On March 18,2010, we took a field trip to Janimation Studios. Where we uncovered the process of making videos and much more. We were able to get a first hand look at were the process takes place and how. We also got to meet very inflentiual people in the animation world. One peron in pactiular was Claude Locke the Executive Producer of Janimation. Mr.Locke has been working in the animation world for the past 40 years. He is the driving force behind all the production at the Janimation Studios. Their work space was very cool and they seem to be a family. Their work is tedious and very detail orientated. JANIMATION STUDIOS ROCKS!!!!
Our mission, to spread joy to all we encounter. First stop, Roseland Gardens where the seniors live. In this picture, we are containing our excitement and energy for our mission.
Meet our new friend Novella Roberts.
Trinity, Ta'Kyra, & Novella Roberts
Meet another new friend, Margie Macky
Trinity, Titana, Iesha, & Margie Macky
Getting Down to business with some arts and crafts
I was sitting in our Parent Academy when Tameshia came up behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and said she needed to talk to me. Thinking the worst, I walked to the back with her. Once we got to the back, she explained to me, "Michael just got a $200,000 scholarship!"
I was speechless! $200,000...to SMU! Oh my goodness!
I first met Michael a few years ago when the great people at Education is Freedom provided us with a summer intern. Michael helped us get things organized that summer. Michael attends North Dallas High School. This year, when we started our Digital Connectors program out of Roseland, we recruited from North Dallas. Though we hadn't seen Michael in a couple of years, he remembered us and was one of the first people to sign up.
Though we can't take credit for all of Michael's hard work and persistence in being involved in many different programs and writing and following through on college applications and such, we can say that Michael will be more prepared technologically when he finishes Digital Connectors in May.
By May, Michael will be equipped with a Cisco IT Essentials certification that will provide him with the skills and knowledge of rebuilding computers from scratch. He will know how to create a mobile app. He will have completed a leadership skills module as well as a financial literacy module...all of which will be extremely important in college--especially at such a competitive school like SMU...and especially as an engineering major!
When Tameshia told me, I immediately went downstairs to congratulate him and do a quick interview. He reads this blog so help me in congratulating him on his amazing achievement of receiving one of only four Dedman Scholarships offered each year at SMU!
Our VP, Gerald Britt, came to my office for our meeting today. Not five minutes into our meeting, Danielle (who runs our After-School Academy) quickly came into the office apologizing for breaking in. Joshua stood around the corner as Danielle explained. Joshua had interviewed Rev. Britt during the Jr. Reporters interviews they did about two weeks ago.
Joshua saw Gerald walk in the door and immediately got excited and wanted to say hi. So, while Danielle asked permission to interrupt our meeting for a few minutes, Joshua stood around the corner. As soon as Gerald stood up to greet Joshua, I saw Joshua come around the corner with a big, somewhat shy, grin on his face. I loved the connection I saw.
The original intent of Jr. Reporters was to teach kids professional skills and interviewing techniques in hopes of encouraging a possible career in journalism and/or just developing skills that could help them in ways that could prepare them for their future. We are definitely achieving that, but an added benefit is seeing the kids excited about seeing the instant connection with the adults they interviewed.
I didn't think to capture the interaction until it was almost over so this is really short...
There's nothing like having great parents. Though I believe all parents want the best for their children, I also realize that some parents take advantage of opportunities more than others.
Brigett and Phillip Casey are two parents who are soaking up every opportunity that comes their way. They enrolled their oldest boy, LaMarcus, in our After-School Academy at the beginning of last year. It was our first year so we had an orientation to sign people up. Bridgett and Phillip were one of the first couples there.
Throughout the first year of our program, they were very supportive. They loved that we had a checkbook system where kids earned and lost "dollars" according to behavior. They had to write their gains and losses in their checkbook to keep track. Bridgett and Phillip wanted to implement the system at home so we gave them extra check registers.
This year, they signed LaMarcus up for the program and added his younger brother, Joshua. The two boys are quickly becoming experts at greeting every person who walks in the door...just like we teach--firm handshake, good eye contact, and a strong voice.
Bridgett (and sometimes Phillip) participate in our parenting LOL (Ladies Oxygen Luncheon), faithfully attends the monthly Parent Academy, and started the 10-week Play Connection I blogged about here.
