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Yates Magnet
School
June 09 2010
Yates
Students Voice Concerns, Get Response
Community Organizations Collaborate with Students and Act
 Thanks
to the students, staff and two caring school community members,
an array of partnerships have been formed with city agencies,
organizations and many groups which will result in immediate
positive change in the Schenectady community. The ideas for
change came from the students at Yates who expressed concerns -
in the form of about 300 essays - regarding the homeless
and hungry, animals, abused children, food service in the
school, childhood obesity, childhood stress, teen pregnancy,
drug and alcohol abuse, crime, violence and gangs and saving the
environment. On Tuesday morning, a long list of
representatives from the various community agencies showed up at
the school to tell the students what they will do as a
collaborative effort with them to address their concerns and
make a difference now.
Renee and Quinton Brown, two caring parents and community
members who are active in the schools, started an essay
contest a few years ago. They asked the students to write about
something they would like to change in the community. In past
years, the Browns read the essays and selected first, second and
third place winners to whom they awarded trophies.
This year the
Browns asked the students to write about something they would
change in the community if they could, what the change would be
and how it would be done.
“Like every year,
the essays were wonderful,” said Renee Brown. “Now we are
taking it a step further in actually trying to implement some of
the suggestions for change."
 After
reading through the 300 essays, the Browns reached out to more
than 15 local agencies all of whom attended the assembly and
agreed to take immediate steps to address the concerns and put
the students’ ideas in to action.
Brown said the
project is about keeping kids interested in school. “We want to
make the kids realize that they are making a difference in the
community," she said. “These kids will know that they made
a difference and will see that their ideas are being put into
action.
The students wrote
about a wide of array of issues and topics. The most
popular was saving the environment and going Green.
Seventy-five essays were written about concerns regarding global
warming and the environment.
Student concerns
ranged from recycling, putting a stop to litter and pollution to
planting flowers and saving trees.
“For every tree
that is cut down, one should be planted,” wrote one student.
“Trees help us.”
“As people of our
community, we have to take good care of the Earth. Stop global
warming and other things like littering and problems with gas
stations.”
Brown announced
that in response to the essays, the students will plant flowers
around the school and a tree with a plaque planted in the school yard.
The flowers and tree, all delivered to the school Tuesday,
were donated by Hewitt's in Glenville.
 Many
students expressed concern about those who do not recycle and
garbage and litter that still exists in neighborhoods. Bill Maczeka from the city of
Schenectady said he will be placing more recycling cans in the
parks. He also announced that property owners will be fined if
they don’t pick up garbage.
“We want to make
sure we clean up the city,” said Lisa Adamyk also from the city
of Schenectady. She explained that the city will be putting as
many trash cans out as possible. Also, the city made signs
regarding “littering” which will be posted in the park. Adamyk
said the students who wrote the essays will be selecting where
the signs will be placed within the park. “We will make more
signs as needed,” she said.
Ten of student
essays about the environment were selected and highlighted.
News Channel 6 spoke to the 10 students about their ideas.
They were featured on the news on Tuesday.
Drugs & Alcohol
Abuse
“I think that in
our community there are a lot of problems,” wrote Wyatt Pisarski,
a 4th grader at Yates. “One problem that I really
want to fix is drugs. Too many people have used them.”
Pisarski wrote about his concern for young people who use drugs
and students who are making bad decisions. “I have figured out
a solution to this problem,” he said. Pisarski suggested
learning more about why people use and having volunteers in the
neighborhood keeping an eye out for drug sales.
Nine other
students wrote about the same or similar concerns regarding
drugs, alcohol and smoking. “I just want young people to be
safe and to know that alcohol isn’t good for you,” wrote 6th
grader Zhane Stephenson. “If you see others doing it, walk
away. It’s not good to be around people like that. That’s what
I would change if I could.”
Many students
think children should be educated on the dangers of smoking and
second hand smoke. “I can help the future by starting a program
about telling little kids not to smoke when they grow up,” wrote
3rd grader Rojan Karn.
