Kindness Counts!

Every Wednesday, After School students at Kawana Elementary School engage in lessons called “Kindness Counts”, which focus on helping their community and the world around them. Throughout the year, Promise Fellow Katie Brooks has put together many lessons, some which allowed students to send warm wishes to the elderly, and encouraging others to engage in physical activity. 

This past month, third and fourth grade Cool School students were given a WHALE of a lesson! The children learned that whales were endangered, and got to be outdoors to measure how long a blue whale actually is! They also got the chance to save their own whale! By donation and saving their pennies, students in both grades raised enough money to adopt two blue whales! 

Students will get pictures of their whales, but want to know…where will we put them?

Learning through Service

Kara Shelton, AmeriCorps Mentor at Wright Charter School

This Spring at Wright Charter's After-School Program, the students are preparing Service Learning Projects. Students actively engage in organizing a community service project that integrates academic learning.

The 1st/2nd grade class is holding a recycled can and bottle drive in the school. The students are in charge of advertising the drive and adding the cans.

The 2nd/3rd grade class is hosting a clothing drive to help Sonoma County families in need.

The 4th grade class are hosting a car wash during Wright School's Open House to raise money for the local animal shelter.

The 4th/5th grade class are organizing a movie night to support the local animal shelter.

The 6th/7th grade class have reached out to local businesses to be able to throw an Ice Cream Social, also in support of the local animal shelter.

All the classes are actively involved in choosing, preparing and running their projects. All the students are excited to help out their larger community!

Nutrition Olympics in the Rain

Bellevue Elementary School

Our wonderful day of Nutritional Olympics, a day filled with physical activities that concurrently educate our students about healthy choices, almost came to a screeching halt when it began to pour down rain. Nevertheless, our Bellevue Bulldog crew came together to figure out a quick solution. We packed up the activities into transportable crates, and each mentor rotated through all six grades. We played Berry Relay Races, Pepper Toss, Carrot Hop and all sorts of games. Nayeli, a first grader, said that her favorite activity was learning about tropical foods while playing Coconut Bowling. 

This day was really important because many of our kids are overweight. By teaching them about healthier choices to make with their food, we could potentially be saving their lives. I’m so excited for our next day of Nutritional Olympics (hopefully it’s outside next time)!

What's Cookin? Tuesday - Pea Salad

Kristen Mowers, CalSERVES Nutrition Coordinator

 

  

Just the Facts: Peas

• The sugar snap pea is actually a hybrid of green and snow peas. It was developed in 1979 to make an edible-pod variety with sweeter, full-sized peas.
• Edible-pod peas were specifically bred so that the pods' fibers go in one direction, allowing them to be chewed.
• Today only 5 percent of all peas grown are sold fresh; over half are canned and most of the rest are frozen.
• One of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite vegetables was the English Pea. He planted more than 30 varieties of it in his garden at Monticello.

Pea Salad with Fresh Herbs

Ingredients:

Makes 10 servings at 1/2 cup each

1/2 lb. sugar snap peas

1/2 lb. snow peas

1/2 lb. fresh green peas, shelled

1/2 bunch mint

1/2 bunch cilantro

1/2 bunch Italian parsley

1 tablespoons light olive oil

2 Tablespoons rice vinegar

Dash salt

Directions:

Wash peas. Remove any stems. Blanch peas in boiling water (blanch pod peas separately from shelled peas). When tender, scoop peas out with strainer and lay out to cool on baking sheet covered with towel. Combine peas in large bowl. Blend herbs, oil, vinegar and salt until smooth. Pour over peas and serve.

A Trip to "The Jungle"!

Kori Farrell, AmeriCorps Mentor at Wright Charter School
  

  
One thing all of our first and second graders seem to have in common is their love for animals. That made the destination for their first field trip of the year perfect. When we told them they would be going to Safari West, a local Wild Animal Preserve, they let out a huge round of applause! It quickly was followed by questions like, “Is there going to be tigers?” and “Can we pet them?” 

When the day finally arrived the kids were more excited than ever, some even equipped with their own cameras and binoculars. All the grogginess from the bus ride disappeared once we made the final turn into Safari West. There were about 50 first and second graders, and they were all equally astonished by the sight of the lemurs, cheetahs, and birds. But I think the biggest hit was the giraffe, even if he only was peeking his head out of his house. After a long day at what some kids were calling “The Jungle”, it was time to get back on the bus, where most of the kids slept all the way back to school.

