Raising The Bar

Each school year students and staff of The Partnership For Our Kids work to achieve bigger and better goals and the 2010-2011 academic year will be no different. This fall, All Our Kids will be raising the student GPA requirement from a 2.0 to a 2.5. “It has been something that we have discussed for a while now, and after seeing that our students were able to consistently average over a 2.5 GPA, we felt it was appropriate to raise our bar to better prepare them for success,” explains All Our Kids Program Director, Phillip Burrell. Burrell says he believes this new benchmark will really help students to make an easier transition into college.

Program staff members are confident that this new challenge will be well received by the students. “Although it will take a little extra effort on the students’ part, I think they realize the work and discipline they are putting in now will put them in a better position to succeed in the future,” says Burrell. He goes on to explain that in the event that a student is not able to meet the new requirement, an action plan for success has already been put in place. “A student that does not reach this benchmark will be put on academic probation. While on probation, students are visited at school by their program specialist and a plan is set up to improve the student’s grades,” he says.

Burrell says that the current program requirements for school and meeting attendance will remain the same in the 2010-2011 school year, but he doesn’t rule out a change in the future. “We are always looking to raise the bar as our students achieve and surpass the benchmarks of our program.”

Partnership Student Receives Ak-Sar-Ben/Horatio Alger Scholarship Award

Congratulations to Partnership high school graduate, Ceci Menjivar, for receiving the 2010 Ak-Sar-Ben/Horatio Alger Scholarship Award. Ceci is one of only 50 local students selected to receive this prestigious award. The mission of the Horatio Alger Association is “to provide scholarship assistance to deserving young people who have demonstrated integrity and determination in overcoming adversity in their lives and who have shown the academic potential and personal aspiration to make a unique contribution to society.”

Ceci exemplifies this mission in every aspect of her life. As a child, Ceci and her parents immigrated to the United States from war-torn El Salvador. After arriving in the U.S., Ceci ambitiously learned fluent English in an astonishingly short amount of time. With that same sense of determination, Ceci graduated from Bryan High School this past spring with an impressive 4.55 GPA and the distinction of senior class vice president.

This fall, Ceci will attend Creighton University, where she will study business administration. Ceci says she not only plans to obtain her Bachelor’s degree, but will acquire her Master’s degree as well. After completing her education, Ceci intends to give back to her community and especially to those who have helped her in achieving her success so far.

We are so proud of you Ceci and we look forward to the amazing things you will accomplish in the future!

Today's Lesson: Goal Setting

It’s back to school for Winners Circle teachers and the lesson of the day is goal-setting! More than 250 teachers will take part in the goal setting review sessions that Winners Circle staff has begun hosting this week. “Obviously teachers already know how to write goals as part of their professional training,” says Goal Development Coordinator, Sue Lipsey. “Our trainings cover the standards Winners Circle requires.” These requirements include ensuring that the goal is appropriate for the student, that there is a means of measuring the goal, the goal is understandable for the student, parent and Goal Buddy and the goal is individualized based on student ability.
Trainings not only serve as a Winners Circle refresher course for classroom teachers, but have actually improved program effectiveness. “ Interestingly enough, the schools that have allotted the most time for Winners Circle training are the schools with the strongest goals for students, when considering both measurement and individualization,” says Lipsey.

In addition, the Winners Circle trainings provide another method of strengthening the relationships between Winners Circle program staff and classroom teachers, allowing the teachers an open forum to ask questions and discuss the program. “Training is also a communications method for the Winners Circle staff to announce updates and promote goal-setting as a means of teaching students the skill of self-management,” adds Lipsey.

New this year, each training session will be tailored to every individual school based on that school’s biggest need. “If a school has had a number of goals written without including measurements, the training might focus on writing strong measurements for goals,” Lipsey explains. Lipsey adds that this is crucial because of the connections between the skill of goal setting and academic success of students. According to The 2009 Gallup Student Poll, goal setting instills hope in students and as measured by Gallup, hope is a stronger indicator of academic success than traditional measures of standardized tests.

Winners Circle training sessions will continue through the week of August 15th. If you would like more information on the Winners Circle training schedule call 557-6380 or email slipsey@winners-circle.org

Fun With Finances

They say “A penny saved is a penny earned,” and earlier this month the Partnership tenth graders put this old adage to practice. Students learned basic money management skills during a three day financial workshop hosted by the UNO student group, Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, (CEO). CEO utilized a unique board game, which walked the students through many basic financial exercises. “Students had to simulate working for a paycheck, paying bills, balancing a checkbook and purchasing businesses, stocks and real estate,” explains Program Specialist, Amanda Burton.

The group had an opportunity to hear UNO college students speak about their experiences with preparing financially for college and also had a chance to listen to Union Pacific’s Chief Financial Officer, Robert Knight, talk about what it takes to manage finances for a large corporation. “This group will soon be joining the workforce and are also preparing for college. They need to be aware of these kinds of financial responsibilities,” says Burton.

