CalSERVES

A Passion for COOL Sports

2012-02-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

COOL Sports has always been one of my favorite aspects of the CalSERVES programs. As a mentor at Sheppard Elementary, I coached every Challenge during the school year. I enjoyed watching my students’ faces light up with joy when they arrived at the Challenge and saw all the other students in their COOL Sports shirts. When I became a Program Assistant, I took over the responsibilities of organizing the Challenges. Now in my third year as COOL Sports “Cruise Director”, I found myself wondering if I would still have the same passion for COOL Sports as I did as a mentor. My concern quickly vanished after our last Challenge.

It has been a few years since volleyball was the focus for a Challenge. As mentors reported struggles our students had with this sport, we changed the rules accordingly to give them a better chance at being successful. As we started the Challenge, I quickly learned that the rules were going to go straight out the window. The students had trouble serving the ball over the net and passing to each other. Standing there reffing the matches, I adjusted the rules as best as I could in the moment. I saw mentors who had spent weeks teaching their students the fundamentals of the game cheering to the top of their lungs when a student was able to hit the ball over the net.

Looking around the gym, I saw that every person in the gym had huge smiles on their faces. The students, mentors, Super T’s, and parents were so proud of the hard work that had gone into this Challenge, no matter how the students performed. I thought about the purpose for which COOL Sports was created: it is a chance for students to participate in new sports that they might not have access to and it doesn’t matter how great of an athlete they are. What matters is that they showed up and did their best.

As I swept the gymnasium floor after the Challenge had ended, I heard a student shout out to her mentor “Good night Ms. Hunt. Thanks for being the best coach ever!” Watching the mentors cheer when they saw their kids return a serve, score a point, or simply get the ball over the net reminded me why COOL Sports will always be a passion of mine. These events allow the kids to realize their potential and have the power to change lives, including my own.

by Taylor Ford, CalSERVES Supervising Teacher at Wright Charter
and COOL Sports Coordinator

Happy Valentines Day from CalSERVES!

2012-02-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day.

As you celebrate with family and friends, take a moment to think about ways you take care of your heart. Maybe its taking a walk on your lunch break, or spending time with a favorite pet. It might be digging in the garden, or volunteering to help a child. Whatever it is that brings you joy, take time to do it - it's good for you!

Volunteers Make All the Difference

2012-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Christina, CalSERVES Volunteer at Wright

This is my first year working with CalSERVES as a VIP Fellow. Coming into this position I knew that it was my responsibility to bring extra help into our classrooms. With this in mind, I worked under the assumption that people would come and go, essentially becoming transient volunteers. After all, people have school, friends, family, and lives of their own. Why would they spend an extra couple days a week helping our kids? They're strangers and have no relationship to them. What I found within the first few weeks, however, was that like the CalSERVES Team, our volunteers have fallen in love with the Wright kids.

I don't know how to thank those who have sacrificed their time to be here. I always tell volunteers when they come in for an orientation that even if they are unsure of themselves right away, the fact that they are here and sitting next to our kids means the world. It shows the kids that they are important and that others care for them and want to be here.

One volunteer in particular took my advice so seriously that she made sure to stay until each student was picked up. To Christina volunteering isn't just a requirement for class or an activity to beef up her resume; it is something that she did because she enjoys kids. Each day in the second grade she is as good as a third mentor. Drawing pictures for the kids when they land at the top of the clip chart and playing the keyboard during song and dance club makes her one of our best recruits.

I am continually amazed by each of our long-term volunteer's consistency. These are the kinds of people who enhance our program. Without them, each mentor and team leader would have a harder time tying up loose ends. I will forever respect and admire their kindness and generosity. I hope that this semester will find Wright with even more positive people coming through our doors.

Lauren Loeffler, AmeriCorps VIPat Wright Charter School

Making Sure Our Students Voices are Heard!

2012-02-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Coming in as a second year Team Leader at Wright Charter, I had thought a lot about how to make the 2011-2012 school year even better than the previous academic year. I knew that my best brainstorming came through collaboration. If I could find out students needs, wants and grand ideas, then I could help make things happen! I wanted students to be more involved and be a community in our after school and for them to know that their voices are crucial to our program. I realized that a great way for this to occur was through the creation of student council.

After School Student Council consists of 2-3 student representatives from our 5th, 6th, 7th and 7th/8th classrooms! We meet once a week for 30 minutes and discuss the items on our agenda. Opinions are always requested on every topic. Representatives have the responsibility of taking information back to their classroom. They are in charge of announcing upcoming events, collecting feedback about past activities and taking class votes in order to represent a larger class opinion on a particular topic. Every meeting, we go over the class responses and discuss how smoothly the transfer of information went. Providing information and conducting a voting session are not the easiest things to do with a classroom full of your peers!

The representatives have gained a lot of experience through their new position.They have done a spectacular job and have helped create and run successful events and activities. We have come up with class mascots, activities and awards to include in our upper grade assemblies, how to improve our fitness centers, and more. Our first big event was an after school dance for grades 5th through 8th. Representatives helped brainstorm themes, decorations, and music recommendations, as well as help things run smoothly during the dance and help clean up afterwards. Students and mentors alike had a wonderful time and many requested to have more dances!

Student Council Members at the dance they helped to create.

I am thrilled to be a part of After School Student Council at Wright Charter. I cannot wait to see what else we will improve and create during this second half of the year! I believe that the council’s success comes from our students’ drive to help make after school the best it can be and from the support that our fantastic mentors give to their students and staff on a daily basis.

By Jenna Rafalow, AmeriCorps Team Leaderat Wright Charter School

Tales of Wright Charter Tutoring

2012-02-03T10:00:00.000-08:00

Ms. Peek and her tutoring student.

When pairing a student with a mentor for tutoring, you try your best to find a perfect match. However, not knowing every student makes matching more arbitrary and thus, the result can at times be more problematic. This was the case with one particular duo, Ms. Peek and a student I'll call *Trey. I knew that Ms. Peek was a very experienced tutor, but neither of us quite understood how challenging Trey would prove to be. Every day for the first month, Trey would loudly complain and hide when Ms. Peek would pick him up, he wouldn’t respond to her attempts at conversation, or if he did respond it was in a tone that one would think only an angry teenager could have mastered. In short, he hated tutoring and made sure everyone and anyone around him was aware of it.

After some of the usual suggestions for challenging students had failed, I decided to team up with his teacher, his tutor, our supervising teacher, his Cool School mentors and anyone else who had some sort of close relationship with him. We all started brainstorming ideas together and ended up with a fantastic solution. We incorporated physical activities, gave him control by allowing him to pick and choose his own agenda, set up a unique reward system. We also sat down and had an honest one-on-one conversation letting him know that we cared about him and wanted to all work together to make tutoring a success.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Trey has not only done a full 180 on his behavior but his reading is now at his grade level and he enjoys both tutoring and his tutor. Now when Ms. Peek and Trey walk to our tutoring classroom, instead of an angry silence he tells her about his weekend, even including his heartbreaking defeat at his basketball game. Reflecting back on the situation, I am so proud of Ms. Peek who never gave up regardless of so many initial failed attempts; so grateful for the community people who came together to help; and proud of Trey who also never gave up and was able to become a positive, productive student.

By Melissa Boni, AmeriCorps Team Leaderat Wright Charter School

*Name was changed to protect the student.

Super Snack Love

2012-01-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

Before I became an After School Team Leader, I knew that one of my main responsibilities would be providing snack for the students. This year we started something brand new, the supper program. When I initially heard about the change I grew extremely nervous. Not only did the amount of food we had to provide change but it also changed the amount of time it would take for me to get everything ready. My fears were soon dismissed and over the past 4 months I have grown to absolutely love the supper program. It really allows for us to provide our students with many healthy options, and to ensure that they will go home feeling full.

When we began the supper program, my co-partner Ms. Rafalow and I realized how hard it was for just the two of us to hand out all of this food to 150 students. We brainstormed on how we could make the process as easy as possible, but the answer didn’t come from us - it cam from our students. We realized that our students wanted to be part of the process with us, so I developed a schedule in which different students from each grade are able to help us pass the food out each day.

Passing out Supper at Wright.

At first I wasn’t sure how many students would actually want to help us, but it has become very popular in the after school program. I have students who ask me during regular school if they can be my helper for snack. One day I even had a student cling to my leg and refused to let go until I told him he could help me. Many of our students also help us clean up snack and we have developed a very successful recycling system that students enjoy helping with as well.

Seeing my students want to help us is what has allowed for me to enjoy the supper program as much as I do. Seeing them enthusiastic to pass out food to their peers has given me the momentum I need everyday to ensure that the supper program is successful.

By Stacey Krywaruczenko, AmeriCorps Team Leaderat Wright Charter School

Day On, Not a Day Off at VOICES!

2012-01-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

Getting things done!

Wright Charter spent their Martin Luther King Day working with the organization, VOICES. VOICES provides support for youth coming out the foster care system. They are involved with other organizations in the Sonoma area and are a stellar example of how much we can accomplish when we come together as a community to help our fellow community members. VOICES helps teens and young adults get on their feet through their in and out of house resources as well as having a warm, loving environment to which they can come.

Time to Move.

VOICES decided to move from their original location on College Avenue to a building just two blocks down on Mendocino Avenue! The new building has significantly more space to better accommodate all who come through their doors. In order to make this transition smoother, CalSERVES AmeriCorps members from Wright Charter and CalSERVES staff members were there to help on moving day! Everywhere you looked there were people packing, cleaning, fixing up rooms, moving furniture and overall just getting things done! Both VOICES locations were well staffed and made big moves!

Home Depot Volunteers

Everyone did a fantastic job and helped VOICES transfer their workplace in one go! A special thank you to the volunteers from Home Depot that came and made beautiful planter boxes for the new VOICES building. There is nothing more satisfying than coming together as a community to support local organizations and our specialty – helping youth!

By Jenna Rafalow,AmeriCorps Team Leader at Wright Charter

A Successful Day of Service

2012-01-17T14:58:00.000-08:00

Julie McClure, CalSERVES Program Director, writes a blog where she shares her insights and perspective on the CalSERVES program. Visit her blog to read about how the Martin Luther King Jr. Day ON not a Day OFF was celebrated around the county.

CalSERVES Direct Blog

CalSERVES was also featured in the the Press Democrat with an article about the fantastic service that was given to the community.

Press Democrat Article

Thanks to everyone who participated - with donations of supplies, or of time and hard work! CalSERVES really made a difference.

A Day On, Not a Day Off

2012-01-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

Art by Kathleen Chosa

How are you celebrating Martin Luther King Day? Sleeping in? Hitting great sales? Or are you giving back to the community?

If you are like the CalSERVES AmeriCorps folks, you will be giving a day of service! Yes, they give service pretty much around the clock, providing over 1700 hours each during the 10 months they work in our programs. But this AmeriCorps Service Day is an opportunity to do things that are a little different.

This year marks the25th Anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday, andorganizers see the milestone as a perfect opportunity for Americans to rememberDr. King’s life and legacy and to honor him by taking action to solve problemsin their communities.

For 2012, the folks putting on the Service Day decided to focus on helping kids facing homelessness and in foster care. Different community organizations were selected to provide with help, and over 100 AmeriCorps members are going at it! Here's what they will be doing:

Preparing brunch for families and lead fun activities with children at a homeless center;
Moving supplies of a non-profit that helps women in crisis to new site, building planter boxes, painting, and hanging curtains;
At a Homeless Resource Center, painting and cleaning children’s play area, installing basketball hoop, organizing adult and children’s areas;
At a school for children that have been abandoned or neglected, painting the MPR and kitchen, organizing/cleaning the emergency storage area, garden clean up, and campus revitalization.
Making quilts to give to children in crisis.

I'm impressed.

So, how will you Make a Difference?

by Emily Mann, CalSERVES Project Coordinator

COOL Sports Cheer and Dance

2012-01-10T14:00:00.000-08:00

Students from Taylor Mountain gear up for Cheer

“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Do it!)
Friday, Saturday to Sunday (Do it!)
Get, get, get, get, get with us, you know what we say, say
Party every day, p-p-p-party every day

And I’m feelin’, woohoo, that tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good night, That tonight’s gonna be a good night
Woohoo!”

And what a good night (or day) it was! The six CalSERVES after school sites gathered for our first COOL Sports Challenge of the year at RL Stevens to perform their awesome Cheer and Dance routines on stage!

RL Stevens students cheer on other teams

The room was filled with two mentors from each site, proud parents, teachers, and RL’s principal. The students were excited with their nervous smiles as they waited for their turn on stage. It was nice seeing their mentors giving them pep talk to high fives to help excite and calm their nerves at the same time. Seeing our extraordinary Supervising Teachers Taylor Ford and Yesenia Salas-Chavira MC the event is always a bonus! This year, I had the privilege in being one of the judges along with
Katie McCormick, Lauren Serpa and Megan Randles. We got to choose each team to “Walked it out” with an award and two walked away with our first ever Sportsmanship trophies!

Kickin' off the event

“I think sportsmanship is knowing that it is a game, that we are only as good as our opponents, and whether you win or lose, to always give 100%.” This was how our fifth grade student kicked off our event by reading this awesome quote by Sue Wick. … which led to the wild cheers and applause for each other throughout the entire event!

I love, love, love watching people dance (especially kids!) and I couldn’t sit still in my own seat. Who knew that lyrics like “Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah” would make one want to move!

Our COOL Sports kids definitely rocked the house. Everybody had a good time and we almost
lost our minds… they definitely “got the mooooooves... like jagger!”

Meadow View students wait for their turn

Congratulations to all! Here are the awards:
Hardest Cheer – Meadow View
Most Unique – Kawana
Most Encouraging – Bellevue
Loudest Cheer – Wright
Most Spirited – Taylor Mountain
Funniest – RL Stevens

Sportsmanship trophies awarded to:
Wright
Meadow View

All the COOL Sports Cheer participants

Want to see what you missed? Check out the talent of our kids at www.youtube.com/calserves. Don’t miss our next COOL Sports Challenge in February. See you there! “We just wanna see yaa!
Shake That!” …

by Sandra Lemus, CalSERVES Program Coordinator

Life in the CalSERVES Office

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Ah, the elusive office. Many in CalSERVES have heard about and visited this pristine space. Some come here every few weeks for meetings. Few know the reality of working in the office. Often, my fellow members at school sites ask me about my experience thus far in the office. Coming up with a suitable answer proves difficult because working in a setting like this is not so novel to me—most of my prior work experiences took place in an office setting, besides my term as a full-time mentor at Wright last year.

For this blog, I offered to write a piece on life in the office. In order to best articulate my feelings on this subject, I wrote a poem encapsulating my time here. I hope you enjoy it.

A Cube with a View

My head bobs unconsciously to the
cacophonic taps of fingers upon keyboards;
our joints read the notes of an unseen composition, allegro.
I devour another email, rich in its text, a signature like cupcake frosting.

