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Written by Diana Vargas
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Tuesday, 17 May 2011 21:50 |
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 Diana Vargas, Site Coordinator at Calhoun Middle School, writes to tell us about the successful first ever Lock In at Calhoun Middle School. The event was a reward for students who demonstrated good behavior, character and grades.
April 8, 2011 was an exciting day for the most responsible and trustworthy students in the 21st Century Community Learning Center After School Program at Calhoun Middle School. Program ran smoothly that Friday afternoon, complete with nervous but excited energy and many last minute questions about the Lock In. Excitement exuded through our students! They were about to experience a 10-hour-long-party at Calhoun!
Parents and students followed protocol that night, arriving at the school at 10pm to check in for the Lock In. Parents signed their children in and were appeased by the answers to many last minute questions. Several of them were nervous about leaving their ‘babies' with us over night, but once we talked to them about the amount of people involved and the strict supervision we would have, they were appeased and left school knowing their children would be taken care of. Students were escorted into their ‘sleeping rooms' so they would arrange their sleeping area before the fun started.
After meeting with the boys and girls separately to go over the rules one more time we were ready to start our fun activities. The Arcade was open (complete with several Wii's with Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Super Mario Bros. and many more games), the karaoke and bowling lane were set up and plenty of food was available to munch on. Our students and teachers played and enjoyed themselves while they had dinner.
When everyone had eaten enough, we started our midnight stroll around our school. We went looking for ghosts, and even though we couldn't find any, the teachers and coordinator definitely got a few scares out of the kiddos. We sat and chatted, enjoying the wonderful breeze at 2 in the morning and then went back inside for more fun and snacks.
At 4 in the morning, the girls and boys were sent to their separate rooms to get at least a couple of hours of sleep. The girls put on a movie and fell asleep watching it, while the boys continued playing cards and computer games in their room. We watched a movie and they ate the rest of the pizza that was left over. When 7am rolled around, they still had energy to keep going and wanted to wake up the girls to go play in the gym.
We started cleaning up after everyone was awake and got ready to go home. Parents were on time, eager to see their children and sign them out, and the kids were sleepy but very content.
On Monday, we talked about how much fun they had and how long it took them to recuperate from the long night. Some of them went straight to sleep when they got home, but many of them had plans with their families and extra-curricular activities to participate in. The first thing they asked was, "When are we having our next Lock In?" To which we all responded, "Hopefully not until next school year!" |
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Written by Adam Aldridge
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Tuesday, 10 May 2011 15:02 |
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Adam Aldridge, Program Manager at Chisholm Trail Middle School, brags on Jean Guillory, a mentor who has continued his mentoring relationship from elementary school to middle school.
Jean Guillory first met his mentee three years ago when he was a guest speaker in the student's fourth grade class for Junior Achievers. Afterwards, the class wrote "Thank You" letters to Jean, and one letter was like a cry for help. The student's mother had recently been diagnosed with cancer and the student was scared and confused. Jean contacted the fourth grade teacher and agreed to become a mentor for the student. He mentored the student for his remaining two years in elementary school.
This year, Jean took it upon himself to follow his student to Chisholm Trail Middle School and continue the mentoring relationship. He emailed both the 6th grade counselor and the Northwest Independent School District "Partners in Education," an organization that connects the school district with individual and corporate partners, to figure out how he could continue meeting with his student. They put him in touch with me and we got him reconnected with his student. His mentee became very excited when I told him that Mr. Guillory would be coming to visit him here at Chisholm Trail Middle. I believe he is a great role model for his mentee and a wonderful representation of everything that Communities In Schools stands for.
Mr. Guillory is a great volunteer that is truly here for his mentee. He takes time out of his busy schedule to meet with his student weekly. They talk and discuss things happening in both of their lives and then Jean eats lunch with the student and his friends. Jean is always punctual and quick to let me know if he will be unable to make his scheduled mentoring time. He is also flexible and understanding when his time conflicts with a school assessment testing or a school assembly. His mentee is always excited to see him, and Jean has even taken the time to get to know some of the staff here at Chisholm Trail Middle School. |
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Written by Rickey Hayes
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Monday, 09 May 2011 20:12 |
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Rickey Hayes, Communities In Schools of North Texas Site Coordinator at Strickland Middle School writes about a deal a student struck with his parents in order to be a part of the 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school program.
