Brumby School Mates Project

School Mates is a project with Brumby Elementary School sustained by East Cobb Rotary for fifteen years. As a Title I school Brumby serves a diverse student population of over 900 students with 23% as English Language Learners receiving ESOL support and 11% of students receiving special education services. In addition, 79% of the student population qualify for free and reduced breakfast and lunch, and the transiency rate of 46% means that almost half of the students who begin the year at Brumby are not enrolled by the end of the year due to turnover. Support from the Rotary Club of East Cobb is important for developing literacy in English, mathematics and technology. Project components include: 1) BOOKS FOR STUDENTS signed with an encouraging note by the program speaker at each week's club meeting, 2) PARTICIPATION IN SPECIAL PROGRAMS such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) Days, Read All Day on Dr. Seuss's birthday (March 3, 2017), and Career Day, and 3) an ANNUAL CURRICULUM CONTRIBUTION - This year funds were provided through a District 6900 grant and from East Cobb Rotary to acquire a one-year subscription to Education City's Learn English program for Kindergarten through 5th grade students in support of educators and tutors helping students build English language skills for mastering required learning standards and advancing digital literacy. Club members met at Brumby in December to work with students one-to-one for demonstrations of learning and personal interaction with Rotarians. Students demonstrated coding and programming skills they are learning through the assistance of ipads donated by East Cobb Rotary. One club member serves on Brumby's School Council and its Foundation Board. East Cobb Rotary believes in investing in these "at hope" students as one very important means of SERVING HUMANITY.