Category Archives: Education

DRCWM wins $50,000 Steelcase grant for Wyoming schools Restorative Circles project

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By Victoria Mullen

victoria@wktv.org

 

adam bird photo of Chris Gilman
DRCWM’s executive director, Christine Gilman (Photo by Adam Bird)

Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Steelcase Foundation, the Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan (DRCWM) will further develop its Restorative Justice Program for Lee Middle School in Wyoming, Kelloggsville Middle School and Wyoming High School over the next two years.

 

Spearheaded by its executive director, Christine Gilman, DRCWM began its restorative justice program at Lee Middle School in the fall of 2013. The services target students, staff and the community.

 

The Steelcase grant will also provide funding to have the three current facilitators become licensed by the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP). Once licensed, the facilitators will be available to train “Introduction to Restorative Practices” and “Using Circles Effectively” to school administrators, teachers and others who wish to invest in the training so that they can join the paradigm shift away from punitive methods of discipline and towards restorative solutions to problematic behavior.

 

Chris and kids courtesy of Godfrey Lee Public Schools
Christine Gilman leads a restorative circle. (Photo courtesy of Godfrey Lee Public Schools)

Why restorative justice?

Bullying and out-of-control conflict at home or school have far-reaching consequences, with negative effects on communities and society. Without intervention and support, such negative exposure can inhibit youths’ emotional and cognitive development, prohibit healing, lead to serious health issues later in life and may perpetuate the cycle of violence.

 

“If you just get suspended, the fight is still going to be going on in your head,” said Gilman. “When you come back to school, you’ll probably be 10 times angrier than when you left.

 

In addition to quelling disputes and developing proactive plans to address misbehavior, restorative practices positively influence the school environment by teaching effective, non-violent ways to handle anger, frustration, and conflict. Restorative practices foster the development of empathy, which creates a more caring and safe environment.

 

According to the Council of State Governments, during 2012-2013, Michigan students with disabilities lost 190,036 days of instruction due to suspensions and expulsions. Students who are removed from the classroom as punishment are more likely to repeat a grade, drop out or enter the juvenile justice system. In monetary terms, every student who drops out is estimated to lose $250,000 in lifetime earnings, according to the Michigan Student Advocacy Center.

 

adam bird photo of circles
Photo by Adam Bird

What restorative justice does

 

A school-based restorative justice program provides an early intervention for youth who are beginning to demonstrate problematic or delinquent behavior. When students are suspended, they are not learning, and they are not resolving the issues that led to suspension.

 

Often the issues that led to suspension are exacerbated during the student’s absence from school. Further, students who are harmed by others are not typically addressed in school disciplinary measures; whereas in circles they can express their feelings, make suggestions for reparations, and learn more about why the incident occurred. Additionally, circles allow students to take responsibility for their actions, face up to what they have done, apologize and make amends—actions which are likewise not part of traditional discipline.

 

Restorative practices (including facilitative conferences and circles) offer a holistic approach to school discipline and problem solving. These practices been proven to decrease the number of suspension/expulsion days and disproportionately higher suspension days for non-white students and special education.

 

Circles are used in a wide variety of instances, including threats of fights; social media issues; bullying; vandalism; and to help restore relationships after suspensions. Circles can be used instead of suspension, to complement a shorter suspension, or to help reintegrate students into the school community following suspension.

 

better DRCWM logoRather than look at which rule was broken and then doling out traditionally prescribed punishment, at-risk students may be sent to a circle for resolution. During a discussion led by the circle facilitator, the students come up with solutions to the issues raised. Circles help students look at what happened, determine the harm done, talk about how the harm can be repaired, and discuss how future harm can be prevented.

 

The facilitator draws up the restorative agreement in the students’ own words. When the students are satisfied with the content of the restorative agreement, they sign the document.

 

“Accepting an apology is almost as good as giving an apology,” Gilman said. “When you see that empathy, it’s really cool. I have seen the light go on. The best thing is while I’m typing up the agreement, they’re giggling, laughing and talking,” she said.

 

For more information on Restorative Practices, visit DRCWM’s website here.

 

Additional reporting from School News Network.

How to Reform Education? One District Considers Students’ Needs

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By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

Lydia Hernandez took the day off from volunteering at the elementary school to prepare a big meal for visitors from the district’s human-centered design team. Around the table, team members interviewed her for 90 minutes about her husband, who was at work, her background and her education. They asked her about dreams for her children, Kevin, an eighth-grader and Kaylee, a fourth-grader.

 

The team added Hernandez’s comments, along with those from 19 other district families, to data they are using to reform the district according to the needs of students using the human-centered design process, an approach to problem solving that incorporates the wants and needs of end users of a product or service in every stage. It starts and ends with the beneficiary, in this case Godfrey-Lee students.

 

“It felt good because they chose my family,” said Hernandez, a committed volunteer at Kaylee’s school. “I was able to talk to them about my story, my family and my kids… The opinion of the parents is important.”

 

Interviewing families was part of the initial year of the two-year process, under way to improve education in the small, mostly Hispanic, low-income district. The team – nine teachers, five administrators, a support staff member, a Board of Education member, a leadership coach and two design consultants – also spent 60 hours at 22 work sessions exploring information to determine true needs of students.

 

The process is funded by a $250,000 Steelcase Foundation grant, which is covering guidance by representatives of New North Center, a Holland-based nonprofit hybrid education and business organization. It includes a leadership and accountability coach, stipends for session participation and other tasks.

 

Of the 20 families, teams interviewed parents of students in the district, parents of graduates, a Schools of Choice parent, and those who are very involved and uninvolved in the schools. Each group interviewed three Hispanic, one black and one white family, mirroring the district’s demographics. They also interviewed an Iraqi family. Plans are to continue interviewing other district stakeholders, such as business people and alumni.

 

What’s the End Goal?

 

“Why we are doing this is because we don’t have an education system that helps kids realize their dreams, their vision and their goals for the future,” said Superintendent David Britten.

 

The team aims to work toward new ideas, instruction philosophies and programs that better suit students’ individual needs, said Britten, who is an advocate for play-based learning in early childhood education and classrooms where all students can take different pathways to develop their own interests.

 

Currently, schools are run with pre-set expectations that aren’t working for many students, he said. “We are telling them, ‘This is your goal. Your goal is to go to college. This is the path to getting there because it was a path created based on the average student, and everyone is expected to take that same path.'”

 

The team has studied broad topics: school-parent communication and relationships, creating a culture of acceptance and belonging, socialization in learning, and student choice.

 

Meetings have resulted in interconnected diagrams under headings like Relevance, Dynamic Learning, Community, Soft Skills and Basic Needs. Hundreds of ideas gathered from district stakeholders are written on Post-It notes with messages such as “Students need to create meaning,” “Students need to do to know” and “Students need today’s interests to be the foundation of new learning.”

 

Human-design team member Jason Cochran, a teacher at the alternative high school, East Lee, said ideas at the secondary level have included putting students in charge of what goes on at school, making it more of a democratic process in which students have input. Also, he said, that a more flexible schedule may benefit teenagers.

 

“A big part of it is focusing on what the kids themselves are interested in,” he said, noting that it’s often a battle convincing students what they need to learn.

 

He asked a few of his own students how they could learn better. “One was very outdoorsy and really into nature and animals,” Cochran said. “Immediately, he said, ‘I wish we could have school outside and learn about things like that. Instead I have to sit at a desk eight hours a day.’ That doesn’t work for him.”

 

Lydia Hernandez, a mom interviewed by the human-centered design team, makes copies while volunteering at school
Lydia Hernandez, a mom interviewed by the human-centered design team, makes copies while volunteering at school

Getting Rid of The Average

 

Britten has often said that he envisions a district without clocks, calendars or grade levels and no expectations based on averages. It’s the opposite of the current system, which he calls outdated and ineffective.

 

“The system itself is a structure based on the average,” he said. “It’s been designed that way purposely, because we have this mythical idea there is an average kid out there, which no one can ever identify because an average kid does not exist.”

 

Yet, in using a mathematical average with 20 percent at the top and 20 percent at the bottom, somewhere in the middle lies what is currently deemed the “average” child, on which time constraints and curriculum is based.

 

But peek into a Godfrey-Lee classroom and that child isn’t there. “We have kids all over the place because of poverty, because they’ve moved here from low-performing schools or different countries so they have language barriers,” Britten said. “We are still expected to move them all one full year of academic growth even if they aren’t ready for it.

 

“Our whole process this year has been to identify that as the problem and to gain empathy with all the stakeholders in this process to see it from their points of view.”

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

Time to Split, Croatia

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By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

34

Welcome to this week’s chapter in the ongoing series by our world traveler, Lynn Strough. Here, Lynn takes us to Split, Croatia.

Split is a vibrant town on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, which is known for Diocletian’s Palace, a fortress-like structure erected by the Roman emperor in the 4th century. Now it’s full of restaurants, shops, cathedrals, hotels, and tourists.

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Note that the cruise ships dump huge crowds here, but if you see the tour guides holding up a flag followed by the masses, just head the other direction. They usually go for the area with the most souvenir shops.

 

If you’re in the old town at the right time, you might bump into some men in metal or possibly even Santa Claus or Dumbledore.

 

You’ll notice many interesting architectural details both on the ground and up in the air if you climb the bell tower, which I have to say is a really high one! Inside the walls, you’ll find the beautiful Croatian National Theatre and just outside the walls, a colorful market.

 

 

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Speaking of walls, there is a fair amount of graffiti, but most of it is artistic and interesting. Oftentimes in Split, you’ll stumble on to a flea market, and you never know what you might find. And after the sun goes down, the colorful lights come on, if you’re into late nights with food festivals and free concerts… free, unless you care to donate some spare Kuna.

 

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If you tire of old town Split, there are many day trip opportunities, like taking a ferry to the island of Brac (pronounced “Brach”), which is known for its very famous beach, Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape). This beach is a protected nature park and it changes shape under the influence of tides and waves.

 

If water and beaches aren’t your thing, there’s Trogir, another walled village a short bus ride away from Split. It has the usual fortress you can climb for a view, plus canals, shops, restaurants, churches and the like for you to explore. Or you can set up office with a pizza and free wifi, if you need to get a little travel blogging done.

 

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Now, after a month in Croatia, it’s time for me to split Split and head to Slovenia. But looking back, what’s not to love about Croatia? I’d go back in a heartbeat, and highly recommend it for a beautiful, affordable, fun and sun-filled holiday for you.

 

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

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“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

Art of Kids Helping Kids is Food for All

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By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

As Oriole Park Elementary fourth-grader Adam Lagerway painted a cardboard carrot, second-grader Allie Evans thought about how a local organization feeds hungry students. “Six thousand sack suppers!” she shouted, while transforming her own art materials into food shapes.

 

Students in teacher Laura Sluys’ special education class were making a sculpture out of recycled materials with a visiting artist from the organization Artists Creating Together.

 

Semia Hatambo carries trail mix
Semia Hatambo carries trail mix

The piece was donated to Kids’ Food Basket, a non-profit the class has worked all year to support.

 

Students presented the completed sculpture, a box with food flowing out of it like a cornucopia, to Brandy Arnold, KFB Kids Helping Kids coordinator. Painted brightly were cardboard, cans, toilet paper rolls, bottles and other items made into sandwiches, apples, juice boxes, bananas, celery and yogurt.

 

It was the culmination of a school year spent combining creativity, compassion and lots of trail mix. Sluys received a $200 Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation Service Learning Grant to fund the project with KFB, dubbed “Disabling Hunger.”

 

She also received a grant through Artists Creating Together, which provides artist-in-residencies for students with special needs across Kent County for her class to complete the project with artist Nora Faber.

 

Sluys said she decided to combine the two experiences for her students. “It helps them connect all the pieces of what they’ve been doing.”

 

Students raised money for Kids Food Basket by collecting pennies
Students raised money for Kids Food Basket by collecting pennies

Throughout the school year, Sluys’ students have completed monthly efforts for KFB. They led all Oriole Park students in decorating and donating 214 bags for Brown Bag Decorating Day.

 

They made and packed trail mix in 100 plastic sandwich bags. They collected pennies to donate.

 

A $300 Target stores field trip grant also funded a grocery-shopping trip to purchase food to donate, and students volunteered at KFB. “We put some pudding in baskets so they can give them to kids that are hungry,” said second-grader Jamiah Abron.

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime Monday

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summer-solsticejpg-2cabd306fc85fbcaAh, yes. ’Tis no ordinary Monday, this.

 

If you’re anything like me (perish the thought), you’re not too fond of Mondays. Maybe you find it difficult to get out of bed after a nice, leisurely weekend. Or, perhaps it seems like the longest day of the week.

 

If it’s the latter, fear not, it’s not your imagination. Today marks the summer solstice, and since we live in the Northern Hemisphere, we will enjoy the most daylight of the year.

 

Yes, your greatest fear has come to pass: It’s the longest Monday of the year. (Heck, it’s the longest day of the year.)

 

Everywhere north of the equator will have at least 12 hours of daylight today. Here in West Michigan, we’ll have 15 hours and 21 minutes of daylight. Compare that to less than nine hours of daylight at the winter solstice in December. Put another way, today is 6 hours, 21 minutes longer than it will be on the December solstice.

 

strawberry moonSo, soak up the sun while you can. We West Michiganders are starved for daylight, so pardon me if I sound exhilarated.

 

But maybe 15 hours and 21 minutes of daylight just isn’t enough for you. Some people want even more daylight. Well, travel above the Arctic Circle, and you’ll have 24 hours of daylight. It’s called the Midnight Sun, but be forewarned: It could really mess with your circadian rhythm.

 

On the flip side, above the Arctic Circle, you can expect 24 hours of dark during the winter solstice.

 

There’s always a chance that some of you will find this information underwhelming. Fine. That’s your deal. But we’re not done here: The full moon and June solstice are both happening June 20 for the first time in decades. The last time was in 1948 and, according to EarthSky.org, this phenomenon won’t happen again until June 21, 2062.

 

So, yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

 

‘Meh,’ you say? Well, how about this: Tonight’s moon is a full “strawberry” moon. It’s so named because it’s believed that strawberry-picking season is at its peak now. Which makes sense because my friend’s strawberry patch has been pumping out strawberries like you wouldn’t believe. Now, I love strawberries as much as the next person, but there is a limit. There are only so many strawberries dipped in chocolate than one can consume.

full-strawberry-moon

 

But I digress.

 

Apparently Algonquin tribes took the strawberry moon as a signal to gather ripening fruit. And they didn’t need a calendar to know it.

 

Who knew a Monday could be so awesome?

 

 

 

Heavenly Hvar, Croatia

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Holidays, Local Faces, Recreation, Travel, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

TravelynnTales

 

1

Welcome to this week’s chapter in the ongoing series by our world traveler, Lynn Strough. More Croatia is in store…

Hvar is glitzy and high-rolling, and it’s where the yachting crowd comes to see and be seen. On Hvar, you might go for a morning stroll and be so mesmerized by the scenery, that you’re still in the same spot at sunset. The Hula Hula Bar offers comfy lounge chairs for a pittance, with a view to die for.

