As Oak Park Elementary prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary this month a group of people have been working to support
the growth of its students.
This group consists of faculty, staff and volunteers, many of whom have previous ties to the school. The anniversary has given
those involved with students’ education a chance to reflect on the changes that have brought Oak Park to where it is now.
Sarah Judson, who was a student at the
school in the 1970s, is one of these people who has returned to give
back to the students.
She, along with a group from her church, volunteers by tutoring,
being lunch buddies to students and participating in leadership
programs.
The volunteers have partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for the Lunch Buddy Program, which pairs students and adults during
lunch hour to build relationships, foster encouragement and provide someone to talk to.
“I have really enjoyed it. It’s so funny, when you haven’t been there for years your perception is completely different,”
Judson said. “It’s very exciting. We are so happy to see we’re making a positive impact, one child at a time.”
Linda Bellow, a fellow student in the same grade as Judson when they were at Oak Park, has also seen the progressive changes
happening at the school. After her own positive experience as a student she decided she too wanted to come back, but as a
full-time teacher.
Now the first-grade teacher works to be helpful and supportive just as she recalls her teachers were to her. She has been
a teacher at the school for 10 years and has enjoyed seeing the effect the programs have had on students.
“When I became a teacher and was certified I wanted to come here — it was like coming home,” Bellow said.
“I don’t remember having anything like the outside organizations and volunteers coming in like we have now. They really help
the children, who enjoy talking and sharing because some don’t have anyone to talk to and it builds up trust.”
The Leader in Me program has generated a good response from educators, students and their teachers. The program is based on
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” by teaching adults leadership ethics so they can then instruct students how to
be leaders and learn responsibility.
The Junior League of Lake Charles is
one organization that has been getting involved with the leadership
program, but it isn’t
the organization’s first time going to the school. Judson
remembers when her mother was involved with Junior League when she
was a student and members would put on puppet shows for students.
Leonard Knapp, a former junior high
student at Oak Park and the parent of children who went to the
elementary school, has
joined those returning to make an impact at Oak Park. He has been
involved with several of the programs and said it has been
a fun experience to go back to the school to volunteer.
“The enthusiasm is still there, and it’s a neat experience to go back and see the school and how it’s progressed,” he said.
“You have a special attachment because your children have been there and you’ve been through that experience. So you can relate
to the students because of that and having been there and gone through this before.”