By Justin Creech
Staff writer
Thursday, August 30, 2012

Partners, parents, students and members of the Fort Belvoir Garrison staff reaffirmed Belvoir’s commitment to its youth during the Partners in Education Reception at the Officers Club Aug. 23.

The goal of the PIE program is to enhance the learning environment and enrich the educational experience for Belvoir youth.

The program adds to Fairfax County Public school’s curriculum by adding a real life aspect to it, according to Wendy O’Sullivan, Child, Youth & School Services School Liaison Officer.

“Being able to bring someone in from the working world can make (lessons) real for the students and make them want to engage in the curriculum,” said O’Sullivan. “It engages the students more so than words in a textbook. Engineers, aviators and biologists coming in and sharing their experiences from the environment they work only makes a child want to learn more.”

According to Col. Gregory D. Gadson, Fort Belvoir’s garrison commander, one of the great strengths of our Army is its partnerships with the local community.

“These partnerships help students see that adults value education,” said Gadson. “It is vital for us to support the education of our youth.”

Gadson’s remarks were followed by the signing of the Partner in Education Proclamation for the 2012-13 school year.

Belvoir Federal Credit Union has been a partner with the Fort Belvoir Elementary school for several years. The partnership program allows military children to experience being a part of a community, which is difficult for them at times, according to Stephanie Crabtree, BFCU Installation Liaison/Membership Development Officer.

“If (children) know people outside of post support and care about them it gives them that community feeling,” said Crabtree. “I think that’s really important.”

A second goal of PIE is to empower the future leaders of America. Students being able to connect with real-life professionals are one way the program accomplishes this goal.

“The interaction with the real-life professionals helps the students to become more interested in education and stay connected with education,” said O’Sullivan.

PIE isn’t just set up for organizations to reach out to local students. The Commonwealth of Virginia has a service learning requirement for 6th to 12th grade students where they must complete a certain amount of volunteer hours each school year.

After each volunteer assignment, students have to fill out a report saying how the experience will impact their voting, how it ties into being a model citizen, what a model citizen is and what their next volunteer opportunity is going to be.

Seeing organizations and individuals who volunteer their time for the good nature of doing it is beneficial for the students as well, according to Megan O’Day, CYSS School Liaison Officer.

Enriching the students learning environment and empowering them for the future are goals of the program, but it is also important the children know there are people in the community who care about them.

When students volunteer, they see what service learning gives them on a personal level through what they learn in school, said O’Day. But, when they see real partnerships in the community, not someone who has to do it for a school credit and the person just happen to be the headquarters battalion commander … that makes a difference.

“We want the children to know we care about them,” said Crabtree. “We also want them to know we are willing to help them achieve and succeed in whatever they want to do.”