WOWW provides resources during school closures

AMARILLO – As the Texas Panhandle adjusts to the virtual shutdown of public life to slow the spread of coronavirus, parents are faced with the sudden need to provide educational support for children forced to continue their studies at home.

Window On a Wider World, which for almost 15 years has been providing learning experiences beyond the classroom for thousands of Panhandle kids, is stepping in to offer resources to weary parents doing their best to supplement their children’s education.

Clarendon Elementary has been a part of WOWW for years now. Principal Mike Word says, “It is so important our kids are exposed to experiences that they wouldn’t normally get in Clarendon. WOWW provided some of the coolest field trips I’ve ever seen.”

This current 2019-2020 school year Window On a Wider World provided 20 amazing field trips for Clarendon elementary students K-5 including: The WOWW Science Collaborative for 5th graders, bringing the Amarillo Opera to their school campus for the 3,4, & 5th graders, the WOWW Musical Performance at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts for the 2nd graders, and even learning song and rhythm for K-2 with Sweet Adeline’s.

“Before the middle of March, most parents had never imagined they’d be overseeing their kids’ studies,” said Catherine Meck, WOWW executive director. “While schools are doing the best they can to switch to distance learning, parents are having to fill in the gaps and keep their kids engaged. Because we have relationships with dozens of educational providers around the region, we felt we were in the best position to help.”

WOWW has compiled a resource directory of online educational resources offered by regional, state and national educational providers and posted it at www.windowonawiderworld.org/at-home-resources. The directory lists 45 educational resources ranging from the Mobeetie Jail Museum in Mobeetie, Texas, to the Smithsonian in Washington, DC

“These were existing resources that were seemingly designed for a time like this, but have been there all along,” Meck said. “In fact, this is what WOWW and our Learning Partners do the year around – provide learning experiences kids can’t always get in the classroom.”

WOWW was formed as the educational component of the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts when it was opened in 2006, where its base remains. WOWW provides enriched educational programs through arts, science and cultural experiences beyond the classroom to support the state curriculum of students in the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle.

Area schools provide funding of $8 per child to receive the benefits of WOWW that include campus visits by partners such as the Citadelle Art Foundation in Canadian and field trips to locations such as Creek House Honey in Canyon, the Don Harrington Discovery Center, Palo Duro Canyon and many other area attractions. Additionally, WOWW provides student tours of the Globe-News Center and organizes both the Science Collaborative and the WOWW Factor featuring a youth art show and a performance at the Globe-News Center.

“These experiences have been proven to deepen the learning experience for kids, and better yet, provide the inspiration for them to achieve a level of success they may not have without these enriching educational experiences,” Meck said. “And while we’d all rather be out with our friends gaining these valuable experiences, the online resources we are providing can be just as rewarding.”

Next school year when your student comes home and says, “We’re going to Palo Duro Canyon next week!”, know that Window On a Wider World books those programs for the teachers and makes sure both teacher and student have the best possible Experience Beyond the Classroom.

WOWW expects to have a great school year in just three short months and Window On a Wider World will provide an amazing service that will inspire our next generation.

For more information regarding Clarendon Elementary participating in the WOWW Program, call Window On a Wider World at 806/342-5600 and speak with Catherine Meck.