 

I stopped for a breakfast orange juice, stayed for a salad for lunch, and found myself sipping a glass of wine watching the sun sink into the sea several hours later, and I wasn’t the only one. I met lots of people from all over the world who were also tethered to their chairs for the day, other than to periodically take a dip in the crystal clear, freezing cold water.

 

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If you prefer to be on the water, rather than in it, there are plenty of opportunities, from ferries to water taxis, power boats to boats powered by wind. Sailing is my preference, so my new friend Roma (from California) and I headed out for a half-day sail. They take up to 10 passengers on this 35′ racing boat modified as a cruiser, but we got lucky as it wasn’t peak season, and had the boat and Captain Bronco all to ourselves.

 

The gods provided great wind, and at 15 knots we were sailing. It was blowing 30 knots farther out, but Captain B decided to keep it a little less exciting and more comfortable, as it turns out Roma had never sailed before.

 

We sailed to a nearby tiny island, to Palmizana on San Clemente, for lunch. It’s a gorgeous spot, with a beautiful harbor to protect the yachts, and a few small restaurants. It’s a real life Garden of Eden, where if you look carefully, you might even spot Adam and Eve.

 

15Back on Hvar, we got ambitious and climbed the hill to the fortress for some spectacular views of the harbor and rooftops below. Hvar is a medieval city, with walls started in 1278. There’s a strong Venetian influence in the architecture, as the Venetians ruled here on more than one occasion.

 

Besides the walled old town and famous harbor, Hvar is also known for its vineyards and wines, olive groves, and especially its lavender fields, and it’s one of the sunniest islands. With a population of over 11,000, it’s the fourth most populated of the islands of Croatia.

 

 

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As with all of the water I’ve seen in Croatia — inland lakes, rivers and waterfalls, as well as the sea — it’s crystal clear and the most breathtaking shades of blues and greens.

 

You can spend a small fortune staying at one of the fancy hotels, or a very affordable $50 per night for a good-sized room that sleeps three, if you’re willing to stay out of town and walk a bit. I stayed at an “apartman,” a room in a guest house, about a 15-minute walk from the center of town, but I didn’t mind as the walk was along the sea with scenic views the whole way.

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And this location put me about half-way between the old town in one direction, and another fabulous beach in the other direction, also with a scenic walk to get there.

 

The town itself is filled with great little restaurants and shops, full of enticing things. Other than food, my one souvenir was a couple of little sachets of fragrant dried lavender to tuck into my well-worn hiking boots, a big improvement in their scent.

 

There are plenty of night clubs and bars if you want a vibrant night-life. And on Hvar, as in all of Croatia, I felt very safe, even walking around alone after dark, with the moon and stars and lamplight to guide me back to my temporary home.

 

31About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

Captivating Croatia: Zadar and Krka

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Local Faces, Travel, , , , , , , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

5

 

Welcome to this week’s chapter in the ongoing series by our world traveler, Lynn Strough. It’s time for more Croatia…

Renting a car in Croatia is one of the best ways to see the countryside and get around. The roads are good, and directions are easy to follow. My friend Beth and I drove from Plitvice Lakes National Park a couple of hours down to the small city of Zadar, which is near another national park called Krka (yes, that’s how it’s spelled, although it may seem to us English speakers to be missing a vowel or two).

 

Zadar is filled with beautiful churches and other old buildings, as well as some interesting Roman ruins. It’s lovely old town is a great place to wander around in, just meandering through the alleyways. It’s small enough where you can’t really get lost, and if you do, the sea is right there to reorient you.

 

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‘Greeting to the Sun’ by Nikola Basic

There are two points of special interest overlooking the sea, both by the same artist, Nikola Basic. The sea organ is a sculptural musical instrument played by the tides (water pushes air out of tubes under long cement stairs) where you can sit and listen to what the sea has to say, while watching the sunset. Also created by Basic is Greeting to the Sun, a solar-powered interactive piece that you can walk (or dance!) on, made up of hundreds of solar panels that soak up the rays during the day, and put on a colorful moving light show at night.

 

 

 

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As far as accommodations go, you’ll find there are more “Apartmans” than hotels or B&B’s in Croatia. An apartman is usually a room in somebody’s home, or sometimes a whole apartment, and they are quite affordable. Both in a village near Plitvice and in Zadar, we were able to find two-bedroom apartments that could easily sleep four (or more if someone sleeps on the couch) for a total of around $55 per night. So if you’re traveling on a budget, Croatia is a very affordable place to visit. (I also think Apartman is secretly a new superhero waiting to be born — picture a guy with limbs that pull apart, similar to those toys with elastic strings.)

 

15Not far away is the small town of Skradin, which is a gateway to Krka National Park. Skradin is worth an hour or two on its own, with charming narrow streets hugging the hillside, a church worth a look inside, and restaurants and shops that tumble down to the sea, where you can catch a boat up the river to Krka.

 

There is much debate about which national park is preferable, Plitvice or Krka, and I have an easy solution–go see both. They’re both stunningly beautiful, full of bright, blue-green waterfalls, but they’re also very different. For one thing, you can swim at Krka right near the falls, which is forbidden at Plitvice, although you aren’t allowed to jump from the bridge.

 

Zadar and Kryka are affordable and gorgeous. Consider a visit there. I think you’ll love what you’ll find.

 

IMG_7244-1024x768About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

Visit a Senior, Meet a Pilot or a Teacher, or an Artist

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Senior Living, Volunteers, , ,
Kelloggsville High School senior Thu Nguyen plays bingo with a resident
Kelloggsville High School senior Thu Nguyen plays bingo with a resident

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

High school students have learned many interesting tidbits about the residents they are getting to know at American House Senior Living Community in Kentwood.

 

Each resident has a story, they’ve learned: Betty Reynolds was the first teacher at Battle Creek Christian School; Lois Laffey was a pilot. Margie Halstead is an artist who has 10 children, 35 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren. Margaret Gazella’s husband had to leave on their wedding day to fight in World War II.

 

“I love talking to the residents,” said Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad, while crafting glittery cardboard flowers with several ladies, and learning even more details about their lives. “They are so nice.”

 

They’ve learned other things as well while joining residents for crafts, games and snacks. Kelloggsvile senior Thu Nguyen, who is from Vietnam, said special moments happen over Bingo and just getting to know each other. “I want to make them feel happy so they don’t feel lonely,” she said.

 

And residents like it too. “It makes you feel young again,” said Elaine Wigger.

 

Added Ginger Kay, “It’s nice to have young people here, because they are so positive.”

 

Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad sets up crafts for senior citizens
Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad sets up crafts for senior citizens

A group of about eight Kelloggsville students, many who are English-language learners, visit the assisted-living and memory-care facilities monthly to spend time with seniors. Coordinated by EL teacher Susan Faulk, the volunteering opportunity is a way for students to give back and step out of their comfort zones and get to know others.

 

“The students gain patience and confidence as they work with the seniors,” Faulk said. “Many students are really shy and feel awkward around the seniors at first. I see their confidence grow as they realize that they are able to help someone else. I also see them having to learn patience, as a game of Skip-Bo and Rummikub can take a long time with a senior who has to think for a long time before taking action.”

 

For the past two years, Faulk has also coordinated a volunteer group at Women At Risk International Volunteer Center, a Grandville-based nonprofit organization that unites and educates women and children in areas of human trafficking and sexual slavery.

 

American House staff said the visits are very meaningful to residents.

 

Kelloggsville High School senior Dim Ciin eyes her Bingo board
Kelloggsville High School senior Dim Ciin eyes her Bingo board

“It’s always exciting to see people cross age barriers relationally,” said Susan Faulk’s husband, Steven Faulk, American House chaplain.

 

Activities assistant Betty Torres said the residents “love relating to the younger crowd. They have a lot of good stories to tell, our residents. They get so exited about a group coming in. It fulfills their whole being.”

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

Hands-On Film and Acting Summer Camps at Compass College of Cinematic Arts

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Compass College of Cinematic ArtsBy: Jessie Kooyers

 

This June, Compass College of Cinematic Arts will open its campus for an action-packed week of filmmaking and acting summer camps. These fast-paced, hands-on camps give high school students a glimpse into the real world of multimedia production.

 

Both camps run June 20-24, and registration is open to teens ages 13-18.  In the film camp, students work with industry professionals and state-of-the art film equipment to write, direct, and edit their own short films. Meanwhile, students in the acting camp are cast in these films, and spend the week refining their on-camera acting skills. At the end of the week, the films are screened for friends and family in the theatre at Compass College.

 

“Film camp was a great first look at the industry,” said John LeFan, former film camper and 2013 Compass College alumnus. “It’s a great starter program to get your feet wet. I was immediately hooked.”

 

The camps are designed for students with little to no film and acting experience. The instructors at Compass College work to make the process fun and as similar to a real-life production set as possible.

 

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Joshua Courtade, film camp instructor and award-winning screenwriter, “The film students get to collaborate with the acting students and the results are some very fun short films.”

 

Over the years, campers have had the opportunity to Skype with Hollywood actors and producers like Beau Wirick, Mark Clayman, and Ralph Winter who have worked on the sets of shows like NCIS, The Office, and Arrested Development, and produced feature films like, Pursuit of Happyness, X-Men, and X-Men Origins.

 

Space in the camps is limited so early registration is recommended.  For more information, call Compass College at 616-988-1000, or visit online at www.compass.edu.

Happy birthday! GR Children’s Museum celebrates its 19th year

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Education, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Non-Profits, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

grcmMy, how time flies — in a blink of an eye, The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum is all grown up.

 

The self-styled ‘advocate for the value of play’ celebrates its 19th year with a Birthday Party Celebration on July 31st. Festivities will include carnival games, bubbles, face painting and more as GRCM shows its appreciation to hundreds of faithful supporters.

 

The event dovetails with GRCM’s newest exhibit, BOXES, which opened May 24.

 

Paying tribute to the first traveling exhibit the GRCM ever hosted, BOXES lets kids and their adults build anything they can think of out of cardboard. There are boxes of all shapes and sizes — some that can be stuffed and weighted to use as a base for a bigger structure, some that can be cut and ripped, and some remnant cardboard pieces that can be colored, cut, torn and added on to any special creation.

 

cardboard dragon
It’s a dragon!

“BOXES embodies the infinite open-ended play style that The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum Mission advocates,” said Jack Woller, Associate Director of the GRCM.

 

“Guests can build cardboard armor, cities, games and anything that their imagination can come up with.”

 

As with all exhibits and programs at the museum, this new exhibit is designed to let kids (and their adults) learn through play and stretch their creative muscles.

 

mosaic on grcm

“Creativity is important to child development, and kids need to be empowered to explore and develop their creativity,” said Woller. “The exploration and experimentation in exhibits like BOXES supports a foundation for learning, invention and scientific discovery throughout life.”

 

BOXES runs through August, kicking off a year of special events celebrating the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum’s 20th anniversary.

 

For more information, contact Adrienne Brown at 616.235.4726 ext 204 or visit the website here.

Sniffing Out the News is Elementary

3-bottom, Area Education, City of Wyoming, Education, Kids Activities, , , , ,
Students work on stories (credit: Lysa Stockwell)
Students work on stories (credit: Lysa Stockwell)

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

Gladiola Elementary School students sat around a table and discussed what lead — that’s journalistic jargon for introduction — would be best for this School News Network article about their new student newspaper, Gladiola Wolf Tracks.

 

“Meet all the students that made the first Gladiola Wolf Tracks newspaper,” said third-grader Megan Sivins.

 

“This is four out of 16 of the kids that came up with the Wyoming newspaper called Gladiola Wolf Tracks,” suggested fourth-grader Quinton Gebben.

 

And, “Meet the Gladiola Elementary students who came out on top and made the first Gladiola newspaper in the whole Gladiola school history,” said fourth-grader Brady Flint.

 

Fourth-grader Maddy Lee considered the best possible lead. She decided Brady had already nailed it.

 

Sixteen students in the after-school enrichment program at the Wyoming Public Schools building recently launched the newspaper after learning the basics of journalism from fourth-grade teacher Lysa Stockwell and by interviewing teachers, peers, staff members and even community officials, such as Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll.

 

They’ve covered events and school programs, with cameras and notepads in hand, learning to get details centered around the who, what, when, where and why questions for their stories. They use technology, including Google Docs, and keep current on what’s going on in the building

 

“They’ve interviewed all the staff members in the building, from teachers to custodians to parent volunteers. It’s been really, really exciting because the more they do the more excited they get,” said Principal David Lyon.

 

Elile Silvestre and Madeline Pauline interview Wyoming Police Officer Rory Allen (credit: Lysa Stockwell)
Elile Silvestre and Madeline Pauline interview Wyoming Police Officer Rory Allen (credit: Lysa Stockwell)

Wolves or News Hounds?

 

The ace cub reporters recently completed the second edition of their newspaper, with plans for another and monthly publications next school year. Lyon said the almost entirely student-written newspaper will incorporate the school’s newsletter.

 

Parents can donate $5 to have a message to their child published in the newspaper, supporting the costs of publication.

 

In class, students studied examples of journalism, heard from a local reporter who shared tips and experiences, and learned about interviewing skills, bias and plagiarism.

 

They also learned the fun they can have with journalism, Stockwell said.

 

“Generally, kids don’t have the chance to have their writing published and for them to have that opportunity has really been exciting for them,” Stockwell said.

 

“Writing has become really authentic for them,” Lyon added. “Plus, they are far more alert now to things going on in the building.”

 

When a story presents itself, Wolf Tracks reporters have jumped at the chance to grab a notepad. For example, they took the initiative to cover a sneak-peek performance of the Wyoming High School musical.

 

Brady said he enjoyed writing a story about teacher Kimberly Swiger called “Mrs. Swiger: The Inside Story.” In it she talks about her favorite books, and that she’s spent 25 years teaching, has 10 nieces and nephews and attended Gladiola herself.

 

“Mrs. Swiger told the best stories,” Brady said. “I really liked being an interviewer and reporter and writing the articles. I am a social butterfly.”

 

Pinky Nguyen and Dion Idizi are busy with the news (credit: Lysa Stockwell)
Pinky Nguyen and Dion Idizi are busy with the news (credit: Lysa Stockwell)

Back to the Headlines

 

Discussion around the table continued after the students had found their lede. They talked about their favorite interviews with the art and music teacher and other staff members.
“I like when I interviewed Mr. Lyon. He can ride a unicycle,” Quinton said.

 

Further conversation led to the fact that Lyon can also juggle, prompting a follow-up question from Brady: “Can he juggle while riding a unicycle?”

 

Now, there’s a nose for news.

