12 BOCNEWS.com APRIL 2018 FREE EVENT CALENDAR Revival APRIL 6th — Friday One Night Revival "Suffragan Bishop", Robert Martin, Jr. Zion Temple Church, Moving Forward. Host Church Issues of Life Church Ministries, Charlene A. Howard, Senior Pastor. Revival Location Solomon Temple Missionary Baptist Church 3880 Elm Street Denver, CO. 80207. COGIC NE District Meeting APRIL 15-20 — Church of God In Christ, Northeast District Meeting. Sunday 5pm. Youth Explosion; Monday, Musical Door's open at 6:30pm Concert Starts at 7pm; Tuesday -- Friday Prayer 6:30pm, Service at 7pm Community Round Table APRIL 20-21 — 5pm Friday Colorado Black Round Table 2018 Mid Term Election information, . Leadership Discussion 6:30 PM. Reception Holiday Inn Stapleton 3333 Quebec St. Denver: Saturday 9am-12pm Colorado Critical Issues Discussion on "Education and Economic Opportunity in the Black Community" H. Davis Rec Center, 3334 Holly St. For info call 303-745-9649 Prayer Breakfast & Womens Day APRIL 21-22 — SAT: Life By Design Ministries Women's Department is hosting it's 2nd Annual Prayer Breakfast from 9am-11am. SUN: Women's Day Service from 4-7pm. 1756 S.Chambers Rd Aurora, 80018. All are welcome Praise & Prayer APRIL 22 — Sunday, Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church Senior Steppers 8th Annual Spring Tea-SIP: Praise & Prayer at 3pm Donation $15 Rising Star , 1500 S. Dayton St. Mercedes DeVille,303-596-6050 For more info. Making a Difference as a Teacher: Nicole West There is no argument that some school districts in the Denver Metropolitan area do much better than others. A lot of it due to the areas of town that the schools are located and provide a better academic and financial atmosphere for students. Nicole West is a teach- er with Denver Public Schools and doesn't hesitate to talk about the disparities between schools. She teaches science, technology, engineering and math. Her students consist mostly of lower income Hispanic and African American students. "Resources are differ- ent compared to when I was working at a school in the Stapelton area. That school had smart boards. The school I am at now in Denver does not have smart boards. The Stapleton school students also had iPads for students to use and chrome books (lap tops)." She said while lap tops are available for students in many Denver schools, they only have a certain amount of them per grade to hand out to stu- dents to share. And she expresses how there was more engagement among the principle and students at the Stapelton school compared to the school she is cur- rently working at. The Stapelton school consisted of more white students from wealthier middle-class families. Another factor, West adds, was many students at the current school she is at did not speak English very well and had a harder time doing their home- work and needed more tutoring. "I try to help them and say they can do anything. I don't make them feel they can't do it," she says in trying to help that break that cycle of poverty before they end up dropping out of school. "Parents need to be more involved, come to school more and volun- teer. Just being there and making themselves visible." Another example, West sees in the differ- ence between wealthier schools that have more resources is because of the high parent participa- tion. "When you see them (parents) more involved, then the teachers know they have an interest in their child's educa- tion." Of course, this is the age of technol- ogy and Denver Public Schools are cer- tainly pushing that among students. As an educator, West still says there are still those disparities within the school system but she continues to focus on teaching having faith in God. "I am a follower of Jesus Christ and my calling is working with children and letting my light shine through them. Letting them know there is something more positive than what they are seeing out there." Nicole West COMMUNITY