I blink; the resulting image is a mishmash of right angles,
algorithmic in their precision. My cubicle is lined with interwoven threads
of charcoal and peach, of granite quarries and southwestern dust.

I sit, stare, and I forget other people exist here.
Everywhere. My own vacuum of productivity.
Then someone calls me. I text them. They fax me. I email them.
We engage in the electric slide, the techno tango,
making up the moves and songs as we go along.

A child appears and people swarm like ducks to an open palm of breadcrumbs.
My spreadsheets have replaced my students: I protect them,
teach them new formulas, respond to error messages and data disagreements;
cells tattle on each other, but with a click, everyone is friends again.

I get up; the grey carpet is now crimson, a runway lined with adoring fans.
Strutting to the kitchen, I wave and smile and pretend the fluorescent bulbs
flash at me; coworkers scream my name as I pass by, asking for myautograph
on a timesheet. A Starbucks mermaid is my Oscar trophy;
my supervisor hands it to me and I tear up during the acceptance speech.

It was once an enigma, a maze of plastic and frosted rectangles,
where the cogs of CalSERVES hid and hashed out.
I often heard “the office” uttered as if it were an individual.
“That’s what the office said.” “Let me ask the office.”
However, I’ve infiltrated the inside and have come to spread
the juicy gossip: behind that voice on the phone,
behind those glossy glass doors, behind the privacy screens of cubicles—
there is no false wizard, no other-worldly entity.
There are people. Smiling. Answering questions. Laughing.
Finalizing the fiscal. Besieging the budgetary. Caring.
They are the instructions to our IKEA bed,
the plumber to our leaky pipes,
the heart to our tin man.

by Patrick Link, CalSERVES Local VIP Leader

Loving Science at RL Stevens

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

3rdgraders testing their parachutes.

The mentors and kids at RL Stevens LOVE our new KidzScience kits. It is easy for me because I just hand the kit to a mentor and I know they are well supplied. The mentors appreciate having the lesson plans to use as guides for leading and setting up activities.

We have had several classes use the Falling and Flying kit to make parachutes and build rockets. The students had a lot of fun testing their parachutes and racing them against paper clips without parachutes to see how parachutes help to slow objects as they fall. They also built rockets, working in teams to see which constructions worked best and helped their rockets fly the farthest.

With the help of the KidzScience kits, we have had a lot of success introducing our students to different scientific principles by using just one or two of the lessons.

by Lauren Alpert, Team Leader at RL Stevens Elementary

Happy Holidays from CalSERVES!

2011-12-22T10:13:00.000-08:00

Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season! As you spend time with family and friends, take time to remember the many things in your life for which you are grateful. Enjoy peace and contentment.

Kids Love Dogs

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Sadie and three of her biggest fans. These brothers all received awards at our
fitness assembly this week and they asked for Sadie to be included in their picture.

Bringing your dog to work every day may seems a little unconventional to some, but for me, it’ a dream come true. When the kids ask what a therapy dog is, I say “Her job is to just to make you happy.” Sadie is a one year old Catahoula mix that loves kids; one thing is for sure, the kids love her even more! Whether it’s the 3rd grader that spends his mornings, recess, and lunch time in our room visiting her, or the 6th grader that asks to take her for a walk when he’s feeling upset, her presence has made quite the difference here at Kawana.

When I visit Ms. Garcia's Kindergarten, she asks the students as I’m leaving the room, "Say goodbye to Ms. Williams." In perfect harmony the kindergarteners yell "Bye Sadie!!” If that isn’t proof that she’s doing her job, then I don’t know what is!

by Jackie Williams, After School Team Leader at Kawana Elementary

Healthy Food for Families

2011-12-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

Fresh produce from the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

Every Friday I go to the food bank and get hundreds of pounds of fruits and vegetables to give out to the families. This past Friday I got over 600 pounds of produce. I picked up 150 boxes of strawberries (1 per family), 200 pounds of potatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and celery. In the past I have also gotten sweet potatoes, carrots, parsley, green onions, apples, oranges, asian pears, and more. Although I do this every Friday, the parents still ask me how much I am charging for the produce. The families are relentlessly shocked and grateful for the copious amounts of fruits and vegetables I provide.

This is by far one of the most rewarding things I have a chance to do. Giving healthy food for the families to put on the dinner table, and knowing that my students aren’t going to go hungry tonight- that’s all the thanks I need.

by Melissa Collins, VIP Fellow at Kawana Elementary School

Learning Science by Exploring

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Students exploring science at the RL Stevens "Build It Science Festival"

The R.L. Stevens CalSERVES after school program would like to say a special thanks to the Lawrence Hall of Science for supporting our students’ learning with the “Build-It” science festival. The instructor and festival coordinator, Jeff, did a fantastic job explaining each station to volunteers, and also kept students engaged.

The activities included constructing an arch out of wooden blocks, recognizing patterns, making a pop-up book, making structures out of newspaper, and making 3-dimensional shapes. Each class had an hour to explore the stations at the fair. Jeff emphasized that the goal of the festival was not to teach students facts, but instead to encourage exploration and creativity. CalSERVES staff and students appreciated this approach, as it led to a successful and enjoyable event.

This event also relied heavily on adult support, and would not have been possible without the generosity and involvement of our parents and volunteers. Thanks to everyone who came out and helped!

by Tyler Rockey, VIP Fellow at RL Stevens Elementary

Fun with Tennis

2011-12-06T14:18:00.001-08:00

Last year, I was fortunate enough to have been in the right place at the right time to be introduced to Michelle Skipwith, the USTA Tennis Service Representative for Sonoma County. She was giving a presentation on bringing “QuickStart Tennis” into elementary schools to get young students more involved with the game of tennis. We placed an order for our school sites and for a very low cost we were able to supply our school sites with over 160 tennis racquets of various sizes for our students! We also received numerous types of tennis balls, tennis nets, and curriculum that will show our AmeriCorps members how to teach our students in tennis.

This Fall we had 3 tennis trainings, 3 hours each, for all of our school sites. At these trainings, mentors were taught the basic fundamentals of tennis and how to make it fun and interesting for kids. Now our AmeriCorps mentors have the tools and supplies to teach our students tennis and with this wonderful 75 degree December weather in Santa Rosa, we are fortunate enough to be able to continue playing tennis in the beautiful sunshine.

by Katie McCormick, CalSERVES Coordinator

Kids Quotes to Make you Smile

2011-11-18T09:59:00.001-08:00

Kids say the funniest and sweetest things. Here are a few recent quotes from students in the CalSERVES programs, as reported by their mentors on Facebook. Be sure to like our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/calserves, and see more of the amazing ways our AmeriCorps members are making a difference!

Patrick McGrath, CalSERVES Staff and former AmeriCorps Mentor
I found out a HUGE secret to successful tutoring today - I asked a 4th grader that I tutored when she was in 1st grade why she is so nice to me now, but wasn't before. Another student interrupted as if it was so logical: "It's because you wear VANS now, and you didn't before...." OOOOOH. Take note everyone.

Sandy Ngaophasy, AmeriCorps Mentor
A lovely first grader wrote me a thank you card that said "Ms.Sandy I'm thankful you work here because you care about me." it's such an amazing feeling to know I'm making a difference in someone elses life but little do these kids know how big of an impact they make on my life, just another great day at Meadow View!

Stacey Krywaruczenko, AmeriCorps Team Leader
The 3rd grade surprises me almost everyday. There is always one student, no matter when I come in, he always gives me a hug, and makes me feel welcome in his class. Today another student asked me what do I want to be when I grow up? After he told me he thought I was 30 years old, I told him the only thing I want to do when I grow up, is work with kids like him!

Koby Johnson, AmeriCorps Mentor
The sweetest thing I have ever heard was by a 1st grade student today who said, " Mr. Johnson, I am so thankful you work here. You make my life by being my friend." ♥

Sara Quinn, AmeriCorps Team Leader
I got a gift from my secret buddy at school today and it was written by a student... the note states: "Here are a pear of holidai earrings to match your beutiful red hair!". It made my day nonetheless.

Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words

2011-11-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

To get the most complete idea of what the CalSERVES After School and Tutoring programs are all about, you need to see it. Here are a few pictures submitted by AmeriCorps members about their year of service.

Making a BIG Difference - the AmeriCorps way!

2011-10-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

Meadow View Team Report - Christa Fox, AmeriCorps Team Leader

This year for Make a Difference Day, the CalSERVES Meadow View team partnered with the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County and produced over 50 volunteers to beautify the campus of Helen Lehman Elementary. The projects at hand included organizing the school’s library, repainting lines, numbers and hopscotch squares on the black top, and, the most daunting of tasks, a complete overhaul of the garden!

Amongst the free bagels and coffee, we were greeted in the morning by Helen Lehman’s principal, Beverly Jones. After the initial introduction, our large group dispersed into three smaller groups and started on our projects. It was a beautiful day to be outside painting and gardening!

The amount of student and parent volunteers was very impressive! Entire families arrived with their own tools and went straight to work. Many hands were engrossed in the garden, as it required the most attention. The Meadow View team helped to pull weeds, organize the tool shed, and lay cardboard, compost and mulch. Needless to say, there was a lot of shoveling involved!

The painting committee revamped the entire blacktop to appear brand new! Paint was reapplied on benches, hopscotch squares, basketball hoop backboards, perimeter lines, etc. Once again, the blacktop has been restored to a wonderful place for students to play.

The overall atmosphere at Helen Lehman was incredibly positive! Thank you so much to all who came out to lend a hand!

RL Stevens Team Report - Richelle Andre, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow

On Saturday, October 22nd, the R.L. Stevens CalSERVES staff and ahandful of fantastic volunteers teamed up for Make a Difference Day.During the course of the morning, we were able to put bark mulch over manyof the bare-dirt areas around the school, as well as on the margins of the playground. This bark mulch helps keep weeds down and make the school lookgreat!

We were also able to clean out the school’s garden, which was fullof truckloads of old weeds as well as garbage. Everyone worked really hardand had a great attitude the whole time. Thank you to everyone who cameout!

Wright Charter Team Report - Stacey Krywaruczenko, AmeriCorps Team Leader

This past Saturday, I joined the fabulous team at Wright Charter as we picked up trash and pulled weeds at Cook Middle School. These are both things that I have done numerous times at different locations, but there is just something very special about completing these tasks with people that I see everyday, with whom I know that I am already making a difference.

I mostly picked up trash around the school and conversed with my team members, one in particular that I didn’t even know very well, but through this experience I was able to get to know her at a different level. We had some good laughs, not just from our conversations, but also by some of the strange things that we found all throughout Cook. While doing all of these things, there were also members of the community who were practicing their favorite sport, or watching a soccer game.

Seeing the community interact in that manner allowed me to feel a sense of accomplishment. Through our actions of beautifying Cook Middle School, it is now a place where not only just the students can enjoy themselves, but the community can as well.

Making a Difference at Taylor Mountain

2011-10-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

Richelle Andre, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow at Taylor Mountain Elementary

On Saturday, October 22nd the Taylor Mountain team, aided by a handful of caring and passionate volunteers, helped start the Taylor Mountain school garden - completely from scratch! Lumber and supplies were generously donated by Mission Ace Hardware, Bennet Valley Ace, and Bergess Lumber. Using these materials, along with tools borrowed from the Santa Rosa Tool Library, we were able to construct five pristine 4x8 redwood planter boxes that now have a home behind Taylor Mountain Elementary.

School staff also aided the project, and with their help we were able to scrub the outside stage area, clean up trash, and make a beautiful mural. Family members of CalSERVES After School students were also crucial team members who shared their construction knowledge and precious Saturday mornings to help us beautify the school campus.

It was a terrific event, with CalSERVES tudents and mentors helping create boxes, fill them with dirt, weed, and make a difference!

Making a Difference, even on a Saturday!

2011-10-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

Jamie Hennick, AmeriCorps Member at Wright Charter

Typically for CalSERVES mentors, the weekends are reserved for resting from the previous week and recharging for the week ahead. This Saturday, October 22nd, is different. Make a Difference Day, the first CalSERVES service day of the school year, provides mentors with an opportunity to extend their service into their weekend, and for good cause. Mentors will be helping at four different elementary schools on campus beautification projects, with activities ranging from weeding to garden work and trash pick-up to painting. The ultimate goal is to improve the environment for our students by improving the physical conditions of the school campuses.

CalSERVES is partnering with The Volunteer Center for this service day. The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County is an organization that promotes community service and volunteerism by sponsoring service events in our local towns. CalSERVES mentors will participate in this event at one of four designated CalSERVES sites, but there are projects at nine different schools that community volunteers are invited attend. CalSERVES encourages you to take a few hours out of your Saturday to join us in making a difference. All supplies will be provided at the site in addition to a small snack. Make a Difference Day will take place at the following elementary schools: R.L. Stevens, Taylor Mountain, Helen Lehman and Cook. Projects will also take place at Biella, Jack London and Luther Burbank in Santa Rosa, and Cinnabar School in Petaluma and Sonoma Valley High School in Sonoma.

Again, volunteers will be working from 9am-12pm on this Saturday, October 22nd and we would love to see you there!

If you have any questions about the project, feel free to contact Rachael McDavid with The Volunteer Center at 707-573-3399 or Katie McCormick of CalSERVES at 707-320-8542.

Go and Tutor!

2011-09-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

Jerry Noviello, CalSERVES Program Coordinator

Tutoring has begun! This is my favorite time of the year!! I can feel the energy from the excitement and curiousness and nervousness that’s mixing in the air at all of our school sites. It is a wonderful time when AmeriCorps Mentors are introduced to the student who they will tutor for the entire school year. Pretty soon all of the initial assessments will be complete and the sound of students reading from books or curriculum will fill the classrooms.

Students selected for our literacy-tutoring program all need some additional help to learn must-needed reading skills. AmeriCorps members use our thorough assessments to develop in depth lessons that target the specific needs for each of their students. It is a personalized instruction program that every year proves to yield stellar results.

As I am writing this blog posting, our AmeriCorps members are finding the instruction reading levels for each of their tutees. We then are able to choose books that students read. These books are at a difficulty level which is appropriate for each student to read along with the support of caring adult. Students who previously may not have been confident readers discover that they can be successful readers and that reading is fun!

To all of our AmeriCorps Mentors; I wish you high hopes for a great year ahead. Your dedication to service and to helping the community is an inspiration to us all.

Thoughts from Meadow View as Programs Start

2011-09-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

August 31, 2011
We have just finished organizing the bookshelves for the hundredth time, or so it feels. The room is starting to come together and look like a usable place. The energy level is rising as we come closer to getting students with us. It’s exciting and we are all eager to put these long hours of training to good use. We are also coming together as a group and as team members.

