Cool Kids News
August 11, 2023- The Final Edition #72
The Dog is Home ๐งก
Casey: Your participants enjoyed learning and creating memories on seven summer field trips! That might be a record for Project FOCUS! Georgia, Peja, Ashley and Kayla worked together as a team to bring out the best in your participants! You have a gift for regulating the students, even during the regular school day! Casey, give yourself grace and a' pat on the back' for growing this program!
Cecelia: Six weeks at West Shore Community College and five field trips. There were so many new adventures and learning opportunities. Your students' voices were instrumental in the success of your program. Jordan and Skylar really stepped up and were mentors for your participants. Your communication, especially the daily phone calls, was appreciated! Your tough-love and nurturing are transforming the participants, and your program will continue to thrive under your leadership! Thank you for hosting Dee and providing the necessary technical assistance. Cecelia, keep wearing those cool shades and inspiring so many youth!
Henri: Continuing a positive partnership with Walkerville Public Schools, taking participants on 6 field trips and creating crafts, and enrichment activities that stretched the imagination for so many kids were just some of the highlights of your program! Tammy, Teri, Betty,and Dayana built positive relationships with all of your participants. You are the 'boots on the ground' and inspirational leader that makes the little town of Walkerville stand out as one of the most successful Project FOCUS programs! Thank you Teri for wearing the Spark Costume; you epitomize Spark's positivity. Thank you Henri for your Friday visits and for going above and beyond for your students!
Brooke: You spear-headed Critter Barn On-the-Go, organized 2 major field trips, and maintained the 30 average requirement for participants this summer! Robbie, Hannah, and Carly provided structure and interactive activities every day of programming! You recognized students of the month and found numerous ways to celebrate your participants. Creative Math, Lego Education, Robots, and Coding were educational gems in your program. Participants were introduced to Readers Theater and numerous STEM activities, including 'How to Catch an Elf.' You balanced school, work, and motherhood like a champ! Brooke, enjoy each moment with Analisa; she is the coolest kid ever and someday, she will be a participant in Project FOCUS!
Kelly: You are the queen of licensing and a team player. Mitzel, Tania, Flor and Heather respect your leadership and share their hearts and talents with all the participants. You planned some amazing parent nights (You even wore the Grinch Costume-Pictured below!), a Showcase, and the business owners displayed your participants' artwork in their storefronts! Thank you for introducing your YAC to the mayor and organizing special Girls' Nights. I appreciate all the time your participants and staff put into preparing for the S.T.E.A.M. Challenge...there were so many medals! Kelly, thanks for communicating so effectively and staying orange, even when challenges arise.
ShawnTina: Your participants visited local business, including city hall and a radio station. The school staff received orange treats and support, even at staff meetings. Your display case always brought cheer to your school day partners. Elroy, Sam, Bri, and Brenda shared special skills and talents with your participants. Thank you for hosting Dee at your site and caring about the wellbeing of all the kids and staff at MLK. ShawnTina, your participants know they always have a family at MLK!
Kendra: Squirrels, Birds and Frogs...oh my! Your students appreciated nature and learned about helping those in need. Alfonzo encouraged movement, and Shymia helped with "Little Ladies Night." Your participants loved yoga, picking blueberries and learning their numbers, letters and states. Supper Time prompted conversations about their school day, pets and movies. Kendra, participants at Edgewood felt safe and loved under your leadership.
Lisa: Hatching chicks, and butterflies, Glow in the Dark dance parties and gardening were some of the highlights of your program. Your Fairytales summer theme came alive with a special visit from Jack & the Beanstalk, along with a field trip to an Enchanted Forest. Emma, Sawyer, Sandy, Krystal (and Angie) organized a Grinch Family Night and participated in the annual pumpkin painting contest. Your participants even enjoyed visiting Shedd Aquarium and Medieval Times all in one day! Lisa, thank you for always inviting the school staff to special events like the ice cream social, supporting your peers and caring for all those special cats.
