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Thanksgiving at PASS
By Mary Madewell
Published November 28, 2009
A 14-year tradition continued this past week at Paris Independent School District’s Paris Alternative School for Success (PASS), when the staff prepared a Thanksgiving meal for more than 130 students, parents and invited guests.
Forty youth greeted parents and other guests as students pinned name tags and escorted guests to tables decorated by staff member Emily Parker and students.
“The purpose of the PASS Thanksgiving dinner has always been and will continue to be a celebration where the staff emulates for their students the qualities of service to others, giving of ourselves and being thankful,” principal Joan E. Moore said.
Students expressed enthusiasm about the day.
“This food is really good and we get to eat so much,” a student said.
Another said he was really happy PASS had the dinner because he does not get to have Thanksgiving at home.
Still another youth said his mother brought Louisiana hot sauce for the greens.
A student delivered a welcome and offered a prayer of thanks, acknowledging the armed forces from the past and present.
The first campus Thanksgiving feast was in 1996 when the school first located in the downtown Police Athletic League (PAL) facility with 65 students and guests in attendance.
Then named The Paris Alternative Learning Center, the campus opened its doors in August 1995.
The building housing the program was rented from PAL and consisted of one large classroom, two smaller classrooms and an office. The PAL gymnasium was utilized for physical education classes.
The staff consisted of one teacher/director, an additional certified teacher and two teacher assistants. Within a short period of time, an additional teacher was added, enabling the director to handle discipline, administrative duties, transferring of students into and out of the program and time to work one-on-one with students.
The center used behavior modification and discipline intervention techniques with 19 high school students and seven middle school students. At full capacity the program served 48 students.
Moore, who has certification in education with an inner city minor, designed the disciplinary program that was implemented with the goal to provide an opportunity for students to achieve success in education.
In the summer of 1999, the program relocated to the former East Paris Baptist Church building at 1513 Lamar Ave.
After renovations were completed, PASS opened its doors Aug. 11, 1999, and housed the DAEP (Discipline Alternative Education Program) for elementary through high school students, whose placement is due to persistent misbehavior or Title V felonies.
The ACE (Accelerated Credit Education) program for students who are unable to graduate with their class due to being behind in credits also began. The ACE program is currently housed at Paris High School.
“We now have 19 members on staff and every student in the discipline program receives character education training in conjunction with their core and elective classes,” Moore said.
“All students enrolled at the PASS Campus are taught the Positive Action curriculum, which provides them with the skills necessary to make better choices in school, at home and in the community,” the principal said.
In addition to Moore, staff members include Deeann Hamner, Regina McAfee, Yolanda Kearney, Becky Owens, Sue Landis, Lynn Rothfuss, Michael Johnson, Brandi Raulston, Emily Parker, Pat Rea, Anne Schaller, Shamra Kirschbaum, John Schaller, Lance Parker, Deborah McCraw, Richard Cook, Tonya Lay and Linda Daniels.
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