Jefferson Elementary 2nd grade teacher Sara Spasic, saw children in need in her classroom, her school, and her community and was determined to do something about it. Spasic appeared before the Plymouth School Board on June 2 to get a go-ahead to establish a Kids Hope USA program in the school.
Spasic said, “There are kids coming to us with gaping needs-with gaping holes in their hearts.“ She noted that there is a “Blessing In a Backpack” program that seeks to provide kids in need with food items over weekends, but said there is still a need for kids to have a relationship with a mentor.
The program, that many schools in Indiana have adopted, pairs identified students with volunteers from a local church who agree to be mentors for one hour each week.
After turning to the Marshall County Community Foundation and Crossroads Church to secure the one-time $3,000-4,000 affiliate fee, Spasic has jumped the first hurdle. Spasic has also agreed to serve as the program director and will attend training classes in July. Once she is fully trained, she said she will start seeking out volunteers from the Crossroads Church. Kids Hope is based on pairing one church with one school.
Speaking on behalf of the church was Senior Associate Pastor Collin Seitz. Seitz indicated he and the church share her passion for getting the program up and running.
The Board voted unanimously to approve the program at Jefferson just as they did a year ago when approached by Trinity United Methodist Church to hold the program at Webster School. Carrie McGuire, principal of Webster, wrote a positive recommendation for expanding Kids Hope in the Plymouth Schools that Spasic read to the Board members. Jefferson Principal, Angie Mills, also shared her approval of the project.
Spasic also briefed the Board on how the Kids Hope Program adheres to legislation that calls for a separation of church and state. She referred to literature provided by Kids Hope that states, “Church mentors sign an agreement that specifically states they will consistently abide by the boundaries of church-state separation.”
The Board voted unanimously to allow Spasic to continue the efforts to bring the program to Jefferson.”
