|
Mayerson Service Learning Initiative
Newsletter May 2011
|
|
In This Email:
National Youth Service Summit Highlights & Reflections
Cooper HS: Energy Expo
Highlands HS: Living Gift Market
Woodfill ES: Empty Bowls
|
|
|
National Youth Service Summit: April 2, 2011
|
|
Jefferson Awards for Public Service
|
The National Jefferson Service Awards are presented to community volunteers who have had a significant impact upon their community.As a regional partner with the Jefferson Awards, Children, Inc. will send one Youth Servant Leader Awardee to Washington, D.C. to participant in several days of service, fellowship and celebration at the Annual Gala in June 2011. The local awardee is chosen based upon a nomination process and selection by a committee of Rotary Club members. The local Jefferson Award winner, along with three finalists, was announced at the 2011 National Youth Service Summit during the Symposium Celebration. The winner will receive a paid trip to Washington, D.C., including hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation.
Nicholas Tippenhauer, a junior at Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, is this year's regional Jefferson Award Youth Servant Leader awardee. Nick reflected that his service experience “—has changed my definition of community. I now see myself as a citizen of the world”. Over the years, he has volunteered at a YMCA summer camp for kids with epilepsy, volunteered in his church, tutored young people and organized toy drives through the National Math Honor Society. Nick became very involved with Hands Across the Water, a service learning project that was initiated in his chemistry class at Highlands. Along with his classmates he advocated and raised money to provide safe drinking water for less developed nations. These actions have had an enormous impact on Nick, stating that “—I will draw on my experiences in order to make choices for the betterment of the global community”.
The other regional finalists recognized for their service are Nicole Nesmith, Randall K. Cooper High School, Union, Kentucky; Dustin Wolfe, Walton-Verona High School, Walton, Kentucky; and Stephen Boisvert, Larry A. Ryle High School, Union, Kentucky. Each was recognized and honored for their service and volunteerism in their communities.
We congratulate all four of our regional servant leaders for their innovation, vision, and dedication to service of others in their communities.
|
Elementary/Middle School Project with Local Impact:
Summit View ES, Halloween Helper's Costume Closet
|
|
Elementary/Middle School with International Impact:
Turkey Foot MS, Water for Sudan
|
|
High School Project with Local Impact: Avondale Youth Council
|
|
High School Project with International Impact: Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Kenya
|
Transformational Learning Center: NYSS Reflection
|
Covington’s Transformational Learning Center’s Girls Unite as One took their service learning initiatives to the streets in Cincinnati for the National Youth Service Summit. With their teacher, Deborah Winkler, the group participated in break-out sessions and lecture series on Friday afternoon which culminated with a celebration that included music, dancing and a poetry slam all presented by the young people in attendance. On Saturday the girls represented Covington and TLC at the symposium, an exhibition of youth service in a science-fair format. Girls Unite as One displayed their Anti-Bully campaign, Pennies for Peace project, and Yellow Ribbon Support Center outreach.
The NYSS offered the girls an opportunity to share their experiences and learning with the greater community as well as reflect upon the service they have been doing. “The thing I liked about [attending] NYSS was the variety of student groups there that encouraged us to achieve what I didn’t think we could”, said DeMesha. “I learned how to help others while helping myself. I learned about the joy you feel after helping people.” Rhianna appreciated that the event was active and she liked meeting new people. For her it was an experience in personal growth. “I learned about what kind of behavior I have towards others and how to control it. This experience has actually inspired me because now I know I can control my feelings in many different ways.” The girls are motivated to take their skills and talents and inspire others to learn and serve.
|
|
St. Francis de Sales: NYSS Reflection
|
|
St. Francis De Sales goes to the National Youth Service Summit
Submitted by Alison Burns, Art Teacher
The NYSS was a great opportunity for our students to get motivated about service in our community and beyond! The whole event had this great buzz about doing good things!
Our students were able to choose which service work that we would do for the day - they chose to participate in the Cincinnati Park Board service. The bus was loaded with youth from a broad range of backgrounds from all over the Greater Cincinnati area. We worked in a former dumping grounds that is being rehabilitated into a nature preserve in the Northside area. The large group planted over 200 native trees, plants, and shrubs, spread two huge mulch piles all around the grounds, moved rocks, and worked on creating a trail that will eventually be several miles long. The youth displayed team work and so much work got done! It was incredible to see how much could get accomplished in just a few short hours with a large group of motivated people. We got muddy, planted trees, rode on wheel barrows, found some old bones of some kind, and just had a great time!
After the hard teamwork that the youth put forth there was a party on Fountain Square! It took quite a while for the students to get food (the line was very long) and it was very windy but the kids loved it! After eating, students enjoyed the band!