Yesterday, when I talked to Miss Katrina to find out who is buying books at the Library/Bookstore, she said Bridgett and Phillip went in to buy adult books for themselves and also bought a book a piece for their two boys and their older daughter.
Though we recognize that families have other things to do and can't attend every single workshop, meeting, and event we set up, I think Bridgett and Phillip have figured out they can attend everything, gather good information, and, in the process, be a participant in their child's education and experiences.
Thanks, Bridgett and Phillip! You guys are awesome!
What do you do when the rain has gone away and the weather is beautiful? Go outside, of course! ...which is exactly what Ms. Katrina decided to do with her kids who came to the Library/Bookstore today. What a way to combine the greatest things ever...great weather and a good book!
I look at these eager readers and smile. Less than six months ago, children accessed books through their school library...maybe on a weekly basis. Today, the kids can visit the library/bookstore on a daily basis...and they do!
I was asking Katrina how the library was coming along. She handed me $11.50 in sales just from last week! I asked her who was buying the books. She explained to me that two new boys, Jerry and Rome, have started coming to the library. Both are about 10 years old. They're best buddies and they can't get enough of the library. They come right after school, grab a book, sit off to themselves and read silently. When they're finished reading their book, they scrounge up money and buy it. Since they've been coming, they buy about a book a day.
I had to chuckle. Katrina said she has to warn them to swallow their food. Not sure what she was talking about, she explained that since they library is open until 7:30, their parents come to get them for dinner. The boys say that they will be right back as they sprint to the house and get back as fast as they can...just so they can read some more.
The great thing is...they're not the only ones enjoying the library/bookstore services. I'll post about that later...
My to-do list never seems to end. Sometimes I have to realize my workload will never go away no matter how hard I try and recognize visiting the programs are sometimes the best thing I can do.
At lunchtime, I decided to check out our LOL (Ladies Oxygen Luncheon) led by Dr. Rhonda, a pediatrician in our clinic. LOL is an opportunity for current, future, and seasoned parents to come together and talk about different parenting and relationship issues. The number and variety of women at the luncheon were impressive--a young mother, pregnant with her 3rd...a couple of mother/daughter pairs...grandparents. Some parents came on their lunch breaks. I was encouraged by the attendance. Our CEO once told me, "people vote with their feet." It seems to me the parents in our community are voting.
Play Connection, an interactive support group on play for parents and children, met this evening. Though a smaller number of parents came, their engagement was energizing! When I arrived, Joshua was saying his "cloud" was when he didn't get to play with his daddy. His "sun" was when he did. At Play Connection, the kids get to play and interact with their parents. Parents and kids work together to create activities together out of very easily accessible materials. The energy in the room was contagious!
When one person said, "Great job!" to a child, other parents followed. Clapping, compliments, and celebrations were in abundance. I heard more "excuse me's" and "I'm sorry" from the kids when talking to each other. The smiles tell the story.
The homework assignment given to the parents when they left? "Play with your kids for 30 minutes this week." After this evening, I don't think that will be a problem.
Every first Saturday of the month, Home Depot has a Kids’ Workshop. Kids’ Workshop is so awesome! This month the kids got to build rain gauges.
Off to work we go!!! Jaden, Hakim, and Aviant went to Home Depot for Kids’ Workshop. They brought along their friend Kanye, Jaden’s little brother, Jayvion, and Hakim’s little brother, Izayha. What a day!!!
Getting down to business…
Tools, tools, and more tools... We like this : )
Brothers working together, Hakim & Izayha...
All in a days work….
The man in the middle, he is our new friend, Paul.
In case you just couldn't roll out of bed...or forgot to...this morning, here is our WFAA Channel 8 segment on the Roseland After School Academy and Dallas South News Jr. Reporters.
Last Thursday, WFAA (Channel 8) came out to visit the After School Academy and video a piece that will air on their After the Bell segment. As was expected, we prepared for their visit and chose two of the kids in the Jr. Reporters program and Shawn Williams, President and founder of Dallas South News (also the founder of our Jr. Reporters program) to speak to Chris Flanagan, the reporter for the event.
However, before they left, our Jr. Reporters turned the tables on them. Ishmael asked to sit down with Chris in order to conduct his own interview. You can see the preview of the segment in the video above.