There is a sense of helping and caring. I genuinely love the feel of us all working together. I am enjoying my experience and the people here at Meadow View work very well together. Our group here does not get bogged down with drama. We have fun and we enjoy our time together. But we work hard when we need to, and we keep each other grounded.
-Olivia Jessen, Full Time Mentor, 2nd year

September 8, 2011
My team here at Meadow View has an inspiring amount of energy and enthusiasm for the programs and students. I am already impressed with each mentor and their unique contributions to the team. We have returners who were once quiet and reserved speaking out and being a mentor to their newer peers. We have first year mentors contributing creative new ideas, specifically with our kindergarten students, new to the After School Program this year.

The mentors planned and hosted a successful teacher meet-and-greet lunchtime event, which included a delicious potluck, mentor photo and stats board, and conversation starting fun facts about our mentors and team. I am also grateful for my Leadership Team that takes charge in supporting me and our efforts. They make my job just a little bit easier but a whole lot more enjoyable.

Cheers to a strong beginning to another great year of youth services at Meadow View Elementary!
-Kimberly Copperberg, Site Supervisor

Leadership Students are Monkeying Around

2011-09-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

Kristen Mowers, Supervising Teacher, Taylor Mountain Elementary

The students who were selected to join the CalSERVES leadership program at Taylor Mountain were rewarded with a field trip to Expedition Island for their work. Students had to attend everyday, bring a great attitude, and help make plans for the year. They helped train their mentors (teaching them new games and providing opportunities to practice the youth development skills they were learning).

Students got to Zipline,

Trek across a suspension bridge,

Climb rick walls,

and be active the entire time we were there. The afternoon was full of smiles and laughter. Students helped each other and took on challenges that seemed overwhelming.

“I think a grew some muscles in there!” – Ruben, 6th grade

AmeriCorps Recruitment Update

2011-09-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

Jerry Noviello, Program Coordinator, CalSERVES

CalSERVES Recruitment is complete!! It has been quite the process to hire all of our new part-time AmeriCorps members, but we are finally at capacity, with 51 Full-time AmeriCorps members and 66 Half-time Members!

Our AmeriCorps Team Leaders did an excellent job last spring to help us recruit most of our team from Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College. Throughout the summer, CalSERVES staff have been hard at work to recruit the remaining positions. Many thanks to everyone who was involved in the recruitment process. We couldn’t have done it without you!

If you are interested in serving with our programs next year, please contact us! We are currently recruiting volunteers for our six schools in Santa Rosa. Volunteering is a great way to gain valuable experience in afterschool programs as well as build a relationship with our organization. I highly recommend volunteering if you are thinking about applying for an AmeriCorps position next year! You can reach us at 1-888-560-7378, or americorps@calserves.org.

Meet the Bellevue Full-Time Mentors!

2011-09-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

2011-2012 Bellevue Team

The early start-up program has been very productive. Our 2nd grade students like our program, especially students who attended our After School Program last year. My favorite part of our schedule is helping kids with their homework because everyone gets to complete their assignment.

–Full-Time AmeriCorps mentor, Hector Morales

My name is Megan Cockrum and I am a full-time AmeriCorps mentor at Bellevue. I am originally from Modesto, Ca., but have been living in Rohnert Park for the past five years. So far, things have been going great! I have been getting to know the other mentor at my site and I am excited to get to know the kids!

-Full-Time AmeriCorps mentor, Megan Cockrum

Hey everyone! My name is Amy McConnell and I am so excited to be in sunny California. It is very different from Kentucky where I am from. The first few weeks have been so much fun. It has been great getting to know everyone and making new friends. I can’t wait to meet the children and starting working with them.

-Full-time AmeriCorps mentor, Amy McConnell

My name is Sarah Forzley and I biked out to California from the high desert of South East Utah. Besides loving the ocean, the mild temperatures, and all the beautiful food that grows hear, I’ve been getting to know the 4th graders I’ll be working with this year. I’ve also been cleaning up the school garden, sowing seeds from fall crops and scheming up fun ways to let our students get their hands dirty while learning about nutrition. Finally, our CalSERVES team leaders have been training us to be the best tutors and mentors we can be.

-Full-Time AmeriCorps mentor, Sarah Forzely

My name is Juan Pablo Carrillo, I go by "JP". This is my 3rd year at Bellevue; normally I'd have 5th or 6th grade, but this year I started off with Kindergarten and it's such a TRIP! In the past seven days I've dealt with slips, spills, cries, and a fair amount of both stress and laughter. I'm super excited to work with my 6th graders again, once we start regular COOL School. I can't wait for another great year... Wow! It feels good to be a Bulldog!

-Full-Time AmeriCorps mentor, Juan Pablo Carrillo

And... We're Off!

2011-09-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

Melissa Moore, Supervising Teacher at R.L. Stevens Elementary

Mentors line up in fine style at RL Stevens

It’s the start of a brand new school year at R.L. Stevens Elementary, and after weeks of anticipation, the mentors are excited to meet their students. Armed with a storehouse of recently acquired knowledge in academic curricula and healthy behaviors, the “Cool School” Team is prepared for an excellent year. The first few weeks will be spent building an inclusive class community and structured, positive learning environments. With that foundation in place, and the enthusiasm and dedication of the CalSERVES team, there can be no doubt that all are in store for a year of learning, excitement and personal growth.

Programs get Started at Bellevue

2011-09-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Yesenia Salas-Chavira, Supervising Teacher at Bellevue Elementary

The Full-time AmeriCorps Leaders at Bellevue. From L-R, Julianna Whittaker, Katie Berg, and Sara Craige

Program Start-Up this year has been filled with excitement and anxiety! The majority of my team are new to CalSERVES and they have brought so much sunshine to our new room already. They’ve been working hard in learning their new roles, getting to know our Bellevue staff, and supporting one another in completing all their trainings. It has been a pleasure to see them grow so much in the past several weeks and especially see their excitement when they help out students in need. I look forward to this year and all the wonderful learning moments that are yet to come, especially from both out students and members.

CalSERVES Welcomes the 2011-2012 Team!

2011-08-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

The new year has begun, and with it came 135 AmeriCorps members from across the nation. CalSERVES staff are happy to welcome everyone, including those members who are returning for a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year!

The first day of training, everyone was inspired and jazzed to go!

Engaged, and listening!

And it wouldn't be CalSERVES without some great Team Building activities!

Go, team, go!

CalSERVES Staff Retreat 2011

2011-06-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

2011 CalSERVES Staff at Bishop's Ranch

Each year, the CalSERVES staff meet together for strategic planning in order to reflect, share information, and establish goals. This year, we met in the beautiful location of Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg, CA. It was a very productive two days!

One of the things the staff accomplished were adjustments to the CalSERVES mission and operating principles, reflecting our ever-changing program.

Vision
CalSERVES provides opportunities for participants to discover passions, realize potential, and express power. Passion, Potential, Power.

Mission
CalSERVES engages AmeriCorps member in service opportunities to create healthy communities throughout California. Members operate as leaders, providing one-on-one literacy tutoring, implementing after school programs, and building volunteer capacity in underserved communities.

Organizations Goals

Provide the opportunity for leadership and learning through service.
Support youth to advance academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
Develop trainings and learning experiences to foster personal and professional growth.
Create meaningful opportunities for volunteers to strengthen the system of support for youth and families.

Operating Principles
Be Safe.

We advocate for and empower youth and families.
We treat each other with respect and are mindful of the importance of self-care.
We value humor and make time to have fun.

Be Respectful.

We work through conflict and maintain positive relationships.
We value others’ contributions and embrace new ideas.
We hold each other accountable as role models.

Be Responsible.

We take initiative to make things better through a solution-based approach, asking for help when needed.
We invest in personal and professional growth.
We lead by example.

Pillars
Youth Development and Academic Enrichment
Health and Wellness
Service and Volunteerism
Resource Development and Training

To read more about our program, visit the CalSERVES website!

The Human Race 2011

2011-06-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

CalSERVES Runners/Walkers Participating: 110

Money Raised: $13,500.00

Books for 1400 students: PRICELESS

AmeriCorps 2010-2011 Graduation Speeches

2011-06-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

Watch the speeches from our 2010-2011 AmeriCorps year. This year's speakers are an impressive line-up:

Kathryn Mallen, AmeriCorps Member serving at Roseland Elementary
Elizabeth Sesma-Olinyk, Principal of Taylor Mountain Elementary
Dinorah Gallegos, Volunteer with CalSERVES at Wright Charter
Carmen Hernandez, AmeriCorps Team Leader at Bellevue Elementary
Ernesto Olivarez, Mayor of Santa Rosa

Wright’s After School Learns Proper Tooth Care

2011-06-06T07:27:00.000-07:00

Gabrielle O'Neill, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow at Wright Charter

On Friday, May 20th Wright Charter’s after school program learned the importance of proper tooth care. The presentation was organized by one of our long-term volunteers, Ms. Heather Carruth. Heather is currently studying dental hygiene, so it was only natural for her to plan the presentation.

During the presentation, students learned about proper brushing and flossing, fruits and vegetables that help teeth stay strong and the effects of improper tooth care. The presentation was very engaging because the students had the chance to participate in some tooth care activities and our students love to participate.

At the end of the presentation, students received free goody bags that were donated by Heather’s dental hygienist program. The students were very excited about the free goodies that they could hardly contain themselves! It was great to see them so excited about teeth.

An article about this topic appeared in the Press Democrat. Read the article Ambassador of Smiles that appeared in the June 5, 2011 Sunday addition of the paper.

Thank You for an AMAZING Year, AmeriCorps Mentors!

2011-06-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

CalSERVES gathered yesterday to celebrate the graduation of the 10-11 class of AmeriCorps members. Members enjoyed games, end of the year videos, photo contests, and inspirational speakers.

Members participate in games at the Year-End Celebration.

Mayor Ernesto Olivares poses with the Bellevue Elementary Team.

Speakers for the event included Santa Rosa Mayor, Ernesto Olivares, Principal Elizabeth Sesma-Olinyk from Taylor Mountain Elementary School, and various members and volunteers with the CalSERVES program.

In the 2010-2011 school year, our 115 local AmeriCorps members provided over 144,000 hours of service to the children and families in our community.

They serve for many hours each day, giving of their time, energy, and love.

The children in our programs have received their attention and commitment.

Thank you for being role-models, and making a difference!

New CalSERVES VIP Blog

2011-05-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

The Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP), a part of CalSERVES, has a new blog! Check it out. You'll be able to read about all the amazing work our AmeriCorps VIP Fellows are doing across the state of California.

http://calservesvip.blogspot.com/

Volunteers Make a Difference!

2011-05-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

Kimberly Copperberg, Site Supervisor at Meadow View Elementary

The third grade class at Meadow View has three teen volunteers who come consistently each week. The volunteers are students at Elsie Allen High School and have been extremely helpful. They aren’t afraid to ask mentors for help and interact well with students. These volunteers have served as role models for some of the third grade girls, as they have someone of their same ethnicity to teach and inspire them. “I feel like having the volunteers in the class is really helpful for the girls because they have someone to look up to and keep them on track,” reflected third grade mentor Ms. G. They have shown students that even if you come from a touch background, you can focus on education and staying involved in positive activities.

The sixth grade volunteers are very helpful, especially when it is time for doing homework. Mary, a teen volunteer, has been helping students with their homework when mentors are with other students. Another volunteer, Sam, has been connecting with the sixth grade boys. Sam is willing to play, do homework, sit and chat, read, and do whatever interests the students. He has connected and offered more one-on-one support to an intelligent but reserved student who was in need of positive connections. Sixth grade mentor Mr. V comments on the importance of volunteers in his classroom. “I believe that the students get into a routine of seeing their mentors’ every day, so it’s great to have other people that can also be mentors for the children.”

Fawn Wildlife Rescue Presentation

2011-05-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

Gabrielle O'Neill, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow, Wright Elementary School

On Wednesday, May 4th a member of the Fawn Wildlife Rescue Center of Sonoma gave a presentation to the 7th and 8th grade student's. During the presentation, the students learned the importance of the local wildlife as well as teaching others how to prevent injury or harm towards wildlife.

The presenter brought in taxidermy animals for educational purposes so that the students could get a closer look at some of the local wildlife. In addition to this, the presenter taught the student's about the rescue center's specialization in rehabilitating ill, injured and orphaned black tail fawns.

The student's loved having the opportunity to see all the different animals and they were even more excited to learn that they could help protect Sonoma's wildlife making this presentation a success.

CalSERVES' After School Inclusion Project at BOOST

2011-05-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

Emily Mann, CalSERVES Program Coordinator

Annette Zucconi, Beth Hart, and Emily Mann at the CalSERVES Inclusion Booth

BOOST (Best Out Of School Time) After School Conference is a great annual event for folks from all over the nation. Set in the amazing location of Palm Springs, CA, thousands of people come to learn strategies and skills to make their After School programs even more amazing than before.

The After School Inclusion Project (ASIP), one of CalSERVES Technical Assistance programs for After School, was there with bells on. We hosted a booth, with material and resources to help programs to include students with special needs and disabilities in their programs.

Our team also presented a workshop for Site Coordinators and Directors - a Training of Trainers - focusing on the newly developed 10-20 minute trainings. These trainings are designed to teach After School staff, who are often unfamiliar with specific disabilities, with some of the tools they need to help their children succeed in After School.

To learn more about the trainings and resources available through ASIP, visit: www.californiaafterschool.org

AmeriCorps Makes a Difference for the Egg Hunt for Tots!

2011-05-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

Kimberly Copperberg, Site Coordinator at Meadow View Elementary

The City of Santa Rosa’s “Egg Hunt for Tots” is an annual event at Howarth Park for the past 25 years. CalSERVES sent AmeriCorps members to help support the event, both the day of and to help with preparations for the big day.

One day over spring break, AmeriCorps members met the Coordinator Laneil Bryant at the Steele Lane Community Center to paint signs and prep for the art project. On Saturday April 23rd ten AmeriCorps members and Site Supervisor Kimberly Copperberg were out supporting the event.

The CalSERVES team led face painting, bunny ears and duck head-band art projects, a photo booth with a bunny, and the main event…the egg hunt. There was also an animal petting zoo with bunnies, a chicken, goats, a cow, and a pig from a local 4H club. There were three egg hunts for children under 3 and for 4-5 year olds. Many families came out to enjoy the event, hundreds of people throughout the day.

Canine Companions Visits Wright

2011-05-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

Gabrielle O'Neil, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow at Wright Charter School

In April, Canine Companions for Independence visited Wright Charter’s After School Program. The students gathered outside on the playground for the presentation where they learned about the different types of dogs that are trained, the families that the dogs go home with, and the tasks that each canine is trained to perform as an assistance dog. At the end of the presentation the students got to line up and pet the service dog that was brought in that day. Smiles grew from ear-to-ear throughout the crowd, making this presentation a great success!

2011 Cesar Chavez Health Fair Report

2011-05-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Healthy Eating and Active Living

'This is a great event and I hope to be able to take part in it for many years to come!”

Silvia Floriano, Health Fair Participant

The 2011 Cesar Chávez Day Health Fair at Roseland Elementary School drew over 3,300 attendees and 63 participating community organizations.

