European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 16, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday december 16, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 9educationinflux of foreign pupils helps school by Rosemary Sawyer Brussels Bureau Brussels Belgium a Brussels american school might need a new name soon As its officials explore enrolling More International pupils and adapting its curricula to keep step with the changing world. The school located in the heart of the european capital was chosen by department of defense dependents schools Atlantic Region officials to serve As a Model for integration of International pupils and programs. Although the idea developed by Atlantic Region director Georgia Williams Scaife and Brussels Community commander air Force Brig. Gen. John w. Douglass increases enrolment while most Dodds schools Are shrinking the planners contend the timing could t be better a the potential pressure for constricting or realigning educational services for Dodds students comes at a time when All americans need to be better educated in the nature of International business politics and life skills appropriate for a multicultural world a said a paper explaining the idea. Currently about 15 percent of the student body of the combined primary and secondary school is made up of International pupils said Jennifer Beckwith the school s principal. Up from about 5 percent last year the 10 percent increase resulted after Douglass encouraged the school to enrol pupils from outside the nato Community. A when we first got Here there was sort of a Rule that we can t take these people in from the outside. Nobody could really say Why. It was ind of folkloric As to Why Douglass said. A we All agreed that As Long As we had the space that bringing children from other nations in was a Good thing Ana we ought to try to do although the Home to the North Atlantic treaty organization and the european Community Headquarters has at least three other English language schools these schools Are filling up fast and the Dodds school of 300 is absorbing the overflow. A a there a not a Day that goes by that we done to have inquiries a Beckwith said. Tuition at the american school also Sparks interest As the $7,200 Cost paid by those outside the nato Community is roughly half of that at the other schools. Currently the school is admitting Only children of . Citizens who do not pay belgian taxes and foreign National pupils whose acceptance is deemed by the Secretary of defense to be in the National interest. Pupils must be Able to speak English Beckwith said although at some Point the school might begin offering classes in English As a second language. Beckwith Douglass and other school and Community officials explained their ideas for promoting internationalism in the Brussels school last week to Millicent w. Woods Deputy assistant Secretary of defense for personnel support families and education. Woods was in Europe to look at schools family support and morale welfare programs in Germany and England. Beckwith told Woods possibilities for expanding enrol greatest in the ,. Or ratio is 9-to-l. Ment Are greatest in the High school where the current a we re really just in the beginning stages in terms of looking at where we could go with it. We re looking at it More intensely now because of the seven period Day that a coming into effect next year a said Beckwith noting the extra class period would enable the school to offer new classes such As Eastern european history. The Small enrolment while providing a desirable Pupil teacher ratio limits the schools flexibility to offer a variety of classes and activities. For example in sports the Small High school population can Only Field an eight member football team. When Brussels plays schools with full teams of 11, the larger team pulls three of its players. A because we Are a Small school we can Only do so much a said Douglass who along with serving As Community commander is a member of the the . Delegation to nato. A every time somebody in the Community comes up with an idea for a new program Jennifer Beckwith just can to go out and hire two new teachers. The next thing you know it will be two kids for every with More pupils the 24-year-old school can offer More classes and activities. A the More important part of this is the enrichment that would come from this kind of inclusion a Woods said encouraging the Brussels group to continue developing the idea. Just How far the schools transformation goes has yet to be decided. The options being considered Range from remaining an essentially american school with increased emphasis on International enrichment and studies to being a full fledged International High school that would emphasize International political and economic subjects and Grant both american High school diplomas and International baccalaureate certificates. Beckwith said she would expect such a transition to take place Over two or three years. Douglass said he also hoped that providing a More Cross cultural learn a thereby fostering Rich kid poor kid mentality in the Community. It All adds up ass Ken Gorge Beth Boswell tutors 9-year-old Viran Gregg with his math Homework in the resource room at bad Hersfeldt elementary school. Boswell is an education aide at the school. Lakenheath to give kids sure Start in learning by Amy Geiszler Jones . Bureau Raf Lakenheath England four year old children from disadvantaged families will get a jump Start on their educations under a Pilot program that will be kicked off at Raf Lakenheath on Jan. 7, a defense department official said last week. Sure Start modelled after the stateside head Start program is aimed at a preparing Young kids prior to being school age to give them Good capacity for learning and to prepare them for the education they will be receiving a said Millicent w. Woods Deputy assistant Secretary for personnel support families and education. The emphasis is not Only on education but also health socialization and Parent involvement Woods said. Ten More overseas Sites As yet unnamed will be added next year said Louella Anderson a child development specialist with Woods office. The maximum 20 students allowed at Lakenheath had already been enrolled As recruiting began in october. Eligible families were identified by base agencies according to Leslie lips 3rd air Force child development specialist. It is open to children age 4 from both the Lakenheath and nearby Raf Mildenhall communities whose families lifestyle meet the criteria which include a single Parent families. A a family with one Parent who Speaks a primary language other than English. A a family with at least one Parent who is not a High school graduate. A families who have three or More children with 18 months or less Between siblings. The program is also open to children who have learning disabilities or a delay in their development. A a there a a Good bit of doing what i Call giving children a sense of themselves a Woods said a and 1 like to say that it is a time when kids get some self esteem and that their parents Are Given an Opportunity to learn How to reinforce that. An added criterion at Lakenheath was the Active duty parents remaining tour length at Lakenheath. It could end no earlier than june 1993 because the children had to be Able to attend kindergarten at the base elementary school so Sun starts said. Effects could be assessed ure the differences Between the new sure Start and Well established head Start program Are that sure Start is specifically intended for overseas military installations and broadening the eligibility to include children other than those Only from Low income families. The inclusion of so called a at risk children also sets the program apart from the preschool programs run by military child development centers. A the preschool program that we have in place is really not focused As much on the special needs that certain children have a Woods said. The head Start curriculum will be used in sure Start Woods said because a it s tried tested and proven and people have so much Confidence in the 25-year-old program. Children will attend sure Start six hours a Day paralleling the school year. Parents must Volunteer in the classroom for 10 Days throughout the school year and teachers must make three visits to each child s Home said Laura Colker a consultant and author of curriculum being used. A if the program is to address the whole child the staff needs to know the family. It gives a total picture a said lips of the Home visits. Sure Start will be run jointly by the department of defense dependents schools and child development centers Woods said. The total building and Start up costs for Lakenheath a program which will be housed in a prefabricated building was $142,000