Watch the entire segment tomorrow morning at 6:20 a.m. on WFAA Channel 8.
We found out yesterday that Channel 8 liked the segment so much, they put it at the end of their "sweeps" period (for those of you who are journalists, I'm assuming you know what that means. For those of us who aren't, I've been told it's a really good thing! :) )
Prior to Miss Janet leaving to Guatemala, the students in Ms. Katrina's and Ms. Tameshia's classes read "Flat Stanley". After the reading, the kids were challenged to write their own stories of how they became flat and create their very on "Flat Friend". The snow days trumped our flat friend creations, so Ms. Katrina and I created two flat friends in the images of two our students (Lamarcus and Tytiana) to travel to Guatemala with Ms. Janet.
Enjoy some of their stories below....
"I was fighting with my brother and he sat on me to make me flat."--Lamarcus
According to Niesha, our class has become flat on many occasions....
"Once we were at the NBA Jam Session playing basketball against Dirk and the Mavs. He fell on our entire team while trying to dunk and smashed us all flat."
"Another time... we were walking to the After School Academy after school when a very STRONG wind blew us into the side of a building and smashed us. In order to get normal, we rode through the wind on a giant leaf to the nearest gas station. At the gas station, we used the tire air pump to get back to normal."
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Soon, we will be sending out the rest of our "Flat Friends" to other places around the world. If you're interested, in hosting our "Flat Friends", please email: roselandasa@gmail.com. (Please include "Flat Friends" in the subject line)
Iesha is our thinker. Every time it takes her a minute to remember something, she puts her finger up to her temple. Somehow, I guess that finger has magical powers because she soon remembers. I love it! :)
You can see her thinking in progress in this video below:
Lamarcus was complaining about his knee hurting, so our very own "Dr." Iesha took a moment to share some of what she learned at physical therapy with Miss Janet. She gave his knee a massage and shortly after he exclaimed "My knee is better now!"
In March, both Digital Connectors and Teen University, will be engaging in a series of financia literacy activities. Their first assignment was to purchase enough snacks for 25 people with a budget of $125 for our trip to Huston-Tillotson and University of Texas. It was not an easy task to accommodate the taste buds of some many people but Shannon, Chisa, and Alexcia did a wonderful job working together and staying in budget. Their bill was $124.88!
"Shine" on them for staying after the program hours to make a brown bag of snacks for each person and for accepting the challenge.
Lamarcus, Joshua, and Hakim attended the "Kids Workshop" series at Home Depot with Mr. Phillip and Mr. Casey. For the first workshop the boys made a car display rack. Check out the pictures below. Next month, they will be creating rain gauges.
I haven't seen it, but when I took the tour, they talked about the Mayan calendar and how 2012 was what the Mayans have always said would be the end of a cycle. The movie is based on the Mayans' theory.
Visiting Tikal taught me a lot about the sophistication of the Mayan people. They made temples with exact precision...had elaborate structure and jobs/responsibilities for each person...and created an amazing calendar system.
On my last night in Guatemala, Natalia, Laura, and Esteban asked if they could make their own Flat Stanley's. So...here is the result.
Natalia is a doctor and was crossing the street while attending Harvard University and a car ran over her...making her flat.
Esteban is a Saints football player. He was walking through Price Smart (the Guatemalan Sam's Club) when, all of a sudden, one of the large boxes on the very top fell and flattened him.
Laura is a princess. There are many volcanoes around Guatemala City. The volcano erupted and a piece of volcanic rock fell on her and made her flat.
Janet (me) had just come back from the beach. We were all relaxing on the bed when Laura and Juan Luis dogpiled me. I was completely flattened.
Being flat has it's advantages. The flat people have gotten to explore a whole new world...and make new friends. Here are our new friends from Guatemala:
If you'd like to be a flat friend with us, here is a way to get started:
Let us know how you became flat and send your photo of your flat person to roselandasa@gmail.com so we can post it along with your story. We'd love to be your friend, too!
So here is the thing, last week I attended an event that the Dallas Social Venture Partners hosted. The event was “Storytelling” by Andy Goodman. I left the event inspired. My thought was that I was going create a series of videos that explained our story. Videos that really capture our mission statement, “Equipping youth to dream and envision what they can and one day will become”. Well, you see where I am going with this…
My starting point was to interview the youth that attend the ASA, get their thoughts and so on. So I decided to start with two kindergarteners, Joshua and David. Well, of course these two decided to take my idea in whole new direction.
