They are the fortunate ones.
In other places around the county, more than 1,000 students wake themselves up in the same clothes they wore yesterday, and will wear again today, slip on worn-out shoes and get themselves to school, probably without having anything to eat.
These children might have slept in tents or cars. If they lucked out, they might have found room in a shelter or a motel.
They are having an “out-of-money experience,” commonly known as homelessness.
The number of homeless children attending Thurston County schools increased by 56 percent from 2006-07 to 2009-10, significantly faster than the statewide growth of 29.7 percent.
Thurston County has the 14th-highest percentage of homeless high school students in the state at 2.9 percent, but it is fifth in sheer numbers with 1,158, according to data collected by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The economic tornado wreaking havoc across the nation is finally spilling over into the schools. High rates of joblessness, housing foreclosures and bankruptcies are leaving many families broken, divided and without places to live.
Olympia School District Homeless Coordinator, Sarah Greenwell, told supporters of the district’s Education Foundation last week that she assists more than 450 students every year, ranging in age from preschoolers to high school seniors.
Thanks to the Emergency Checkbook Fund started several years ago by Denny and Paula Heck, Greenwell and OSD principals can buy homeless students and others in dire need the basic necessities, such as food, a warm coat or school supplies.
The fund has even been used recently to get the electricity and water turned on for three families all living in the same house.
All eight Thurston County school districts have a homeless liaison and some means of providing emergency support. But it is a sad reality.
The problem will continue to grow until long after the global economy makes its recovery.
Listening to the stories told by Aaron Davis, principal at Reeves Middle School, and Bob Hodges, principal at Garfield Elementary – where 60 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced lunches and where students speak 17 different first languages – would make even the crustiest curmudgeon weepy.
But what amazes me is grasping the resilience and self-motivation of homeless children determined to get a public school education. There’s no one getting them up in the morning. No parent is forcing them to do their homework at night.
These kids are overcoming incredible adversities – obstacles that would weigh most of us down – because they are determined to make a better life for themselves than their parents or families could provide.
These are strong young people, and they warrant our support. Thurston First Bank sponsored a breakfast for the OSD Education Foundation to raise about $20,000. The seven other school districts in Thurston County have similar fundraising events.
If you want to help break the pattern of generational poverty and the social problems that accompany it, then support the great kids who are trying to improve their lives.
ET CETERA
Time to clean up downtown Olympia in preparation for the fall Arts Walk. Volunteers will begin swarming at 8.30 a.m. next Saturday at the Olympia Press Building on State Street and tidy up until a free lunch at noon. ... I’m hoping that movie star and comedian Larry Miller mentioned his upcoming Oct. 20 performance at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts on the Jay Leno Show on Friday night. ... The WCPA 2011-12 season kicks off next week with CenterFest, an online auction of 26 feet of art and a rare performance by Lorna Luft, the “other” daughter of Judy Garland.
George Le Masurier, publisher of The Olympian, can be reached at 360-357-0206 or glemasurier@theolympian.com.
