'Teachable moments' come from community's support of SYS through school donations

 
To the Editor:
Having been a teacher at Southwestern Youth Services for many years, one of the things I have learned is how important it is to seize on those “teachable moments.” 
You know the ones: they come unexpectedly, at odd times and often don’t have any relevance to the classroom lesson you are teaching at the moment. 
Because of the challenging nature of our school, teaching adjudicated as well as social services boys, the teachable moments may come unexpectedly but because of the community in which we live, they come frequently and are most welcome. 
I am referring specifically to one of the most recent donations that came our way from the Salvation Army Red Kettle fund. SYS was the recipient of a large amount of school supplies in addition to a number of backpacks, which go to each of the kids upon their return to their home schools.
As many of you in the area may know, SYS tries hard to reach out and do community service as often as is possible. So, the “teachable moment” comes when they are given school supplies and a backpack as a gift from the community. The lesson is that communities work together.  And for kids who hail from broken families, are lost within their own communities, and who have often slipped through the cracks of the school system, a giving, caring community offers unending lessons in kindness, compassion and concern.
We are so thankful to live in such a community.
Carole Naasz
Southwestern Youth Services
Education and Community Relations