The Payson Roundup / Transitioning to high school

The Payson Roundup / Transitioning to high school

What a great way for upperclassmen to welcome freshmen

Way to go Link Crew - makin' house calls! Awesome.

http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2011/07/18/news/doc4e24ce152fbb3657727112.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Link Crew Program Receives Promising Practices Award for Character Education

July 20, 2011…Tucson, AZ - The Vail School District in Tucson, Arizona has received a Promising Practices Award from the Character Education Partnership (CEP) in Washington, DC for effectively implementing Link Crew, a freshman transition program that promotes character, reduces bullying and improves attendance and grades.

“As we finish this school year and reflect on the violence that jolted the community of Tucson last January, our district is honored to receive recognition for our efforts to restore a sense of safety and caring in our schools, said Krysta Gypton, who heads the service learning program at the district.

04/21/11Wendy Kopp - Founder of Teach for America

04/21/11Wendy Kopp - Founder of Teach for America: "Hear what problems teachers face today and learn what can be done for things to get better tomorrow"

Cities Take Aim at Truancy - US News and World Report

Cities Take Aim at Truancy - US News and World Report

HOW SERVICE BUILDS CHARACTER

Outline for Character Education Workshop
by Lori Butterworth


To bring this workshop to your school or group, please contact: The Boomerang Foundation

Meaningful partnerships with community nonprofit organizations can help young people build confidence in their ability to have a positive, direct impact on issues that are important to them. In this lively, humorous and interactive session, you’ll learn about what nonprofits are looking for…and not looking for… in teen volunteers. Participants will come away with a philosophical framework and practical tools that can be used to create community service programs that are aligned with the goals of the nonprofit sector.

Background/strategies/goals:
Imagine youth taking leadership roles within nonprofit organizations to address emerging community needs. Imagine that any young person with an idea to make the world a better place is supported by nonprofit organizations willing to invest in and encourage their success.  

BOOMERANG NEWSFLASH - THE LATEST BUZZ

Santa Cruz High School Junior, Holly Borg, President of the Interact Club at Santa Cruz High and Area Director for Interact has done more to make the world a better place than most adults three times her age. Borg was awarded the first annual "Boomerang Foundation You Get Back What You Give Award" which includes a $500 scholarship. Holly plans to use the scholarship toward her dream to become a doctor serving those without access to medical care. Read more news from Boomerang...

March 1st Parent Forum Workshop "How Community Service Builds Character" PCS 255 Swift St. Santa Cruz 7 - 9 pm

DailyGood: Runner Crawls to a Finish For Her Coach

Good News From School! 
Here's is a heart-warming story originally published in the New York Times.
"Jim Tracy, a cross-country coach at San Francisco's University High School, was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and now walks with difficulty using braces on his legs and his back. But that doesn't stop him from coaching. And inspiring. At the state meet this year, star runner Holland Reynolds collapsed near the finish line. Despite all odds, she finished the race..."

Click this link to read the entire story: DailyGood: Runner Crawls to a Finish For Her Coach

The Most Critical Year of High School

 by Tara Leonard and Lori Butterworth

On January 3rd the Consortium for Chicago School Research and The Institute of Education Sciences released a study about high school graduation. The key indicator used in the study for high school graduation was whether or not students were “on track” their freshman year.  According to the study "on track" means:

1. Earned enough credits to be promoted to grade 10. 
2. Had no more than one semester “F” in a core course (English, math, science, and social studies). 

 

While there is evidence emerging among researchers and educators about the importance of mitigating the academic challenges that complicate the first year of high school, it's time to put in place effective prevention programs that address not just academic issues, but also the array of social and emotional challenges young people face as they enter high school. 

Study Confirms Link to Character Education and Academic Performance

Study released confirming that character education has a significant impact on academic performance. Link Crew and WEB are effective programs that promote character education.

Click here to read about this study.

When You're REQUIRED to Volunteer

by Danielle Saporta and Lori Butterworth

So, you’ve been required to volunteer by your school, a teacher...or the court. It sounds like a huge effort and kind of a pain, right? You wake up early on a Saturday, do a ton of work, and all you get is a signed paper? Wrong. You can get A LOT more out of your donated time and energy than a signed piece of paper and a wasted Saturday, if you approach community service in this way:

Think about all of the things you like to do. Do you like to walk your dog? Cool, you can go around your neighborhood and walk your neighbors’ dogs. Like gardening? There are community gardens EVERYWHERE that could always use an extra set of hands! Do you obsessively watch Food Network and invent new varieties of cupcakes all the time? Put those skills to use, gather some friends together and raise money for a valuable cause! If you like to do art, volunteer at a preschool and help kids with their art projects.

The Source the Idea for the Boomerang Foundation - A Rainbow

by Lori Butterworth

“Sometimes not having any idea where we’re going works out better than we could possibly have imagined.” – Ann Patchett

I was sitting at my desk at Jacob's Heart when the phone rang. It was a woman who said she was from the Rainbow Girls. I had no idea who or what a Rainbow Girl was so I asked.

“They are a group of girls 13-17 years old and they do community service together. Every year they choose a cause to support and this year they have chosen Jacob's Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services.” Apparently one of the girl’s parents had read an article I had written for the San Jose Mercury News. The woman on the phone asked if the team leader, a 17-year-old named Rhiannon, could come by my office and get some information and talk about their plans.

As a former high school teacher, any time a teenager wants to do something good, I’m all over it!