Health Fair Highlights

Dental Screenings: St. Joseph’s Medical Center screened 104 children for tooth decay, finding 31 children who needed dental care and 6 of those children presenting urgent dental needs.
Vaccines: Sonoma County Public Health provided Tdap (Whooping Cough) vaccines to 219 children, ages 10-18, as well as to 89 adults.
Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, and Cholesterol Screening: St. Joseph’s Medical Center provided blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol screenings to 59 individuals, issuing 50 referrals for follow up care.
Asthma Screenings: Community Action Partnership provided 15 Asthma screenings.
BMI Testing: Nursing students from Sonoma State University provided 17 Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings for families.
Free Healthy Foods: The Redwood Empire Food Bank donated over 5,000 pounds of fresh produce and free healthy snacks were also served.
Free Bike Helmets and Repairs: Safe Routes to School and AmeriCorps volunteers fitted 160 donated bicycle helmets, and NorCal Cycling repaired 125 bikes at the Health Fair.
Free Hair Cuts: More than 80 hair cuts were provided by community volunteers.

Active Living

Kaiser Permanente’s Community Theater Troupe led the Kids Course, an interactive obstacle
course for kids that helps make fitness fun.
Boy Scouts of America provided a Rock wall that had the whole community up and climbing!
Obstacle Course Playhouse and other fun games encouraged children to stay active and have fun.

Local Representatives in Attendance

Efren Carrillo, Supervisor, County of Sonoma
Ernesto Olivares, Mayor of Santa Rosa
Susan Gorin, Santa Rosa City Council

Entertainment

Windsor Bloco provided dancing and drumming.
Aztec Dance Troupe performed traditional dances.
Face-painting, magic shows, and balloon animals delighted fair attendees.

AmeriCorps

121 AmeriCorps members from the CalSERVES program, West County Community Services, and the North Bay Conservation Corps came to support this event. AmeriCorps members led activities for children, served as support to the health care providers and as translators for families.

Sponsors, Donors and Volunteers
The Fair organizer is CalSERVES, an educational program based at the Napa County Office of Education. Primary sponsors of the 2011 Health Fair include First 5 Sonoma County, Kaiser Permanente, St. Joseph’s Health System, Redwood Credit Union, and Community Action Partnership. Additional Fair sponsors included Redwood Empire Food Bank, Safe Routes to School, NorCal Cycling, Santa Rosa Police Department, Roseland Elementary School, Radio Lazer, La Fondita Restaurant, and Clover Stornetta. Many businesses and agencies in the community came together to support the event, including 25 community organizations that donated goods and services worth over $6,000. Over 452 health providers, community volunteers, and AmeriCorps members provided 2,159 volunteer hours in support of the event.

Wright's Tutoring Students Go Green

2011-05-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Kara Shelton, AmeriCorps Team Leader at Wright Elementary

Students and mentors in CalSERVES tutoring program had a break from the ordinary to spend some time celebrating the Earth. First, students were invited to choose a book about environmental issues for their tutors to read to them. Some favorites were Michael Recycle Meets Litterbug Doug, The Great Kapok Tree, The Lorax, and a number of nonfiction books about reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Students then engaged in several activities that combined the Earth Day theme with literacy skills. All students helped to clean up the classroom environment at the Garbage Sight Word Pick-up and Sorting Station. Students found sight word "trash" strewn about the room, before bringing them back to read and to "sort" the words into the correct color-coded "recycling" bins. Upper-grade students had more difficult multi-syllable words to sound out.

At the SSPTU station, students practiced their decoding skills while creating words with tiles about the Earth. Students also created globes to hang on our Reading Tree, describing one thing that they love about the Earth. To better show their appreciation, students put their knowledge of the three R's to the test by reading and writing short examples of how they can reduce, reuse, and recycle in their everyday lives. Finally, students had the opportunity to start sprouting seeds, which they can later plant in a garden.

All in all, the Earth Day theme day was a success. Wright tutoring students worked on their reading and writing skills while learning what it means to "go green."

Need to Read-a-Thon!

2011-05-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

Amy Holter, AmeriCorps VIP at RL Stevens Elementary

Sonoma County District Supervisor Efren Carrillo encourages students to read.

Learn to read, so you can read to learn. That was the message sent by District Supervisor, Efren Carrillo, when he addressed 80 students at the CalSERVES Need to Read Festival on Monday, May 9, 2011. The Need to Read Festival came at the end of a three-week read-a-thon held at all eight CalSERVES elementary schools.

The read-a-thon was an opportunity for students to measure how much they read outside of school. Top readers were invited to the Need to Read Festival and had a great time dressing up as storybook characters, painting their faces and eating healthy, refreshing snow cones.

The event was a community affair. Full funding for the event was provided by the Active 20-30 Club #50, an organization that raises money for children in Santa Rosa. The read-a-thon also provided a chance to raise funds to purchase high-quality books for CalSERVES libraries. CalSERVES would like to thank the Active 20-30 club #1029, Umpqua Bank, Whole Foods and Copperfield’s Books who sponsored the book drive.

Summertime is often an enemy of continued academic progress. With summer just around the corner, it is very important for students to increase the amount of time they read at home. Please remember the message of the read-a-thon and encourage your students to embrace learning through reading even after they go home for vacation.

Congratulations to all the students who worked so hard to make the read-a-thon a huge success!

News from Meadow View

2011-05-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Tutoring Testimonial
Ms. Webb, Literacy Tutoring Specialist

“When I first tutored Javier, a first grader, he was using level one readers and he often didn’t speak to me in fully developed sentences. He and I spent about five to ten minutes daily reviewing his sight words. During that time, he and I would alternate turns coming up with silly or serious sentences involving the respective words. [Now on level six, Javier’s growth is seen in reading comprehension and in communication skills.] I think the activity increased his comfort level with language and it was a traceable method for him to see his growth. The stack we have is broken up in groups of about fifteen words, so Javier is passes one level by correctly identifying the words in the current section. It is an empowering activity and can add a little fun to every lesson.”

Graffiti Education Presentation
Mr. Sparks, Fourth Grade Mentor

“Graffiti is done without permission and is not art.” This was the core message Georgia Pedgriff, of the Santa Rosa Police Department spread to the upper grader students at Meadow View Elementary. The kids played an exciting trivia game that taught them the negative impacts that graffiti has in our community. The students walked away in support of eliminating graffiti by reporting known tags and helping to clean up existing ones within 24-48 hours. The overlying message was to keep our school campus and community a safe, clean environment.

Nutrition Olympics
Ms. I, Third Grade Mentor and Nutrition Specialist

In the week of April 11th-15th, Meadow View students experienced the combination of nutrition and physical education in the form of “Nutrition Olympics.” What is that exactly? Nutrition Olympics is kid friendly “Olympic” sporting events that involve fruit and vegetables in lieu of balls or pucks to help test their motor skills. Events include the Berry Relay, Apple Toss, Cucumber Javelin, Potato Sack Races, and the particularly popular Pepper Toss.

During the events, the kids learned about different facts of the fruit or vegetable of that station. The variety of events helped keep the kids entertained and engaged while they were educated about the importance of nutrition and making healthy choices. Was it successful? Let’s see what the students said.

“That was so much fun!” –Morelia, 3rd grade

“I don’t want to stop!” –Justin, 5th grade

My Garden, a 2nd Grade Poem

2011-05-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

My Garden
By Alondra, 2nd Grader at Meadow View Elementary

My garden is green.
My garden is clean.
My garden has a lot of things in the spring.
In spring flowers grow and grow beautiful.
I plant cherries and berries and I eat them at end.
“Mmmmm, delicious,” said my brother.

Garden Clean Up Day at Meadow View

2011-05-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

Christa Fox, AmeriCorps Mentor at Meadow View Elementary

The BEFORE Shot of Meadow View's Garden

On Saturday April 2nd, Meadow View mentors, students, family members, and volunteers spent some quality time in the garden pulling weeds, turning the soil, cleaning and organizing the shed, and prepping the garden for planting. With the weather improving, we are making the revamping of our garden a priority.

Meadow View has a fairly large garden and because of the success of the Garden Clean-up Day, we were able to clear the majority of weeds from the flowerbeds and walkways, as well as organize the tool shed. Many volunteers brought their own tools and gloves and got right to work.

Since April 2nd, volunteers have been working in the garden almost on a daily basis. Fruits and vegetables such as, onions, watermelon, peppers, and cantaloupe, have since then been planted and tended to by Meadow View’s Garden Club and Garden Specialist.

Fitness Fun! – Yoga Lessons at Kawana Elementary School

2011-04-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Sally McLeod, AmeriCorps Mentor at Kawana Elementary

3rd Graders doing Yoga at Kawana Elementary

As a mentor and specialist at Kawana Elementary, it’s not always easy coming up with fun and innovative lesson plans. In my search for something fun and unique, I decided to take a look at previous specialist lesson plans from past years. In my search I came upon something truly inspiring; yoga for kids!

I thought yoga would be a great activity to do with the third grade! I would introduce an alternative way of exercising and keeping healthy, which a lot of the kids had never been exposed to. Some aspects that I included in my lesson were different breathing techniques, yoga postures, and other calming affects.

At the beginning of our week, I introduced the concept of yoga. I discussed what it is, its origin, and why it is useful. We then proceeded to go into our first breathing exercise. These breathing exercises were a great opener into our lesson. All of the students were asked to close their eyes and relax while given a calming visual to imagine themselves in. This really slowed up the pace and allowed students to instill a state of peace within themselves as well as a oneness with what they were imagining.

After our breathing exercises, we moved into the different yoga positions. While moving into different positions it was important for the students to understand what each position meant, so that they were able to embody all of the qualities themselves. Some poses students were asked to embody were warrior, tree, and mountain. Characteristics of these poses included strength, confidence, trust, as well as other great characteristics to promote good self-esteem and awareness.

At the end of our week, I was truly blown away at how much the students had taken from this lesson. I really felt that they were in tune and more aware of their surroundings and each other. Yoga seemed to have a real breakthrough upon these kids! They took the instructions I had given them whole heartedly and I couldn’t have asked for more!

AmeriCorps Makes a Difference on Global Youth Service Day!

2011-04-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

Katie Watson, AmeriCorps Team Leader

On April 16, 2011 CalSERVES spent the afternoon cleaning creeks throughout southwest Santa Rosa. The children, families and communities (and wildlife) we serve on a daily basis deserve to have the cleanest creeks possible to play and explore in.

Amanda Houlemard discovers a toy sword in Todd Creek!

The Taylor Mountain crew after all their hard work!

Meadow View found a piece of a car frame in Colgan creek.

Thank you for getting it out!

The Meadow View team moving their many trash bags to a safe place.

82 CalSERVES AmeriCorps members were in attendance and tackled Roseland Creek, Colgan Creek and Todd Creek around Stony Point Road, Hearn Avenue, Petaluma Hill Road, Todd Road and Santa Rosa Avenue.

Charlie Ruda with a very pretty balloon, one that doesn't belong in a creek. In the garbage bag it goes.

The Roseland team after all their good work.

Tyler Rockey using all his strength to pull a shopping cart out.

The Sheppard team found not one, but two shopping carts. Wow!

CalSERVES participated in this event in accordance with Global Youth Service Day and partnered with the City of Santa Rosa. Global Youth Service Day is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning.

Hannah Kooistra from RL Stevens ankle deep in Roseland Creek getting trash out.

There's the RL crew with all their trash bags... and fun picker-upers!

Ew, Wright found SO much garbage. Thank you for getting it all out!

The Wright team are superheroes!

We picked up garbage for nearly 2 hours and there was so much more to clean! We found tires, shopping carts, backpacks, parts of cars and bikes, toys, balloons, bottles, cans, and tons of food wrappers and garbage.

Sara from Kawana finds something interesting.

The Kawana ladies are so serious about creek cleaning!

The Bellevue boys getting into dangerous waters, the community is worth it though.

Bellevue sure found some icky stuff, thank you for your hard work!

We had a blast cleaning the creek and can't wait to do it again, it is so important that we keep our community clean for our students and their families!

The 3rd and 4th Grade Take on The Redwoods!

2011-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Gabby O'Neill, AmeriCorps VIP at Wright Elementary

On March 30th, Wright Charter’s 3rd and 4th grade students, of the After School Program, went to Armstrong Redwood National Forest. Classes were divided into groups and led by seasoned docents along the Pioneer Trail. During the hike, students learned the importance of Redwood Trees, their life cycle, famous people who were a large part purchasing the land and the importance of the preservation of the Redwoods.

The highlight of the hike was when students found a 3” Banana Slug. It was hard to tear students away from the yellow and black colored wonder, but once they were told of the snack that lay ahead, they decided to finish the hike.

It was a beautiful day for a trip to the Redwoods and a great way to experience a science lesson outside of the classroom.

Reclaiming the Kawana Garden

2011-04-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Katherine Brooks, Supervising Teacher at Kawana Elementary

Since November, the CalSERVES crew at Kawana Elementary School have been working hard to get their school garden back into shape. Luckily, we have many enthusiastic supporters: students, parents, school staff, and other community members that all want to see the garden in a better state and used more often.

Rebecca Leung, Garden Club Organizer

“At Kawana Elementary School, we strive to offer our students as many resources as possible. However, we have one resource that is being seriously underutilized: our school garden. With 8,000 square feet, the garden is a sizable lot and needs a lot of maintenance and love.” – Rebecca Leung

Rebecca Leung, a full-time mentor and the leader in our movement to reclaim the Kawana Garden, has worked tirelessly to organize a student Garden Club, care for seedlings, and decorate our garden. She has even contacted businesses for donations and organized two Community Garden Days.

In February, the community gathered to organize the garden shed, prune trees, remove dilapidated benches, weed garden beds and cut LOTS of blackberry vines. Parents and students also planted many seeds that are growing now inside pots in our classrooms.

5th grade student Temo says about the first garden day “It was fun cleaning up because it helps our community. My favorite part was pulling all the weeds.”

Temo’s sister and mother also attended the first Community Garden Clean-Up and are excited to participate in the next one that the mentors put on.

Students working hard in the garden - Adrian (2nd) Isai and Temo (5th)

On April 2nd, Kawana’s Garden Club will have a Garden Day once again, and this time, we will be able to plant edible foods, flowers, and herbs in the prepared garden beds. We will also paint over any graffiti on the benches, and continue to remove weeds that don’t belong there. So join us April 2nd from 10 am - 1 pm and be a part of or movement to reclaim the Kawana garden, and check out more photos of our garden events on Flikr!

We look forward to making Kawana’s garden beautiful, and having fun while doing it!

Volunteering with CalSERVES at Kawana Elementary School

2011-04-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

Christine Mendoza, CalSERVES Volunteer at Kawana Elementary

Christine Mendoza, CalSERVES Volunteer, tutors Luis, a 5th Grade student at Kawana Elementary School.

I went into volunteering at CalServes with the belief that this was going to be a short-term work-like relationship with the organization. The main reason I chose to volunteer at CalServes was primarily to gain experience for future resumes and applications for graduate schools. Now I find myself investing more time volunteering than at my part-time job and as many people point out, I don’t even get paid to do this! I guess that’s what helps me realize my time volunteering is so well spent. CalSERVES provided me with an inside look of the state of California’s public school system that I have never experienced.

I have never felt so privileged until I began tutoring and helping out the children in the program. When I go to volunteer at Kawana Elementary, I don’t wonder why I don’t do this for money because I’ve never felt like going in was a job. It’s truly a pleasure to work with a team so dedicated to making a positive influence in the lives of children.

VIP and Volunteers make a Big Impact in San Luis Obispo County

2011-04-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

Wendy Lewis, the Associate Executive Director of the Food Bank Coalition

The AmeriCorps VIP program has definitely proven not only beneficial, but necessary for the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County. Spread between two warehouses, the Food Bank only comprises of 23 paid employees, otherwise we gratefully rely on our pool of 400+ volunteers!

Our VIP fellows Stephanie Lossinsky and Megan Chicoine both handle our large database of volunteers, as they work with the volunteers and orchestrate opportunities for those who want to participate in the community. It is so important to nurture and establish positive, fun relations with the generous people who want to help the county, and Stephanie and Megan surely do that with great verve, leadership, and administration.

One of the core volunteer groups they look forward to working with is the vivacious and always entertaining 8th grade girls with Community Giving Back, which is a service-oriented program for youth that facilitates opportunities to attend camps and various educational programs. The 8th graders have been dubbed “The Fridays” since almost every Friday, between 4 and 7 girls join forces and tackle various tasks at the Food Bank warehouse in Paso Robles. Stephanie and Megan always look forward to when the girls come to the Food Bank because the Fridays complete the occasional dirty work—for instance, bagging onions for the Saturday distribution (sometimes there are a few grimy ones!)—with loads of laughter and cheery attitudes! They make sure that the Fridays know exactly how and who in SLO County they are helping.

It was really exciting during our "Have a Heart Food Drive" at Food 4 Less in February because the girls very excitingly gathered food from giving customers and even got to take turns dressing up as the amazing Food Bank mascot Sandie the Sandwich! Community Giving Back creator Kim Austin truly appreciates the relationship between the VIP Fellows Stephanie and Megan and the Fridays. All of them understand the value of service and enjoy the process of providing for the community.

Cesar Chavez Day 2011

2011-04-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Frances Hardie, CalSERVES AmeriCorps VIP Leader

Community Members receive fresh produce at the Health Fair.

Spring means just one thing at CalSERVES: Cesar Chavez Day! Our annual health fair at Roseland Elementary is the largest event we hold each year; it requires an enormous amount of effort from all staff, AmeriCorps members, and volunteers. Fortunately, we had tons of great support from our long-term volunteers, former members, and new volunteers!

Brittany and Phil, two previous members, volunteered their services and pick-up truck to help us move an enormous mountain of donated clothing from the office. Our VIPs collected more clothing than we ever could have imagined receiving, and we had no idea how to get it all to Roseland! Fortunately, our great alumni came through in a pinch.

Kids learn bike safety at the Bike Rodeo.

On the day of the fair, we had 15 volunteers helping with everything from the bike rodeo to the farmers market to the clothing drive. Also, our VIPs recruited four stylists to provide free haircuts – over 75 people got their hair cut at Cesar Chavez Day. And, last but not least, Gabby O’Neill from Wright brought a magician to volunteer in the kids’ area and graciously submitted to being hypnotized every hour!

After the fair, everyone was exhausted from a long day of work, but we still had to pack up all of the equipment. Two eighth graders from Wright jumped in and ran around breaking down and moving tables and chairs until everything was packed. Even our students like to volunteer!

Thank you to all of our VIPs and their great recruiting efforts for making Cesar Chavez 2011 such a success.

Students Protest about Snack Choices

2011-03-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Mentors at the Wright Charter After School Program taught their students about work of Cesar Chavez by staging a mock protest. 1st and 2nd grade students made signs and marched around the campus declaring that they deserved the right to choose their own snacks.

"We don't choose your snack!" and "Let us choose!" were a few of the signs. Everyone who participated had a good time, and learned the value of standing up in defense of human rights.

¡Si se puede!

Pictures of this event were taken by Jena Rufalow, AmeriCorps Team Leader and can be viewed here:
Picasa Album

CalSERVES visits Rep. Lynn Woolsey's office in Santa Rosa, California

2011-02-28T08:46:00.000-08:00

Julie McClure, CalSERVES Program Director

AmeriCorps members, alums, and champions for service came out today to express their support for AmeriCorps and national service.

We came representing CalSERVES and CalSERVES VIP, programs which engages over 250 AmeriCorps members in service in each year both locally and throughout the State. The programs provide vital after school programs, tutoring services, and volunteer development to students and organizations in the highest need communities.

We brought letters from hundreds of people that the program impacts directly. Our service partners are teachers, school administrators, non-profit staff people, and community members who know how vital AmeriCorps is to the community. Direct service recipients, including children and families impacted by the program every day wrote to express what it would mean to them to lose these important services. AmeriCorps alumni wrote eloquently about the important service they engaged in and how it has impacted their lives and the lives of the community for the better.

I have had the privilege of being the director of an AmeriCorps program for over 13 years. In that time I have seen how vital the services of these dedicated individuals are to the community and to the children and families they touch. They have generated and supported over 150,000 volunteers in meaningful service to the community. They have supported the growth and development of over 10,000 students and not in an insignificant way. These AmeriCorps members are mentors and role models to students who desperately need them. They dedicate their lives for a year to our community and in so doing have changed the course for so many students, showing them what is possible and providing them the tools to get there. This program is essential to this community and to who we are as a Country.

It's About Belonging!

2011-02-24T09:26:00.000-08:00

Annette Zucconi, CalSERVES Program Manager

Inclusion is more than the presence of children with disabilities or other special needs in After School Programs; it is about belonging. CalSERVES is proud to administer The After School Inclusion Project where we assist After School programs to better include students with special needs and disabilities while creating this sense of belonging. A focus on belonging benefits all children.

"When inclusive [practice] is fully embraced, we abandon the idea that children have to become ‘normal’ in order to contribute to the world. Instead, we search for and nourish the gifts that are inherent in all people. We begin to look beyond typical ways of becoming valued members of the community, and in doing so, begin to realize the achievable goal of providing all children with an authentic sense of belonging."
—Norman Kunc (1992)

We are working hard to support programs throughout the state of California to acquire the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes to be successful in including all students and with systems at all levels to achieve inclusive after school programs. You can find us at www.californiaafterschool.org, Special Needs tab.

Project Services
Inclusion Project
Strategic Planning Facilitation
Technical Assistance

Inclusion Resources
Resources for Building an Inclusive After School Program
Inclusion Quality Self-Assessment
Kids Included Together
Legal Resources
Library Resources

Professional Development
Inclusion Trainings
National Training Center on Inclusion
Webinar Registration

A Successful School of Rock!

2011-02-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Katie O'Looney-McCormick, CalSERVES Supervising Teacher at Wright Charter

Every year the team leaders of CalSERVES take on the role of facilitator and create a conference for the mentors. The conference provides training for mentors where they need additional support as well as an opportunity for team leader’s to gain experience as workshop facilitators. This year, the conference included topics like: classroom management, improving lessons plans, understanding student standards and more. When the event was over, mentors and team leaders alike were very pleased. The Conference was February 4.

What's Cookin'? Tuesday - Brown Rice Pilaf

2011-02-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

The CalSERVES Nutrition Program brings you What's Cookin'? Tuesdays! The theme for February is dried fruit.

Reasons to Eat Dried Fruits

One serving of most dried fruits provides:

A source of dietary fiber (e.g., dates, dried figs, dried plums, raisins).
Potassium, which the body needs to maintain muscle contractions and a healthy nervous system (e.g., dried plums, raisins).
Iron, an essential mineral for maintaining the delivery of oxygen throughout the body (e.g., dried figs, raisins).
A source of calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins and magnesium (e.g., dates, dried figs, dried plums, raisins).

Dried Fruit History

Athenians, including Plato, referred to themselves as “philosykos,” which translates to “friend of the fig.”
After his failed gold mining venture, Frenchman Louis Pellier introduced Californians to dried plums at his Santa Clara Valley nursery in 1856.
Raisins are noted in ancient writings as far back as 1490 B.C.E., but it wasn’t until 1876 when Scottish immigrant William Thompson developed a seedless grape variety in the San Joaquin Valley that the raisin industry was launched.
Early USDA explorer Bernard Johnson became the “father of the California date industry” when he established a research station near the desert town of Mecca in the late 1880s.

For historical timelines, visit: www.harvestofthemonth.com

Brown Rice Pilaf with Sage, Walnuts and Dried Fruit
Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:
as needed canola cooking spray
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium stalk celery, ends trimmed and chopped
2 cups brown rice, uncooked
2 1/2 cups water
2 cups fat-free vegetable broth, reduced sodium
1/4 cup dark raisins
1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon dried sage
2 Tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Spray the large skillet with canola cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium heat.
Sauté onion and celery until tender, about 5 minutes. Add brown rice and sauté for 5 minutes.
Add water, broth, raisins, and apricots; heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 50 minutes.
Stir in walnuts if desired, sage, salt and pepper.
Transfer to serving dish. Garnish with fresh sage and serve immediately.

Cost:
Per Recipe: $ 3.03
Per Serving: $ 0.38

Calories 220, fat 1.5g, sodium 130mg, sugar 3g, protein 5g

Happy Valentine's Day from CalSERVES

2011-02-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

Just a few hearts from us to you!

Students from Taylor Mountain After School

Artwork from CalSERVES Student 2008

Volunteer Highlight

2011-02-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

Leah Everett, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow at Roseland Elementary

Our volunteers at Roseland have been amazing: consistent, responsible, passionate about helping our kids, positive, and ready to learn. In addition to the fantastic individuals who come each week to support classrooms, help with homework, and lead activities, we have a few special groups that are completing senior service learning projects with CalSERVES at Roseland.

First, our returning volunteer Nallely Ramirez, and her classmate Veronica Corona, from Windsor High School, are planning a fantastic event for February. We will be helping them to host a Multicultural Fair, where students will spend the after noon traveling “around the world” from booth to booth. At each station, they will learn customs of different nations around the globe, taste-testing recipe binder examples of foreign cuisine, completing crafts that symbolize a cultural practice, and hearing stories of different ways of life. These activities will support their exposure to new ideas and promote tolerance of various groups of people. A few of the nations students will explore will be China, Greece, Mexico, and Italy, though there will be eight country booths in total. Our students will be taking passports around to each station to earn a stamp, as one of many tokens by which they can remember this remarkable experience. We are thrilled to help support this event, and are proud of these volunteers who are working so hard to plan and fundraise to make it possible.

We are also in the midst of supporting another service-learning project, by two seniors from Ursuline, Amanda Osequera and Jennifer Bipes. As the girls' academic focus is supported by an art-core, they hoped to build their project around the artistic expression of younger students. In past years at Roseland, we were blessed with the wonderful Imagination Bus Project, where visiting not-for-profit volunteers would bring our kids on-board a renovated bus to complete art projects ten at a time. Since we’re well acquainted with this system for pulling kids out and encouraging their artistic expression, it was a smooth transition to support their project in this same format. The girls were pleased with the idea, and after some activity planning and support from Ursuline for art materials, the project started. We have had such a successful experience so far and the students really appreciate the existence of art in their school. We are so thankful to be able to help facilitate such a fantastic project idea to allow our kids the freedom of expression and support their artistic abilities.

We have fantastic volunteers at Roseland, and we hope to acquire more who will support CalSERVES and make our program more successful.

What's Cookin'? Tuesday - Oat Bran Muffins

2011-02-08T09:12:00.000-08:00

The CalSERVES Nutrition Program brings you What's Cookin'? Tuesdays! The theme for February is dried fruit.

Dried Figs
Serving Size: • cup (40g)
Calories 113 Calories from Fat 2
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 5g 20%
Sugars 20g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A <2% Calcium 6%Vitamin C <2% Iron 6%

Dried Plums
Serving Size: • cup (40g)
Calories 110 Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 2g 10%
Sugars 13g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A 5% Calcium 2%Vitamin C 4% Iron 3%

Oat Bran Muffins
Serving Size: 1/12 of recipe
Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups oat bran
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 mashed banana
3/4 cup applesauce
2 Tablespoons raisins, dates, or other dried fruit
1 egg
1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cup nonfat milk
2 Tablespoons canola oil

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix the first four dry ingredients. Set aside. Mix the egg with orange juice, milk and oil. Mix fruit and blend with dry ingredients.
Add the liquid ingredients to the dry until it is moist.
Spray muffin tin with a non-stick coating. Pour batter into muffin tins.
Bake for 15-17 minutes. Remove muffins from pan after 10 minutes. Cool on a rack. Freeze muffins for later use.

Cost:
Per Recipe: $ 2.76
Per Serving: $ 0.23
Calories 120, fat 4g, sodium 140mg, sugar 10g, protein 4g

Tide Pool Fun!

2011-02-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

Gabby O'Neill, CalSERVES AmeriCorps VIP at Wright Charter

On January 12th, unexpected squeals of delight came from Wright Charter’s CalSERVES room. Two presenters from the Environmental Discovery Center came to teach the students about tide pools. They brought posters and souvenirs, which the students thoroughly enjoyed, but their favorite part was the live sea creatures! Students got to see and touch several animals including: Sea Stars, a Sea Sponge, Sea Urchin and a Cyton (Sea Slug). Kristina Stanton, one of the presenters, was very pleased with the outcome. “We love coming to teach kids about science. And it’s been great getting to show students some animals from our local tide pools!”

The Environmental Discovery Center is part of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. The presentation was one of many free programs offered along with: habitats, life cycles, adaptations, food webs, plant ID and structure, water conservation, etc. All of which Wright Charter’s After School anxiously anticipates!

Our next presentation will be a Martial Arts Group on February 16th.

It's Time to Join AmeriCorps

2011-02-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

Jerry Noviello, CalSERVES Recruitment Coordinator

Recruitment at CalSERVES is at full steam! It is only the beginning of the year and we have received hundreds of applications for our 2011-2012 AmeriCorps positions. We have had applicants from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, California, Washington, and the list could go on even more. It’s wonderful to see that people from all across the country want to join AmeriCorps – and want to serve in our programs!

CalSERVES Mentor tutors a child

One of my favorite times in the day is when I share my experiences with potential members. I get to tell others about my passions and reasons for believing in our programs, and I also get to hear the inspirational stories of people who want to serve their country through volunteer service.

Mentors make a difference!

If you are interested in applying to serve with CalSERVES or would like more information about our programs, please contact me! My phone number is 707-260-4286, and my email address is americorps@calserves.org.

You can also read more about our programs on the CalSERVES website: www.calserves.org/join.html.

Students "True Professionals" at Johnny Garlics

2011-02-03T09:12:00.000-08:00

Gabrielle O'Neill, CalSERVES VIP Fellow at Wright Charter School

Gabby O'Neill (right) and student Taylor Johnson with Johnny
Garlic's waitress

On Thursday, January 13th Wright Charter’s After School Program teamed up with Johnny Garlic’s Pasta Grill for a dine and donate fundraiser. An added bonus for ten students was the opportunity to train and serve as wait staff. After School students from 5th - 8th grade were selected to participate. They learned the basics of customer service, restaurant etiquette, and food preparation.

The students were so excited to have an opportunity to participate and by the end of the night they looked like true professionals. The fundraiser was such a success and the money we raised will go towards field trips and presenters for our students at Wright Charter’s After School Program.

VIPs Pull Together COOL Sports Dance and Cheer!

2011-02-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

Frances Hardie, VIP Leader, CalSERVES

In December, we had our first Cool Sports challenge of the year. Cool Sports is one of the students’ favorite activities here at the CalSERVES afterschool program. Each school sent one team to participate in the final dance and cheerleading competition, which was held on the stage at Sheppard Elementary. Everyone is always a winner in Cool Sports- each team got a distinct award for their dance or cheer.

Our eight local VIPs were in charge of doing the behind-the-scenes logistics for Cool Sports: finding coaches, making practice times, and getting everyone on the bus and safely to Sheppard and back. I came over to the gym at Sheppard, and a few teams were already there. The kids were a bundle of excited and nervous energy. As more schools arrived, it got crazier and crazier, with everyone getting on costumes, practicing, and sneaking glances at the other schools. It quieted down when Ms. Ford began the MCing, and the events began! The kids and their coaches had fantastic dances and cheers, and everyone cheered wildly for each of the other teams.

The award for “Hardest Dance” went to Kawana School (pictured). We had two amazing volunteers working as coaches with the Kawana team, Ms. Mitchell and Mr. H (back left). Together, they put in over 30 hours teaching dances and cheers. They also prepared chants so that the Kawana team could loudly cheer on every one of the other teams as they were making their way up to the stage. In the middle of their dance performance, the Kawna students even tried out a bit of break dancing that they had been working on with Mr. H. Our volunteers are an invaluable addition to our programs at CalSERVES, and their obvious hard work was evident in the great Kawana cheering and dance routines.

Thanks to all of our volunteers, VIPs, Sheppard School, and especially Ms. Ford for making this amazing event come together. And, finally, I can’t wait for Cool Sports basketball in February and track and field in April!

What's Cookin'? Tuesday - Trail Mix

2011-02-01T09:29:00.000-08:00

The CalSERVES Nutrition Program presents "What's Cookin' Tuesdays! February's theme is Dried Fruit.

Nutrition Information: Raisins
Serving Size: • cup (40g)
Calories 130 Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 10mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 29g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A <2% Calcium 2%Vitamin C <2% Iron 6%

Nutrition Information: Dates
Serving Size: • cup (40g)
Calories 120 Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 10%
Dietary Fiber 3g 14%
Sugars 29g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A 0% Calcium 2%Vitamin C 0% Iron 2%

Trail Mix
Makes 14 servings at 1/2 cup each

Ingredients:
2 cups dried fruits, chopped (at least
3 varieties)*
1 cup nuts**
2 cups pretzels
2 cups lowfat cereal or granola

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in large bowl.
2. Place 1/2 cup servings in individual containers. Enjoy as snack or dessert.

*Dried fruits: dates, figs, plums, raisins, apples, apricots, cranberries, bananas, mangoes
**Nuts: almonds, peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, walnuts, pistachios

Cool Clubs at Taylor Mountain!

2011-01-31T16:58:00.000-08:00

Richelle Andrae, AmeriCorps VIP at Taylor Mountain

This month at Taylor Mountain, we are planning lots of learning, and plenty of fun! Clubs on Friday, January 7th were a great success. We began practicing for Cool Sports: Basketball, which has 32 students extremely excited! So excited, in fact, that they are willing to put in the time and energy to run lines, and repeatedly practice passing and dribbling drills to get ready for the big event at the end of February.

We also had a Flamenco club, wherein students learned about traditional Spanish dancing, and even got to try out a few moves themselves.

Students in the Tea Party club made their very own tea bags by mixing a variety of spices and dried fruit, and also made crowns as they learned about English customs.

Harry Potter club was especially fun. Thanks to the acquisition of the magical sorting hat, students were sorted into different houses according to Harry Potter tradition. They also played Harry Potter Jeopardy, and are looking forward to learning how to play Quidditch!

We invite visitors to come check out clubs throughout the month to experience the magic of Taylor Mountain first hand!

VIP's are making a difference in California!

2011-01-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

A picture of Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP) Team Leader Rachel Osias from CSU Monterey Bay is featured in the Californian for participation in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in Seaside, CA. Behind her in green is VIP Ben Bruce and children from his VIP partner agency, Community Partnership for Youth.

Check out the picture here:
http://www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=J2&Dato=20110117&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=101170802&Ref=PH

Learn what CalPoly San Luis Obispo VIPs did for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, one of AmeriCorps’ National Days of Service! Their project was featured in this article among other projects at California State Universities.

Check out the article here:
http://www.calstate.edu/pa/News/2011/Story/MLK2011..shtml

Volunteers are VIP!

2011-01-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

Lauren Serpa, CalSERVES VIP Leader

CalSERVES AmeriCorps VIP fellow Steven Goings with volunteers from BSU at CSU Monterey Bay.

The mission of the CalSERVES AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP) is to increase the capacity of diverse non-profit and educational organizations to serve the highest-need children and families across the state. Our AmeriCorps members create effective volunteer infrastructure to serve needs that would otherwise be unmet.

In other words… we love volunteers! We do what we do at VIP because we know that every volunteer, every hour and act of service make a difference. We see the impact our members make in the lives of children and adults through community services, schools, universities, botanical gardens, food banks – at every one of our partner sites!

Many programs and projects that serve communities throughout the state depend solely on volunteer effort. Two of our AmeriCorps VIP members working with HandsOn Central California, Ashley Cole and Jonathan Munoz, coordinated one such project. By mobilizing 425 volunteers for their recent two-day event, Hope for the Holidays, they enabled 834 homeless school children and their families to celebrate the holidays with a hot meal, crafts, flu shots, entertainment (including Santa Claus himself!), and a wrapped gift for every child. Every one of the 425 volunteers made a difference to the hundreds of children and families who attended.

Team Kids, one of our partner sites in Irvine, understands that even children make a positive impact by giving their time. At one of their community outreach events, children gave their time by writing inspirational notes to sick children. Some children even volunteered to help deliver the notes. These young volunteers were engaged, and the sick children were encouraged by the volunteers’ time and care.

At VIP, we also know just how important it is to appreciate our volunteers. We value our volunteers and the impact they make every time they show up to give their time and their skills, and we like to make sure they know it! Many VIPs have made a point to appreciate the volunteers they have recruited in gestures or words of gratitude or in organized events. Alyssa “Zaylia” Pluss, an AmeriCorps VIP member serving at Aids Project East Bay, played a key role in organizing the First Annual Consumer (client) and Volunteer Appreciation Holiday Party: the organization’s first event geared toward appreciating and retaining volunteers. Alyssa remarks that “in the days following the party, I have noticed volunteers who did not previously know each other becoming friends, and many people have mentioned how uplifting the party was. We appreciated volunteers at the event by giving each one a certificate of appreciation and further appreciated two volunteers by presenting them with awards for ‘outstanding volunteer 2010.’ One volunteer, who is also a client, received an award for being an outstanding volunteer - this re-invigorated his participation in the organization while setting an example for others. In all, the event was a great success.”

Do you volunteer? Your time, your skills, and your consideration of others can make a huge impact.

Volunteer today!

Day ON…not OFF!

2011-01-18T10:59:00.000-08:00

Katie O'Looney-McCormick, Supervising Teacher at Wright Carter

On Monday, January 17, 2011, 25 CalSERVES AmeriCorps members participated in a National Service Day called “Day ON…not OFF!”, a day where citizens are encouraged to go out into their community and make a difference on the MLK holiday we celebrate.

We cleaned portions of the Santa Rosa creek near the intersection of Stony Point Road and Hearn Avenue. Members arrived eager and ready to clean up lots of trash! We picked up garbage for a little over 2 hours and there was still more out there! We found tires, shopping carts, coolers, baseballs, soccer balls, tons of candy wrappers and lots and lots of garbage that the winter storms had brought to the creek.

We are very fortunate for our partnership with the City of Santa Rosa and their Creek Stewardship program; a program that cleans up the creeks in Santa Rosa and teaches the importance of water and the environment to many. We’re all geared up and ready to make this a bigger 2nd annual event next year!

Thank you CalSERVES members for coming out on your day off and definitely making a difference!

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Night

2011-01-13T12:58:00.000-08:00

Come and join us for the Annual

CalSERVES Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Night!

Friday, January 14, 2011 6pm - 9pm

Taylor Mountain Elementary School

1210 E. Bellevue Ave. Santa Rosa CA. 95407

This year features guest speaker Ernesto Olivares, Mayor of Santa Rosa, as well as performances by CalSERVES students. For awhile now, AmeriCorps mentors have been working with students to teach them about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the values he taught. In the process, these kids have developed original poetry, plays, songs, and artwork to express the feelings they have about equality and diversity. They will blow you away!

Listen to what they have to say:

CalSERVES is awarded a PE grant to support Healthy Behaviors Learning Centers

2011-01-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

Julie McClure, CalSERVES Program Director

The Napa County Office of Education and partners have received funding from the U.S. Department of Education to run a comprehensive physical activity, health and nutrition program to directly serve 2,000 K–8th grade students in 20 elementary and middle schools.

The program will also expand the CalSERVES’ Healthy Behavior Learning Centers to support the implementation of comprehensive PE, health, and nutrition education in after school across California. This program will provide support to after school programs across the state in their efforts to provide high quality PE and nutrition programming to those most in need.

HBI provides each partner school with

physical and nutrition education material and supplies
funding for innovative physical education and nutrition instruction
training for staff members
equipment to support the curricula
follow up coaching, feedback, and evaluation of progress

The Learning Centers will offer training, site visits, and follow up coaching to all California state-funded after school programs, impacting 300 additional staff each year and exposing them to best practices in physical and nutrition education particularly in the after school setting.

This program will fill the gap created by insufficient PE time during the school day, which in turn will help students make progress towards a healthier lives.

The first Healthy Behaviors training is on 1/20/2011 in Santa Rosa, CA is open to all after school staff in any state funded after school program in California. Registration is now open:
www.sonomacan.org/trainings.php

Roy L. Kingman vs. Humpty Dumpty: Students learn about the legal system

2011-01-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Jenna Rafalow, AmeriCorps Team Leader at Wright Charter School

A few weeks ago, the 7th/8th grade After School Class at Wright Charter performed a prepared mock trial. The trial was the controversial case of Humpty Dumpty's mysterious fall off his wall. The question needed to be answered: was Dumpty pushed off his wall, or if he fall off the wall himself?

The 7th/8th graders discussed and practiced the trial a week before, and they were able to explore the components of a court room. The Tuesday mock trial turned into a full courtroom experience when the 5th/6th grade class came in to be the jury for the trial. They listened to each lawyer’s plea as well as what each witness revealed about what they knew about the case. The jury found the defendant, Roy L. Kingsman, guilty for the crime of pushing Mr. Dumpty off his wall – it was a unanimous decision after an intriguing debate amongst the jury members.

The 7th/8th grade class thoroughly enjoyed the court room experience and were thrilled to be able to perform the trial in full costume attire! Good job to Lauren Tarlton, their mentor for such original and inspiring enrichment!

What's Cookin'? Tuesday - Take a Wok on the Wild Side

2011-01-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

The CalSERVES Nutrition Program presents "What's Cookin? Tuesdays"!
The Harvest of the Month vegetable for January is Broccoli
.

Broccoli Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup, chopped (91g)
Calories 31 Calories from Fat 3
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 30mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Sugars 2g
Protein 3g
Vitamin A 11% Vitamin C 135% Calcium 4% Iron 4%

Reasons to Eat Broccoli
One cup of raw chopped broccoli provides:

More than 130 percent of the Daily Value for Vitamin C, promoting healing and a healthy immune system.
A good source of Vitamin A, a central component of vision health.
Several important phytochemicals, including beta carotene, to boost the enzymes in our bodies that detoxify and prevent the formation of cancer-causing carcinogens.
A source of potassium, folate, iron and soluble fiber, which aid in everything from vision and growth to circulation and digestion

Quick Stir Fry: Take a Wok on the Wild Side
Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup uncooked brown rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 ounces lean ground turkey (93% lean, 7% fat)
4 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
3 cups frozen vegetables (such as
broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, pea pods)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions:

In a heavy saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add rice and cover the pan. Reduce heat to low. Cook 30 to 40 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove pan from heat using a pot holder.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add ground turkey. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Reduce heat to low.
Stir in soy sauce.
Add cooked rice, vegetables, and black pepper. Increase heat to medium-high. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender and mixture is hot.
Spoon even amounts onto 4 plates. Serve.

Students are Learning to Love Reading

2010-12-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

Mia Petersen, AmeriCorps Team Leader at RL Stevens

The time of year when the leaves are changing is just like our students attitudes toward reading. “I don’t want to read! It’s too hard,” was a complaint heard far too often in September. However, after months of practice and with the support and motivation of their mentor, students now ask, “How many books can I read today?”

Although in Sonoma County, the leaves are golden and the sun is shining, newfound enthusiasm for reading is most exciting and beautiful change I have witnessed this autumn for the students at R.L. Stevens.

Tutoring on the Polar Express

2010-12-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

Kara Shelton, AmeriCorps Team Leader at Wright Charter

On December 13th, students in the Wright CalSERVES' tutoring program experienced a magical ride to the North Pole on the Polar Express. This event took place as part of our annual Winter Theme Day, where we celebrate the season while practicing reading and writing skills. With a little rearranging of the desks and chairs, and some help from our imaginations, Room 18 was transformed into a train car on the beloved Polar Express. The students, "passengers," received train tickets that were punched by a "conductor," and they enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate and cookies while they listened to a mentor read Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express.

After the train ride, students had a few different activities from which to choose, including a game of sounding out and spelling words about winter as well as a writing activity on snowflakes that are now hanging on our reading tree. However, the most exciting activity of the afternoon was surely sight word ice fishing. Students held fishing poles (yarn with paperclips attached to yardsticks) to "fish" for sight word cards that mentors attached from behind a table. Students tried to catch as many as they could by reading each word. If they missed one, they had to throw the fish back into the sea and try again. Students and mentors had fun with this game, especially when students caught a "big fish" or two fish at one time!

Overall, it was an enjoyable experience for everyone who participated - a nice break from the ordinary for mentors and students alike.