Actually they made it even better.
I now present to you, the season premiere of: The Joshua and David Show
Chewed any gum lately? Do you know how it was first made??
The Mayan Indians figured out how to make gum and were hired to climb trees and get the sap from the chiclet tree (have you heard of the gum, Chiclets?). The gum company, Wrigley's, use to pay people in the jungle to collect the sap from the trees so they could make the gum. Below is a video from the jungle. The guide explains how the people collected the sap to make the gum.
Who knew that the beaches in Guatemala were so fabulous???
Early in the morning, we took off for the Juan Gaviota beach. It's a private beach with a lot of really beautiful homes. The sand is black...not like the light brown colored sand we're used to seeing.
Watch the video to see what the small towns look like on the way to the beach, see a crab run across the sand, and watch Flat LaMarcus and Flat Tytiana go swimming.
McDonald's...Burger King...Subway...and even Taco Bell...
All of those fast food restaurants also exist in Guatemala. But are they the same? Watch this video to find out some things you might not know about fast food in other countries...
While Miss Janet went to a museum with her friend, Cecilia, Flat LaMarcus and Flat Tytiana went to school with Laura.
After a full day of meeting new friends and experiencing school in Spanish (and sometimes in English), Flat LaMarcus and Tytiana went to the KidVenture after school program. After the day was all over, Laura, Flat LaMarcus, and Flat Tytiana gave Miss Janet a tour of the school and showed her all the things they do during a day at school:
Hi, my name is Crystal. I was born and raised in Dallas, TX. I am 17 years old, in the 11 grade, and I attend Hillcrest High School.
My favorite sport is track. I love being around my friends and family. I also like leaning new things. In my spare time... I love texting, talking on the phone, and EATING!! That's me...
I believe Miss Tameshia said a lot of you are asking what people in Guatemala eat. A lot of times, they eat the same things as we do! But, sometimes they have food that is the same as ours, but prepared a little different than we do it.
Below is a video on my first morning in Guatemala. Laura ate bread and honey (something I think we might eat) and Cecilia made me huevo estrellada (egg stars) and then taught me how to make them. So here is the video:
My name is Rocio. I was born here in Dallas TX, and have been living her all of my life. I am 16 years old, and was born on January 14, 1994! Right now I am a student at Skyline High School and in the 10th Grade. I am also in the photography cluster at my school, and am in love with it. Literally! I am passionate about photography, I am not the best photographer, Yet! But i am working hard to as were I have some good photographs!
This is a funny moment in Digital Connectors when Crystal falls out of her chair. I guess she thought she could fly like a bird or she was that excited about all of the technology she's learning.A lot of people don't think we have fun in Digital Connectors because we work so hard. We have a great time together. I love you guys.
This was our first attempt at "Mass Stand-Up" and sadly it was a failure. This attempt did not go to waste though, it served as a learning experience to help us accomplish our task. As you will see in the next video, things will go differently.
Laura gave Flat Lamarcus and Flat Tytiana a tour around the houses where she lives and let them play on the playground before we took a trip to Guatemala Antigua. Guatemala Antigua means "old Guatemala" so all of the buildings look old. Look for the picture of the Subway. Even Subway looks very old!
While we were walking in Antigua, we could see the volcano in the background. We also watched some ladies make tortillas in the little tienda (that means "store"). Check out the pictures to see all of the places Lamarcus and Tytiana visited today.
Miss Janet was planning to take a trip to Guatemala. Knowing this, the kids in the Roseland Library/Bookstore and the 1st and 2nd graders in the After-School Academy started on a new mission. They read Flat Stanley (if you haven't read it, you might want to!) and started studying about Guatemala. They were creating their own Flat People when the snow storm got in the way.
So, Miss Tameshia finished making their flat people. Miss Tameshia and Miss Janet decided that Flat LaMarcus and Flat Tytiana would be traveling to Guatemala with Miss Janet:
Stay tuned to hear about more of Flat LaMarcus and Flat Tytiana's trip to Guatemala!
