Overview:

Reliance Bank and Westchester Elementary School developed a community-school partnership in November of 2002 that allowed students to make a connection between what is learned in the classroom environment and the real world. This relationship provided an opportunity for the business to significantly impact the students’ education and for the students to give something back to the community.

Westchester Elementary School:

Westchester Elementary is a school of approximately 425 students. It houses a diverse population of students in grades kindergarten through five. The curriculum at Westchester includes: reading, writing, math, science, social studies, health, physical education, art, music, library, and technology. Westchester provides services for students who are academically challenged, as well as for the gifted and talented.

The mission of the Kirkwood R-VII School District, personalized educational network rich in tradition and energized by future possibilities, is to create environments characterized by a passion for learning, purposeful discovery and expectations of excellence in order to guarantee that each learner achieves personal goals, academic success, and becomes a leader in society.

Reliance Bank:
Reliance Bank is relatively new to the Kirkwood-Des Peres community. The president, Mr. Von Rohr, has worked with schools in the past to mentor financially challenged students to reach their full academic potential. Teresa Hancock, vice-president of Reliance Bank, has been the liaison between the bank and our school. She has encouraged employees at Reliance Bank to join in the partnership and take an active role in working with our school.

Partners in Education:
Partners in Education connects children and classroom teachers with corporate, education, volunteer, government, and civic leaders. These partners play significant roles in changing the content and delivery of education services to children and their families.

P.I.E. Activities:

• Mrs. Phillips-Coan’s choirs sang Christmas carols at the bank.
  
• Mrs. Campbell’s art class made ornaments for the bank’s tree.
  
• Reliance Bank employees participated in the 1^st grade reading incentive program, “Read for the Stars.”
  
• Reliance Bank sponsored a booth at our PTO “Family Fun Night.”
  
• First grade took a field trip to Reliance Bank.
  
• Reliance Bank employees worked with second grade students on their science “machinery” unit.
  
• Mrs. Campbell and her art students created pictures during the year to be on display at the bank.
  
• Reliance Bank employees volunteered to read with students who needed additional help in reading.
  
• Reliance Bank employees demonstrated the Six Pillars of Education (Westchester’s character education program) when working.
  
• Reliance Bank employees worked with our school to create “stars” to display in the bank for donations to the USO.
  
• Reliance Bank loaned Mrs. Newman's class money for their Book Buy.
• Reliance Bank donated the door prize for the end-of-the year dance.

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