The students seemed receptive to all of the financial tips and advice they were given. Adan, a Central High School tenth-grader, is now planning to open a savings account so that he can start putting away money for college. Adan says taking part in this workshop has helped him to be more conscious of what he chooses to spend his money on. “You have to always think ahead and plan how you are going to use it,” he says. Now that’s advice you can take to the bank!

MeLitta Wilson, In a Class Of Her Own

“Do as much as you can, even if you don’t “feel” like it,” advises All Our Kids alum, MeLitta Wilson. At the young age of 23, she has accomplished quite a lot, and according to Wilson, she has only just begun. Armed with an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a Master’s degree focusing on literacy, Wilson is making strides to implement her own writing program for students. “I hope to really grow the program locally, statewide and who knows after that,” she says.

As a dedicated teacher, she works to inspire others to join in her passion for helping more kids. “I absolutely adore my job,” says Wilson. “I am not saying that it is easy by any means, but it is one of the most internally satisfying things I have ever done.” She credits All Our Kids for a lot of what she has achieved. “I am very appreciative because the program has opened many doors and it continues to contribute to my success,” she says.

In 2001, Wilson joined The Partnership’s All Our Kids program as a seventh grader at McMillan Middle School. Since that time, Wilson has stayed connected to the program as a scholarship recipient, a tutor, a volunteer and a walking testament to what youth organizations like the Partnership can do for kids. “All Our Kids has allowed me to be MeLitta,” she says. “Knowing who I am and what my aspirations are makes life enjoyable. I owe much of that internal satisfaction to All Our Kids.”

Wilson will return to school in the fall as a third grade teacher at Walnut Hill Elementary. In addition to teaching, Wilson says she will continue to tutor and also plans to become a mentor for the All Our Kids program. Eventually she would like to work in educational administration. She says she will continue working towards her goal and encourages others to do the same. “Find something you love and make it happen,” Wilson says. “Its not always easy, but it is worth it. You owe it to yourself and your future.”

A Day In The Life Of An All Our Kids Program Specialist

While most of the 8a.m.-5p.m. working world is day-dreaming about escaping from the copy-machine and computer screen to spend a little time outside this summer, All Our Kids Program Specialists are running off to exciting field trips at the Zoo, museums,and the Humane Society. It is fair to say that most of us might be a little jealous of such a luxury. Who wouldn’t prefer ice-cream and a trip to the museum over a day at the office?

Although any Program Specialist will admit that summer outings are a major perk, they will also say that field trips are only a small part of the job. “Preparation for meetings is very important,” says All Our Kids Program Specialist, Ronna Fritz. “We are also busy going to other Program Specialists’ meetings and assisting with transportation almost every day we are not leading a meeting,” she continues. In addition to the preparation for each student meeting , there is also the dreaded post-meeting paperwork. “Filing and data entry are constants after a meeting.” Fritz adds.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Program Specialist position is connecting with the students. “Planning and facilitating quality meetings and outings that engage, inspire and educate our students is the biggest of our responsibilities,” says Specialist, Nick Sasada. “Really our day is directed by asking ourselves, what can we accomplish to support our students in their academic and life skills goals.” For those students who struggle academically, the Program Specialists provide them with Intensive Case Management. “We meet with the student on a weekly basis to help them create a personalized plan to reach their goals.” Sasada says.

Most Program Specialists will say that the students are why they choose to do what they do. “Watching as a student sets their own goal and then achieves this goal is the most rewarding part of the job,” Sasada says. Fritz agrees, “The kiddos for sure! Seeing them achieve is why I’m here.”

Summer Service

Throughout the entire school year students everywhere count down the days until the most coveted time of year arrives-SUMMER! However, by this point in the season the novelty of no homework and spending all day at the pool is wearing a little thin and kids all over the city are sighing the same two words, “I’m bored!” The staff and students of The Partnership For Our Kids are vanquishing these sighs of monotony and replacing them with shovels and sacks of service!

In early June, middle school students in the Partnership’s All Our Kids program brightened up the entrance to the Salvation Army North Corp with some sturdy shrubs. “It was great to see the kids working so hard,” says All Our Kids Program Specialist, Ronna Fritz. “They were very proud of their work and never complained once!”

Program Specialist, Christina Penka believes these projects not only make a difference in the community, but also help to give the student participants a feeling of purpose. “Often we hear from the students that they do not feel as if the community values them or provides them with useful roles,” she explains. This summer Penka and a group of sixth grade students are assisting the staff and students at Kellom Elementary in the cultivation of a school-wide garden. Kellom Elementary Principal, Eric Nelson is grateful for the help and hopes that the garden will touch the whole neighborhood. “If the students begin to appreciate the outdoors, hopefully they will discuss this with their families and friends, therefore, bringing about a healthier community,” he says.

Late last month, Partnership middle school students took their service projects one step further by helping Heart Ministries with a mobile pantry. Students assisted in packing more than 300 bags of food that are given away to area families in need. Fritz explains that many of the students who helped with these summer service projects have experienced being on the receiving end of service and were so excited to have the opportunity to give back. “At the end of the day you could see such pride in their eyes,” says Fritz.

Check back for more updates on summer student projects coming soon!