Marquette Elementary School Partnership

The OCSE has teamed up with South Bend Reads (headed by Amy Bruno '78) to adopt a local elementary school. Our school is Marquette Eolementary and it is a Title I school. This means that 50% or more of the children live at or below the poverty line.

We commited to the adoption of Marquette in Spring semester 2005 and our first semester at the school was a tremendous success. Our involvement has several levels:

1. Providing volunteers to be reading tutors with the children during their after school program. This is one of the most important aspects of the partnership. The time slots available are 2:20 until 4:30 M-W or 3:15 until 4:30 M-Th. If you are interested in this, please email Lori at lgramelspacher@sbcsc.k12.in.us and she can get you started!!

2. The establishment of Internships at the school. In Spring 2005 we had interns at the school from the Sociology Department and the Psychology Department. Interns were involved in various aspects of the school's life: small group discussion, building social skills, assisting in the classroom, extablishing service-learning projects, etc. An internship is possible in almost every department at the college, especially during your senior year. Contact Carrie at ccall@saintmarys.edu for more information on possibilities.

3. Leading enrichment programs for the children. This involves leading a group of kids in an activity such as dance for an hour after school. Other enrichment possiblities inlcude teaching spanish, science experiments, music, health fair, etc. The possiblities are truly endless. You can lead just one class or lead several a month. You can even lead with a group of friends! If this interests you, contact Kayla at kroger01@saintmarys.edu.

4. Provide books through the action of a book drive. Over half of the children at the school do not have books at home. This project is in the works right now and you will be hearing more about it.

Principal Carla Killelea:

This project has so many possibilities, and we are just at the beginning now. For instance, for the Martin Luther King Jr. inter-faith prayer service, the children at Marquette provided us with the artwork to display during the service. Click here to see more.

If you have any idea or thoughts about projects that might work, please let us know! We are open to and eager for student input in this valuable endeavor.