Experiences as an AmeriCorps Member

Brandi Johnson, AmeriCorps Mentor at Wright

As an AmeriCorps mentor I have had my fair share of fun and unique experiences. Some of the best come from the chances that I have had to go on field trips with many of the regular day class. Getting to interact with the students in a different environment was the best part if it all. During the many field trips I was allowed to go I visited Tolay National Park, and the Sonoma County Agricultural Fair with the first grade classes. With the kindergarten classes I was able to revisit Tolay National Park. Being able to see the kids I tutor outside of room 16 in a fun relaxed enviornment was a joy. Taking part in these field trips as a volunteer was one of the many highlights of my year here at Wright Charter School.

Making Great Strides in Tutoring

Ruby Willmann, AmeriCorps Team Leader at Bellevue Elementary

As the Team Leader for the Bellevue Tutoring Program, I have been collecting all of our end of the year data. Getting feedback from teachers can be intimidating, but I have really enjoyed reading all of their notes. Comments like “what an effective program” and “the mentors are great role models for our students!” are wonderful to read. We also had one teacher share a success story about one of our tutees. It read:

"Jennifer has made great strides with her tutor. She is so excited when she returns from tutoring and always shares with me what she did and her newest book. Her level of self-confidence has increased immensely since the beginning of the school year, which I attribute in part to her improvement in reading."

When I showed Jennifer’s tutor, Ms. Jenkins, the note she was extraordinarily touched. It is always amazing to see a mentor’s hard work validated in such a clear way.

Firefighters!

Emily Swartzentruber, Promise Fellow at Wright Charter School
  

Last month, the Santa Rosa Fire Department came to speak to our 1st-3rd graders about fire safety. Students learned what to doin case of a fire, what a fireman looks like in all of his gear, and were also able to take a “tour” of the fire truck. A few of our students were even able to try on some of the gear for themselves. The presentation was a success and the students and mentors were sad to see the fire fighters go.

Fire Trivia: Did you know that fire fighters have breathing masks for animals? A small, medium, and large for all different animal sizes!

What's Cookin? Tuesday - Citrus Berry Ice

Kristen Mowers, CalSERVES Nutrition Coordinator

How Do Strawberries Grow?

Strawberries grow on small, low growing perennials (plants that survive more than one growing season) that prefer well-drained, sandy soil and are native to temperate and mountainous tropical regions. To produce the best crop the plants need plenty of water, warm days and cool nights. Many varieties of strawberry plants produce stolons that spread out from the base and take root to form new plants.

The plants produce white or pink flowers.

After flowering, strawberry plants require pollination by bees or other insects in order to produce fruit. Factors such as cool or wet weather, which discourages bee activity, have a damaging affect on fruit production. Growing conditions and weather also affect the time required to produce fruit. On average it takes about 30 days for flowers to develop into fruit. The first crop can be harvested the year following planting.

While strawberry plants can survive and produce fruit for many years, commercial strawberry plants are replaced every two to four years, depending on the type of strawberry. Because strawberries are delicate, they are picked by hand when ripe and carefully placed in plastic baskets or containers. Once the berries leave the field, they are taken to cooling facilities to help them last longer.

Citrus Berry Ice

Makes 4 servings.

1 cup per serving.

Prep time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon sugar

2 oranges, peeled and quartered

2½ cups fresh strawberries

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation:

1. Place all ingredients in a blender container and blend until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into a shallow plastic container and place in the freezer.
3. Stir every 15 minutes until the mixture reaches a sherbet-like thickness. Serve immediately.

Calories 105, Fiber 5g, Protein 1g, Fat 0g

What's Cookin? Tuesday - Berry Good Banana Split

Kristen Mowers, CalSERVES Nutrition Coordinator

May is National Strawberry month!

Reasons to Eat Strawberries

• One cup (about eight large berries) provides:
• More than 140 percent of the recommended Daily Value for Vitamin C.
• Three grams of fiber, making it a good source of carbohydrates.
• As much potassium as half of a large banana.
• Antioxidants and many essential minerals including calcium and iron.

Are you trying to make healthy choices, but still want a sweet treat? Try this healthy version of a classic dessert!

Berry Good Banana Split

Ingredients:

1 small banana, peeled

1/2 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt

1 tablespoon lowfat granola

1/2 cup fresh strawberries or other fresh berries

Preparation:

1. Cut the banana in half lengthwise.

2. Spoon yogurt into a bowl.

3. Place the banana halves on both sides of the yogurt.

4. Top yogurt with granola and berries. Serve.

Helpful Hint: Fresh berries taste great and cost less when they are in season. You can also thaw some frozen berries for this recipe.

Makes 1 serving.

Preparation time: 5 minutes