The small side room near the entrance to the Hammond Boys & Girls Club (BGC) may have been a little crowded, but the recent (Mar. 26) Parent/Teacher Appreciation Day held within went off without a hitch.
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The jovial atmosphere found half a dozen teachers and five parents enjoying entertainment and accolades from their students/children and Betty Johnson, BGC education coordinator.
“Without our parents and teachers, we would not have a club,” Johnson said, as she began the ceremony. “We appreciate everything you do, and we want you to know we are here if you need us.”
Johnson works with the Club’s Cadets, who are ages 6-9.
Club director P.J. Jones added that the impact on the children is felt in many ways. “We want them to use the wisdom to know the difference between right and wrong. They get that from their parents and teachers,” he said. “This (event today) shows we are working hand in hand. As far as we are concerned, every day is Parent-Teacher Appreciation Day.”
Wallace Elementary second-grade teacher Leatha Oloyede (corr. sp.) was in the audience with her student Bryana Vivanco, 8, who nominated her. “I was very excited to be invited here, I had no idea the Boys & Girls Club did anything like this (event),” Oloyede said. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”
Layla Macon, 8, is a third-grader at Lafayette Elementary. Her teacher is Crystal Nelson.
“I really appreciate my teacher because she is nice,” Layla said. “She’s more than a teacher – she’s a friend, in a good way.”
Third-grade Maywood Elementary teacher Kathy Nelson said she felt honored to be at the ceremony. “This is awesome. It sends a point that we’re doing something right.”
The Hammond club, along with the other five Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana (Cedar Lake, Lake Station, Merrillville, Gary and East Chicago, joined more than 4,100 Boys & Girls Clubs across America (and on BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations) with an annual celebration of National Boys & Girls Club Week (beginning Mar. 22). The weeklong activities at each location called attention to the important role Boys & Girls Clubs play to enable nearly 4 million young people each year to achieve great futures, according to their website.
This year’s theme, ‘”Open the Door. Take the Tour'” encouraged communities, families, friends and supporters of Club members to experience first-hand how their specific location is making a difference in the lives of their young people. Tours took place during the week of March 22 – 28 at all six NWI Club sites.
“Our youth are the heart of the community and it’s our responsibility to provide a place that will positively influence and guide them during critical out-of-school hours,” said Anne Flannery President/CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. “More than 11 million youth have no place to go after school and the Boys & Girls Club offers a place where kids can learn, grow and be successful in school and life. “
She added that the Boys & Girls Club Week is a great time to see how the organization impacts the lives of young people through programs aimed to promote academic success, a healthy lifestyle and good character and leadership skills.
Each of the NWI clubs also offered various sessions each day of the celebrated week.
At the Hammond Club, in addition to Teacher/Parent Appreciation Day, other activities included a visit from Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr.; Bring a Friend Day; Eat and Draw with the Art Instructor; and Exercising with the Athletic Director.
For more information about BGCNWI, call (219) 881-1060, or visit bgcnwi.org.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter.