Partnership 4 Kids News Blog

Friday, January 27, 2012

We Know You Are Smart!

“Are you smart?”------“Yes!”
“Do you know you’re smart?”------“Yes!”
“We know you are smart too!”

This familiar chant of positive reinforcement is one that rings through The Partnership For Our Kids elementary school classrooms as a means of getting students excited about achieving their academic goals.

The staff and teachers of Miller Park Elementary, and many other Omaha Public Schools have added a new spin to this idea of positive reinforcement and academic encouragement. They now use it as a way of preparing for state tests. A recent Omaha World Herald article paints a picture of the pep rallies and pizza parties that Miller Park and several area schools have been holding in order to psych students up to score well on the upcoming state tests. Miller Park Principal, Lisa Utterback believes that the motivation will give the students the confidence they need to do well. "Our kids know that this is their time to show what they know," she says.

For the full Omaha World Herald Article, click here

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Dine Out For The Partnership For Our Kids!

Dine out with The Partnership For Our Kids during the month of January. Thanks to generous restaurant partners, Julio’s and Portovino Ristorante, you can support the Partnership by going out to eat! From the Pancho Goldberg Enchilada Platter to Penne Bolognese, whatever you order will benefit the 5,000 students that participate in our programs.

On Tuesday, January 17th, join us at Julio’s West, 123rd and Center Sts, for Taco Tuesday! Stop in between 5p.m. and 9p.m. and a percentage of any purchase you make will be donated back to The Partnership For Our Kids! If you don't have time to dine-in, Julio's will also donate back a percentage of the proceeds on all take-out orders!

Also be sure to swing Midtown Crossing's newest restaurant, Portovino Ristorante anytime throughout January a portion of the proceeds will also come back to support our programs.

Finally, an excuse to eat out for a great cause!

For more information, call 402-930-3000.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Thank You Clothes For Our Kids Supporters!

This past fall, Partnership Administrative Assistant, Jennifer Arnold received a note from Janice Burris a school counselor and Partnership program liaison at Jackson Elementary. Burris had a small request regarding her monthly stipend. “She asked if we might be able to substitute her usual check with a gift card to Plato’s Closet,” Arnold explains. “She mentioned that her students were in need of warm clothing for the upcoming winter months and she would feel better knowing that they were taken care of rather than have the extra spending money,” Arnold continues.

Moved by Burris’ generosity, Arnold reached out to the Partnership’s staff, volunteers, corporate connections and community contacts in hopes that they would support an impromptu clothing drive. “I felt an urgency to help this selfless woman and her classroom, and before I knew it, the idea grew from helping one classroom of students into helping four of our target schools,” Arnold says.

The response to Arnold’s initial appeal was something of a holiday miracle. “We had an overwhelming response. First National Tower, Omaha State Bank, Burlington Capital and Solution One each hosted a clothing bin at their offices,” Arnold says. With the multi-location drop-off sites, Arnold says that more clothing was collected that she ever thought possible. “The office we used to sort the clothing was overflowing into the hallway, and many of the items were brand-new with the tags still intact.”

Arnold wasn’t the only one pleasantly surprised by the community’s outpouring of generosity. “We are so appreciative of the effort and we welcomed the opportunity,” says Jackson Elementary Counselor, Janice Burris. “Our student population has a great need for weather appropriate clothing, especially during the winter months,” Burris explains. “All of the donated clothes went to great use.”

“All of the schools we dropped off at were so excited to receive the donations,” adds Arnold. “Some of them even designated rooms for the clothing donations so students can stop by whenever they might be in need throughout the year.”

To learn how you can contribute to the students and families served by The Partnership For Our Kids, visit us at www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/donate.shtml

Friday, December 16, 2011

The Reason For The Season: A True Story of Giving

The following is an excerpt from the blog of local OPS second-grade teacher, David Cumming. As an educator, Cumming's primary goal is to teach his students the lessons that will prepare them for life, but as the story below reveals, it is Cumming's students that have taught him the most valuable of life's lessons.

My principal recently released the demographic breakdown of our school for the current school year. If you’ve read some of the blogposts prior to this one, you know how proud I am to work in a culturally diverse school. Diversity is the reason I teach where I teach.

Anyway, over 40% of our students are African-American. The second highest percentage is Hispanic (Mexican, Guatemalan, and Honduran). Followed by Asian, Caucasian, Native American, African and mixed race. We’re sort of like Walgreens. We have a little of everything.

Needless to say, we’re diverse. But like I’ve written about before, there is one common thread that links all of the students together. It’s the chain that bonds them together.
Poverty.

Of our 268 students, 99.6% qualify for our free or reduced lunch program. I’ll save you the long division. We have one student in the entire school that doesn’t qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Now I could take you on a journey through the daily struggles of poverty. But I don’t know anything about living in poverty. I’ve never come close to experiencing it personally. I wouldn’t be able to do much more than retell stories I’ve heard students tell.

I could try to influence you to do something to help those living near you who are in desperate need of help. But that’s not what I’m going to do either. You’re probably already aware of people in need and places to serve.

Instead, there’s a lesson to be learned from these children living in poverty. It catches me off-guard time and time again. My students love to give.

Despite not having much to give, they give. It doesn’t matter that they are coming from homes that qualify for free or reduced lunches. They give.

And you know what, they never give begrudgingly. They never give as if their mom or dad is making them give. They never give to satisfy some sense of guilt. They give because they want to. They want to show that they care about you.

Last week, one of my students brought in a plastic sack filled with what appeared to be an object the size of a NBA basketball wrapped in layers of newspaper. On the top layer of newspaper, it was evident that he’d had a little trouble figuring out exactly how he wanted to address the gift. After a few attempts that had been scribbled out, he’d written “Merry Christmmas” in black ink. He proudly gave it to me and told me it was for “Ms. Tiffany” (my wife) and me. I gladly accepted the gift and told him I was anxious to see what it was.

