School partnership has many benefits

Principal Felecia Spicer at Robert. J. Burch Elementary has been working on forming partnerships with the school’s neighbors along Jenkins Road since she came to the school over a year ago.

One of the school’s most successful partnerships is with next-door neighbor Sandy Creek High.
Last spring, Sandy Creek’s environmental science students made books about animal life and ecosystems for second graders.

They read the books to Burch’s students before presenting them to the media center.
The partnership continues this school year with Sandy Creek’s HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) organization assisting with Burch’s school-wide hearing and vision screening.

There are multiple benefits for both schools. The students of HOSA, many who are seriously considering a healthcare career, received some valuable job experience while Burch’s students got to interact with older peers they admire, and the school’s nurse received some needed assistance.
“The Sandy Creek students had on their scrubs and were so professional, and my students were surrounded by some of their ‘heroes.’ It was a wonderful experience for all of us,” says Spicer.