Bill DeJoy of
Conifer Park explained to the students that he works with teens
who do have problems with drugs and alcohol. “Stress,
homelessness and child abuse are some of the things that can
lead to drug and alcohol abuse,” said DeJoy. He thanked the
students and solicited their help further. DeJoy asked the
students to design and make posters and pictures that he will
use and hang throughout many seminars and conferences throughout
the state.
Guns, Violence
and Gangs
Major Nicholas
Dean from the Counter Drug Task Force, Gang Prevention
Specialist Ron Cook Barrett and Schenectady Police Chief Mark
Chaires responded to concerns about guns, violence and gangs in
the community. “It all comes down to personal choice,” said
Barrett who promised to come back to the school before the end
of the year to talk with the 5th and 6th
graders, noting important changes and the transition to middle
school. “If you have five close friends who are doing good
things, you will probably do good things too,” he explained.
Chaires said he
was surprised when he read the essays. “I will keep your essays
in my office on a bulletin board as a reminder,” he told the
students. He also explained that the police department will put
more police officers on the street and get officers out of the
cars. “More police officers will be walking and on bikes,”
Chaires explained. “Many of those big strong police officers
are shy and bashful. Don’t you be afraid to go up and introduce
yourself to a police officer.”
“The police can’t
do everything,” said Chaires. He told the students they can
model behavior and be respectful. “Little things can make a big
difference,” he added. “For example, don’t go through a yard,
go around.”
Teen Pregnancy
Sixth-grader
Tyasia Aumoithe was most concerned about teen pregnancy.
Theresa from Planned Parenthood said she was impressed with
Aumoithe’s essay. “This essay is so mature and grown up,” said
Theresa. “We at Planned Parenthood want to work with her.”
Aumoithe will be working with Planned Parenthood to make a
brochure that will be used in a mentor program. Theresa also
said that when Aumoithe turns 14 and with her parent’s
permission, she will be invited to be part of Planned
Parenthood’s Community Outreach program.
Child Abuse
“I want to reduce
the amount of abuse in our community,” wrote 6th
grader Alaika Jones who cited that over 15 million people are
abusers. “It’s illegal to abuse people or animals,” wrote
Jones. “I think we can make a better place. It would be a help
center where anyone will feel safe and protected.”
Sixth-grader Isiah
Lahon said that abuse is a reason that some grow up to do drugs,
live on streets and can’t support their families. He also said
that some students fail in school because their parents don’t
care. Lahon believes that having more family counseling
available in the neighborhood would be a help to families and
step to prevent abuse.
“We try to prevent the pain of child abuse from ever occurring,”
said Jamie Dughi from Prevent Child Abuse New York. She
responded to the essays on child abuse and explained that a Help
Center and support network is available for any parents who are
overwhelmed, overworked and tired as well as a connection for
students.
“Every person in this room can prevent child abuse and have a
voice,” said Dughi who brought letters for students to send to
legislators calling for a halt to funding cuts. “We need
to keep the program going.” The three students who voiced
concerns about child abuse will be responsible for implementing and
following up on the student letter writing campaign.
Child Stress
Thanks to Willa
Pisarski, a 6th grader, the students at Yates School
will enjoy a Therapy Dog Program that will begin in the next
weeks and continue next year. Pisarski is concerned about the
stress carried by children. “When I go to school and talk to my
friends, they are never talking about how they had a good day,”
said Pisarski. “They are always talking about bad things that
happened that day or over the weekend.” She said it is a
problem that she wants to try to fix.
Pisarski suggested that the school offer special programs
designed to relieve stress. “Volunteers, teachers and other
adults could supervise,” said Pisarski.
Joyce and Ann,
therapy dog owners, explained that they along with their
therapy dogs Willie and Morgan, visit many people and places
like schools, nursing homes and hospitals. “We visit with the
dogs,” they explained. “The dogs make people smile. They make
them happy and calm them down.” They told the students
that they will come in to the school with therapy dogs often and
help them relieve their stress and calm down.
