BY CAROL MOSLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
BROOKER — Teachers, parents and prospective kindergartners came together for a Meet the Kindergarten open house at the Brooker Community School to get a taste of what’s in store for the school year.
The room was brightly prepped with eye-catching props and hands-on activities. Enthusiasm filled the air, and it was hard to tell if the students or teachers were the most excited for classes to commence.
The school’s principal, Felecia Moss, was on hand to greet the families along with hard-working volunteers who toiled and decorated to make the room feel enchanting. Posters on the wall gave an indication of the topics to be taught. The display of books caught the attention of many children who expressed a desire to learn to read. The three-dimensional crafts of trees and puppet theater and huge stuffed animals gave the sense of a safe and stimulating learning wonderland.
Michelle Green, who helped decorate the room, grew up in Graham and has returned to Brooker hoping to volunteer after 30 years as a teacher of second grade through junior college. Volunteer Cindy Griffis taught middle school for 28 years. Her children attended Brooker Elementary School and her grandchildren will attend the new charter school.
Teacher Ashley Shelhon led a group of kids in seed planting, questioning the students about what kind of care their plant will need to grow at home. The youngsters already knew plants need food, water and sunshine to grow.
Shelhon expressed how thrilled she is to be influencing the children who represent the future of Bradford County. She will teach fourth and fifth grades combined in reading, science, math and social studies this year. She expects her students to be adept at science, especially in agriculture. She has her science schedule all planned out with Monday being vocabulary and academics, Wednesday is for projects and Friday will be performance assessment. Learn, experiment and express what you learned.
If enthusiasm and passion are the markers of future success, this school is on the fast track.
