Fall 2018 -Spring 2019 A Great Year and a New Chapter

Kids University launched in early September with six new interns and a smaller group.
We implemented a new plan of using older elementary students 6th and 7th graders as Mentor students.   We chose the theme "HOPE" as current research shows that students with a strong sense of HOPE are more likely to achieve learning goals and realize success.

Kenya, D'Ayra and Roman have served as our first Student Mentors in the pilot project to bridge the students who have graduated from the program and model leadership for the younger students.



  Our theme for the Spring Semester is "Citizenship" -- Tommy, a returning TCC intern created a plan for the students to stain and assemble a replica of the state of OK to boost their understanding of being a part of their city, state, and country.  In this group Tommy is assisted by Interns Tracey and Harry and Roman working with our K-1st grade group.

Foods lab is always a favorite and Paradis and Emily have been  strong support in helping this lab to function efficiently.

Mrs. Lora and Mr. Randy make sure that the kids eat well and keep them on task and laughing at the same time, all the while feeding 25+ kids and helpers.

One of the areas where our students excel is in art with Mrs. Janet and Vania.  They desire for the students to learn the basics of drawing and experience the ability to be successful in their projects.

Leah has been an active part of Kids University for several semesters.  A talented artist and seamstress she lends a hand in Art/ Foods Lab and Sewing.  Leah is vital to our program.

Dylan is everywhere - his calm spirit and keen insight keep him on top of everything that needs attention -- whether it is helping a child, or setting up for the next activity.  

Krystal has been our photographer each week and seems to be the ONLY person we can't get a picture of.

Wrapping Up our 7th Spring Season

All sorts of thoughts raced through my mind as we wrapped up another semester last night at Kids University.  .  .  I've been touched with nostalgia all day.  Seven years ago we began in February.  We have shared our vision and passion with 12 Facilitators who have stood with us for several years and partnered together with over 150 TCC interns.  We share a common passion of helping children at risk, we get close to our interns as we plan programs and watch the kids progress. In a very short time the semester is over and they move on, leaving their mark on us and the children.  Several return for other semesters and the kids are thrilled.

Our sixteen interns spent time hugging their kiddos and telling them goodbye. . .  This has been a superb intern group -- many of whom had returned for their 2nd semester.

Joshua, Jace, and Blair are the epitome of calm as they work with our kiddos in Carpentry

Projects were created and completed -  Thanks Josh and Jace for creatively improvising with the youngest, most active and largest group for their first and only time in carpentry.

Dylan has served as my personal assistant as he helped keep our groups in line, assisted Mrs. Lora and made certain that we were well maintained as we left for the night.

Sugaring up the kids with donuts from Mr. Tin and an ice cream party the kids had earned for following careful instructions on riding the van home.

Mrs. Janet and Laurel have creatively led art sessions for each of the children -- both women are artists in the truest sense of the word, and Mrs. Janet comes up with the best ideas and teaching!

We have seen the strength in dividing the KU students into teams with the two interns over each group.  The kids have grouped by grade in school and they have shown marked improvement!

Thank you Mrs. Paula, Kennedy, and Lucas for keeping our little ones involved and safe.  You make it easier for all of us by serving in our nursery.

Grant has been waiting all semester for his turn at Foods Lab.

 Foods lab is a favorite with all our kids!  Special thanks to Mrs Lora and Mr. Randy for making this such a fun time for our kids!

Jennifer and Codi connected from the first night and have been "best buds"

 SEW special!!!!   Leah McGlothlin, you're a rock!  With six kids all hollering "help me, help me" you quietly and patiently handle each child at a time.  There you are -- cornered with several all needing help and you made sure they ALL got to leave with finished projects.

Abe and Jennifer led our pre-session activities and planned some fun time outdoors for our interns to pair off with children and play.

These two get us checked in and keep us safe--

We're taking a sabbatical . . . not sure our next start-up time as Mr. Terry will need some time for healing his back and leg issues.  'Missing the kiddos already -- thinking of ways to resolve certain behavior issues -- how do we keep them from stealing each other's reward points????  --- how can we impress on them the importance of telling the truth ALWAYS? --- what are the best ways to keep them safe as we take them home?  What are ways to reach the entire family and help these kids navigate the teen years?

God knows - we're asking Him.

Seasons of Growth

This Month we are beginning our 7th year of Kids University.  We had a great Fall Semester running from Sept. 11- November 20.  Our semesters coordinate with the TCC calendar.  Our interns were dedicated and hard-working.  They fell in love with the kids and made certain that they were there each week.  A few pics from the fall:

 

We hear such things from our interns as - "this program has turned my life around"-- often they ask if they can return for a second semester.  We have had some interns drive for an hour to come and serve our kids.  Of course, that is a win-win for all of us.

We began our Spring Semester on Jan. 24 with 20 children ages K-5th grade and this week welcomed 26.  15 interns have asked to work with us this semester and are bringing lots of enthusiasm to the program.
The students all check in with Mr. John and Mr. Keith helps to keep them safe.

The students are divided up into age- appropriate teams this semester and are enjoying the competitve spirit of excelling as a group.  Every three weeks they will get to move to a new activity to experience all the labs.

This team of 4th graders are being introduced to their new interns during our first night.

The kids are getting to cook with Mr. Randy and very quickly they learn of his big heart!

Mrs. Janet always has the most thought out plans and this has been our biggest team yet -- 12  K-2nd graders painting!!!  Fall Intern Laurel has returned this semester and brought her sister Heather to help.

We have our most active 3rd grade boys starting in sewing . . . hmmmm kind of scary when they race their machines!

Leah McGlothlin is my helper and helps to hold it all together when it becomes like "Crazytown" in there.

Josh McGlothlin who is a cabinet-maker has devised a plan
for the students to make themselves desks. -- Totally donating all he supplies and prepping the desk.

Summer Six -

To build these character traits we centered this summer's activities around the Fruits of the Spirit.
This summer semester was six weeks of fun as we directed activities towards growing in character and treating each other with kindness.

Mercedes and Mylea sharing teamwork in the Faithfulness shirt

Arts and crafting with old CDs and Buttons

Choosing JOY in serving as we made blessing bags for the homeless

Serving others brings out the happiest of times for each KU Kiddo

Mrs. Missy is a pro at helping us create 9-patch squares with our names.

Spelling it out- the trait we best show in our lives.

Josh and Mr. Randy helped their would-be carpenters make the most awesome cutting boards.

Christian's response, "I'm passing this on to my kids some day."