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Written by Lauren Miller
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Monday, 07 May 2012 19:13 |
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Lauren Miller, Site Coordinator at Peters Colony Elementary in Lewisville ISD, brags on a student in her after school program who petitioned to have the Communities In School program extended to run five days a week.
 Christopher is a 4th grade student at Peters Colony who absolutely loves the Communities In Schools of North Texas "Club 21" after school program. At the beginning of the semester it seemed as if Chris brought personalized pictures that he created for the Club 21 staff on a daily basis. Staff members that left Club 21, throughout the year, were always left with a sentimental picture created specifically for them.
Last month, Chris took it upon himself to start a Club 21 Petition to have Club 21 on Fridays because he loves the program so much. He asked everyone from staff to students, if they would sign his petition. I gave him a requirement of 100, and he would report to me daily how many signatures he received and how many were remaining to 100. Unfortunately, he only made it 70+ signatures on the petition. He still carries a positive attitude and affectionately reminds me when asked, "I told you I would get some signatures".
Chris is just a great kid with a big heart for learning, helping and encouraging others to do the same. He asked me if he could move from his team of 4th grade students to a team of K-1st grades students just to help them with their homework. There are times when I ask him - "Chris, do you want to take a day and go back to the other team?" "Nope, I want to help the little kids and Ms. Janice" is almost, always his response.
Every day on his way to recess, Christ stops by the Club 21 office to see if he and his friends can drop by for lunch. Depending on the response, he drops back in again to tell me about his lunch and recess. Always a treat to have, he has always been the first one to turn in his permission slips for educational trips, Summer Camp and any other program we have celebrating Club 21 and our families.
Christopher's famous words: "I wish we could have Club 21 all day instead of school!" is something that keeps a smile on my face. |
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Written by Nicole Scott
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Friday, 04 May 2012 18:31 |
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Nicole Scott, Communities In Schools of North Texas Site Coordinator at Ginnings Elementary, brags on two siblings in her afterschool program who are model students in their behavior.
 I would like to brag about a brother and sister who currently attend the Communities In Schools of North Texas 21st Century afterschool program at Ginnings Elementary in the Denton Independent School District. Anthony, a 2nd grade student, and Karrie, a 3rd grade student, are such amazing kids! They have a great relationship with one another and I have never seen them argue. They get along so well and are great role models for other siblings in 21st Century.
Not only do they get along well with one another, they also get along great with the other students in the program. Karrie and Anthony are always on task and are such great helpers. Anthony has helped some of the younger students in his class with their homework when he has finished his. Karrie has done the same thing in her class and is always willing to help her teacher pass out snacks.
When school dismisses all the 21st Century after school students meet in the gym and are asked to sit in a quiet straight line until all the other students arrive. Once everyone is in the gym, each class goes to their own classroom. Karrie and Anthony never have to be reminded of what to do when they come to the gym. They even take it upon themselves to take out a book and start quietly reading while they wait.
The other day, their mom came to pick them up early and when we were about to exit the building, Anthony held open the door for us. These two siblings are so polite and well behaved; I have thanked them and their mom often. I am so thankful to have these two in program and they have told me many times how much they love coming to 21st Century.
Having students like Karrie and Anthony in the 21st Century program has been a blessing. We don't have to worry about their behavior, or them being on task, and they truly get along with all the other students. There has not once been an instance where we've had an issue involving Karrie or Anthony. I am so proud of all their hard work and can't wait to see them excel. I look forward to having them return to 21st Century next school year! |
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Written by Adam Aldridge
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Wednesday, 21 March 2012 16:57 |
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 Adam Aldridge, Communities In Schools Program Manager, writes about an amazing male mentor who is breaking through the barriers of his student in order to establish a meaningful relationship.
Since November, 2011, Logan Thibodeaux has been a mentor for a 7th grade boy named Dylan at Chisholm Trail Middle School in the Northwest Independent School District. Dylan's mother had expressed interest in finding a good male role model for him because his father lived far away.
Logan meets with Dylan once a week for an hour. During the hour they play games and talk about the weekend. Lately they have been getting into the board game, Stratego. So far they have met 10 times during the year. Logan checks up often on Dylan's academic progress, and he has been more than flexible with his mentoring times when conflicts have risen.