The NYSS Fair had great energy! Every group was enthused about sharing the service they are doing for the community whether it was local or international. Youth were all around sharing their service stories and ideas. The youth also loved being in the "fancy hotel" for the event! It was a great day that was so much fun! The organizers were welcoming, friendly, and really encouraging!
Diamond, a 7th grader at St. Francis De Sales was excited about the NYSS event. She wasn’t sure what she was getting herself into, but once things got started she was glad to be a part of something so meaningful. “I was so tired, but it was worth it”, she admitted afterwards. “We planted so many plants, and met so many people”. Other students agreed. They were happy to have the opportunity to participate in the community service and share their service learning with others. Visiting other student exhibits was also a highlight for the students from St. Francis De Sales. Learning about how young people are helping to raise awareness of HIV in Africa, and how youth can affect change through providing clothes for others, were especially interesting. They left feeling good about the service they are part of and are inspired to continue their service learning efforts.
|
|
North Pointe ES: Panther Path
|
Students from North Pointe Elementary displayed their year-long service learning project at the National Youth Service Summit. Fourth graders have been constructing a nature trail for use by the public and students at North Pointe. Throughout the year, students have solicited donations for the path, learned which plants would thrive, built bird houses, and surveyed the student body on a name for the trail with the winner being, “Panther Path”.
Students look forward to the “grand opening” of their path which will take place on Saturday, May 21 st. They passed out directions to the trail at NYSS and invited all to come and witness their hard work for themselves. The event will provide a great opportunity for the public to visit the nature trail and for students to share their success with the many volunteers and community members who helped make this vision possible |
|
Cooper High School’s Energy League educates and entertains visitors during their Energy Carnival and Expo. The service learning event featured local vendors who shared energy-saving tips and information. Students wowed the crowds with science activities demonstrating the energy of sound, light and thermodynamics.
Students were impacted by their participation:
"I liked working with school-age kids and seeing them get excited about learning something new."
"You don’t have to be in class to learn. You just need to be in a fun, safe environment."
"I believe we had a great impact on the community, and we inspired young children to take action."
|
|
Highlands HS: Living Gift Market
|
|
Highlands High Students educate the community about Heifer International, raising awareness about international market economies, poverty and hunger. More than $1700 was raised during the service learning program. The funds will help to support struggling families build sustainable futures.
Students had a positive response to participating:
"This project gave me a wider view of the world and helped me to learn how simple actions can lead to large benefits."
"I had the opportunity to use my leadership and creative abilities and have lots of fun with classmates."
"Made me see what a big impact a small group of students can have."
To learn more about Heifer International and ways that your students can learn and serve, go to www.heifer.org |
|
Woodfill ES: Empty Bowls, Empty Bellies
|
The Woodfill 5th grade and Kindergarten classes partnered together this year in an effort to focus on the awareness that many children in the Cincinnati/NKY areas experience food insecurity. Through this project students raised money for the Free store Food bank’s Power Pack program. Children in the program receive power packs on Friday so that they have something to eat when they are away from school. Woodfill students sold their hand painted bowls as part of an evening family soup meal. The culminating event was only possible with the help of Highland High School Culinary students and their teacher, Dianne Alexander. The Culinary “Cooks” class created and served the simple but delicious meal. This project was a collaboration across several grade levels and two schools!
The following is excerpted from Fifth grader Ashlee’s On Demand writing reflection. The directions said to “write an article for your school’s newspaper to share the “Empty Bowls, Empty Bellies” project. Be sure to explain the project/what you did, who it impacts and what you learned.”
“What Were They Raising Money for Anyway?”
By Ashlee Duncan
What we were raising (money) for is to help children have full bellies instead of empty bellies. The bowls we made were supposed to represent empty bowls. On the soup night, we put the soup in the bowls.(Then) they were supposed to represent full bowls and full bellies. We had a lot of fun working on the bowls. We also had a lot of fun working with the kindergarten.
What I learned is, “I can help anyone at anytime not matter how big or small.” Some others say they learned they are artistic. Also, my friend Grace M. says, ”A bowl can be a miracle worker.” Just remember anyone can help, no matter who or where. You can help out.
I learned a lot during this project. One thing I learned is that we raised $1,550.00. Each power pack is $3.50. We raised enough money to buy almost 400 power packs; this means almost 400 kids will have food for a few days!!!
|
|
Contact Information: (859) 431-2075
Schools interested in sending project photos and articles for the newsletter or website may send them to mconnolly@childreninc.org.
Mary Kay Connolly
Service Learning Director
Extension 223
|
This is a publication of The Children Inc Mayerson Service Learning Initiative
1053 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011
|
|
|
|