Aaron is a 7th grader at Strickland Middle School who has been in the Communities In Schools program since beginning his education at Strickland last year. At the beginning of the year Aaron came to the program daily but was having some difficulties focusing on his school work. At one point his mother even removed him from the program so that she could make sure that he was keeping his priorities together.
During his time away from the program, Aaron would come and visit with me at least twice a week. He never came without asking me if I would allow him back in the program. I let him know that I never had any problems with him being in the program. If his parent would allow him back, he was welcome. I spoke with his parents, and the decided to allow him to return to Communities In Schools 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school program. The only condition he faced was that he must focus on his school work and not be so concerned about the social aspects.
Since returning to the Communities In Schools program Aaron has been very focused on his school work, and he is always on task. He has continued to excel in the classroom, and he is keeping his end of the bargain with his parents. I have seen so much growth in this student over the past year, and he has truly learned a lesson about taking responsibility for himself and his actions. We are so pleased to have Aaron back in our program. He is a wonderful addition to the 21st century family here at Strickland. |
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Written by Marlene Balraj
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Friday, 06 May 2011 16:44 |
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Marlene Balraj, Program Manager at Lakeland Elementary, writes about how a mentor has helped to motivate positive behavior in his mentee.
Rick Porter mentors a 2nd grade student that has low self-esteem and no father figure at home. They read together during the student's lunch period and play games. Normally this student makes decent grades.
Lately Rick's mentee has been acting up in class. He refuses to do classwork and has little motivation. After I discussed the situation with the student's teacher and Rick, we decided that Rick would come in on Thursday morning rather than lunch time and stay in class with his student during his Language Arts period, which is the time that this student struggles. I really appreciate Rick for being flexible with his schedule to commit to improving his student's behavior.
In the last few weeks this student has been paying attention and following directions. It helps tremendously to have Rick present to motivate this positive behavior. If this student keeps up the good work, the pair will resume lunch time mentoring once a month and keep working in the classroom together during the other weeks. Kudos to Rick for his part in promoting positive behavior and motivating his mentee in his academic efforts! |
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Written by Joelle Borja
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Tuesday, 03 May 2011 18:59 |
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Joelle Borja, a Social Work Intern from the University of Texas at Arlington, writes about her journey as an intern through Communities In Schools of North Texas at Hedrick Elementary in Lewisville Independent School District.
It was December 2010 (so, so long ago!) when I visited the Communities In Schools of North Texas office to interview for an internship position. I learned a little bit that day of what CIS was as well as the schools their programs were operating out of. Shortly after the interview, I learned that my placement with CIS would be under the supervision of Program Manager Patricia Hernandez at Hedrick Elementary School. Elementary?!? Oh boy!
On January 11, 2011, I began my 400 hour Masters of Social Work internship evolution.
Like any student intern I had mixed feelings: among those were personal expectations and a lack of knowing what exactly a dropout prevention program like CIS did in an elementary school setting. I had a strange déjà-vu feeling walking through the halls of an elementary school and immediately appreciated that those days are in my past.
I soon learned the staff and the school layout. No longer did I get lost trying to get to the computer lab or have to look on the door signs to see whose classroom it was. Eventually, I just knew. Furthermore, I quickly learned about CIS programs such as Food for Kids, what it meant to be a Title I school, the importance of the ever dreaded but most definitely needed paperwork and the almighty "CISTMS," the collaborative database of Communities In Schools and the Texas Education Agency.
CISNT Program Manager Patricia Hernandez afforded me so many opportunities to truly appreciate the work of CIS, the training of Social Workers and to understand the student population that CIS and Hedrick Elementary work with. Patricia also enabled me to work with students independently, attend CIS outings, seminars and trainings, visit other school campuses, and take part in home visits and meetings with community members and volunteers.
I truly feel that this once unsure student has grown professionally and personally, and I have a great understanding and appreciation for CIS, its mentors and volunteers, school faculty and staff as well as today's students.
I greatly appreciate the opportunity to intern with Communities In Schools of North Texas and truly count it as a privilege. It has been a great experience, one that I will remember and treasure long after my 400th hour.
Joelle Borja
University of Texas at Arlington
School of Social Work Masters student |
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