Bellevue Photo Gallery | Elementary encourages college

After teaching a “Go Ducks” chant, second grade teacher Katie Fletcher at Sherwood Forest Elementary School in Bellevue explained today’s lesson. It is designed to encourage her students to think about college.

“What are three facts you need to know to reach your career goal?” reminded the second year teacher, who has designed much of her “college-bound” curriculum. “Using a computer or books, tell me how you can become what you want to be.”

The children chose all sorts of careers to research from veterinarian to astronaut and robotics scientist to dentist. Their dreams are big and most, as the kids’ learn, will require a college degree.

“The goal of our school’s college-bound program is to inspire and build a foundation for what our students will need to get into and be successful in college,” explained Fletcher, who with a number of her peers aspire to gain entrance to a national program called the No Excuses University. “If we expose the students at an early stage to the vocabulary and the expectations, they will know they have options.”

According to Fletcher, who has approached the University of Oregon for support materials such as banners, Sherwood Forest is a diverse school with more than 30 different languages represented. In addition, more than 50 percent of the students come from families living below the poverty line.

“Many of our students have no awareness of college or graduates in their families to serve as role models,” added Fletcher, who noted that it is a huge misconception that everyone in Bellevue is rich. “We have parents working three jobs and it is sad to see how poverty affects these kids.”

Indeed, Fletcher reported that the introduction to college life and career options has excited some of the kids so much, “One girl declared she wanted to skip public school and jump straight into college!”

KOMO Newsradio reporter Jon Repp also visited Sherwood Forest.  Listen to Jon's report here.