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

What to bring when you travel: The eternal dilemma

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Local Faces, Travel, , , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

17This week, Lynn interrupts her parade of places to bring you a comprehensive packing post (at least from a woman’s perspective—guys, you’ll have to adjust accordingly).

This packing list is for long-term travel on a budget, mostly following summer. It’s not for a short-term trip to a big city where you’ll be dining out every night in fancy restaurants, or on a cruise with formal dinner parties, although I think even with what I have, I could make do. This list can take you from hiking in the mountains to lounging on beaches, to perusing museums, to wine tasting, to dining out at a fish shack or a 4-star restaurant.

 

Note: This kind of travel isn’t about making a fashion statement, although it’s nice to look presentable. It’s about being comfortable, warm and dry (except maybe when snorkeling or diving), and having a great time exploring our beautiful world.

14

 

Try to leave a little empty space in your bag for acquisitions, as you’re bound to see something you like, and it would be nice to have room to carry it. The hardest part of my trip is that moment each time I move (which is frequent) when I try to zip my backpack closed, because as light as I’ve packed, I still have too much stuff.

 

And if you’re traveling to Southeast Asia, you can go with just what you have on and an empty backpack and buy a complete wardrobe for about the price of one quick-dry name brand outfit back home.

 

Just remember, those elephant pants that look so cool out on the street in Thailand might look a little out of place back in the mid-west, but if you’re a bit of a bohemian, who cares?

 

 

[huge_it_slider id=”51″]

 

 

Ready? Here we go!

 

Packing List:

  • Kindle (1,000 books for the size and weight of one)
  • 1 pair jeans (I brought one pair, and despite how long they take to dry, I’m glad I did)
  • 1 pair gray quick-dry hiking pants
  • 1 pair quick-dry black pants (can be used for dress or casual or pajamas)
  • 1 pair quick-dry green capris
  • 1 pair black tights (can wear with a dress or layer under pants for warmth)
  • 1 pair quick-dry tan shorts
  • 1 black quick-dry dress
  • 1 brown quick-dry skort (skirt with shorts built in)
  • 1 quick-dry white blouse (I’d have picked a different color, given a good choice—white might look nice, but not for long)
  • 1 gray t-shirt—long-sleeved, quick-dry
  • 1 black long-sleeved, lightweight cotton shirt (alternates as a pajama top)
  • 1 brown patterned, quick-dry top with long sleeves (patterns are good as they hide the dirt)
  • 1 patterned quick-dry green t-shirt
  • 1 green quick-dry, short-sleeved t-shirt
  • 1 striped quick-dry, short-sleeved shirt
  • 2 cotton tank tops
  • 1 striped sleeveless top, brown and black
  • 1 black quick-dry, sleeveless hiking top
  • 1 taupe cotton long-sleeved top with black tank (layers for warmth and tank can be used for pajama top in hot weather)
  • 3 pair hiking socks
  • 2 pair short black socks
  • Hiking boots
  • 1 pair cushy flip flops
  • 1 pair Tom’s shoes (couldn’t find summer walking shoes, so I took my old Tom’s as a temp solution. They ended up lasting me five months and I was sorry when they bit the dust)
  • Gloves (lightweight)
  • Bathing suit
  • Sarong (multiple uses—skirt, dress, beach cover-up, nightgown, towel, blanket, tablecloth)
  • 1 pair short pajama bottoms
  • 2 thin decorative scarves
  • 7 pair quick-dry bikini underwear (you can get away with 3 pair if they’re quick-dry, but my 7 rolled up only take up the room of a pair of socks or 2, and I like not having to do laundry every day)
  • 2 bras
  • A few pair of inexpensive earrings, rings, necklaces (leave your good jewelry at home, you’re likely to lose it, and flashy stuff makes you more of a target for thieves)
  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Fleece jacket and thin cardigan
  • Pashmina (can be used as a blanket or a shawl)
  • Packing cubes
  • Silk sleep sack (you might not need this often, but when you do it’s nice to have and takes up the room of 2 pairs of socks)
  • Money belt (not the most comfortable, but important to have)
  • Pack towel (a bit pricey up front, but well worth it—they’re quick-dry, antimicrobial, and pack up small)
  • Door stop (cheap, small, with a big security factor)
  • Drain plug (can’t tell you how many times I’ve used this!)
  • Converter kit (I only use the adaptor plugs, as my phone and computer have their own, and many appliances like hair dryers now come with a way to switch the current)
  • Tiny keychain flashlight
  • Small packets of laundry soap (you can always buy more where you go)
  • Mini-sewing kit
  • Wet Wipes
  • Snacks (just a few for on the plane, you can always buy more wherever you go. Keep in mind many countries don’t allow fruit or nuts in, so eat them before you arrive)
  • Reading glasses
  • Regular glasses and sunglass clips
  • Sunglasses
  • Zip-lock plastic bags, quart and gallon size (bring more than you think you’ll need—you’ll use them all and wish you had more)
  • TSA-approved locks for backpack and daypack
  • Travel document pouch with passport, driver’s license, credit cards, debit cards, plane ticket (always bring at least 2 credit cards—if one is compromised, you’ll have another one for back up)
  • Small amount of cash in US dollars (bring some ones, and make sure they’re new, not creased or torn—some places will only take new bills.)
  • Immunization certificate
  • 10 extra passport pictures (for visas—you can get them abroad but it’s a hassle)
  • iPhone (I use this as my camera, but otherwise add camera to your list)
  • iPod for music
  • Small notebook
  • Lightweight 11″ Macbook Air Laptop
  • Cords and plugs for computer, phone, spare battery, Kindle
  • Spare battery charger (I use this almost every day)
  • Earbuds for iPod
  • Backpack (up to you if you want a roller bag or backpack, both have advantages and disadvantages)
  • Small zip-off daypack
  • Small purse
  • Dop kit
  • Pocket-sized plastic poncho
  • Water bottle
  • Whistle
  • Length of nylon rope (can be used for a clothesline, among other things)
  • Spork (small plastic spoon/fork/knife all in one)
  • Prescriptions (bring what you think you’ll need as you may not be able to get the same thing abroad, however I was able to get my migraine rx for a fraction of the cost in both New Zealand and Thailand – $5 vs the $40 a pill I have to pay in the States!)
  • Antibiotic—general rx for potential intestinal problems
  • Epipen for allergy
  • Ibuprofin
  • Aspirin
  • Benadryl
  • Pepto Bismol
  • Bonine for motion sickness
  • Health and beauty aids—remember, airlines have rules about small quantities in a clear plastic quart bag. You can always pick up shampoo, toothpaste, etc. where you’re going.
  • Shampoo and cream rinse
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
  • Razor and extra blades
  • Mascara, liner and remover
  • Lipstick
  • Chapstick
  • Brush/comb
  • Hair ties
  • Headband
  • Eye and face cream
  • Body lotion
  • Soap
  • Facewash
  • Sunscreen
  • Deodorant
  • Tweezers (make sure you put tweezers, nail clippers and nail files in checked bags; some airports really will take them)
  • Nail file
  • Nail clippers
  • Contacts and solution (bring extra contacts)
  • Eye drops
  • Hair dryer/flatiron (you can really leave these at home)
  • Swabs
  • Shower cap
  • Band aids
  • Tissues
  • Earplugs
  • Neosporin

 

Art supplies (something most of you probably won’t need):

  • Travel watercolor kit
  • Travel-size brushes
  • Paper
  • Refill paints
  • Spray bottle
  • Pencils and sharpener
  • Eraser
  • Pens – drawing and calligraphy
  • Small watercolor paintings as gifts for some of my longer-term hosts

 

Things you can get ahead, but I planned to get at my first destination:

  • Good walking shoes
  • Hat (more fun to buy on the road, unless you already have a favorite—make sure it’s crush-proof, as no matter how careful you are, somebody will sit on it or put their bag on top of it)
  • Bug spray (too many liquids are hard to carry. Almost any place you travel that you need these, they will be readily available)
  • Travel Umbrella

 

11That’s the list! Modify to suit your needs. This is pretty much all I needed in the first six months. You can figure that whatever you need for a week should just about cover you for a year, with a few exceptions. I did end up buying a base layer in Australia, as I’d planned to hike in the glaciers in New Zealand and had already been caught in rain and hail hiking in summer in Tasmania. These I don’t need often, but when I do, I’m glad I have them, and have used them for pajamas in chilly places as well. I also bought a wool beanie cap, and have worn that to bed, and used it out on the fjords in New Zealand. I left the gloves in a hostel for someone else in the give-away bin. I might need some down the road, but something had to go as I couldn’t zip my bag.

 

What have I brought that I haven’t used? I’m happy to say I’ve used almost everything I brought, except for things I’m glad I didn’t have to use, like motion sickness pills, and my Epi-pen (thankfully, no allergy-inducing mushrooms have crossed my lips), and my emergency whistle. I’ve used only one band aid when I cut my finger on a metal door hinge, and did have to use Benedryl for a couple of colds I picked up in a hostel and on the Tokyo trains (they wear those face masks for a reason).

 

3I’ve used my hairdryer only twice, even though I have long hair now, but if I’d been traveling in cold weather places instead of mostly following summer, I might have used it more. I brought a mini hair straightener and only used it once, so that was a waste of space. On the road, you need very little makeup, jewelry, or fancy clothes, unless you’re doing a very different kind of traveling. Really, it’s a nice break to not worry all the time what your hair looks like.

 

What did I wish I’d brought? More zip-lock baggies. You use them way more than you’d think, and even though you can purchase them most anywhere, I don’t really need a box of 50. Pretty much anything else you need you can find most places—toothpaste and shampoo, clothes, tissues, you name it, other countries have it too. I highly recommend quick-dry clothes, which you can’t always find in all countries, or in some, they’re very expensive, unless you want to be waiting for days for your heavy clothes to dry on the line. Most of the countries I’ve visited don’t use clothes dryers, which are so prevalent in the US. They use good old-fashioned clotheslines and pins. Which reminds me, throw a few clothespins in as well!

 

10What have I acquired? Very little. A pair of loose cotton “elephant” pants and a top in Thailand for my meditation retreat. Some clothes were loaned or given to me, and some clothes I gave away. I did buy a bikini in Australia—they have great bathing suits there. And women in their 80’s don’t hesitate to flaunt their stuff in two-piece bathing suits, so I got over my “I’m-too-old-for-a-bikini” mindset.

 

I replaced my years-old cardigan, and I’ve bought a few gifts for people who have provided me with accommodations or made the effort to come meet me, however with my minimal budget and lack of backpack space, plus no home of my own to ship things to, I haven’t bought much. It’s hard when you see so many cool things in other countries that you know you can’t get at home, and I’ve thought more than once I might like to be an importer and shop for a living

 

But back to packing—remember, whatever you do take along or pick up, you have to lug around, so think seriously about if it’s worth it.

 

25Also, remember when you pack your bag full and head off from a winter location, wearing your jeans and long-sleeved shirt and fleece jacket and hiking boots, and head to a summer place where the temperature is 99F, you aren’t going to want to keep wearing all of that heavy gear. So then where do you put it? In a kangaroo bag! And now you have three bags to tote around. Pack light, pack light, pack light. And bring twice as much money. That old adage, for better or worse, is true.

 

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.1

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

 

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

More than 1,500 local students take their graduation walk

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Upcoming Events, , , , , , , , , , , ,
2016 graduation ceremonies kick off tomorrow and run through next week.
2016 graduation ceremonies kick off tomorrow and run through next week.

It’s May. The weather is finally warm. The flowers are blooming and it’s time for more than 1,500 students to take their final walk down the aisle to receive their high school diplomas.

 

In the Kentwood and Wyoming areas, there are 11 schools hosting graduation ceremonies within the next two weeks. Here is a rundown of dates and the top students for each school.

 

Starting out of the graduation ceremonies will be South Christian High, which will graduate 154 students Thursday, May 25. Graduation is set for 7 p.m. at Kentwood Community Church, 2950 Clyde Park Ave. SW. The school has three valedictorians: Joshua Boers, Colin Hartgerink and Nicolas Kuperus.  The remaining students in the top ten are: Peyton DeRuiter, Lucy Dykhouse, Cassidy Huizinga, Hannah Koning, A.J. Samdal, Bradley Scholten and Alex VanKooten.

 

On Friday, May 26, both East Kentwood High School and Godfrey’s Lee High School will be hosting their 2016 graduation ceremonies. Lee High School has around 90 students walking down the aisle at 7 p.m. at Resurrection Life Church, 5100 Ivanrest Ave. SW, Grandville. Making up the 2016 Lee High School top ten are Leonardo Vallejo, Emily Fishman, Selena Knutson, Dino Rodas, Allison Fisher, Giselle Perez, Ivan Diaz, Alonso Lopez-Carrera, Alejandro Vargas and Oliver Lorenzo.

 

East Kentwood High School’s graduation is at 7 p.m. May 26 at the school’s stadium, 6230 Kalamazoo Ave. SE. The rain date is May 27.  Making up the top ten are Andy Ly, Megan Callaghan, Makaela Dalley, Nolan Meister, Sara Anstey, Marilyn Padua, Tran Vo, Hao Nguyen, Venesa Haska, and Matthew Richer.

 

Tri-Unity High School and Wyoming High School will have graduation ceremonies on Tuesday, May 31.

 

Wyoming High School will have 265 students graduate at 7 p.m. May 31 at Grand Rapids First Church, 2100 44th St. SW. The top ten are Montana Earegood, Kayla Kornoelje, Stella Achiyan, Naomi Nguyen, Nhu Quynh, Christopher Hanson, Jada Haines, Rachel Bolt, Lazaro Cruz, and Kelly Gonzalez Diaz.

 

Tri-Unity Christian School will be graduating 17 students at 7 p.m. May 31 at Resurrection Life Church, 5100 Ivanrest Ave. SW, Grandville. The top two students for the class are Lisa McKelvey and Alissa VanderVeen.

 

Godwin High School has 126 students graduating on Wednesday, June 1. Graduation ceremonies are at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium, 50 35th St. SW. The valedictorian is Esteban Romero Herrera. The salutatorian is Taylor Jarrett. The rest of the top top are Ashley Soto, Sandra Rivera, Chloe Fritz, Amel Causevic, China Nguyen, Karen Barrose, Hector Zoleta and Alex Mosley.

 

Several area schools will be hosting graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 2.

 

Kelloggsville High School’s 2016 graduation ceremonies are at 7 p.m. June 2 at Kentwood Community Church, 2950 Clyde Park Ave. SW. The class has 140 students this year. The top ten are: Lan-Phuong Ton, Lucynda Pham, Kim-Ngan Nguyen, April M. Savickas, Shayla Huong Huynh, Ashley Duong, Chantal Lopez, Loc Tran, Michael Truong, and Sang Tran.

 

The Potters House will be graduating 44 students at 7 p.m. June 2 at Plymouth Heights Christian Reformed Church, 1800 Plymouth Ave. SE., Grand Rapids. The valedictorian is Ashley VerBeek and the salutatorian is Emily Stout.

 

West Michigan Aviation Academy has 94 students in its 2016 graduating class. Graduation is at 7 p.m. June 2 at the school, 5363 44th St. SE. Making up the top ten are Abigail Kathleen Austin, Cindy Ngoc Ha, Connor Hendrik Hogan, Jonathan David Ketcham, Jason Thomas Kilgore, Hayley Elizabeth Latham, Jaxyn Bennett Ryks, Emily Ann Seykora, Samantha Rae Stuart, and Joshua Zane Vogeli.

 

West Michigan Lutheran High School is proud that its eight graduates will graduate with over a 3.0 GPA. The graduation baccalaureate service begins at 7 p.m. at the school, 601 36th St. SW, Wyoming. Valedictorian is Allison Klooster and salutatorian is Joshua Andree.

 

On Friday, June 3, Grand River Prep High School has 113 graduates for 2016. This year’s graduation is at 6:30 p.m. Calvin College’s Van Noord Arena, 3195 Knight Way SE. Class valedictorian is Christa Fernando. Salutatorians are Ajilan Potter and Megan Lawrence. The rest of the top ten include Victor Rojas Garcia, Samrawit Kahsay, Taitum Male, Julia Lammy, Antony Nguyen, Giselle Uwera, Mckenzie Male, Hai Truong and Kendall Garland.

 

Sisters Follow Identical Career Paths

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Local Faces, , , , , ,
Teacher Sarah David helps a student hang up a piece of writing
Teacher Sarah David meets with a group of students in her classroom

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

West Godwin Elementary School Principal Steve Minard remembers interviewing teachers for a third-grade position. One candidate had an ideal background: an elementary education degree from Hope College and teaching experience in Honduras.

 

Later that afternoon, another teacher interviewed with the same story. She had the same degree and former teaching job in Honduras. Minard told her about the coincidence.

 

“We’re sisters,” Libby Klooster explained.

 

Sisters Sarah David and Libby Klooster were vying for the same job, but rooting each other on at the same time. Both were seeking the next step in a similar journey. They grew up in Grand Rapids, attended Grand Rapids Christian Schools, earned their teaching degrees at Hope College and taught together at American School of Tegucigalpa, located in the capital of Honduras.

 

Two Spanish-speaking teachers with a background in Central America were too good to pass up, administrators decided. So they hired them both: David to the third-grade post and Klooster as a first grade teacher. “It was like back in Honduras,” Klooster said, noting they had taught the same grades there.

 

Now, both in their third year teaching at West Godwin, their passion for children and bilingual language skills serve well.  Forty-percent of students are English-language learners, and 36 percent are native Spanish speakers. David now teaches fourth grade and Klooster, younger by three years, still teaches first grade.

 

“It’s pretty cool that they’re sisters because they can talk and interact with their students and help each other out,” said Diamond Jean, a fourth-grade student in David’s class.

 

School News Network: Sister Teachers
Sisters Sarah David and Libby Klooster took similar paths from teaching in Honduras to West Godwin Elementary School

Language, Culture and Bridge-Building

 

The American School of Tegucigalpa is prestigious, and families pay high tuition. West Godwin, by contrast, is a high-poverty district. David and Klooster said they love helping students who are learning English, talking with parents whose culture and language they understand, and embracing the community.

 

“I just got a new student from the Dominican Republic and she speaks no English,” Klooster said. “So I’m so happy I can tell her what to do in Spanish, and my students are also such a help.”

 

David has a student from Cuba who started the school year speaking no English. “Now I have her reading huge books in English because I was able to communicate with her.”

 

The sisters’ ability to connect with the students in invaluable, said West Godwin instruction specialist Karen Baum.

 

“They both have a passion for the kids in this building and this community,” Baum said. “They have really high expectations for kids… Learning can be really challenging for some of our kids, and both Libby and Sarah work harder to make sure the kids get what they need and meet the high expectations the State of Michigan and Godwin has for first- and forth-graders.”

 

Sisterly Bonds

 

David and Klooster, who grew up in a household with four children, both decided they wanted to be teachers during a high school mission trip in Trinidad and Tobego where they visited orphanages and taught vacation Bible school. Their father is a retired Ottawa Hills High School teacher.

 

School News Network: Sister Teachers
Teacher Libby Klooster works with a reading group

While attending Hope, David was recruited to teach at the International School of Tegucigalpa. She taught there one year before moving to the American School of Tegucigalpa, where she taught for seven years. The school was English-immersion for students hoping to eventually attend college in the United States. David wanted to learn Spanish.

 

“Because I loved it so much I decided to stay for eight years and got my sister to come down,” David said. She married a Honduran man and they now have two children.
Klooster joined David after a brief time teaching on the island of Roatan. She taught in Honduras for five years, staying one year after David returned with her husband to raise their children in Michigan.

 

What led them to Godwin Heights ties back to their love for Honduras.

 

“I loved the culture in Honduras and the people were so welcoming, loving and caring and would do anything for you,” Klooster said. “The culture is something I really miss. I’m so glad we work here because half my class is ELL, and I get to talk to parents in the morning in Spanish and still feel that culture.”

 

David taught in Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, which is also largely Hispanic, for one year after returning from Honduras. “I knew I wanted a job where I can use my Spanish and be a part of that culture still.”

 

While the sisters have different teaching styles, Minard said they look out for every child.

 

“They both have really unique and wonderful qualities they bring to the building and are both extremely positive people who have incredible work ethic,” he said.

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

Flint pediatrician sees ripples of hope in water crisis

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Entertainment, Hard News, Non-Profits, , , , ,
Dr Mona and Kari Moss
Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of West Michigan with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha

By Victoria Mullen

victoria@wktv.org

 

“When I first heard there was lead in the water, it was a call to action,” said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, director of Hurley Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Residency Program.

 

The 39-year-old mother of two daughters shared her perspective on the Flint water crisis with a crowd of 400 at the ACLU’s third annual luncheon, ‘Standing Together For Justice’ on Wednesday, May 18, at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

 

“Pediatricians–we know about lead, it’s a no-brainer,” said Dr. Mona. “We know what lead can do to our children, especially our most vulnerable children. It impacts cognition, it impacts behavior, it impacts the entire life-course trajectory.”

 

The Flint-based pediatrician sees many of the city’s poorest families, and it was Dr. Mona who raised the alarm about the harmful lead levels seen in Flint-area children after the emergency manager ordered a switch from treated Lake Huron water to untreated Flint River water in April 2014. The idea was to save $5 million in less than two years.

crowd

 

The extent of the problem came to light after a Virginia Tech researcher had discovered Flint River water to be 19 times more corrosive than water from Lake Huron. Dr. Mona compared Flint children’s blood tests with results from kids in adjacent Genesee County. What she found disturbed her: A shocking rise in lead levels between January and September 2015. She saw lead levels that were twice what they were a year before, and sometimes even three times higher, depending on the child’s location within Flint.

 

“We can’t take this away,” said Dr. Mona. “There’s no antidote, there’s no pill.”

 

When state officials refused to acknowledge the problem, Dr. Mona felt the urgency to share these findings with the public.

 

“We normally don’t release medical findings at a press conference,” said Dr. Mona. “But we had this ethical, moral and professional obligation to share this information with the public as quickly as possible, because it was so dangerous.”

 

The state still refused to acknowledge the issue.

maddow
Curt Guyette on the ‘Rachel Maddow Show’

 

ACLU investigative reporter Curt Guyette was one of the first reporters to uncover the story and try to get the state government to pay attention to the issue.

 

“I was hired to investigate and write about issues involving emergency management in Michigan, and I started going up to Flint because they were under the control of an emergency manager,” Guyette said. “It was the emergency manager who unilaterally made the decision to begin using the Flint River as the city’s water source.

 

“People were complaining about the qualify of the water, the way it looked, the way it tasted, the way it smelled. And so we did a short documentary about the problems people were experiencing.”

 

Said ACLU attorney, Jay Kaplan, “Nothing like this should ever happen in any civilized place, especially where the government is not being responsive. We’re concerned about communities and we’re concerned about people. We work to ensure that everyone is afforded their rights and their civil liberties, regardless of one’s economic status or where they live or what their race might be.

 

“Everyone is afforded those protections, and I think sometimes it can be selective in terms of the way the government will work.”

 

consititution and postcard

The irony of this tragedy occurring in a state that is surrounded by the largest source of fresh water in the world is not lost on Dr. Mona. Two years on, the water is still not safe to drink. But she wants people to know that something positive has come out of this tragedy.

 

“There are Flints everywhere,” she said. “There are injustices everywhere and there have been so many bright stories that have happened because of Flint. People across the nation are talking about lead, they’re talking about infrastructure, about democracy, about environmental injustice, about poverty, about forgotten people in forgotten places.”

 

Dr. Mona is working to actively flip the story. She directs the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Public Health Initiative, an innovative and model public health program to research, monitor and mitigate the impact of lead in Flint’s drinking water.

 

“We want the word ‘Flint’ to not mean disaster,” she said. “We want it to mean hope. So, we are working everyday to wrap these children around with interventions to promote their development.

 

“Flint kids are smart and they’re strong and they’re beautiful. We’re going to make sure they don’t slip through the cracks and that they get everything that they deserve.”

 

 

 

Mr. Sid’s Wednesday Morning 2016 Travel Series at Marge’s Donut Den

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Local Faces, Upcoming Events, , ,

Exterior Marge'sBy: Tom Sibley

 

Take time on Wednesday mornings to travel with Sid Lenger at Marge’s Donut Den to places where Sid and his wife Beulah traveled to and documented on video.

Mr. Sid’s Travel Series begins May 25,  the Wednesday before Memorial Day, with a 24 minute video that will take you with Sid on a Tour Of LST (Landing Ship Tank) 393 anchored at the Mart Dock in Muskegon. Sid has long been a volunteer tour guide on the ship. Sid served on a similar ship, LST 651, in the South Pacific during World War II.

 

The programs begin with Gospel and Patriotic Song from 9:30AM to 9:45AM with the video to follow.

 

The videos will be shown at Marge’s Donut Den every other Wednesday with coffee provided by Marge.

 

After the videos, Mr. Sid (Sid Lenger) will be available for questions. (Average length of videos  40 minutes.) The full schedule is as follows:

 

May 25 – Video Tour of LST 393 with Mr. Sid

June 8 – Austria

June 22 – Nepal

July 6 – Netherlands

July 20 – India

August 3 – Italy

August  17 – Mission India – Amazing Story of John Raj & 5 Days in India

August 31 – Canada

September 14 – New Zeeland

September 28 – Alaska

October 12 – The Challenge of India – Mission India

October 26 – Switzerland

November 9 – Mr. Sid Goes to War – Sid’s Documentary of his wartime experience

November 23 – The Presidents of Mt. Rushmore – America Then

December 7 – Germany

Yudanaka: Ryokans and Onsens

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Local Faces, Travel, , , , , , , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

26This is the seventh installment chronicling the adventures of Lynn Strough, a local artist and writer who’s been traveling the world since November 2014. Lynn’s travels have (so far) taken her to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, England, France, Italy… and I’m sure we’re forgetting a few destinations. To learn more about her journey, go here.

 

I’m in love…with the ryokan and onsen experience! It’s like stepping back in time to old Japan.

 

A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn that usually features tatami-matted rooms, communal baths that are separate for men and women, with onsen (or hot springs), if you’re lucky.

 

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When you walk into Yudanaka Seifuso, the first thing you do is take off your shoes and don a pair of their generic one-size-fits-all blue slippers, which are lined up on the inner doorstep. There are very specific rules about what foot attire to wear – no shoes allowed, only slippers in the building, except for on the tatami mats in the rooms (there you go stocking-footed) – while in the bathrooms, you wear special toilet slippers.

 

The very kind owners only spoke Japanese, which made for some interesting but fun communication challenges. They showed me to my charming room, with its low table and chairs and futon bed on the floor.

 

There’s a hot pot on the table so you can drink fragrant green tea at any time, and a yukata, a lightweight kimono, hanging in the closet, with sash and jacket so you can dress the part.

 

The doors slide silently from side to side, the inner doors painted with Japanese scenes, the outer with opaque panes divided by wooden slats.

 

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The bathroom is shared with other guests, (separated by male or female), with 2 stalls – in one, a Japanese style floor toilet (whose icon reminds me of a slipper), and in the other, a modern Western-style toilet, whose lid lifts automatically when you open the stall door.

 

There are detailed instructions for all of the buttons – the best part is the heated seat! (If I could import the heated seats to Michigan, I’d make a fortune!) Surprisingly, these fancy toilets are not rare – you find them in airports, budget hotels, malls and restaurants, as well as in many homes, and for sale in the duty free shops in airports.

 

There’s a Japanese feast for dinner, each dish a work of art. I hadn’t known that many ryokan include breakfast and dinner. With my booking through a discount site, they were not included, however on this day of the week the restaurants were all closed, so my plan to go get a cheap bowl of noodles was foiled. Tough as it was, I ate at the ryokan instead.

 

 

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After dinner, time for the onsen (hot springs pools)! There is a small indoor pool and a bigger outdoor pool. They switch times between the men and the women, so you have a chance to try both.

 

11I’d thankfully read about onsen etiquette on line, or I would’ve been clueless – first you put your kimono into a wicker basket, then you wrap your towel around your head, turban style, to keep it dry. You shower off with the outdoor nozzle while sitting naked for all to see (women anyway) on a small plastic stool, then you slip into the heavenly hot pool.

 

Steam swirls up, and if you’re in the outdoor pool at night, you can see the moon up above with its twin reflected on the inky-black surface, while listening to water stream from a long bamboo pipe. When you get out, you don’t shower again, as the minerals in the onsen water are good for your skin. This pool is about 14 ft x 14 ft square, made of stones, and surrounded on two sides by stone wall. The ryokan provides the other two walls for a fully enclosed courtyard. You sit on cement or stone benches submerged around the perimeter and soak your cares away.

 

I watched shadows dance across the stone walls, between the green of trees and plants, and once again thought of how lucky I am. I may currently lack a home (wherever I lay my head is home), a partner (I’m learning to be my own best friend), a job (unless you count this blog and research for the book I’ll write) or much money (that part is for real), but I’m happy.

 

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The next morning, a ryokan breakfast. The breakfast cost – $10, a splurge for me, as I usually just have a glass of juice and toast, but it was a deal when you consider it was enough for lunch as well.

 

Yudanaka is not a very big city. The main tourist street has a few restaurants, and a handful of shops, all a little worn and shabby, but charming. I was surprised to see that the spring blossoms were mostly the same flowers I grew up with in Michigan – yellow daffodils, forsythia and dandelions, red and pink tulips, purple hyacinths, and a rainbow of pansies.

