Littlerock News July 2010


	Issue October 2010 - Littlerock News is a community effort, all volunteer staff

The Fruit Basket of the
Antelope Valley

ANNIVERSARY

Fifty three years and counting.
On September 7th. , 1957 Mary Sears and Joe Skirvin were married in the Littlerock Bible Church. located at
8533 east Avenue T. Their marriage was performed by Pastor Leonard Hillstrom.

Mary was born in Bell, California in 1941. Her parents were Elmer and Katie Sears. They moved to
Littlerock when Mary was in 5th grade. She attended Kepple grade school , Lancaster and Palmdale high schools.

Joe was born in Oklahoma in 1929, His parents were John and Caroline Skirvin They moved to California in 1934.
At the age of thirteen years Joe went to the state of Washington and it was there he was drafted into the army in
1951 and served through 1955. .In 1956 Joe moved to Littlerock and lived with some friends on Avenue S..
In 1956 he met Mary and they were married in 1957.

They have two sons John and wife Glena, Ken and wife Carla., two grandchildren Katie and Cody.

Happy belated Anniversary Mary and Joe.

The Littlerock Bible Church is now known as Cornerstone Church and is still located at 8533 East Avenue T.

By Frances Young


	Check out the Littlerock Website for Upcoming Events, News, & Useful Links New for the Website is a Littlerock Calendar that can be edited for your special events. www.littlerock-ca.us


	Fundraising Louise Birch Levin It's time. Packets will arrive from school alerting you to the fundraiser. The PTA/O, staff, or the teacher organizing it cares about your child's school. However it was masterminded, know that the money is needed, and that your child stands to benefit in several ways. We'd like to believe that our taxes and the states' lottery systems maintain our schools, but it's not enough to cover ever-expanding costs. A majority of the education expenditures pays for personnel, which is why when schools are in trouble, there are drastic cuts here. Reducing the soap, paper towels, or class materials for an entire district hardly makes a dent in the expenses. So, after such items are trimmed to bare bones, programs such as busing (except special education) and the arts are targets for elimination; maintenance is postponed, then personnel take a hit. Usually, support staff is cut or hours are reduced. Benefits are whittled. Teachers are laid off last. We hear cries to "cut the fat" meaning reduce administrators, but that's not simple. Many state and federal programs mandate designated leadership to receive the allotted monies. Some programs have funds built in to pay for administrative positions, and that money cannot be used for anything else. Other required programs like "No Child Left Behind" don't provide salaries, but expect districts to assume the costs for completing the incredible data analysis and paper processing required. I could go on with examples, but you get the idea. To finance many needed items, schools turn to fundraising. Community members buy most of the stuff. Arguments ensue over the fact that wealthy communities can contribute more money to their schools than disadvantaged areas. The federal philosophy that all schools receive equal funding (dollars per enrollee) prevails. Wealthy schools shouldn't give their kids "extras" like music programs, field trips, art materials, library access, stadium score boards, even grass; unless lower economic schools can. In other words, if one group can't get a quality education, none should.


	When not satisfied with what the district can provide, leaders set their sights on fundraising. They identify needs and determine how to get the money to supplement their school outside of grants and yearlong efforts like recycling, and carwashes. Nowadays there are businesses that exist to provide fundraising. They promote such items as wrapping paper, candies, toys, and holiday boutiques. Representatives bring in all the stuff to sell, provide advertising materials, organizing kits for teachers and students, and even lead motivational assemblies. The more a student sells the more points earned, and the greater the individual prize beyond the money raised for the school. There are other intangible benefits for children. It can be a teambuilding activity: everyone wants playground equipment. When classrooms compete, it can help unify them. Yes, it can lead to pressure on some children, but teachers can minimize this. Yes, money gets lost or stolen, but this occurs in "real" life, too. Perhaps it helps promote responsibility and trustworthiness. Children can develop sales techniques, convincing others to believe in and support their cause. They can learn to think like another person, link selling their product to what a consumer might want. In a way, kids learn to sell themselves. Making a sale is a confidence builder. So, next time children approach you to buy something, think not how much it costs; think how it will help the child and school. Do help the child make the "pitch," by being encouraging. Consider telling him or her that you will buy something, but that s/he must tell you what it's for and identify items for sale. Don't just let the parent hand you the form; ask to have the child to sell it to you. Support your local school! Issues to discuss? Write: askdrbirch@yahoo.com.