Lexi: Your partnership with Holton is top-notch! The gardening beds, track team recruiting, and Clean-Up at Holton Days were just some of the ways your program went above and beyond in programming. Your newsletters were professional and so engaging, including the videos. MDE even commented on the numerous interactive enrichment opportunities you offered to participants in programming. Colby and Renee worked well as a team this summer, and your theme "The Solar System" was out of this world (excuse the pun)! Camp Miniwanca, Mackinac Island, and even an Escape Room were experiences that your participants will never forget! Your forward-thinking and passion for every activity is exceptional! Lexi, Holton is blessed to have you and so is Project FOCUS!
Serena: Thank you for jumping right in and joining the Cool Kids Club. Your creativity with crafts (even recycling materials upstairs), organizational skills, and positive mindset are appreciated by the entire team! We appreciate the time you spend ordering program supplies and arranging hotel reservations. Thanks for keeping everyone at TrueNorth ORANGE with your smiles and crafting new seasonal ornaments for the orange tree! Serena, thanks for all the lunches in the Spark Space; I will miss our chats in the car and sharing red licorice!
Kim: Thank you for bringing Spark into our programming, figuratively and literally! I appreciate the wisdom and leadership you provided to all of the COOL KIDS! We all appreciate your positive mindset and the "Joy Bombs.' Project FOCUS will continue to succeed and grow with your passion for TrueNorth and OST Programming! Implementing the participant Orange Frog Curriculum in all the OST Programs will spread Happiness 360 to so many schools and communities. Kim, thanks for 'sparking a culture of positivity' with the staff and participants!
Danielle: Thank you for initiating the 1st Annual Staff Retreat! You continue to build staff morale and strive to prioritize TEAMWORK for all OST Time Programs. Thanks for climbing mountains (literally) with me and inspiring me to have a growth mindset. Danielle, your positive energy and youthful spirit is a gift that you share with all the Cool Kids in the Youth Department!
The Last Days of Summer Programming โต
Sodini's Blueberry Farm - MLK/Edgewood ๐ซ
Loutit Library -MLK/Edgewood ๐
Learning How to Make Pancakes & Practicing Table Etiquette - MLK & Edgewood ๐ฅฃ
August 18/MDE Kick-Off
Registered to Attend
Dayana Arredondo
Emmalee Barnes
Lisa Barnes
Sawyer Thompson
Kendra Burton
Lexi Freed
Donna Grodus
Tania Gutierrez
Cecelia Hamilton
Sandra Hoofman
Serena Kruithoff
Henrietta LaRoue
Teri Leys
Ashley Newman
Kelly Pascavis
Mitzel Rodriguez
Betty Shoup
Thomasa Stafford
Casey Tatro
Flor Vaca
Shawntina Wyrick
Elroy Webb
Sam Holbert
Heather West
August 21 - All Staff Project FOCUS Training at TrueNorth ๐๏ธโโ๏ธ
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Licensing Presentation with Amanda
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Workshop with Serena
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Orange Frog Setup
August 22 - Orange Frog Onboarding for New Staff TrueNorth @ 9:00 AM ๐
August 24 - H360 Onboarding 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM @TrueNorth โด๏ธ
So Many Smiles and Resiliency ๐
Thank you ๐งก
Celina: Thank you for helping us hire the most professional staff! You are the first friendly voice everyone hears when applying for a position and that truly makes a difference. Thanks for helping out the Cool Kids!
Bill: We appreciate your wise suggestions when making tech purchases! Thanks for supplying us with reliable laptops, iPads, chromebooks and other gadgets that make our jobs more efficient.
Mary and Marilyn: Thanks for always processing our Purchase Orders and for making sure that the cage key is available. Angels, we appreciate your friendly assistance and support!
Naoe: We appreciate your assistance with Paycor and purchases we make for Project FOCUS programming! You are a ROCKSTAR!
Lisa, Stephen and Chris: Thank you for editing newsletters, creating flyers, producing live broadcasts, making badges, publishing special stories, attending events and making social media posts. You are instrumental in recruiting and celebrating our OST Programming!
231.519.3393