Program helps students prepare for school

SANDPOINT — Wesley Smith, 9, now knows creating garagantuan bubbles takes 10 parts water to one part dish soap.

He and his classmates also discovered that a big hoop or bent wire works to form one amazing bubble.

Smith is just one of a small group of students taking part in a three-week program at Kootenai Elementary School designed to prepare them for the school week, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 2.

It is just one of 19 throughout Idaho to qualify for school improvement grants that also will allow Kootenai to offer additional academic programs before and after school, said principal Betsy Walker.

The school received $50,000 because it did not make AYP (average yearly progress) during the 2006-’07 school year as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.

Kootenai Elementary did make AYP this year, she added.

Last week was the culmination of a three-week program in which the children were divided into two groups — the Horses for first and second grades — and the Leopards for third and fourth. Older students are acting as mentors.

“We’re catching students when they’re getting really tired of summer,” she said.

The students attend school every day from 8:30 a.m. to noon and are served lunch.

Walker said the program is similar to a successful one that she was involved in while working in California. The students selected for the program just need a bit of extra help and confidence, she said.

She also invited two children new to the school to participate to make their transition easier.

The two have made new friends and had the opportunity to get to know her , said third grade teacher Nancy Williams, who will be their teacher. She is teaching the third-fourth grade group, while librarian and technology teacher Leann Kopsa.

The students have learned about collecting data and how a particular amount of soap combined with a certain amount of water can produced the best soapy water for making bubbles.

The older students have worked on creating PowerPoint presentations about animals that they will show their parents, while the younger students are working on a play “The Little Red Riding Hood.”

They also are focusing on reading, taking AR (accelerated reader) tests and are given tickets for being on time amongst other things that they then can use to earn free books and posters.

The students also have received the honor of using computers that have been “refreshed” (updated) this summer by Lake Pend Oreille School District, along with using two new smart boards, one purchased through a PAFE grant and the other purchased with funds raised by the Kootenai School PTA.

In addition to this program, Kootenai community members are working on creating an after school program to enhance the students nonacademic education in areas like drama, art and book clubs.

“That’s one of the cool things about this school,” Walker said. “It’s just a great community.”