Category Archives: Advocating for Excellence in K-12 Education

Advocating for Excellence in K-12 Education, Family Fun, News

Visit Wax Museums on Underground Railroad, Kentucky slave raid

May 29, 2018 OFFKM

This you cannot miss: Wax Museums about the Underground Railroad in Cass County and about an 1847 Kentucky slave raid, coming in early June 2018.

The Wax Museums will be held June 6 and June 13 at the Bonine House, on M-60 and Penn Road, in Vandalia, The Bonine House is thought to have been a place where those escaping slavery were “sheltered” as they sought freedom, according to the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County.

Not to be missed: Wax Museum exhibits on the 1847 Kentucky slave raid.

The Wax Museum events are:

* June 6, from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.

* June 13, 10:30 a.m.t 12 noon

At both events, historical characters and event ‘come to life.’

At the June 6th event, fourth-graders from Mrs. Riggins and Mrs. Bonine’s classes at Portage’s Lake Center Elementary School will perform.

Students from Cassopolis High School present the June 13th event, “The 1847 Kentucky Slave Raid.” The raid occurred in August 1847, when 13 slave catchers from Kentucky came to Cass County to find “investments” they’d heard might be living among the Quakers there. Slaverunners Wright Modlin and William Holman Jones had been visiting Bourbon County, in Kentucky, returning with enslaved people.

There will be three performances on the half hour. Guests are invited to tour The Bonine House while they wait.

For more information, contact The Bonine House at 269.320.8532; learn more about the Bonine House at https://www.urscc.org/the-bonine-house.html.

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Advocating for Excellence in K-12 Education, Financial Literacy ~ Making Meaning of Your Money

OFFKM leader volunteers with Junior Achievement

Image May 20, 2017 OFFKM

Our Father’s Family Keeper Ministries is committed to seeing our youth succeed and supporting efforts to see them excel.

We recently has the opportunity to do outreach with youth through the Junior Achievement Program, which taught Benton Harbor’s STEAM Academy elementary school students job-readiness skills and taught them about entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

Here, Sis. Bianca May, president of Our Father’s Keeper Ministries, is pictured with some other Junior Achievement volunteers who helped with the Junior Achievement Program in Benton Harbor schools.

Advocating for Excellence in K-12 Education, Uncategorized

Summer’s almost here: Ready . . . set . . . read!

Image May 26, 2016 OFFKM

The arrival of Memorial Day signals the beginning of summer! Yaaay!!

For some children, it’s the time to enjoy some leisurely days and time away from daily rigors of school . . . but not completely!

Educational studies say students can lose two to more months of reading and math skills over the summer if efforts are not made to engage in some things educational and stimulating.

So, between the long, lazy days of summer, go to your local library, and if your child does not have a library card, sign up for one. Find out what reading programs and games your local library has.

Take time out to visit a museum . . . or take a nature hike, identifying the flowers, plants and birds and animals as you go.

Enjoy your summer, but dare to be deliberate with your child’s summer reading!

Ready . . . set . . . READ!!

Preschool story time @ Cass District Library, Cassopolis
Teen time @ Cass District Library, Cassopolis

Advocating for Excellence in K-12 Education

Community, Let’s ‘Wake Up’!

March 30, 2016 OFFKM

SAES 2013-2014 MEAP RESULTS ONLY 31.6 PERCENT GRADES 3-6 AT READING & MATH LEVEL

This is an open letter to the parents and other stakeholders in the Cassopolis Community School District and a plea to take action by asking questions and sharing your concerns with your Board of Education:

Did you know that 68 percent of our 3rd to 6th graders are “BELOW“ grade level in both Math and English?
Did you know that 80 percent of our 7th – 8th graders are “BELOW“ grade level in both Math and English?
Did you know that our student-athletes are allowed to continue participating in sports and extracurricular activities, even if they have one or more failing grades, instead of being required to attend a Study Table session (until that grade improves)?
Visit the Cassopolis School District website and share your concerns with the Schools Superintendent, Mr. Tracy Hertsel, “for improving education for our children and our leaders of tomorrow.” He can be reached at (269) 445-0503.
It is your right and responsibility to share how you feel about these scores: Share your concerns at the next Board of Education meetings: April 11, 2016, and April 25, 2016 (the board meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month).