 

And then there are the cherry blossoms…

 

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I’d been told that cherry blossom season was over, and in Tokyo and Kyoto this was true. However, Yudanaka is up in the mountains where it’s cooler, and cherry blossom season was at its peak — huge billowing masses of white-pink blossoms everywhere, floating down from the trees like sweet-smelling snow.

 

Springtime in Yudanaka is magical, especially at a ryokan and onsen.

 

*Tip: Book on weeknights rather than weekends as the price is much lower. This experience was a big splurge for me on my shoe-string budget, however the $87 I spent per night for two nights was well worth it, when you consider that it included the hot springs and transportation to the Monkey Park, and that standard western-style Japanese hotels in the big cities often run $200-600 a night and up.

 

By using the booking sites and shopping for deals, I’ve managed to keep my accommodation expenses really low overall. Using Air B&B, which I did for seven out of 14 nights in Japan, you can find rooms for around $50 if you’re willing to stay in more out-of-the-way places. Keep in mind that Japan is one of the most expensive countries to travel in, compared to the $12 a night rooms available in Thailand, but worth it! I don’t post much about accommodations, as most of the places I stay are pretty unremarkable and spartan, but I love to share the periodic unique experiences.

 

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About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

All images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

travelynnlogo

A Teacher’s impact is lifelong!

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Editorial, Education, , , , ,

Promote MichiganBy: Dianna Higgs-Stampfler – Promote Michigan

 

Many of you may not be aware that I was a teacher in a previous life – well, an educator, I guess, since I never actually received my certification to “officially” teach. I’m not sure if it is allowed today, but in the 1990s, if you had a degree in certain fields, you could still “teach” in that area. For example, a mechanic could “teach” auto shop, a chef could “teach” culinary arts, a sculptor could “teach” art. As a professional journalist—in both print and broadcast—I was given the opportunity to develop and advise a student-run newspaper program at Otsego Middle School.

 

I’ve been a writer since childhood. I still have my third-grade journal from Gilkey Elementary School, a selection of poems written for my grandparents, and reports from my middle school years.

 

My interest in journalism came my sophomore year at Plainwell High School. Kenny Zelnis was our teacher and advisor of the Trojan Torch. I remember leaving the very first class that year knowing what my career would be. The child of a long-time radio broadcaster, it seemed like a perfect fit. My natural curiosity, relentless communication skills and passion for writing were fueled by this specific teacher and his obvious inspiration for news.

 

For the next two-and-a-half years, journalism class became my #1 priority (until my senior year, when yearbook also came into play). I thrived on the research—before the internet, when we had to use the card catalog, microfilm machine and the telephone to conduct interviews and pull pieces together for articles. I looked forward to class, to telling stories, to attending conferences and entering stories in competitions through the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) at Michigan State University.

 

By my senior year, I was named News Editor of the Torch and business manager of the Trojan yearbook, where I also managed a new special “features” section. I was also working at a local weekly newspaper, typesetting copy, taking photos, covering news and writing my own column. If that weren’t enough, I also began working in broadcast news at Quixie, a local radio station co-owned by my dad, who now owns and operates WAKV. At that year’s MIPA conference, I was honored as one of the top four student journalists in the state of Michigan.

 

College took me to Western Michigan University where I majored in English (with emphasis in Community Journalism) and Communications (with an emphasis in Radio Broadcasting). Here, I also finally met Cheryl Kaechele, who owned newspapers in our community from 1982 until 2015. She was teaching a couple journalism classes at Western, and I had known of her my entire life.

 

You see, Cheryl and her husband, Walt, graduated from Plainwell High School with my dad. Not only was she a long-time family friend, but she was active with the Michigan Press Association. Even then, I knew the value of building a solid network! I would even coordinate my academic and work schedule just to get into her classes, knowing there were key things to be learned from her.

 

While finishing my degrees, I continued working at local newspapers (including ones owned by Cheryl) and the radio station, and also served as copy editor of the campus paper, Western Herald. My multi-tasking skills were being perfected in those days.

 

I realize how fortunate I was that my skills and passion lined up back in high school. I’ve known since I was 15 what I wanted to do with my life. Although it has changed slightly in focus over the years, the bottom line is I am still a professional communicator in a variety of platforms. I have Mr. Zelnis to thank for that first introduction into the world of journalism. Had I never been in his class, where would I have landed in life? The power of a dedicated teacher is so profound. I used to joke with him that someday I’d have his job. I didn’t exactly get there, but I did get close.

 

After college, I landed a part-time job as the PR person for Otsego Public Schools (the neighboring, rival school district). A couple of years in, at the request of former Superintendent John Kingsnorth, I developed a non-credit, elective middle school journalism program. Students were taught every aspect of the field, from ethics and writing styles, to the business of running a newspaper (including advertising, layout and design and distribution).

 

Spartan AwardThe Bulldog Express was born in March 1993 and went on, during its four-year life, to earn several MIPA awards for individual and group projects. MIPA really hadn’t focused much on middle school programs in the past, but with my involvement all that changed. A board position was even created for the Middle School Chair, which I served as for a couple of years.

 

In April 1996, the paper and its dedicated staff even won a coveted Spartan Award and was recognized as the #1 Middle School Student Newspaper in the state of Michigan. My students worked hard—they wrote grants to pay for equipment and desktop publishing software, they attended conferences, they gave up free time after school to work on stories, they spent their lunch hours selling papers and so much more.

 

That all changed during the winter of 1997.

 

Days before our next issue was to head to the printer, an incident on a school field trip created a last-minute editorial change to the front page. An eighth-grade girl was caught shoplifting, the police were called and the following day, teachers informed students that as a result of this incident, future trips were in jeopardy. Students weren’t happy and our news editor wanted to cover the story.

 

With the approval of the editor-in-chief and myself, content changes were made and the reporter set out in search of the facts. A police report was received, interviews were conducted, the story was written (and since the accused was under age, her name was never reported). The article was completed, the layout was revised and we were ready to go to print.

 

Hold the presses!

 

Hearing about the pending article, the new superintendent stepped in and made an executive decision. Publishing such an article could be seen as negative for the district, and therefore the paper was forbidden to run it. In our four years of operation, this was the first case of censorship that we were faced with. We had a reputation for covering “controversial” topics in the past, so this caught us off guard as it seemed so trivial.

 

After an office meeting with the superintendent and principal, I informed the editorial team of this new development. I provided my editor-in-chief with a list of case studies and resources provided to me by MIPA and the Student Press Law Center. We talked about the options, the laws and the consequences. Then, I sent him home to discuss it with parents and to think about his course of action, saying that I would support whatever decision he made.

 

I then contacted my journalism colleagues—including Mr. Zelnis at PHS—to get advice on how to handle the situation. I knew what needed to be done, but it helped to have their support and guidance as I moved through this uncharted territory.

 

A couple of days later, after talking with industry leaders and officials in Lansing and Washington DC, the editor-in-chief decided that the censorship could not be allowed to happen. He decided, with me and his parents by his side, to fight for his constitutional right to free press. Calls were made to the local newspaper, who were provided the article which ran that week under the headline: “You Couldn’t Read it in The Bulldog Express, But You Can Read it Here.”

 

The war had begun!

 

The exact sequence of events is a bit hazy at this point, nearly 20 years later, but the basics are still with me. The editor-in-chief retained a pro-bono lawyer out of Grand Rapids who filed a lawsuit against the superintendent, principal and board of education for violation of his First Amendment rights.

 

Local media listened.

 

Not only did the story hit the weekly newspapers (owned at the time by my former professor Cheryl Kaechele) but the Kalamazoo Gazette picked it up. The story went regional, with local radio and TV stations following it. WJR in Detroit and WGN in Chicago did radio interviews with the editor-in-chief. A story on the Associated Press wire lead to articles in Boston Globe, Dayton Daily News, Chicago Tribune, Patriot Ledger, Rocky Mountain News, Detroit News, Grand Rapids Press and Los Angeles Times. The Chicago Reader ran a story as well.

 

Printing of The Bulldog Express continued, but it had definitely changed. Now, in addition to the first case of censorship, the paper was subject to “prior review” on a multitude of levels. The editorial calendar had to pre-approved, the stories had to be pre-approved after they were typed into the computer, the final layout had to be reviewed and the principal or superintendent was responsible for delivering it to the printer (to prevent us from swapping out stories at the last minute). The job of producing the paper became much more laborious and time-consuming.

 

Yet, subscriptions and advertising increased dramatically. If I recall correctly, we had fewer than 10 ads in that issue where the story was originally pulled. By the next month’s issue, we were over 20—including a one-half page ad from the local VFW which said something to the effect of “Thank you for supporting our constitutional rights.” The ad ran, because I don’t think the administration wanted to take on the local veterans on this one.

 

As the school year ended, things continued to decline. After months of being reprimanded for supporting my editorial team, I was pulled as advisor from the paper. Not being a certified teacher (and not part of the union), I had no real recourse. When the new school year started that fall, my hours (and my paycheck) were cut in half, which forced me to look elsewhere for a job. I left in November of 1997, and the paper—under new leadership—eventually folded. The lawsuit continued throughout the school year, but was eventually settled out of court. The editor-in-chief was heralded for his efforts by many journalist organizations and he was even recognized by the Freedom Forum in Washington DC.

 

Yes, we lost the battle, but I think we still won the bigger war. Granted, the paper and the journalism program didn’t survive, but the students and I learned some valuable lessons that still play a role in our lives today. Defending your constitutional right is a big deal. Imagine doing that at the age of 13 or 14? Being a leader for students, making them think and challenge authority when appropriate are life lessons they’ll never forget. I learned those lessons in the classroom with Mr. Zelnis (although not to the extreme that my students did at OMS), but it all started with that one inspiring teacher.

 

About 10 years ago, when my daughter was a freshman at Plainwell High School, we stopped in to see Mr. Zelnis during fall open house. I wanted to introduce her to the teacher who helped shape my life—the teacher who inspired me, motivated me and encouraged me. The teacher who became a colleague and a friend.

 

With a fondness for writing herself, my daughter found herself interested in journalism and that year she became one of only two freshmen admitted into the Journalism I class that Zelnis was teaching. I remember her coming home from school a week or so into the class and I could tell she got it — she understood the impact that a great teacher can really have. Zelnis retired before she graduated, but I’m so thankful she was able to spend a brief period of time learning from him just as I did years before.

 

I’ve always been vocal about my role models—about those who have had such an impact on my life that even today their inspiration runs deep and is at the core of who I am as a person, a writer, a business person and a leader.

 

This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!

In Kyoto: Temples and Geishas

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Local Faces, Travel, , , , , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

35

This is the sixth installment chronicling the adventures of Lynn Strough, a local artist and writer who’s been traveling the world since November 2014. Lynn’s travels have (so far) taken her to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, England, France, Italy… and I’m sure we’re forgetting a few destinations. To learn more about her journey, go here.

 

Kyoto is a city of contrasts – modern buildings and very old temples, the latest fashions and traditional kimonos. It’s the kind of place I envision when I think of Japan.

 

My first morning in Kyoto, I navigated the train system to get to Fushimi Inari, the temple of 10,000 gates (which should also be called the temple of a million steps). It sits at the base of a mountain with thousands of giant red gates all in a long row snaking upward, which you walk through, following the path past many smaller temples or shrines.

 

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It leads up to a view at the top looking out over Kyoto. It’s about four kilometers and takes about two hours to walk up, and is totally worth the effort, not just for the view, but for the experience of all of the different things to see along the way.

 

The entrance was jam-packed with people, and the usual money-making things like fortune telling in various forms – the sticks in a tube, the place to hang bad fortunes out to dry, and tons and tons of food booths selling mostly things I didn’t recognize.

 

 

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Many foxes are found in Inari shrines, and Inari is the god of rice. You can purchase a small fox-shaped board and put your own fox face or message on it to leave behind.

 

25

From there, I wandered to the Gion area, which is the “old Kyoto” where women dressed in Geisha garb hang out. Some are “real” geishas and many more “pretend” geishas – there are actually kimono rental shops!

 

On my way there I accidentally stumbled upon a park, so I headed through instead of taking the direct map route, and discovered Kennin ji, a Zen temple & garden – what a happy accident! I’d been trying to find what I thought was a Zen temple on the map this morning, with no luck, and here I found one when I wasn’t looking!

 

It was beautiful, with a rock garden raked in circles and swirling lines, lovely rooms with tatami mats and square green cushions, and amazing paintings. Girls dressed like geishas posed for photographers, and a couple of them took a selfie with me.

 

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Also while not looking, I ran into a dance show venue where tickets were about to go on sale, and someone was handing out sheets for a discount, another happy accident. The show included a bit of traditional music, flower arranging, tea ceremony, comedy play, Kyoto dance, and puppet theater. It was a bit touristy but still worth seeing.

 

16Gion at night is a sight to behold. In Kyoto, you can also visit Nijo Castle and visit the Golden Pavillion, Kinkakuji.

 

You can visit amazing ceramics shops and a gallery where 102 different artists works are displayed, all tea ceremony related, contemporary as well as traditional, and shop in places that just sell Japanese fans…

 

You can attend a Japanese tea ceremony, where they will show you all of the intricacies involved. It’s quite fascinating, full of way too many details for me to remember. But then it’s also sort of meditative. Even the tea scoop has a name. This one translated to something like “cherry blossoms that float like snow in spring.”

 

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Later, dinner with a new Swiss friend, Ruth, at a local’s joint, sitting at the bar eating dumplings and beer. A great way to end the day.

 

Even without your own kimono and tea bowl, you can have a lovely time in the beautiful Japanese city of Kyoto!

 

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something year old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

18

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

 

 

All images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

travelynnlogo

What’s in Your Bucket?

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Kids Activities, , , ,
Kindness Bucket 2
Counselor Lisa VanKampen is helping students develop a common language around bucket filling at school

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

Every student at West Kelloggsville Elementary School has an invisible bucket. Johana Cruz explained the importance of keeping everyone’s full.

 

“If you’re a bucket dipper, you’re not going to have any friends,” explained the second-grader.

 

Students at the second- and third-grade school are thinking a lot about “bucket filling” and “bucket dipping” as they interact with one another.

 

“The bucket has one purpose: It holds your good thoughts and good feelings about yourself,” said counselor Lisa VanKampen. “When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it’s empty, we feel awful. Yet most children, and many adults, don’t realize the importance of having a full bucket throughout the day.”

 

When students fill buckets with kind words and actions, almost magically their own fills up too, she explained. But, alas, say an unkind word or act in a hurtful way, and buckets sink low. VanKampen’s “Have You Filled Your Bucket Today?” program, based on Bucket Fillers 101, is all about spreading kindness to benefit everybody.

 

Kindness Bucket
Compliments are free and anyone can give them

She says it’s creating a common language at school, a way for students to express their feelings and teachers to state expectations using the bucket as a symbol. Smile at someone: Buckets fill. Scowl? Buckets empty. Students learn everybody has a bucket, regardless of age.

 

“Bucket filling is inviting someone to play when they are all alone,” Johana said.

 

“It’s being nice!” said second-grader Scarlett Shepard.

 

“It’s giving high fives and fist bumps,” added second-grader Angel Gomez.

 

Filling Buckets

 

VanKampen has conducted two lessons in each classroom on bucket filling and bucket dipping. The idea is based on the book, “How Full is Your Bucket?” by Tom Rath, which tells of a boy who begins to see how every interaction in a day either fills or empties his bucket. The children’s book is a spin-off of an adult version written by Rath and Donald Clifton. Both books emphasize that it hardly takes any time and it’s all free. “Everyone, no matter if you are 1 or 101, can fill buckets,” VanKampen said.

 

Kindness Bucket 3VanKampen passed out cards with behaviors written on them for students to categorize under “Bucket Fillers are people who…” and “Bucket Dippers are people who…” Each class received its own bucket with blue slips of paper that read, “I’m filling your bucket.” Students write positive feelings, comments or compliment to someone in their class. Teachers read out of the classroom bucket to reinforce the lesson.

 

“I wroted one to my BFF Eaden,” Scarlett said. “I wroted that you’re the bestest friend anyone can ask for.”

 

VanKampen also has an interactive bulletin board about bucket dipping outside her office. She hangs bucket-filling “tear-offs” around the school for kids to have for themselves or give to others.

 

Third-grade teacher Bethany Kamps took the program a step further and hung buckets for each child on her classroom wall.

 

“I wanted to add it into the classroom because I feel like the whole culture and environment of the class really affects how they learn,” Kamps said. “When kids are treating each other positively and getting along, it makes it easier to get learning done.”

 

VanKampen and East Kelloggsville counselor Hillary DeRidder are hosting a parent night in May to introduce, educate and model the bucket story with the hope that it will be extended to students’ homes.

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

Living Like the Locals in Thailand

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Food, Local Faces, Travel, , , , ,

By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

8

 

This is the fifth installment chronicling the adventures of Lynn Strough, a local artist and writer who’s been traveling the world since November 2014. Lynn’s travels have (so far) taken her to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, England, France, Italy… and I’m sure we’re forgetting a few destinations. To learn more about her journey, go here.

 

 

Udonthani, like most of Thailand, is a blend of old and new, low tech and high tech, and

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local market and super market.

 

What’s it like to live like a local in Thailand? I was lucky enough to find out, thanks to a connection made by another Travel Angel, my friend Lee in California, who introduced me via email to what turned out to be two more Travel Angels, Paul and Joi. They live in Udonthani, which is a fairly big city in the northeast of Thailand, however they live in the outskirts, so in effect, more like a village, with quick access to the city center.

 

They welcomed me with open arms, and I settled into village life for a week, which included meeting Joi’s mother, who lives with them, as well as many of the other nearby relatives and neighbors.

 

12

The days started with Joi rising about 5:30 am to cook rice for alms for the monks. At about 6:20 am the three of us would join other neighbors out on the street to give out rice, fruit, and packets of coffee to the monks who pass by and chant us a blessing.

 

After our breakfast of scrambled eggs, corn on the cob, and cool, sweet mint-green guava juice, we head to the market, where I see a plethora of interesting fruits, vegetables, fish, and piles of my nemesis, mushrooms, as well as things I’m not sure how to categorize. Longans (I call them the little round eyeball fruit), tamarind, sweet juicy mangos, dragon fruit, they’re all here for pennies.

 

 

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The market  is even busier in the evenings. Lots of people stop by to pick up their dinner, assorted pre-made meals in little clear plastic baggies, curries and tofu balls floating in brown liquid – their version of fast food. Joi knew just how to pick the sweetest, juiciest fruit, and later, made mango with coconut sticky rice for dessert, pure ambrosia! And there are always lottery tickets for sale if you want to try your luck.

 

When Paul mentioned he gets his eye drops in Thailand for a fraction of what they cost in the U.S., I told him I pay $40 a pill for my migraine prescription and he immediately insisted that they take me to see their doctor at the local hospital to find out if I could buy some there. It’s about $10-15 to see the doctor to write the prescription, and yes, they have my rx for $5 a tablet! They even gave me my own medical card, even though I’m just a visitor (I said Ms, but they added an R).

 

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Paul ordered 100, enough to last me a year. It was a big bite out of my travel budget, but is such a relief to not have to worry about where I can refill. The doctor asked, “Do you really want that many? They are very expensive, $5 each!” He has no idea. (As a side note, I also found them affordably in Australia, although a much smaller quantity. Same medication, same brand, made in the U.S., but eight times more expensive for us in the States – there’s something wrong here…)

 

We made a day trip to nearby Nong Khai, a town on the 2700 mile-long Mekong River, just across from Laos, where they treated me to a feast. Joi went to school in Nong Khai for years, living with the monks, so we visited his old school. By the way, the Mekong is the world’s 12th longest river, running through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

 

I even got to go to the local barbershop with the guys, where they can get a 45-minute shave and a haircut for $1.85. The barber likes them as they tip about 100%. Some things are universal – Joi plays Candy Crush and other games while he waits his turn.

 

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On my last day, we took an early morning walk past the rice paddies, which were dried up and brown now, but will be lush and green soon with the rainy season. We saw stray dogs and water buffalo, and the round peach sun rising, along with its twin floating on the water.

 

Paul and Joi were delightful hosts, kind and generous, fun and funny, and they showed me a side of Thailand I wouldn’t have seen as a tourist. Many thanks, Kob Khun Ka!

 

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something year old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

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“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

All images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

travelynnlogo

Seniors to Sophomores: ‘Don’t Repeat Our Mistakes’

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, , , , ,
Seniors Luis Rodriguez, Tan Le and Joey Timm tell students to stop procrastinating
Seniors Luis Rodriguez, Tan Le and Joey Timm tell students to stop procrastinating

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

Don’t procrastinate. Learn to manage your time. Do your homework. Work on getting and keeping your grades up.

 

Those were words of advice from high school seniors who visited sophomore classes recently to help steer their younger peers onto the right path to graduation and beyond. They explained what they would have done differently during their early days of high school, and shared what they wish people would have told them as sophomores. Wyoming High School is a 10th- through 12th-grade school, so the sophomore class is the youngest in the building.

 

About 50 seniors volunteered to intervene with sophomores because they noticed too many students not focused on their schoolwork, said Cheryl Small, accounting and personal finance teacher.

 

“My students get frustrated when they see them acting differently than they should be acting,” Small said. “They came to me and said, ‘We want to talk to the sophomores.'”
Seniors came up with ideas for connecting with their younger peers by talking about their own regrets and mistakes and the consequences of their actions.

 

Senior Luis Rodriguez gives advice to sophomores
Senior Luis Rodriguez gives advice to sophomores

“We are telling you guys to try hard in school,” said senior Luis Rodriguez. “When I was in your position I had Cs and Ds, and now I am like busting my butt trying to get all As. I have a 3.0 exactly, but I could have a 4.0 if I was trying in school like I do now.”

 

Senior Joey Timm added this: “Don’t tell yourself you’ll wait until next year to get better grades. Do as well as you can from the beginning, because it’s really hard to bring your GPA up than to keep it up.”

 

Destroy procrastination as a habit, said senior Tan Le.

 

“Students are the ones in control of what they do, how they do it and how they should do it,” Tan said. “What I wish my parents or my teachers thought to tell me was, ‘Put away your electronics for one hour and just do your homework.'”

 

Small said her students can be role models for the whole building and inspire younger students to be examples as well. They also shared information on applying for college, volunteering and extracurriculars.

 

Sophomore Lauren Kramer said she enjoyed hearing from the upperclassmen. “I thought it was nice to hear that point of view to get a perspective on what they felt they need to hear as sophomores,” Lauren said. “I feel like it’s going to help a little bit.”

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

In Cambodia: Sights and Sounds of Siem Reap

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Food, Local Faces, Travel, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

23By Lynn Strough

Travelynn Tales

 

This is the fourth installment chronicling the adventures of Lynn Strough, a local artist and writer who’s been traveling the world since November 2014. Lynn’s travels have (so far) taken her to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, England, France, Italy… and I’m sure we’re forgetting a few destinations. To learn more about her journey, go here.

 

Siem Reap, Cambodia, is the gateway city to Angkor Wat, with exotic appeal, as well as the ease provided by being set up for the tourist trade. If you are looking for adventure, with all of the comforts of any major tourist destination, and a much cheaper price tag than most, you might want to consider a trip to Cambodia.

50

I’d booked a guesthouse ahead, based on a recommendation from a traveler I met in a hostel in New Zealand (hostels are great for swapping travel tips!) The Okay Guesthouse was $18 a night for a private room with bathroom and fan, $23 if you wanted AC, and at 90-100 degree temps, the AC was worth an extra $5 a day. It also boasted a beautiful rooftop pool and a row of hammocks for your snoozing pleasure. You can spend a little less for something super basic, and possibly not quite as clean, or spend hundreds of dollars a night if you want something 4-star, it’s all available here.

 

My room at the guesthouse was fairly basic, not quite what the rooms looked like on their website, but hey, the price was right. It was clean, and quiet, and cost less than an 8-bed hostel with shared bath in other countries. Then, a nice surprise when I got back from visiting Angkor Wat – the desk manager asked, “are you in room 222?” We have a surprise for you. We are upgrading your room to the villa!”

 

“That’s great!” I said, perplexed. “But why?” He said, “We just want you to be happy.” I am happy, but I’m even happier now!

46

 

The new room is about the same size,  but it has a little nicer decor, a phone, a small packet of tissues, thicker towels, and there are rubber flip-flops by the bathroom to wear in the shower. Other than that, it’s about the same, but still, it was very nice of them. The staff are friendly and helpful, and they keep the place looking lovely.

 

They even sent someone to move my bags, while I went up and swam in that serpentine pool, which I thought about a lot while climbing temple steps in 90 degree heat earlier. I splurged and had a happy hour drink for a couple of dollars, while watching the sun set behind an unlit lamp by the rooftop pool, so it looked like the lamp was lit by the sun, and thought about how life is beautiful and how lucky I am!

 

Story continues below

 

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What else is there to do in Siem Reap besides exploring stone temples? Lots of things, it turns out, although hanging by that pool isn’t a bad thing to do in and of itself. The market is a great spot to check out, and it’s only a 20-minute walk or a five-minute, $2 tuk tuk ride away. It’s huge and spills out into the surrounding streets, blocks and blocks of sensory overload, smells, colors, tastes, noise! You can find just about anything you can think of there, shop after shop of colorful clothing, silk scarves, shoes, hammocks, lamps, beads, bangles, and buddhas; fruits, fish, vegetables, and foods you’ve never seen before.

 

You can get a massage on the street or in a spa, for a fraction of the price at home, or have your feet nibbled by fish. 

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You can also attend a local circus! Not the kind with animals, rather think of a small cirque du soleil, in a tent, with very talented young Cambodian men and women who sing, dance, and perform amazing feats of acrobatics, all while telling a story about Cambodian history and culture. The circus, Phare, is the product of a school of art and performing arts that was started to help get kids off the streets. I saw the show Sokha, about a little girl haunted by visions of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. Intense story, but told with compassion, and yes, even humor, and an uplifting ending.

 

One of the hard parts of visiting Cambodia is seeing the poverty here, and the after effects of the land mines. You will see people missing hands and legs and feet, some trying to make a living selling you books near the market. This is hard to see, and you may experience travel guilt (why are we able to fly off to foreign countries, while people here earn $2 a day, if they’re lucky), but also remember that tourism helps boost the economy here and provides jobs and income for many families. The inequities in the world are mind-boggling, and not a problem easily solved. If I have any thoughts of hardship, not having a job or a home right now myself, they are made irrelevant by what I see here, and I’m reminded once again of just how lucky I am.

17

 

All of this fun is at a very affordable price for Westerners. Just to give you an idea, my hotel bill, at the end of a full week, was $221.75. This included seven nights hotel room ($161), $18 for my driver to Angkor Wat from 5am until 5:30pm, $18 for a ticket to the circus, $6 for a two-hour tuk tuk tour, $1.75 to have my laundry done (usually I do it myself in the sink, but the sink was tiny, and hey, for less than $2?!), a two-hour massage for $12 (a pre-birthday splurge), and a $5 fare to the airport. Not a bad price tag, when some people spend that on one night of hotel expense in a major US city.

 

And this was for solo travel. If you’re traveling with a companion, you can cut most of this expense in half.

 

25Food, of course, was extra, but you can have a nice meal for $3 to $4. If you really want to splurge and add an appetizer, wine, and dessert, you might spend up to $15 or so. Overall, it’s probably less than you’d be spending on food staying at home! It’s $20 to get into Angkor Wat for a day, one of your major expenses here, but totally worth it, and it helps fund the restoration of the site.

 

And there are other things you can do in the area, like visit the land mine museum, or the silk farm a few kilometers outside of town. The silk farm is free, and it’s worth a blog post of its own (go here to read it).

 

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something year old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Valley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

45

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

All images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

travelynnlogo

Superintendent Announces Retirement

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Local Faces, , , , ,

DavidBrittenBy: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

The way Superintendent David Britten approaches his job is hands-on, vocal and in a way that touches others’ lives. He’s at many athletic and extracurricular events, he’s outspoken about issues that affect students, teachers and classrooms, and he’s known for encouraging every child he meets.

 

Britten will continue to work hard to improve the lives and education of students while heading the small, low-income district until June 30, 2017, when he plans to retire, he recently announced.

 

Britten, 61, in his eighth year as superintendent, said his retirement will come after two lengthy careers in education and the military.

 

“I have as of this year had 42 years of two very stressful careers,” Britten said. He noted that he loves the intellectual part of serving as superintendent and working directly with students, but is tired of dealing with the state government on education issues and budgets.

 

His Heart is with Students

 

Britten is a vocal leader in the district and a public-education advocate. He is known for speaking out on many issues that affect education, and for his familiar presence in school buildings, at athletic events and extracurricular activities.

 

“I don’t know if I’d be retiring if I was still principal at Lee Middle/High School,” he said. “There’s a lot of energy to be derived from being around kids.

 

“It gets harder and harder to do that in this job,” he added. “As more and more requirements come down from Lansing, and as we have to keep squeezing our budget and cutting administrative costs, I have to take on more roles that keep me from being around kids.”

 

A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Britten was an Army reservist for eight years starting at age 19. He taught at Muskegon Catholic Central High School for two years before beginning active duty in the U.S. Army, which was his career until he took early retirement in 1995.

 

After that, Britten served for six years in Wayland Public Schools as an elementary principal. He then served as Lee Middle School principal from 2002 to 2004, which evolved into a combined post as Lee Middle/High School principal until 2008.
Big Shoes to Fill

 

Godfrey-Lee School Board President Eric Mockerman said the board is in the process of determining how to proceed with a search for a replacement, possibly with help from a search firm or adviser. The board is surveying parents and staff members about what they would like to see in Britten’s successor.

 

Plans are to post for applicants early next school year, conduct interviews around January and make an offer by spring break. “We really want to have someone coming into place by March or April of next year so we can have a couple months of transition,” Mockerman said.

 

Mockerman hopes choosing a new leader will be a tough decision. “We have a lot to offer at Godfrey-Lee and I’m hoping we get some really good candidates,” he said.

 

Britten is leaving “big shoes to fill,” he added. “It’s a tremendous loss. He’s been a tremendous and visionary leader for the district.”

 

The district is in the first full year of a human-centered design process, which involves exploring ways to revamp education in the district. Britten said he’s confident the process will continue after his departure.

 

“That was a big push by Dave to change the way we as a district think and go about educating kids,” Mockerman said.

 

Rebranding Godfrey Lee

 

Britten has been an active presence in the district, which consists of a majority of Hispanic students, as it has grown from 1,400 to 2,000 students since 2002. It has also experienced a large increase in the percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch, now at 95 percent, and in those who live in poverty, at 37 percent.

 

Britten has been at the helm during efforts to beautify the district, equip it with technology on par with more affluent schools and build community support. He also implemented a plan that helped turn high school achievement around after it was designated a Priority School, meaning among the lowest 5 percent in achievement, according to the state’s Top-to Bottom list rankings in 2010. The designation was lifted last year.

 

“The most rewarding part about being superintendent has been being able to rebrand this district,” Britten said. “It’s a much more successful district than people thought it was… It had a bad image. Now it’s a place people want to come to.”

 

Mockerman said Britten’s commitment is remarkable. “He’s been an amazing example of how involved people can be. He is deeply involved in the lives of the kids. He’s at every event going on.

 

“He lives for the kids. It’s amazing.”

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

In Cambodia: The Magical Tale of Mr. Yen

3-bottom, Education, Local Faces, Travel, , , ,

13By Lynn Strough
Travelynn Tales

 

This is the third installment chronicling the adventures of Lynn Strough, a local artist and writer who’s been traveling the world since November 2014. Lynn’s travels have (so far) taken her to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, England, France, Italy… and I’m sure we’re forgetting a few destinations. To learn more about her journey, go here.

 

He grew up in a village in Cambodia, and was working in the rice fields with his parents, making very little money and getting nowhere, so he decided to try his luck by moving to the city of Siem Reap to look for a job, which he found as a tuk tuk driver at the guesthouse where I was staying.

 

“I have a confession to make,” Mr. Yen told me, as we ate lunch on my day trip to Angkor Wat. “The reason I was late this morning to pick you up was because I was sleeping. I have a second job.”

 

He explained that his first job in Siem Reap is at a 5-star hotel, working in night security. But it doesn’t pay enough to live on ($60 a month), so he went looking for a second job, and after much searching and rejection (I know what that’s like!), he was tested driving a tuk tuk at the Okay Guesthouse, had to drive the owner and his family around, and then he was hired! I told him he’s persistent, and he was happy he learned a new word in English today.

 

What else I found out alarmed me. A friend who told me about this guesthouse, had also told me that the drivers, if hired through the hotel, only get about $2 of the $18 that the hotel charges to go to Angkor Wat for the day. So I asked him if this is true. He said he gets paid $60 a month at each job, and I said “So about $15 a week for each job?” He said yes, and I asked how many days a week he works. I was shocked when he said seven–no days off!! That’s about $2 a day, per job, and he works really long hours. Today it was 5 am to almost 6 pm, just at the guesthouse job. Then he goes to his other job at either 8 or 10 pm and works all night. That gives him about  two to four hours a day to eat and sleep. No sleeping on the job allowed of course; there are security cameras.

 

At the other hotel, rooms go for $200-400 a night (mine was $23 at my guesthouse). He’s providing security at $2 a day for people who can afford a $400 a night hotel room. I asked him how much it costs to buy a tuk tuk and he said new, about $900, so he can’t afford his own, although he’s trying to save for one. For work, he uses the guesthouse tuk tuk. So a few nights’ cost to stay at that other hotel could buy someone like him a brand new tuk tuk!

 

Story continues below slideshow

 

 

 

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I first met Mr. Yen at the airport, where he greeted me with a sign with my name on it and a huge grin, to give me a ride to my guesthouse. He picked up my backpack, even though he’s smaller than I am, and had me follow him past the rows of cars to a tuk tuk, a sort of carriage attached to a motorcycle, where he helped me aboard and proceeded to skillfully navigate the crazy Siem Reap traffic.

 

I couldn’t figure it out – the road appeared to be one-way, with a cement divider between us and the traffic going the other direction. However, sometimes, suddenly, traffic would appear coming head-on on our side of the divide, usually something big, like a bus.

 

We made it safely, and when he offered to be my driver to Angkor Wat the next day, I remembered what my friend said, to hire the drivers outside the hotel, rather than book through the hotel, so the driver gets to keep all of the money. But when I asked Mr. Yen if I can do this, he said that he’s paid a salary by Okay Guesthouse, and would get in trouble doing it outside. So I hired him through the guesthouse.

 

He was an excellent driver, told me lots about the temples, and made sure I got to places either before or after the biggest crowds. When I treated him to lunch, he was delighted, and we shared stories of our families – his parents are still in the village working in the rice fields, and he tries to send them money when he can. That’s when I asked about his pay, and he confessed to being a little tired, and why. I’d noticed other tuk tuk drivers had hammocks that they’d hung in their vehicles to take a nap in while their customers climbed the ruins, and thought I might buy him a hammock.3

 

Later, talking to my friend Beth in Michigan via FaceTime, I told her about Mr. Yen, and without thinking, I said, “If I had a job and the money right now, I’d buy him a tuk tuk. Then he could have his own business, quit the other jobs, work reasonable hours and keep all of the income.”

 

Without hesitation, Beth said, “Can I buy him a tuk tuk?” I was stunned. Was she serious? “Absolutely!” she told me. “If you can figure out how to do it, I will pay for it.”

 

And so began the quest to buy Mr. Yen his own tuk tuk.

 

It was a little trickier than I thought. First, I wondered if it was a good idea to interfere in someone’s life like that – would he use the money for what it was intended? Beth taught me a lesson in giving here – she said it’s a gift with no strings attached. If he decided to give the money to his family or spend the money some other way, that’s his choice. And I wondered if his sudden windfall would somehow make him a target for jealousy or other related problems.

 

But a woman I met while eating dinner that night, when I told her the story, said, “This is an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better. How can you not do it?!” I thought she was right, so I set off to figure out how to make this happen in the three days I had left in Siem Reap, as there was a fast approaching end in sight to my time here.

 

I didn’t want to tell Mr. Yen anything about it until I was sure we could pull it off. First, I did some research on line about tuk tuks and found out that yes, a new one costs about $900, but that didn’t include the motorcycle, which brought it up to more like $2000. When I told this to Beth, she said, “Then that’s what I shall give him.” But how to transfer the money? I have a small limit on my credit card, and my bank only allows a limited amount of funds removed each day. Is there a Western Union? Beth asked.

 

When I next saw Mr. Yen, I asked him a few questions. First, if he has a motorcycle. When he said no, and I asked how he gets to his jobs, he said he walks, or borrows a scooter from a friend. When I asked him what it costs to buy a motorcycle, he told me about $1100, which fit in with my research. So I told him that even though I don’t have a job or much money right now, I have a friend in America who wants to help him buy a tuk tuk so he can start his own business. The look on his face was priceless! He couldn’t believe it!

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“Oh, thank you, thank you!!” he said, hugging me, then getting down on his knees. I was a little embarrassed, that was totally unnecessary. “You have changed my life!!” he went on. Then suddenly, he stopped. “But your friend, she doesn’t know me, has never met me…” and I explained that I told her about his situation, and that she trusts me, and wants to help him. His exuberance reappeared instantly.

 

“But we need to figure out how to get the money from America to here,” I told him, and asked about Western Union. He didn’t know about that, but said he has a savings account, where he’s managed to save $300 towards buying a tuk tuk, and she could maybe transfer the money to his account. So he took me to his bank, where the manager printed out a form with all of the account information on it, and told me to take it back to the states with me to my bank. When I explained I wasn’t going back just yet, and it was my friend sending the money, he said I could take a picture of the form with my phone and email it to Beth back in Michigan. Sometimes technology amazes me. “It might take two to five days to go through,” the bank clerk told us.

 

The next two days, Mr. Yen was gone. His grandfather had fallen ill, and he needed to help his parents get him to the hospital. On my last day in Siem Reap, I asked the guesthouse if I could hire him for a couple of hours to run some errands – go to my ATM to get money to pay my guesthouse bill (they only take cash), check out the local temple, and so on. When Mr. Yen appeared, I explained my errands, and also said, if he’d like, we could go to his bank to see if the money went through yet, and then go tuk tuk shopping!

 

He was thrilled! And even more so when we discovered that the money did indeed arrive, and he saw the amount. I hadn’t told him that Beth was sending $2000, instead of $900, so that he could buy a motorcycle as well as a tuk tuk, and still have the $300 he’d saved to go towards license, registration, and a helmet of his own.

 

I said now he can quit his jobs, have his own business, and have time to sleep! He said, “And I can go back to school!” I asked what he wanted to go to school for, and he said to speak better English.

 

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Then we headed out to look at tuk tuks. At first, I wondered where he was taking me, as instead of driving to the highway filled with big stores and showrooms, he took me down a rutted dirt alleyway lined with shacks. Until I saw one particularly big shack, and I understood…

 

He has since emailed both Beth and I to thank us for our kindness, and later, to say that he has ordered his tuk tuk (they can take 20 days to make) and will quit at least one of his jobs when it is finished. I hope to see his tuk tuk, but even if those photos never arrive, it feels good to have helped someone along my journey, and I wish him much success in life. He is only 22, and now has the opportunity for a brighter future, where he can work hard, but also get some sleep, help his family, and perhaps one day have a family of his own. Thank you Beth, for making all of this possible!!

 

*Note: Mr. Yen is the name I was given at the guest house, and the name on their tuk tuk. His actual name is a little different, and longer, but for the sake of privacy I have left it as Mr. Yen. If or when those pictures come in, I will add them to this post!

 

**Mr. Yen did get his tuk tuk, and as promised, sent us pictures. It is blue like the sky.

 

About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something year old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa V26alley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

Code Red Robotics moving on to World Finals

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, Non-Profits, Tech Trends, Upcoming Events, ,

By: Mike DeWitt

 

After a strong showing at the FIRST in Michigan State Championship, Kentwood’s own Code Red Robotics has earned a bid to the World Finals in St. Louis from April 27-30.

 

The State Championship at the DeltaPlex saw Code Red Robotics finish 11th in the qualifying rounds before eventually bowing out in the quarterfinals.

 

WKTV News will be sure to keep up on their journey!

It’s Tax Day! Do you know what your deductions are?

3-bottom, Education, , , , , , , ,

uncle sam wants you

By Victoria Mullen

 

Well, thanks to good ol’ Honest Abe, we have a couple of extra days to file tax returns this year.

 

As 99.9% of us already know, Tax Day is usually April 15, but because the date coincides with Emancipation Day—the Washington D.C. holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. capital—this year, we’ve been granted a reprieve, until April 18. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), D.C. holidays are considered federal holidays for tax-filing purposes.

deadline extended

 

Emancipation Day usually is celebrated April 16, the date in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed about 3,100 slaves living in the District.

 

OK, so, goody, we have a couple more days to do what we all loathe doing. I know of absolutely no one who likes to pay taxes. Perhaps that’s because there are way too many rich people and corporations who don’t pay their fair share.

 

I’ve always thought that the IRS could take at least some of the sting away if each person were allowed to designate where we wanted our tax dollars to go. You know, like a checklist included with the 1040 form—we’d each check off where our individual dollars would go: Defense, Medicaid, Congress’s salaries (ha!), etc. At least that way, we’d feel more invested in the process and would be truly represented. It just seems fairer to me.

April-18-nav-bar

 

Perhaps one saving grace is that we can (in some cases) take deductions. All well and good, but that list needs some serious revising to give everybody a chance to lower their taxes.

 

Herewith are my suggestions.

 

  1. Old meds. I don’t know about you, but there are times when I no longer have to take medication for whatever it was that ailed me because it ails me no more. So, there are numerous pill bottles in my medication drawer that are way past their expiration date. Seems such a waste. Sure, many communities offer “give back a pill day” (you know, return unused meds to a community center for disposal), but that doesn’t help reduce our taxes. Why can’t we claim a deduction for this?
  2. Bad luck. This one is a no-brainer. There’s enough bad luck to go around the world for ages and ages. Or miles and miles. Whatever. A deduction for bad luck would serve to lift up the citizenry of every economic stratus. To make it bona fide, the IRS could require proof of that broken mirror, black cat, cast on your leg, or whatever. Photos should suffice. Of course, there will always be people who will take advantage of a good thing and purposely jinx their lives by living with five black cats, but I’m sure they’ll be in the minority.
  3. Expired mayonnaise. Sure, you meant to use it. You had the best of intentions when you purchased it. You wanted to save money. It was a gallant effort, but you fell for that two-for-three jumbo con and purchased way more mayonnaise than you could ever hope to use in your lifetime. Did you save money? No. So there the jars sit, on your shelf, neglected, sad and lonely. I’d wager that they’re even dusty. Surely there should be a deduction for that.
  4. Fur, lint, fuzz, dust bunnies and the like. You know the routine: No matter how often you brush Fluffy or Fido that fur piles up. Same with lint: You can clean the dryer’s lint trap til you’re blue in the face, but there will always be more. Fuzz, too. The stuff breeds. If you don’t live with cats, you can’t possibly understand how  upsetting this is. You’ll vacuum. You’ll put the vacuum away. And the minute you close the closet door and turn around—poof!—there it is, a clump of fur, right in the middle of the floor where you just vacuumed not two minutes before. Where was it hiding when you were vacuuming? Why did it wait until you were all done before making its appearance? The nasty little thing did it on purpose. This happens to millions of people daily, we suffer for it and we ought to be able to claim a deduction for it.
  5. Clothes hangers (on the floor). Seriously. Turn your back for a minute, and these things will multiply like rabbits. And they make you clumsy—even the plastic ones get tangled up. We ought to deduct something for each hanger that falls to the floor of its own volition. Because for each hanger that falls on the floor, there is a corresponding likelihood of throwing out your back trying to pick it up. A deduction could help pay for those back massages. Maybe we could add this to the Obamacare plan.
  6. Tasteful body art. It’s important to qualify this puppy because we all know the world is ugly enough as it is, and there is some seriously awful body art out there. A deduction for fabulous body art would be a great incentive for people to beautify themselves and, by extension, their surroundings. Maybe we could have the National Endowment for the Arts offer grants to fund the education of aspiring tattoo curators.

