BY ALICIA DORSET
Clarkston News Staff Writer
Sometimes students need to look to the stars for a little motivation. That’s exactly what the third graders at Clarkston Elementary did on Jan. 21.
For the 17th year, students were treated to ‘Reach for the Stars?, an all-day enrichment program that presented famous individuals who overcame difficult obstacles in their lives.
‘The program shows good life lessons for kids to learn so that they can overcome obstacles,? Kristyn Godlew, public relations representative, said.
At the start of the school day, students entered the gym to fast-paced music and colorful decorations. Every third grader was equipped with a star-decorated bag filled with pencils and worksheets on the day’s celebrities. Eight stations presented a 15-minute presentation on a different ‘star? who overcame something challenging and an activity for the students to participate in.
This year’s stars included Walt Disney, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ghandi, Temple Grandin, Sally Ride, Harriet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, and Jim Abbot.
The variety of backgrounds represented was a factor that pleased third grade teacher Mary Hughes.
‘We’re not going to study someone who inherited daddy’s money,? Hughes said. ‘You need to go to school and learn to work hard.?
Each station involved the students in unique ways. At the Harriet Tubman stop, children learned how she fought against slavery. They then had a change to crawl through a recreated version of the underground railroad.
Students visiting the Jim Abbot station learned about the famous one-armed baseball player’s career and then tried pitching to classmates with one arm behind their backs.
While visiting the Ghandi lecture, students learned some of his famous philosophies, including ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.?
The hard work that made the day a success was made possible by Clarkston Elementary’s PTO. The group started planning for the day months ago. The event continues to evolve over the years.
‘We really have a wonderful group,? Hughes said. ‘They go above and beyond. It’s usually hard to get volunteers before and after the holidays, but you can call these parents and ask if they can help and then they’re here.?
Parents involved in planning select a famous person to feature that year and prepare all props and materials from an ongoing ‘bank? of resources. New individuals and materials are added and updated.
PTO president Lori Blicher and her husband served as presenters in the past and found the experience very rewarding.
‘I love being with kids one on one,? Blicher said. ‘They ask good questions and it’s interesting to see their thought process. It’s amazing to see what questions come out.?
Students make references to the lessons learned at ‘Reach for the Stars? throughout the school year and apply them to then-current situations. Teachers make sure to follow up with the students to review the messages.
The day’s events, which also included classroom reflections, a presentation on Helen Keller, and a special assembly by speaker O.J. Anderson, left lasting impressions on not only this year’s third graders, but those from previous years as well.
‘I had one fifth grader stop by my room this morning and wished that he could be back in third grade for ‘Reach for the Stars? day!? Hughes said.