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CIRCLE OF GRANDPARENTS A CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAM OF THE WORTHINGTON SCHOOLS AND THE PARTNERS FOR COMMUNITY AND CHARACTER
"I have a vision of grandparent-aged adults holding hands, circling our community, protecting our children and guiding them to good character - like a circle of grandparents. Steve Rowe, circa 1999
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Welcome to the website home of the Circle of Grandparents! This website is intended for you to explore and discover the exciting things happening with our Senior Citizen Volunteers in the Worthington community. Please sit back and stay awhile. We think that you'll like what you see! The first questions that we usually get are... What is the Circle of Grandparents? - The Circle of Grandparents is a group of senior citizen volunteers, who "adopt" Worthington elementary school classes to encourage responsible patterns of citizenship and character to students. Volunteer "Grandparents" discuss the community-chosen character qualities, called the Word of the Month (listed below) with their classes during monthly school visits.
The Circle of Grandparents offers a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives our young children AND. our senior volunteers! As a "Grandparent", you have are a library of knowledge just waiting to be shared with our youngest generation. Your insight will be appreciated by parents, teachers and the children. You do not have to be an actual "Grandparent" to be part of this unique program, nor do you have to live in the Worthington School District. Due to the overwhelming success of the program we always have more requests for "Grandparents" than we can fill. As a result we welcome new volunteers year-round.
This picture of "Grandparent" Bill Crowley with two of his first grade "Grandchildren" at Evening Street Elementary is a perfect example of the rewards to both "Grandparent" and "Grandchild". This is a win-win program!
What Character Traits Are Taught? -
Where do Circle volunteers work? - Volunteers are placed in one of the eleven Worthington elementary schools. When possible, volunteers are given a choice of school, grade level and even a specific class. (Do you have a grandchild in the Worthington School District? You may request his/her class.) How much time is required? - On average, the Circle of Grandparent volunteers spend two flexible hours per month (Sept. thru May) fulfilling their commitments. This includes about ninety minutes of preparation and thirty to fifty minutes of class time. Is help available to volunteers? - Yes! New volunteers ("Grandparents") meet with Debra Stephen, the Coordinator, for an individual training session, called orientation, after committing to the program for the current school year. Training takes approximately one hour. Each new "Grandparent" receives a Circle of Grandparent handbook. The handbook is a compilation of 11 years of lesson suggestions, references, and resources which is meant to spark the imagination of the new "Grandparent". Monthly (non-mandatory) meetings are also held the first Thursday of the month for inspiration, information, and support where participants can share experiences and ideas. Debra Stephen, the Coordinator, is also available by phone (614-450-6062), e-mail (pcccog@worthington.k12.oh.us) or in person.
When and How Did the Circle of
Grandparents Begin? - In January of
2000, eight senior citizen volunteers gamely stepped up when the Partners
for Community and Character (PCC) wanted to
try using the untapped resources of our senior citizens to work with the
elementary students to talk about community-chosen character values.
Through their dogged determination, diligence, and commitment the program
has grown in each of its 11 years in existence.
Founding Members of the PCC Circle of Grandparents were inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame on May 26, 2011. Shown above are front row (l-r): Claudia Timko (widow of James Timko), Annette Petrozzi (widow of Anthony Petrozzi), Kathy Shaffer, Polly Tewart. Second row (l-r): Suzanne Burke (CEO, Council on Aging), Diane DeMuth, Elizabeth Hague, Bonnie Kantor-Burman (Director, Ohio Dept. of Aging) and Braxton Tewart. Missing - Betty Barbe. What is "PCC"? - The Circle of Grandparents is sponsored in part by the Partners for Community and Character (PCC). PCC began in 1997 as an association of community members, including parents, students, government, businesses, congregations, educators, and others working together to promote citizenship and character throughout the Worthington area. PCC sponsors several community programs including the Character Quality of the Month, Character in Action, Active Parenting, Youth to Youth mentoring programs, to name a few. For more information about PCC - www.communityandcharacter.org/. "The power of the world always works in circles."~ Native American Proverb
●Respect ●Responsibility ●Self-Discipline ●Compassion ●Tolerance ●Honesty ●Diligence ●Commitment ●Trustworthiness ●Moral Courage ●Spirituality ●Integrity
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