Seashore Builders Club a big help on island

Middle Academy students lend aid to the community

Corpus Christi, Texas, Caller Times
http://www.caller.com/news/2009/apr/05/seashore-builders-club-a-big-help-on-island/

CORPUS CHRISTI — Seventh-graders Veronica Morell and Maggie Swindle belted out the words to “Baa Baa Black Sheep” as they read to a group of five kindergarten students last month at Seashore Learning Center.

“Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any wool?” The words rang above the children’s heads.
Kindergarten student Kai Vargas joked and placed a small hand over the following page as the girls read.

The seventh-graders’ words stumbled, and each laughed.

“This is so funny,” Veronica said.

Veronica and Maggie are two of 22 members of the Seashore Middle Academy Builders Club, a service-oriented organization that works mostly with the Padre Island community on beach cleanups, fundraisers and reading to kindergarten students. Club sponsor Brent Rourk said club members read to 40 kindergarten students about once a month.

The academy started its club in the 2007-08 school year with more than 20 members, he said. The idea of the club seemed positive for the students, who could gain a sense of community and volunteerism through club activities, Rourk said.

Students have to earn a C or better in all of their classes to participate in the club, Rourk said, noting students don’t receive a grade, awards or community service hours for their participation.

“They get an opportunity to give from their heart,” he said. “They really feel good after they do that.”

Club students read about three to four books in each session, which rotates books and readers about every five minutes.

It would take about three weeks for a teacher to get through the same amount of books, said kindergarten teacher Tiffany Kayes.

“Our kids get a high, high exposure to literature with the help of these guys,” she said.
The children also learn to recognize word pronunciation and vocabulary through the readings, she said.

Kiwanis International, which sponsors Builders Clubs nationwide, asked Seashore Middle Academy officials if they’d be interested in starting the service-oriented club at their school, Rourk said.

Most club students have fun with the readings by singing out or creating accents for book characters.

Seventh-grader Brandon Ferguson, 12, said he enjoys all the activities the club offers, because he’s helping the community in the process.

“It’s completely charitable, which is the best part,” he said.