Back-to-school season is giving time for social agencies, businesses
This community's support of our school children is heart-warming. I volunteered for a couple hours last week at the HUGSS (Help Us Give School Supplies) distribution held at East High School. I was told people began lining up at 2 a.m. for the event, and was impressed that some value school supplies as much as others value concert tickets. The early morning queuing wasn't really necessary, as generous donations allowed every child in the more than 1,200 families who showed up to receive a backpack, each filled with grade appropriate supplies. The joint-organization event by Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Social Services, the Salvation Army and the Child-in-Transition and Migrant Education departments of the Anchorage School District was extremely well done. Kudos also go to the Junior ROTC, adult service clubs, like the Lions, and businesses, like Wells Fargo Bank, that provided volunteers contributing to a smoothly run day.
Later in the week, the Anchorage Police Department put on another "get ready for school" event called the Clothesline Project at the Northway Mall in which school clothing was distributed. Businesses and citizens throughout the community again donated the items. Like previous events, the line started at 9 a.m. for distribution that began at noon for a chance to collect one piece of clothing for each ticket received.
With this assistance to parents and guardians in meeting the basic needs of our school children, I am hopeful that attention can be redirected to a commitment for excellent attendance this school year. It's not rocket science to understand that regular class attendance has direct impact on academic outcomes. Other valuable contributions by parents and guardians include setting appropriate bedtimes to ensure a good night's rest, consistently reading to kids, frequently communicating the value of education in the pursuit of life-long goals and the hard work and perseverance needed by a child in order to take advantage of these educational opportunities. Teachers and administrators will be better able to advance one year of academic growth for each student with this assistance from families and the community.
Those wishing to be directly involved may contact the 90 percent by 2020 coalition (90by2020.org) or Anchorage School Business Partnerships (asdk12.org/sbp).
— Tam Agosti-Gisler
Anchorage School Board
Human race has a lot to learn from species it is extinguishing
It's ironic to learn that the polar bear, whose habitat is being destroyed by human-driven climate change, may provide an important technique for human survival of said climate change ("Inside polar bear hair: a complex, heat-holding labyrinth of pores"ADN, Aug. 11). Yet the polar bear is less likely to survive and may disappear before humans can learn other important lessons from the species ("Attorney for state says 'no science' supports decision" to protect critical polar bear habitat," ADN, Aug. 12).
It's ironic when a small group of small-minded people are in control of the fate of the Denali wolf pack ("State rejects calls for renewed ban on Denali-area wolf hunt" ADN, July 22) and choose to value a pelt ("Wolf hunt to resume Monday near Denali park" ADN, Aug. 10) over the many lessons humans could learn from the complex culture of wolves hidden in this important long-term scientifically studied wolf pack.
Is this also called "cutting off your nose to spite your face?" I struggle to maintain hope for the human race.
— Robyn Lauster
Anchorage
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