Logan is a great mentor for Dylan. At the beginning of the mentorship, Dylan was pretty resistant about meeting with Logan and the conversations were often one-sided. Logan always kept his composure and confidence and he knew the walls would start to come down. Lately the meetings have gone a lot better and Dylan is talking more. Additionally he is always here on time and is willing to stay as long as he is needed. He is quick to communicate with me about any questions or potential schedule problems with a mentoring time.
As soon as school started from Winter Break, Logan emailed me about when he could visit Dylan. We always debrief about how each mentoring session goes and he lets me know if he thinks something might work better or how things are improving. He is genuinely here for Dylan and would do anything to help him out. On his latest visit, he even brought a book to share with Dylan. Logan is a great example of what a Communities In Schools mentor should be, and I am lucky to have him here at Chisholm Trail Middle School. |
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Written by Pia Owens
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Thursday, 08 March 2012 18:33 |
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 Pia Owens, Communities In Schools of North Texas Site Coordinator at Evers Park Elementary in Denton, TX, writes about a student who realizes the consequences of her choices.
Last month I worked with a young lady who was struggling with stealing. She was caught twice in a two week span. After the first incident we spoke to the parents and had a consequence for her. But after the second occurrence the student, who we can call "Mary," and I sat down and had a very long conversation about stealing.
Mary is a really bright lady. In fact, she's so smart that I'm looking into referring her for the gifted and talented program at our school. This young lady opened her heart and thoughts to me. She asked me many questions about stealing. For example, if she took something, but later regretted it and hid the item, is that still stealing? Because she was being so open and honest with me about something she confessed she does very often, I really felt this need to just listen to her and answer her questions.
I encouraged her to tell me and trust me and the other adults in her life, even if she took something and then regretted it, she could tell an adult what she had done, they would help her fix the situation. Not one week later, Mary came up to me with a huge smile and said, "Today I was in the library and I found something in the library basket I wanted to keep. But instead of keeping it, I gave it to the librarian, who asked the class, and we found out it belonged to Cindy."
I gave Mary a huge hug and told her I was proud of her and that she should keep telling me about when she makes good choices or if she slips up and makes a bad choice. I was really proud of her that day and I was so grateful to be able to have this job. I see Mary every day, not just because she is in my program, but also because of the consequence for her second stealing incident. She doesn't like her consequence but she knows and understands why she deserves it. Her parents and I are on board and communicate often about her choices and progress. |
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Written by Patricia Hernandez
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Tuesday, 06 March 2012 21:37 |
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Patricia Hernandez, Communities In Schools of North Texas Site Coordinator at Hedrick Elementary in Lewisville, TX, writes about the amazing progress she's seen in a refugee student's academic performance.
Dawt and his family moved to Lewisville from a Malyasian refugee camp three years ago. When Dawt first arrived at Hedrick Elementary in Lewisville, he was placed in Kindergarten. He didn't know any English and had no concept of using scissors, glue or crayons. Although Dawt made huge improvements during his first school year, he was retained in Kinder in order to continue to fill the gaps of other children in his grade-level class. This year Dawt started off his year as a 1st grader and both he and his 4th grade brother joined the Communities In Schools of North Texas 21st Century afterschool program.
I first worked with Dawt as the CISNT Program Manager and now I am working with him as the CISNT 21st Century Site Coordinator. Through both programs, I have been able to see Dawt grow in his basic language, social skills, confidence, and academic skills. I've also been able to witness Dawt have new experiences like going to professional sporting events and other field trips.
Recently his teacher sent me an email to share the great improvements Dawt has made this school year and credited 21st Century for helping him academically. Mrs. Garza, Dawt's teacher, invited me to her classroom one afternoon to see first-hand the great work Dawt was doing. Dawt was writing sentences and was using big words like 'survey'. Of great importance to Mrs. Garza, was that Dawt's writing was now legible. Having made such huge strides within only three short years, I'm sure Dawt will have no trouble closing the academic gaps that he struggled with his first school year.
Below is Dawt's writing back in September of this school year. Click on the image to enlarge.
Here is Dawt's writing as of February of this school year. Click on the image to enlarge.
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