I don't pay much attention to the weather reports in Dallas. The "Arctic Blasts" that they dramatically present usually mean something like 40 degree weather and possibly some rain. So, when I heard the prediction of snow, I was under impressed. Yet, when I woke up and opened the blinds, there was already a blanket of snow covering the ground!
It was the best snow ever! It snowed all day, every single minute of the day--9.4 inches by 9:00 p.m....and it is still coming down!
Around 3:30, I ran over to the After-School Academy to watch the kids enjoy the snow. I knew it would be the perfect photo op...and it did not disappoint.
The shoe donation came right after the Haiti earthquake. Terrence’s Teen U youth had been studying about Haiti—looking things up on the internet, having discussions, and seeking to gain an understanding of the tragic event that happened. As the rest of the world, they became very enmeshed in what was happening. Around this time, I received an email from our development department letting me know tennis shoes had been donated for the youth at Roseland. When I let Terrence know, he took the information to the teens and asked them if they wanted to keep the shoes or send them to Haiti. One of the students said they would rather send the shoes to Haiti. All of the students agreed. They then began to seek out places who were coordinating trips to Haiti.
The pictures are of them sorting and packing the shoes. They took it upon themselves to go through the shoes and sort them according to size. In watching them sort the shoes, they seemed to really like the shoes and the different designs. A younger kid came upstairs and said something about wanting a pair of shoes. The other students immediately reprimanded him explaining, “No! These shoes are going to Haiti!”
Their research led them to Prestonwood Baptist church. The shoes have now been taken and, I assume, have already been sent to Haiti. It was a great service project opportunity. It always amazes me how willing the youth are to give and share what they have to help others.
This time we took Iesha (sister of Niesha and Tatiana, both of whom attended last time), Shamaria, and Xavier. Iesha and Shamaria seemed to thoroughly enjoy the play and sat, enthralled, the entire time. Iesha quoted most of the play to Ms. Tameshia...thanks to her sisters re-playing it for her when they got home last week. (Iesha obviously hasn't learned the meaning of "spoiler alert." :) )
Shamaria and Iesha volunteered to participate in the tug of war:
Though the play was great, some of the best moments were when Mr. Harold (the director) allowed everyone to interact with the cast members and the props at the end of the play. Awesome job, South Dallas Cultural Center. Thanks for being in the community and allowing us to be a part of what you do!
As I walked through the After-School Academy I saw several things going on. One group was building with legos. One group was working on homework. A few were at the computers playing educational computer games. It's been my dream that the kids in the After-School Academy become independent learners. Walking through, I couldn't help but think that is quickly becoming a reality.
As I walked out the door to the elevator I saw the scene in the picture above.
Ladaysha (3rd grade) was quizzing Hakim and Jaden (both 1st grade) on their spelling words while they casually molded play-doh. I loved it! They weren't stressed. They weren't sitting uncomfortably in wooden chairs hating homework. Instead, they nonchalantly took turns spelling. If they mis-spelled a word, Ladaysha kindly pointed out their mistake, reminded them how to spell it correctly, asked them to re-spell it, and moved on to a new word. It couldn't have been a more beautiful scene!
Independent learners.
Painless and stress-free learning opportunities.
Older students helping younger ones.
Everyone plays a role in progress.
Thanks, Danielle, for making the After-School Academy where this can happen!
At the beginning of the play, Mr. Harold (the director) informed the audience there would be audience participation and everyone needed to help. He then immediately asked for volunteers. Niesha raised her hand on the very first opportunity and was able to lead the audience in a call and response exchange. Toward the end of the play, they asked for volunteers again. Niesha quickly raised her hand again and Tatiana went out as well. They got to be a part of the Elephant and Hippopotamus tug-of-war!
After the curtain call, actors allowed the audience to take pictures and hold some of the props (like the spear and mask). As Niesha held the spear and after the picture was snapped, she transformed into the role. She began creeping along the side of the stage...just as they did in the play. She started repeating the lines verbatim. A few other kids joined in, including Niesha's sister and some of the actors from the play. Niesha began directing people (including the actors!) to, "Stand here," "You're supposed to move like this," "You say this when you walk," "You're supposed to run that direction!" Niesha had already memorized lines in the play and was now becoming the director!
It was a great event. The play continues through this weekend. I'm hoping to take some more kids and teenagers this Friday. Hopefully we'll see you there as well!
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