Every Roseland Student is a STAR!

2010-12-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

Charlie Ruda, AmeriCorps Team Leader at Roseland Elementary School

It’s Wednesday at Roseland. The students are sitting quietly behind the library. There is an anticipatory buzz surrounding the children as the mentor concludes her announcements “….this student has shown tremendous improvement and is responsible when he does his homework. He is respectful to other students and always has a huge smile on his face….this months 3rd grade STAR is…..”

The crowd goes wild! The student makes his way to the podium. Beaming, yet humbled, the student accepts his award. He now knows his hard work has not gone unnoticed, and is proud of his effort to achieve and succeed. This student truly is a STAR.

Starting March 2010, Roseland CalSERVES afterschool has implemented the STAR award. STAR is an acronym standing for Successful, Thoughtful, and Responsible. STAR students are chosen based on their effort to achieve success and their ability to display respect towards other students. Each week, during our Wednesday assembly, a mentor from each grade comes before the students to announce the weekly STAR award winner. This simple positive reinforcement technique has proven to be extremely successful.

“When I got a STAR award, it made me feel happy because I know Ms. Shura saw me working hard,” stated Nicholas Flores Luna, a 3rd grader at Roseland. “I want to keep working hard on homework.”

Every student has the ability to be a STAR. At Roseland, we recognize this, and embrace our students for being the successful, thoughtful, responsible people they are.

Volunteers Get Involved!

2010-12-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

Melissa Moore, CalSERVES Supervising Teacher at RL Stevens

The success of most nonprofit organizations depend in large part on volunteer support from the community. The level of volunteer involvement is a great indicator of how much the community buys into the goals of the organization. Here are some of the voices of volunteers at R.L. Stevens Elementary.

“The CalSERVES program is a great way to get involved and do something for the community. Volunteers get to help out in the after school program that gives hands on experience working with elementary school level students. From helping with math and reading to drawing flowers and making cards, the day always brings something different that the both student and volunteer can benefit from.” ~ Corinne

“Volunteers got me where I am today. It’s my responsibility to help the next generation.” ~Danielle

“I’m excited to get to work with energetic individuals!” ~ Travis

“This is a great opportunity to get the experience I need to change a child’s life.” ~Mallory

New On-line Trainings for Inclusion

2010-12-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

Emily Mann, CalSERVES Program Coordinator

This year, CalSERVES' After School Inclusion Project launched it's new on-line training series. This exciting use of technology allows after school staff from all across the state to attend trainings - something that was impossible before.

The trainings focus on making connections with people in a student's life to help them be successful in After School - parents, teachers, administrators, and specialists. By creating a team of people to help the student and the After School Staff, kids with special needs - whether physical, or behavioral, or developmental - can integrate and participate in all the fabulous activities programs offer.

To learn more about the trainings being offered, and to register, please visit:

http://www.californiaafterschool.org/Inclusion_webinar.html

VIP Stateside Service

2010-12-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

Sara Sitch, CalSERVES AmeriCorps VIP Program Manager

A short two and a half months into their year of service, Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP) Fellows across the state have already dived into their year-long volunteer recruitment project by holding large-scale service projects in the communties they serve.

During the month of October, VIP Fellows from all over the state participated in Make a Difference Day: a service day that utilizes community involvement to meet targeted community needs. These projects were all united in their goal of mobilizing community volunteers.

Owen Martin, one of the VIP Fellows at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, put together a very successful Make a Difference Day, with over 400 volunteers who helped 28 different agencies across the county. Independentsector.org estimates a volunteer hour in California is worth $22.79. Based on this figure, the time served volunteering that day was worth approximately $36,000. Owen says: “On October 23, individuals and groups from around San Luis Obispo County came together in the spirit of community and volunteerism to lend a hand to local nonprofit agencies. Their help and support made this year one of the most successful Make a Difference Days in its twelve-year history in San Luis Obispo County.”

In addition to Make a Difference Day, many VIP sites have gotten the ball rolling and held additional large service projects. For example, this past September Volunteer Center of the East Bay worked with Civicorps Schools, one of its partner organizations, to host the Creek to Bay Day event to clean up an Oakland park. Ursula Machado, the VIP Fellow at Civicorps, coordinated the event with City of Oakland staff and recruited an incredible 500% more volunteers for this year’s event compared with last year! All of the Volunteer Center of East Bay’s VIP Fellows also showed up to rally around Ursula and help make the park beautiful.

AmeriCorps Alumni are Volunteering!

2010-11-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

We’ve been very lucky this year to have past CalSERVES Alumni come back and visit with the mentors and kids this year. The kids LOVE seeing past mentors, especially when they come to help out in a classroom, lead a club, help with data collection, etc.

To alums Emily Nagel, Patrick McGrath, Maria Magana, Brent Watters, Emily Swartzentruber, and Sam Gutierrez who have volunteered,THANK YOU!!!

We were also extremely lucky to have 18 members of the Alpha Psi Fraternity from Sonoma State University help out during our Halloween festivities. Members helped carve pumpkins, clean up lots, paint pumpkins, help with the Middle School social, lead tag games with children outside and much more!

What's Cookin'? Tuesday - Marinated Three-Bean Salad

2010-11-16T15:04:00.000-08:00

The CalSERVES Nutrition Program presents "What's Cookin? Tuesdays"!
The Harvest of the Month vegetable for November is Green Beans.

How Do Green Beans Grow?
Green beans are sensitive to cold temperatures and frost, and so they are planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Seeds of all varieties are generally planted one inch deep. Bush bean seeds should be planted two inches apart in rows. Growers only water seeds just after planting or plant them right before a heavy rain, as seeds of most varieties tend to crack and do not germinate properly if the soil’s moisture content is too high.

Once planted, the ovary develops into the pod, which may be six inches or more in length. The pod contains the seeds, which may be white, brown, red, blue or black. Each seed consists of a coat that contains two cotyledons (where food is stored); a hypocotyl (the lower portion of which develops into the root); and an epicotyl (the young stem from which the plumule or primary leaf bud develops).

Beans have shallow and fairly weak root systems, so growers practice frequent, shallow cultivation and hoeing to keep small weeds and grasses under control. Deep cultivation can injure the plant roots and delay harvests or reduce harvest yields.

Harvesting takes place when the pods are firm, crisp and fully elongated, but before the seed within the pod has developed completely. Beans are generally picked in the afternoon or after the morning dew and when the plants are thoroughly dry, as the moisture can spread bean bacterial blight, a disease that seriously damages plants.

The bean plant continues to form new flowers and produce more beans if pods are continually removed before the seeds mature. Growers also assure a continuous supply of snap beans by planting every two to four weeks until early August.

For more information, visit:
http://rics.ucdavis.edu/postharvest2/Produce/ProduceFacts/Veg/snapbeans.shtml

Marinated Three-Bean Salad
Serving Size: 1-1/3 cup
Yield: 4 servings
Time: 70 minutes

Ingredients:
1 (8.5 ounce) can lima beans
1 (8 ounce) can cut green beans
1 (8 ounce) can red kidney beans
1 medium onion, thinly sliced and seperated into two rings
1/2 cup chopped sweet green bell pepper
1 (8 ounce) bottle fat-free Italian salad dressing

Instructions:

Wash hands and cooking area.
Drain the canned beans
Peel and slice the onion and separate into rings
In a large bowl, combine the lima beans, green beans, kidney beans, onion rings, and green bell pepper.
Pour the Italian dressing over the vegetables and toss lightly.
Cover the bowl and marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour. The salad can be left in the refrigerator over night.
Drain before serving.

Cost:
Per Recipe: $ 3.16
Per Serving: $ 0.79
calories 170, fat 0g, sodium 690mg, sugar 10g, protein 7g

Protecting the City Creeks

2010-11-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

Katie O'Looney, Supervising Teacher at Wright Charter School

On Monday, October 4th, the Full Time mentors and Leadership Team from Wright Charter School worked alongside with Betsy from the City of Santa Rosa to clean-up a creek off of Sonoma Avenue. We cleaned up lots of broken glass, old cigarettes, trash and pulled clothes and furniture from the creek.

After we cleaned a long stretch of the creek, we cut back invasive ivy from numerous trees along a walking trail. Our leader Betsy said that the Ivy plant usually takes over the tree and cuts off sunlight, nutrients and oxygen from the trees, causing them to eventually die.

We had numerous members who also discovered the wonderful poison oak plant and left them with a wonderful itchy, scratchy rash!

Overall, it was a wonderful day spent beautifying Santa Rosa as well as a great team bonding experience. For our job well done, we received awesome stickers saying we’re “CREEK PROTECTORS!”.

What's Cookin'? Tuesday - Sensational Six-Layer Dinner

2010-11-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

The CalSERVES Nutrition Program presents "What's Cookin'? Tuesdays"! This month, it's all about Green Beans.

Veggie Facts

Green beans are nitrogen fixers, which means they have the ability to draw nitrogen from the air and return it to the soil. Because of this, farmers often plant beans and legumes in their crop rotations to replenish the soil.
Fresh beans are classified into two basic categories: edible pod beans and shell beans. Green beans are the most popular edible pod bean, while lima beans are the most common shell bean sold in the United States.
Compared to dry or shell beans, green beans provide less starch and protein, and more Vitamin A, Vitamin C and calcium.

Eat Your Colors

Fruits and vegetables come in a rainbow of colors. Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day — red, yellow/orange, white, green and blue/purple. Although their pods may be different colors (green, gold, purple, red or streaked), green beans are part of the green color group.
Green fruits and vegetables help maintain vision health and strong bones and teeth. They may also lower the risk of some cancers. Examples of green bean varieties include the Yardlong, Hyacinth, Blue Lake (green pod), Haricot Verts (baby French green beans), Golden Wax (golden pod), Purple King (purple pod), Dragon’s Tongue (streaked pod) and Red Swan (red pod).

For more information, visit:
www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov and www.harvestofthemonth.com

Sensational Six-Layer Dinner
Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:
2 - 3 medium sliced potatoes
2 cups sliced carrots
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup sliced onion
1 pound browned and drained ground beef
1 1/2 cups green beans
1 can tomato-soup

Instructions:
1. Lightly oil or spray baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Layer ingredients in order given. Cover.
3. Bake at 350 degree for 45 minutes or until tender and thoroughly heated.
4. Uncover and bake 15 more minutes.
Note: For variation, use peas or corn instead of green beans. Use your favorite cream soup instead of tomato soup.

Cost:
Per Recipe: $ 5.56
Per Serving: $ 0.93
calories 230, fat 6g, sodium 580mg, sugar 9g, protein 25g

The "Write" Literacy Night at Wright

2010-11-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

Katie O'Looney, Supervisng Teacher at Wright Charter School

Lights are on at Wright Charter!

On Wednesday, October 20th, Wright Charter School and CalSERVES hosted an annual event with over 90+ students and family members. Spanish BINGO, literacy based board games, signing up for a library cards, delicious snacks and a fun raffle where over 15 prizes were given away were some of the events that took place. Like every other year, all children were able to take a free book home with them to read. Thank you Ellen Desmond for all of your hard work with putting together another successful Literacy Night.

Families receive Literacy resources

Games and Activities for kids

Everyone gets some healthy food

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, and MORE Pumpkins!

2010-11-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

Frances Hardie, CalSERVES AmeriCorps VIP Leader

Shone Farm, part of the Junior College’s Agriculture Program, donated 120

absolutely enormous pumpkins- they weighed more than some of our first graders!

Last month was October, which means just one thing in the world of the CalSERVES VIP Fellow: Pumpkins! With almost 1,000 kids in CalSERVES afterschool programs, we had a whole lot of pumpkins to find. Local businesses and farmers were extremely supportive and offered us more pumpkins than we could even carve!

The donations started slowly, with farmers not sure what their crops would be like or how many pumpkins they could offer. However, it turned out to be a bumper crop; combined with a rainy final week of the month and shoppers staying inside, there were tons of pumpkins left over all around Sonoma County. We suddenly had to get to all of the farms, organize trucks for pickups, drive everywhere from Petaluma to Windsor to Forestville, and then pass out pumpkins and carving supplies.

Here, VIP Fellows Tyler Rockey and Gabby O’Neill

collect pumpkins from Oluf’s Ranches amidst much rain and mud.

All of the VIPs worked very hard bringing the pumpkins to our eight schools, and the carving days went off without a hitch. I got out to see Meadow View and Bellevue, and the kids were having a wonderful time. My favorite moment was when a girl at Meadow View looked into the Cool School room and saw the huge pile of pumpkins sitting on the floor. Her reaction: “WHAT?!?!”

The last week of October was the most insane and hectic of my time at CalSERVES so far, but it was all worth it to see the kids so excited. I’m just glad it’s November now!

Fun with the Librarian!

2010-11-04T16:57:00.000-07:00

Amy Holter, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow at RL Stevens Elementary

Librarian.

For children, the word often conjures an image of someone who hushes you and forces you to read boring books. On November 3rd, however, the first and second graders of R.L. Stevens’ Cool School program had a vastly different experience. As part of our mission to make reading the exciting thing we know it can be, we invited a librarian from Sonoma County Library to come to our after school program. She arrived with giant books, an impressive repertoire of children’s songs and a strong subliminal message – reading is a REALLY good time.

As she read stories to an entranced crowd sitting in a half-moon on the floor around her, the librarian took the students from a farm with talking animals to books written in Spanish to books written entirely in song.

The interactive presentation produced some hilarious moments. While reading about safari animals, she asked what noises all the animals made. When asked what a zebra said, literacy specialists will be happy to know that both classes let out an enthusiastic, “Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!”

The children received book marks, applications for a library card, contact information for the libraries in the area, suggested reading lists for their grade and “Read” tattoos. Clearly, reading does not have to be silent and boring. Reading can mean exciting and sometimes noisy participation as a community. Most importantly, reading can mean a really good time.

What's Cookin'? Tuesday - Green Bean and Mushroom Medley

2010-11-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

CalSERVES Nutrition Program Presents "What's Cookin? Tuesdays!"

Green Bean Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup beans, snap (110g)
Calories 34 Calories from Fat 1
% Daily Value
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Trans Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Sugars 2g
Protein 2g
Vitamin A 15% Vitamin C 30% Calcium 4% Iron 6%

Reasons to Eat Green Beans
One cup of raw snap green beans provides:

Thirty percent of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for Vitamin C — an excellent source.
A good source (15% DV) for fiber and Vitamin A.
Many essential vitamins including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin K.

Green Bean and Mushroom Medley
Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
2 carrots cut into thick strips
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash lemon pepper seasoning
1/2 Tablespoon garlic salt
1/4 cup toasted almonds, slivered

Instructions:

Place green beans and carrots in 1 inch of boiling water. Cover, and cook until tender but still firm. Drain.
Add oil to heated skillet. Sauté onions and mushrooms until almost tender. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 3 minutes. Stir in green beans, carrots, Lemon pepper, and garlic salt. Cover, and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat.