Obesity
BEST Fitness in
Schenectady will be offering free fitness programs in the parks
to all Schenectady students. “We will be doing the programs to
get kids in shape and develop healthy habits,” said Eric from
BEST Fitness.
The new program is
in response to 6th grader Michael Lonergan-Gibson’s
concern regarding obesity. “There are a lot of obese children
and adults,” wrote Lonergan-Gibson. “I would open up more gyms
around the community, where not only adults can go but kids
too.”
Lonergan-Gibson
will be making flyers to promote the new program to his
schoolmates and other students throughout the district.
Animals
Many students
expressed concern over animals that are abused, hit by cars,
neglected and left outdoors in the cold. Students are also
concerned about irresponsible pet owners who don’t pick up after
their animals. Destiny Conley, 6th grader said she
would like to give a list of every pet owner’s name, address and
phone number to every shelter so they can randomly visit and
make sure pets are being cared for. She is also concerned
about animal cruelty, particular fighting. “It’s sad how they
look and how they get treated,” said Conley. “You can’t treat
an animal like that. Animals are just like humans. What they
need is love and care. They didn’t ask to be treated like
that.”
Conley said she
would like to raise money and create a foundation to stop
abusers. “I would make commercials to get more people familiar
with my goal,” added Conley. “I want to build a shelter when I
get more money.”
Kim Jess from the
Animal Protective Foundation invited all of the students to
visit the center. The students are going to help the center and
animals by making mats so that the animals in the shelter have
something to lie on while in the cages.
“Thank you for
caring,” said Jess. “You did a great job.”
Homeless and
Hungry
More than 15 Yates
students expressed concerns about the homeless and hungry.
“If I could change
some thing in my community it would be helping less fortunate
people,” said 3rd grader Khadir Bradley. “I will
help them get a house, a car and stuff to wear everyday.”
Tearia Hacker,
also a 3rd grader said she would hold a bake sale
twice a week to raise money for a shelter and food for the
homeless. “A lot of people don’t have money or a warm place to
sleep in the winter,’ said Hacker. “I would also like a warm
place for their pets in the shelter because many shelters don’t
have a place for pets.”
“I am thankful
that we can help sick or homeless people have a better life,”
said Kalisha Thompson, 4th grader. “I would like to
help because a lot of people are hurt these days. I will do my
best with helping sick and homeless people with their needs.
Dan LaGuinn from
the City Mission and Kelly Crane from Schenectady Community
Action Program (SCAP), asked the students to put together a
resource brochure that includes local shelters and places to get
food and clothing. LaGuinn invited the students to visit the
City Mission. “We’ll work on a project together that can help a
lot of people,” he told the students. “Volunteers make up the
bulk of what he do.”
Helping Senior
Citizens
A few of the students are concerned about the elderly. Students
expressed interest in spending time with the elderly such as
playing games and reading. Brittany Barnoski, 4th
grader, said she would like to help the elderly people get
around in their homes as well as when they have to go out and
about. “This is important to me because there are elderly
people out in this world that need a lot of help,” said
Barnoski.
The students will
be making pillows for the seniors at Glenn Eddy as well as other
facilities.
School Topics
A few students
wrote about rules and behaviors they would like changed at
school. Asuan Farrell. 4th grader wrote about the
school lunch program. “School lunches are a problem because the
lunch ladies just slap the food on the tray,” said Farrell. She
said that it would make school lunch much better if they lunch
servers would put the food on the tray neatly.
Scott Stowell from
Sodexo Food Services explained that the two things the company
covers is food and service. He said that how food is being
served to students is important. Stowell told the students that
Sodexo is going to hold service-oriented training over the
summer. The training will address the way the food is served
and the friendliness of the servers. “As part of the training,
we will make sure that all your concerns are addressed,” said
Stowell.
School principal
Valarie Scott was holding back tears at the close of the
presentation Tuesday. “I have to be the proudest principal
in the state of New York,” said Scott. “Nobody is more proud of
their school than me.”
Scott said all of
students will be involved in the many projects that will begin
in the next week. She said many of them will begin now even
though it is the end of the school year.
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