North Cedar’s ‘school mom’

LOWDEN - North Cedar's high school advisors are meant to be the people who their advisees can come to with any problem.

Advisors stick with the same group of students from their freshmen to senior year. One advisor in particular goes above and beyond her duties to make her sure students' high school experience is filled with enriching memories.

Jane Koch's freshmen advisees could tell you of some great experiences they have had, even in the short time they have been in high school. To most, she is considered their 'school mom.”

She makes sure all their grades are up and stay up. If one of her advisees has a low grade, she helps them in the class they are struggling with. Along with the academic side, she also teaches them life skills, such as community service.

On one of the first nice days in spring, Koch supplied her students with brooms and buckets to go out and help the school custodian, George Housley. She told them about how much Housley does for the school and how as a thank you, they should help. In about 20 minutes, the students had filled more than one wheel barrel full of debris from the parking lot.

Though Koch does put her advisees to work sometimes, she always includes time for fun.

Before Christmas break, Koch set up an assembly line for her advisees to make cookie jars for their parents, which all would agree were delicious. But what her students enjoy most is when she bakes and the treats are brought for them. No one could say anything bad about Koch's baking.

Along with pleasing their taste buds, Koch lets them explore their artistic side. For every season and holiday, she puts the students to work on her door. Many people walk by and comment on the fun door that brightens up the hallway.

Probably most famous being the large Hershey Kiss for Valentines Day.

Needless to say, it's always a great day in Koch's advisory. Whenever you need her, she is there, no matter how many other things she has going on. The skills she teaches her advisees will be meaningful and lifelong.