Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — Most kids can't wait to get out of school when the final bell rings. Not so for 60 Lincoln Jr. High students, at least not on Tuesdays.
Tuesday afternoons between 3 and 5 p.m. are devoted to Five Star, an after-school program that uses volunteer "coaches," games, and discussion times to encourage students to live a "Five Star life."
"So many kids feel like they are losing, and we want them to win," said LJH head coach Casey Martin.
The Five Star program teaches five core values: respect, responsibility, courage, sacrifice, and integrity—and students spend at least four weeks going over each value.
"Five Star has been a tremendous program for the students at LJH in many ways," said LJH principal Dan Funston. "Too often we teach character traits in an abstract way that students do not understand. Five Star gives students practical applications."
Funston also said that he has seen students involved in Five Star significantly raise their grades.
Students connect with their coach when they first arrive at Five Star (held in LJH's cafeteria). They have a snack, participate in a group game, do Five Star options (could be another game, a craft, or homework time), talk about the last week's challenges and establish new challenges for the next week. The coaches, all volunteers, encourage the students to think of new ways they could utilize one of the core values in their everyday life that week.
Martin said that this is the program's third year at LJH. Currently, about 20 students are on a waiting list. Five Star is open to any student, but since all the coaches are volunteers and all the funds come from donations, there is a limit to how many students the program can handle. More volunteers and more donations would enable more students to sign up for the program.
"The volunteers that Five Star recruits are top notch," said Funston. "All of our volunteers are people of outstanding character who are leaders in our community."
The commitment of the adult volunteers, added Funston, is a big part of what makes the program successful.
"The coach becomes a part of the (student's) life," said Martin.
Martin is seeking support from the community so that Five Star can continue at LJH.
"We want (Five Star) Plymouth to be sustainable," said Martin. "We want to community to get behind it."
Currently, the program could use more coaches for next year as well as donations from either individuals or businesses.
How to help
According to Martin, Five Star is now in 14 school corporations in Northern Indiana, with "a huge waiting list." The program costs $25,000 per year, per school. The school does not pay any of this cost as Five Star is completely supported by donations. 75 percent of that comes from individual donors, and the rest from company and business sponsors.
If you are interested in finding out more about Five Star or donating, visit their website at www.fivestarlife.org or call 574-266-4038.
If you are interested in volunteering at LJH with Five Star (either coaching or just helping occasionally) call Principal Dan Funstion, 574-936-3113.
Reprinted by permission of the Pilot News
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