 

Have an idea for a tax deduction? Email me here at WKTV.

In Cambodia: Exploring Angkor Wat

3-bottom, Education, Local Faces, Travel, , , , ,

18By Lynn Strough
Travelynn Tales

 

This is the second installment chronicling the adventures of Lynn Strough, a local artist and writer who’s been traveling the world since November 2014. Lynn’s travels have (so far) taken her to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, England, France, Italy… and I’m sure we’re forgetting a few destinations. To learn more about her journey, go here.

 

Angkor Wat. If it brings up visions of a long-ago faraway place, something you might have seen in a dream, this is an accurate picture. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cambodia, built in the 12th century, and the complex covers miles of ground. It is the largest religious monument in the world. A wat is a temple, and the famous Angkor that you see in a lot of the photos is but one of many temples here, the best preserved of them all. Originally, Angkor Wat was a place of Hindu worship, however that changed to Buddhism long ago.

 

The nearby town is Siem Reap, and to get to Angkor Wat, you hire a tuk tuk driver, who shuttles you from temple to temple and waits in between. If you want to see something really special, you go at sunrise, which means meeting your driver at 5am, but it’s totally worth it.

 

I rode through the dark, cool morning in my tuk tuk, accompanied by others on the road doing the same thing, and arrived at the entrance gate to purchase my ticket (you can buy a one or three day pass). It turns out that just because you’re willing to get up at 4 am, doesn’t mean you’re the only one. I could show you just my photos with nobody in them, but I think it best to give you the full picture.

 

 

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About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something-year-old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa V21alley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission

‘Kids Simmer Camp’ stirs up kids’ imaginations and cooking skills

3-bottom, Education, Entertainment, Food, How-To's, Kids Activities, Upcoming Events, , , , , , ,

simmer camp 5By Downtown Market

 

Kids Simmer Camp, for ages 6-11, is a great way to get your kids excited about preparing meals. Fun and educational, these three-day camps explore adventurous weekly themes. From discoveries in the Greenhouse to hands-on cooking in the Teaching Kitchen, “Simmer” Camp cultivates growth and bakes up excitement. Each activity and recipe will pair with the inspiring weekly theme and stimulate inventive imagination and creativity.

 

Everything needed for class is provided: ingredients, the aprons, and the fun! If you shop prior to class and need to put any perishable food purchases in the cooler, please let the sous chef know on your way into class.

 

If your child has an allergy, simply indicate during the registration process if there are any dietary restrictions that our chef should be aware of. We will make the appropriate accommodations to ensure an excellent culinary experience.

 

Please include ages on registration so our chef can prepare ahead for all ages.

 

These classes fill quickly.

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simmer camp 2

 

Week 1: Baking 101-Oven Science
June 28, 29, and 30, 10a-2p • $125

From savory to sweet, to sneaking in a few secret ingredients, kids will learn the science behind baking, and how to incorporate greenhouse fresh ingredients into their baked goods.

 

This week’s kids’ creations include:

Buttermilk biscuits, homemade baked chicken tenders, nutty chocolate chip quinoa cupcakes, mini seasonal fruit tarts, savory supper pie, black bean brownies, pizza with vegetable pizza sauce, and monkey bread.
REGISTER HERE

 

Week 2: Roadtrip USA
July 12, 13, and 14, 10a-2p • $125

From the Southwest, to Creole country, to New England, and back, kids will take a culinary road trip throughout the US!

 

simmer camp 4This week’s kids’ creations include:

Mexican enchiladas, southwestern slaw, Tex-Mex style chocolate pudding, hopping John rice and beans, pimento cheese spread, lemon parfaits, New England crab cakes, rhubarb tea, and hasty pudding.

Kids will also learn about water resources, plant adaptation, rice farming, food preservation, and other important agricultural facts from around the country.
REGISTER HERE

 

 

Week 3: SOLD OUT!

 

 

Week 4: Movie Meal Mayhem
July 26, 27, and 28, 10a-2p • $125

Ever wondered how to make a real Ratatouille or what would happen if Minecraft food was served at your dinner table? What would happen if food took over Grand Rapids like it does in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? Join us as we explore the food, farming, and environment related to these popular movies.

 

This week’s kids’ creations include:

Sausage meatballs, giant pancakes, peach sauce, fresh fruit juice, pixelated fruits and veggies with homemade sauces and dips, vegetable ratatouille, French chocolate mousse, and homemade bread sticks.
REGISTER HERE

 

simmer camp 3

Week 5: Modern City Homesteading
July 19, 20, and 21, 10a-2p • $125

Kids will learn the ten basic concepts of urban homesteading and align them with practical skills, such as growing potted plants, making sauces from scratch, designing your own reusable snack sack, and using dry ice to create a fun dessert. Kids will also learn about rain barrels and worm bins (vermiculture) and how they add value to any urban yard.

 

This week’s kids’ creations include:

Cucumber salad, black bean quesadillas, banana pudding vegetable pancakes with homemade ketchup, carrot slaw, ice cream, deviled eggs, seasonal veggie soup and homemade soft pretzels with honey mustard dip.
REGISTER HERE

 

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Questions?  Email classes@downtownmarketgr.com or call 616.805.5308 ext 217.

The Full Story on Graduation Rates – Godfrey-Lee

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, , , , ,

Godfrey-LeeBy: David Britten, Superintendent of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools

 

The State of Michigan has released the graduation rates for the cohort Class of 2014-15 and overall they continue to climb.

 

Reports by local media tend to show a district’s combined graduation rate, lumping together all of the high schools within a district, including those designed to provide an alternative pathway to a high school diploma or GED for students who for many reasons were not successful at their home school.

 

The chart below depicts the 4, 5 and 6 year graduation rates for those students in our district who graduated in 2015. As you can clearly see, the rates continue to improve overall but don’t tell the full story for each high school.

 

14-15 graduation dropout trend all rate years/all students
14-15 graduation dropout trend all rate years/all students

Lee High School, which has experienced significant growth as well as a substantial cultural change since the dawn of the 21st century, continues a strong 4-year on-time graduation trend as the chart below depicts. Considering that the community battles with the highest child poverty rate in the county and our extraordinary staff works to help many limited-English-proficient students meet success, we should be proud of what our students, parents and staff accomplish each year!

 

GodfreyLee
14-15 graduation dropout trend Lee High School

The trend for Lee High School’s graduation rate continues to be higher than the statewide graduation rate as the following two charts indicate:

 

GodfreyLeeDropoutTrend
14-15 graduation dropout trend statewide

 

East Lee Campus is a non-traditional high school that provides many young men and women with what often is their last chance to successfully complete high school or prepare for the GED test. This school is an “open enrollment” campus that allows students who have dropped out or find they are struggling due to a number of life’s circumstances to return to the classroom. Many are already behind in their education and it isn’t unusual for students to take an additional year or two to complete their graduation requirements. We believe the opportunity we provide these students is invaluable and contributes positively to the community and Greater Grand Rapids area at large. The federal and state government and many of our citizens, however, don’t always see it that way and prefer to label our district as sub-standard or failing. Little do they know.

 

The chart below illustrates the 4-year graduation rate at East Lee but as I pointed out, it’s unfair to brand the school as anything but exemplary given that most students arrive there behind in their respective educations. Because it’s not unusual for a student to need a 5th year to get on track and successfully complete the Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements for graduation, the next subsequent slide shows the positive 5-year trend for graduates through 2015.

 

14-15 graduation dropout trend 2015 graduation cohort
14-15 graduation dropout trend 2015 graduation cohort

 

14-15 graduation dropout trend
14-15 graduation dropout trend

 

As you can see from the chart below, the trend has accelerated significantly since 2010 but actually, it has been improving since the graduation rate was sort of drifting along hit bottom in 2009-10, as the next chart shows. At that point, we made some changes and much of this improvement is attributable to effective leadership and the hard work of staff and students to rebrand the school and develop a more rigorous academic and job skills focus. Since those changes, the improvement has been very positive.

 

10-11 graduation dropout trend
10-11 graduation dropout trend

This chart is a similar trend chart as the one above but for the four years preceding. If you follow this one to the one above it, you will get an idea of the dramatic turnaround at East Lee Campus these past seven years.

 

We’re proud of our high schools (as we are of all our schools) and the success they are achieving! We’re very excited for the future of our students who have been demonstrating time and again they have what it takes to overcome many obstacles they face and reach their educational goals and life dreams.

 

If you wish to examine this data in more detail or look at other data for our district, state or any school in the state, you can go to http://www.mischooldata.org.

Schools Learn New Ways to Teach Reading

3-bottom, Area Education, Education, , , , ,

High-Performers Provide Good Models

 

School News Network - Reading
Practicing letters on a clear board is just one fun way to learn phonics

By: Erin Albanese — School News Network

 

Collaboration is the way forward, say leaders of West Michigan’s Reading Now Network. Teachers teaching other teachers, more staff with reading expertise, and learning from those whose students are excelling, are all actions the region’s schools are taking to change reading achievement numbers.

 

Dorothy VanderJagt, RNN field study member and director of Teaching & Learning at Kent ISD, said teachers presented best practices at the Fall Institute, share tips on the RNN Twitter feed and “are visiting other schools to dig deeper into those common traits of the high performers.”

 

Educators from the Field Study Team are working directly with schools that need to make big gains, with administrators who set a goal to meet or exceed their peers in two years.

 

The work of Reading Now Network, a collaborative effort to increase reading proficiency involving 100 districts in 13 counties, is well under way. It is paying off in districts like Kelloggsville, where additional staff and new techniques are helping students read in fun, new ways.

 

Source: Reading Now Network
Source: Reading Now Network

Kyle Mayer, an RNN field study member and Ottawa Area ISD assistant superintendent, said the project’s findings have prompted many schools to take action.
“Every day I come to work and I hear about something else happening because of Reading Now Network,” Mayer said.

 

The network was launched in the spring of 2014, examining best instructional practices at five West Michigan elementary schools with high reading success rates in order to implement them region-wide.

 

Schools studied ranged from urban to rural, with varying levels of poverty. They are: Brown Elementary in Byron Center, North Godwin, Lakeshore Elementary in Holland, Coit Creative Arts Academy in Grand Rapids, and Sunfield Elementary in Lakeview Community Schools.

 

Curriculum leaders visited the schools (all of which scored high on third-grade reading MEAP tests), over the course of an eight-month study to identify why they were high performers.

 

Students “arm spell,” a multi-sensory approach that helps them remembers sounds
Students “arm spell,” a multi-sensory approach that helps them remembers sounds

One District’s Response 

 

Tammy Savage, Kelloggsville Public Schools director of instruction, added two new reading instructional specialists this year, partly in response to information she learned at a spring RNN symposium.

 

Specialists Suzanne Schmier and Janna Schneider joined Sue Lathrop this fall to work full-time in the district’s three elementary schools. For the past few years, Lathrop was spread among all three schools, assisted by paraprofessionals.

 

The goal is to create a consistent, structured, very focused reading intervention program for students, Savage said. Teachers are using data to identify students’ needs.

 

Learning how to implement best practices is taking shape in different ways, said Mayer, the field study member. A sold-out event at Kent ISD in November brought together 200 area principals to learn from leaders of the schools originally studied for their reading practices.

 

“Principals can go back and start making immediate changes based on what they learned,” Mayer said.

 

Three schools where educators are not satisfied with reading results have been named “lab” schools. Field study members are working with them on instructional practices to help them improve their results, Mayer said. The schools represent three counties and have varying demographics, including differing income levels and locations.

 

A Peek Into a Classroom

 

In Kelloggsville, reading sessions are a multi-sensory experience. Students see, touch, hear, and even smell and taste the words — when letters double as licorice sticks.

 

During a recent class with Shmier, West Kelloggsville Elementary students acted out what they were reading. A sentence about a girl who hurt her lip had them pouting. Another about flying kites had them pretending to send them soaring.

 

West Kelloggsville Reading Intervention Specialist Suzanne Schmier uses many different methods and tools to teach reading

“That’s fun!” said second-grader Alyssa VanVolkinburg. “It’s fun to make the motions.”
Students wrote letters on plastic tablets, velvet and laminate; they spelled out words with their fingers and while touching different spots on their arms. They talked vividly about what they read.

 

The coaches, all longtime Kelloggsville teachers, were also recently trained in Orton-Gillingham methodologies, which promote multi-sensory learning.

 

Tools Are Available

 

In-depth videos with interviews from administrators, teachers and students taken at the school, are available on the Reading Now Network web site.

 

One thing made clear from the field study was that high-performing schools are “data-driven,” meaning they constantly used test scores and other data to improve instruction – often on a daily basis. Teachers are being trained to easily access data through an Edify software system, which Kent ISD first developed.

 

Enadina Mencho-Vail acts out flying a kite after reading about it
Enadina Mencho-Vail acts out flying a kite after reading about it

Kent ISD received a state grant to develop an early literacy alert and intervention system. The intent is to equip teachers participating in RNN with lots of resources to help students reading below grade level. These resources will be offered free of charge to the schools and service agencies within the Reading Now Network.

 

CONNECT

 

SNN Article on Reading Now Network Symposium

 

Reading Now Network Resources

 

Reading Now Network Website

 

Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!

In Cambodia: The Art of Making Silk

3-bottom, Education, Recreation, Travel, , , ,

IMG_8035-1024x768By Lynn Strough
Travelynn Tales

 

Editor’s note: We are excited to share with you the adventures of Lynn Strough, a local artist and writer who’s been traveling the world since November 2014. Lynn’s travels have (so far) taken her to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, England, France, Italy… and I’m sure we’re forgetting a few destinations. To learn more about her journey, go here.

 

In this first installment, Lynn is in Cambodia and shares the art of creating silk.

 

Just outside Siem Reap in Cambodia is a silk farm, where for free, you can go on a tour and see the whole process. They will even give you a free ride on their shuttle bus. Yes, they have a gift shop at the end, a very lovely one, but there is absolutely no pressure to buy anything, although you might be tempted to! And it’s nice to tip your tour guide. I was amazed at what it takes to go from a worm to a single piece of fabric. I think you will be too!

 

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About Lynn Strough

Lynn is a 50-something year old woman whose incarnations in this life have included graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, public speaker, teacher, fine art painter, wine educator in the Napa Vlynn stroughalley, and world traveler. Through current circumstances, she has found herself single, without a job or a home, and poised for a great adventure.

 

“You could consider me homeless and unemployed, but I prefer nomad and self-employed, as I pack up my skills and head off with my small backpack and even smaller savings to circumnavigate the globe (or at least go until the money runs out). Get ready to tag along for the ride…starting now!”

 

 

travelynnlogoAll images copyright Lynn Strough and Travelynn Tales

Reprinted with permission