OPTIONAL CHUCACH OPPORTUNITIES – COME ON IN!

By Brad Harris

Each person encounters different opportunities in their lifetime. The same is true for students at Chugach, which is partly because of the skills and interests that each of us, as parents, brings into the school and shares with the kids.

We are all aware of the requirement for parents to volunteer for various tasks or activities when our child is attending Chugach. How we each choose to use our volunteer time is up to each of us. However, we should consider that the opportunities we give to the students through our volunteer time are greatly dependent on how we choose to use our volunteer time.

Classroom projects and activities led by parents always receive glowing reviews by the kids when they come home from school. Whether a parent-led classroom activity is a one-time short presentation, or multiple work sessions for a larger project, sharing of parent’s skills and interest with Chugach students is always very inspiring to them. Break off a bite sized piece of your interest, share the idea with your child’s teacher, and work together to build an activity that gives the students something to chew on!

Leading a project or activity for a whole class can be a harrowing experience for some of us (How do our teachers do it all day, every day?). Consider breaking down the class into smaller groups to work on the activity with you. Consider asking for assistance from other parents, professionals in the community, or other friends from outside the school. Consider breaking off a smaller, more focused bite of your interest that won’t overwhelm you when you work on it with a group of students. Consider sharing your interest in a “Mini-Course” where you can specify the number of kids in your group (Note: Mini-Course planning is in progress and instructors are needed).

Each classroom at Chugach is exposed to different but equally interesting opportunities because each of us has differently interesting things to share with the students. Whatever your interests or skills are, please share them. It is a two-way street. You will be amazed at what you learn from the kids.