Fearing that the other students might make fun of what was underneath all of the newspaper, I waited to open the gift until my students were at music class. When I began to open the gift, I found the newspaper to be carefully wrapped and taped. I peeled back layer upon layer. The basketball-sized gift kept getting smaller and smaller with each piece of newspaper I removed
.

Finally, I reached the center of the newspaper and found the gift my student so eagerly gave. It was a well-worn, stuffed, pink bunny. Why he thought I needed it, I’m not exactly sure. But I appreciated it nonetheless.

I wish I could say that the well-worn bunny was some long, lost treasure that I’d been searching for. Or that it was at the top of my Christmas list. It wasn’t.
But I appreciate everything that it symbolizes.

It reaches far beyond the tradition of giving Christmas gifts. It’s about sacrificing something of value (your time, your possessions, your talents) for the benefit of someone else.

Despite his circumstances, this boy gave up something he had in order to try to make someone else’s day better. You may not have a worn out, slightly filthy, pink bunny that can make a difference in someone’s life. But you certainly have something to give. So do it.

Give.

Friday, December 2, 2011

A Letter To Santa-The Partnership For Our Kids Holiday Wish List

Dear Santa,

This letter is on the behalf of the 5,000 students that participate in The Partnership For Our Kids programs. You are so generous to children all over the world, but if you can find room in your sleigh, there are just a few things that we would really love to have for our students:

1. Fifty additional volunteers so that each Partnership student could have a goal buddy or group mentor of their own.

2. Monetary donations. We try to provide each of our students with the high quality curriculum, academic services, career exploration tours, door-to-door transportation and an overall amazing experience, and monetary donations help us to give them all that they deserve.

3. Tickets to local events. We love to give our students, their families and their mentors and goal buddies a chance to have fun together outside of the classroom. Tickets to local events like the symphony, the ballet, plays and sporting events provide students with unique learning experiences as well as a chance to spend time with their mentors and their families.

4. Career Exploration Tours and Field Trips. Career exploration is promoted in our program from elementary school through high school. Tours and hands-on experiences are invaluable to our students and serve as inspiration for what their future can be.

5. Healthy Snacks. We believe in good nutrition for our students and try to supply them with healthy snacks to fuel their minds and give them energy to keep going strong. Healthy, non-perishable treats, like 100 Calorie Snack Packs, bottled water and fruit juice drinks are always appreciated!

6. School Supplies. We want to give our students all the tools they need to succeed in their academics. School supplies such as notebooks, folders, pens, calculators and backpacks help our students to start their school year off on the right foot.

7. Art Supplies. Paint brushes, paints, markers, canvases, construction paper and more would be great for our students to express themselves creatively.

Thanks for reading this letter Santa. Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy 2012!

Sincerely,
The Partnership For Our Kids

*If you can help Santa grant one of the requests from The Partnership For Our Kids wish list, visit www.thepartnershipforourkids.org/donate.shtml or call 402-930-3000.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Clothes For Our Kids!

Although the blistering heat and long days of August sunshine were only a couple of months ago, the brisk air of fall has already set in and it won’t be long before bone-chilling temperatures of a typical Nebraska winter are here to stay. While for many kids the winter season is a fun time filled with snow-ball fights and down-hill sled races, for those who do not have enough cold-weather gear, the early morning wait for the bus, or the walk home from school can seem like a frosty form of torment.

As a way to help more students avoid this scenario, The Partnership For Our Kids is introducing Clothes For Our Kids! , a clothing drive benefitting students in need at Partnership schools. During the entire month of November, the Partnership will be collecting new and gently-used clothing at three local drop-off locations, which include The Burlington Capital Building, 1004 Farnam Street; Omaha State Bank, 132nd and Maple and First National Tower, 1601 Dodge St. Clothing items can be dropped off in the designated bins during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Needed items include winter coats, hats, gloves and scarves as well as warm sweaters, sweatshirts, jeans, and boots, all sizes are accepted.

The items collected will be distributed to Belvedere and Jackson Elementary Schools and Monroe and Norris Middle Schools during the first week in December.

To find out more details or for questions, contact Jen at 402-930-3000 or email jarnold@thepartnershipforourkids.org

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Let’s Celebrate Student Success!

Attention parents and student supporters! Mark your calendars to attend the Partnership’s upcoming first quarter Winners Circle Celebrations! The students have been working hard all quarter long to achieve their math, reading and life skills goals and now it is time to celebrate their great accomplishments! Students who meet their first quarter goals will receive a medal of honor and will be entered to win a prize.

Parents, we know you have been working just as hard to support your student in their efforts to reach their goals, so we haven’t left you out. All parents who attend their child’s Winners Circle Celebration will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win from a selection of fabulous family prizes such as passes to CoCo Key Water Resort, pizza parties and more! Please consult the schedule below for the date and start time for your student’s school celebration.

Belevedere Academy-Thursday, November 3rd at 6 p.m.
Conestoga Magnet-Wednesday, October 26th at 6 p.m.
Field Club-Tuesday, November 3rd at 6 p.m.
Fontenelle- Tuesday, November 1st at 6 p.m.
Franklin- Thursday, October 27th at 6 p.m.
Howard Kennedy- Wednesday, October 26th at 6 p.m.
Jackson- Tuesday, October 25th at 6 p.m.
Kellom-Wednesday, November 2nd at 6 p.m.
Martin Luther King- Wednesday, November 2nd at 6 p.m.
Miller Park- Tuesday, October 25th at 6 p.m.
Mount View- Thursday, November 3rd at 6 p.m.
Saratoga- Thursday, October 27th at 6 p.m.