has Only two words of advice for parents pondering school involvement a try it a she said. A you done to need any Talent to Volunteer. We have volunteers who work entirely at Home. Done to be afraid to go to your child a teacher. There is always something you can do and you la have no idea unless you  honors go to 2 Dodds teachers in Germany Washington a amps a two teachers from overseas schools in Germany will receive top honors for contributions in their Field. Mary Elizabeth Micallef from Pitburg american Middle school has been selected As the department of defense dependents schools 1991 teacher of the year. Micallef has taught at Pitburg since 1984 and currently teaches English social studies and humanities to talented and gifted pupils in grades 5-8. A i am very proud of the outstanding Caliper of teachers throughout Dodds a said or. John l. Stremple the overseas school director. A Ems. Micallef is a Superb representative of the knowledgeable and dedicated educators we have teaching  Donald l. Volz a teacher at Mannheim High school was named As one of two recipients of the presidential award for excellence in science. Vol will receive a $7,500 National science foundation Grant to be spent at the Mannheim sch cd. Both teachers competed with educators from All 50 states and 19 foreign countries for the awards. They will be honoured in Washington d.c., during october for their accomplishments