Cost:
Per Recipe: $ 7.08
Per Serving: $ 0.89
calories 100, fat 6g, Sodium 70mg, sugar 3g, protein 4g

What's Cookin'? Tuesday - Vegetarian Chili

2010-10-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

CalSERVES Nutrition Program presents What's Cookin? Tuesday!

What is Manganese?

Manganese is an essential mineral involved in the formation of bone.
It also plays a role in specific reactions related to amino acid, cholesterol, and carbohydrate metabolism.
Manganese is a micronutrient or trace element, meaning this element is present in the body in small amounts.
Interactions among minerals may occur as a result of diet. These interactions can be helpful or competitive. For example, high levels of manganese can affect iron metabolism.
Manganese is essential for normal skeletal and connective tissue development.
It is involved in the syntheses of fatty acids and cholesterol and the excretion of nitrogen from our bodies.
Dietary sources include: nuts, whole grains, legumes, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits, fresh fruits, and non-leafy vegetables.

For more information, visit: Dietary Reference Intakes, Institute of Medicine, 2006.
http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/Eat_Your_Way_to_Better_Health.pdf

Vegetarian Chili
Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
2 large onions - cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 green bell pepper - cut into 1/4 inch pieces
3 garlic cloves
2 fresh, diced jalapeno chilis
2 Tablespoons vegetable-oil
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 can (28 ounce) whole tomatoes - cut into 1/4 inch pieces (or 8 medium fresh tomatoes)
2 medium zucchini - cut into 1/4 inch pieces
2 medium summer squash - cut in to 1/4 inch pieces
1 can (16 ounce) ounces rinsed kidney beans
1 cup chopped, fresh cilantro (or coriander)
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a large pot saute onions, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeno in oil over medium high heat for about 5 minutes - stirring often.
Add chili powder, cumin, half of the chopped cilantro, salt and pepper, and continue cooking for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and bring mixture to a simmer.
Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add beans, and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve the mixture hot. Put remaining cilantro on top.

Cost:
Per Recipe: $ 6.24
Per Serving: $ 1.56

Students Enraptured by Music

2010-10-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

Last week at Taylor Mountain, CalSERVES’ very own Kara Shelton (Literacy Tutoring Team Leader from Wright) stopped by to share her musical expertise with our 5th and 6th grade After School classes. As Kara performed her Irish fiddle and classical Bach pieces on her violin, the students’ excitement and pleasure brought about by this new musical experience became apparent on their faces; the usually fidgety boys and girls, enraptured by the music Kara was creating, sat completely still and focused.

For the mentor team, it was moving to just sit and watch the students’ joy at hearing the beautiful sounds of the violin. At the close of each piece everybody burst into applause and there was a slew of great questions about the music and the violin in general.

Thank you Kara and Wright for giving us your time and this wonderful experience!!

What's Cookin? Tuesday - Squash Soup

2010-10-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

The CalSERVES Nutrition Program presents Cooking Tuesdays! Today, Butternut Squash.

Just the Facts

Referred to as a vegetable in cooking, squash are actually fruits of vines of the Cucurbita genus.
Native Americans believed squash seeds increased fertility and called squash “the apple of God.”
In Native American, the word “squash” means “eaten raw” but winter squash are almost never eaten raw.
Besides the fruit, other edible parts of squash plants include the seeds (eaten whole, toasted, ground into paste or pressed for oil); shoots, leaves and tendrils (eaten as greens); and blossoms (used for cooking and decoration).

Sources:
www.uga.edu/vegetable/squash.html
www.vegparadise.com

Home Grown Facts

California leads the nation in total squash production (20%), followed by Florida (18%), Michigan (17%) and Georgia (15%).
California ranks third behind Michigan and Oregon in production of squash for processing (15% of total squash acreage).
In 2002, squash were grown on 4,340 acres in California at a value of $18.4 million. Santa Barbara County leads the state in squash production ($4.9 million in revenue), followed by Fresno County ($4.3 million).
Squash production takes place mostly in central San Joaquin Valley, with summer squash accounting for more acreage than winter squash.

Squash Soup
Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 medium chopped onions
2 medium chopped carrots
2 minced garlic cloves
1 cup canned tomato puree
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth, low-sodium
4 cups winter squash, cooked
1 1/2 Tablespoon dried oregano
1 1/2 Tablespoon dried basil

Instructions:

In a large saucepan, warm oil over medium heat.
Stir in onions, carrot and garlic.
Cook for about 5 minutes, covered.
Stir in the tomato puree, chicken broth, cooked squash, and herbs.
Bring soup to a simmer and cook, covered, for 30 minutes.

Cost:
Per Recipe: $ 6.15
Per Serving: $ 1.02
calories 150, fat 3g, Sodium 150mg, sugar 18g, protein 7g

Beginning a New Adventure

2010-10-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

As they began their year of service in AmeriCorps, three Full-Time mentors serving at Wright Charter School reflect on the experience of joining CalSERVES, moving to California, and making a difference.

Melissa Boni

After what seemed like a much anticipated wait and a 14 hour drive to Santa Rosa, CA, I have arrived at my school site and felt the beginnings of settling in. Being new to Wright Charter School, I’ve been learning to appreciate many of the things here. There is a budding garden program that has lots of native flowers and veggies, with exciting plans of expansion and variety. I love the idea of eating local, especially that it allows kids to learn and be healthy through it.

As far as the students, I’m still in the beginning stages of getting to know them, but right now, I feel like third might be the grade for me. I’m really looking forward to having my own classroom in which to welcome my students. I really want to create a Tribes community with them.

I can’t wait to explore Santa Rosa and beyond. I feel like I have an endless list of places I want to go, things I want to do, and events and festivals I want to attend. There’s so much excitement and possibility waiting out there, I’m impatient to get going as explore. I do wish at times I could share all of these new experiences with my family and friends still in Washington, but I know this unfamiliar independence of a new state and people is important.

Patrick Link

Everything seems right at the moment. When I got the call me to inform me of my acceptance into CalSERVES, I was ecstatic. I had been interviewing for many community service programs, and it was so nice to get some good news! Later that day, on the radio, I heard “Goin’ to California” by Led Zepplin, and I took that as a sign. I knew that I needed a dramatic shift in my life; I needed to step out of my comfortable setting in Virginia and try something new. CalSERVES could provide me with that opportunity.

I was ready to serve when I arrived in Santa Rosa and got settled in my new apartment. The night before our first training, I was restless and couldn’t get to sleep. I was anxious to meet all the new people and excited to learn more about the program. But I knew sleep was the only obstacle left between me and my new adventure. So I slept to the sound of a gentle California breeze rustling through my new surroundings.

Jamie Hennick

My travel to Santa Rosa was not fast. Or efficient. It was not a simple bus ride or even a short flight. It was an extravagant cross-country road trip with my mother. The entire time, I couldn’t help but think about my decision to take this opportunity to serve and move my life from to a new coast. I couldn’t help but wonder if these 3,017 miles on US I-80 were going to be worth it. Was I doing this simply because I didn’t want to move back home with my parents? Well, partially. But I also hand an ideal vision in my head, a vision that I would love what I do and make a difference in the lives of these children.

Upon arriving in California, I can tell this dream is in my reach and that the miles of cornfields, deserts, mountains, and prairies would be well worth my time and apprehension. After training for a week, I know there’s lots I need to reach for to make this experience a great one. But I know I’m surrounded by like-minded and hearted people who will help me grow, learn, and make a difference this school year.

What's Cookin? Tuesday - Spicy Baked Squash

2010-10-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

The CalSERVES Nutrition Program presents Cooking Tuesdays! Today, Winter Squash.

Reasons to Eat Winter Squash

One serving of cooked winter squash provides*:

An excellent source of Vitamin A, most in the form of beta carotene. Vitamin A is a central component for healthy vision and the antioxidant beta carotene helps fight off cancer-causing free radicals.
An excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of potassium.
Six grams of dietary fiber, an excellent source for this complex carbohydrate.

*Nutrient levels are an average for winter squash varieties. Individual varieties may have more or less of certain vitamins and minerals. Do the Exploring California Winter Squash activity for comparative analysis.

Spicy Baked Squash

Serving Size: 1/4 of an acorn squash

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

vegetable cooking spray

1 acorn squash

dash of salt

2 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ginger

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Coat the baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray.
Wash the squash. Cut it in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds. Cut the squash into 1/2 inch slices.
Place the squash on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
Melt the butter on low heat in a small saucepan.
Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to the saucepan.
Spread the butter mix on the squash.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tender.

Cost:

Per Recipe: $ 1.42

Per Serving: $ 0.35

Calories 130, fat 6g, Sodium 80mg, sugar 12g, protein 1g

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 cup, cooked, cubes (205g)

Calories 76 Calories from Fat 6

% Daily Value

Total Fat 1g 1%

Saturated Fat 0g 1%

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 2mg 0%

Total Carbohydrate 18g 6%

Dietary Fiber 6g 23%

Sugars 7g

Protein 2g

Vitamin A 214% Vitamin C 33% Calcium 5% Iron 5%

To the 2010-2011 AmeriCorps Members

2010-09-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

A Letter from Julie McClure, CalSERVES Program Director

2010-2011 AmeriCorps Members,

As CalSERVES programs begin their new year, I wanted to share with you some reflections from those impacted most by our program and my wishes for your year.

I think B has benefited from having a tutor and from being in After School. She lost her mother this year and she really connected with her tutor and was able to open up with her and talk. She’s so shy in the classroom. She’s been through so much. I’m glad she had that all-important one-on-one time with her mentor. I’m grateful to her mentor for taking her under her wing. - Teacher

Remember that every day you can make THE difference in someone’s life.

During my year of service I have come across challenges, and with these challenges have come rewards. The rewards are simple smiles on the faces of my students, and the excitement they share with me when they understand what we’ve practiced for weeks. I have better honed my skills and my patience…and have also reaffirmed my love for helping kids. – CalSERVES AmeriCorps Mentor

I realized this month that Social Services are what I want to do in life, and it took AmeriCorps for me to recognize my talents and passion for helping others. I am so thankful to have come so far and to have gained so much experience being in AmeriCorps. I value this program for a multitude of reasons. –VIP AmeriCorps Mentor

Take advantage of the growth and development opportunities available to you.

I really like tutoring because it is fun and we do the big three: learning, reading, and writing. I have had so many achievements. – CalSERVES Student

Celebrate all your successes!

I am proud of the work you are doing and of the accomplishments I am sure you will have throughout your year of service.

Julie McClure, Program Director

AmeriCorps Members are Getting Things Done!

2010-09-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

Emily Mann, CalSERVES Program Coordinator

On the hottest day of the Summer, 40 AmeriCorps members got together to learn about their community and make a difference. Working with the City of Santa Rosa, they walked down to Colgan Creek (near Kawana Elementary School) and cleaned the area.

With the sun beating down on them, and no Air Conditioning in sight, they worked with amazing enthusiasm and energy. This will be a fantastic year as this crew Gets Things Done for America! Way to go, CalSERVES!

What's Cookin? Tuesday: Vegetable Kabobs and Dip

2010-09-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

Reasons to Eat Zucchini

A cup of sliced zucchini is:

A good source of vitamin C.
A source of manganese, potassium, and vitamin B6.

Champion sources of vitamin C:

Grapes
Green beans
Melons
Peppers
Swiss chard
Tomatoes

Vegetable Kabobs and Dip

Ingredients:

Makes 32 tastes at 1 stick each

8 raw zucchini, sliced

8 raw yellow squash, sliced

4 tomatoes, cut into eighths

32 mushrooms, whole

2 cups lowfat vegetable dip

16 wooden kabob sticks, halved

Serving tray and napkins

Place zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and mushrooms on sticks, alternating colors. Arrange on a tray and drizzle with vegetable dip. Serve with napkins.

CalSERVES Full Time AmeriCorps members begin!

2010-09-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

On August 23rd, 28 full time AmeriCorps members joined us from all over the country for a Welcome / AmeriCorps 101 Training at the Finley Center in Santa Rosa. Throughout the 6 hour training, members learned about the history of service in our nation, specifically AmeriCorps and CalSERVES. We discussed the difference between service and a job and talked about how important it is to serve our communities. They are a wonderful group with thoughtful comments, positive attitudes and we're looking forward to seeing them grow into leaders this upcoming year!

Welcome CalSERVES AmeriCorps Members!!

What's Cookin? Tuesday: Crunchy Chicken Salad

2010-08-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

What’s in a Name?

Pronunciation: grˉap Spanish name: uva

Grapes are the fruit of the vine in the family Vitaceae and of which there are many different species. The word grape was derived from the Old French term grap, meaning bunch or cluster, and is also the term for a long hook used to harvest these clustered fruits. Vitis labrusca is the most common species, known mainly as table grapes, and can be found in North America. In addition to being used for food products and juice, this species is also used in the production of wine. Other species that are used for winemaking include the wild V. riparia, V. rotundifolia, V. aestivalis (or Norton grape) and V. vinifera, the European winemaking grapes. V. vinifera was also the first Old World species to be planted in California in the late 18th century.

For more information, visit:

www.uga.edu/fruit/grape.html

Fruity Facts

Grapes are actually berries.
There is an average of 100 grapes in a bunch.
In the United States today, the annual per capita consumption of grapes is about eight pounds, up from 2.5 pounds in 1970.
Grapes are about 80 percent water.
Concord grapes are one of only three fruits native to North America.

Crunchy Chicken Salad

Serving Size: 3/4 cup Yield: 5 servings

Ingredients:

2 cups chunked cooked chicken

1/2 cup celery

1/4 cup green pepper

1/4 onion

1/2 cucumber

1/2 cup grapes

1 small diced apple (leave the peel on)

1/4 cup yogurt, plain

Instructions:

Use leftover cooked chicken, or cook enough chicken to make 2 cups of chicken pieces.
Chop the celery into small pieces.
Chop the green pepper into small pieces.
Peel and chop 1/4 of an onion.
Peel and chop half of a cucumber.
Chop the apple into pieces. It’s okay to leave the peel on the apple.
Cut the grapes in half.
Put all the ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together.

Notes: Serve on lettuce, crackers, or bread.

Cost:

Per Recipe: $ 3.46

Per Serving: $ 0.69

Calories 140, fat 4.5g, sodium 65mg, sugar 7g, protein 17g

What's Cookin? Tuesday - Great Grape Smoothie

2010-08-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

Kristen Mowers, CalSERVES Nutrition Coordinator

Reasons to Eat Grapes

One cup of seedless grapes contains:

Antioxidants called flavonoids and phenols that can help prevent heart disease and some cancers.
Almost 30 percent of the recommended Daily Value for Vitamin C and also an excellent source of Vitamin K.
Fiber, iron, calcium and Vitamin A.
About three-fourths cup water, helping to keep the body hydrated.

Great Grape Smoothie

Makes 32 tastes at ¼ cup each

Ingredients:

4 cups seedless grapes

2 cups each frozen cherries and strawberries

2 cups each orange and banana slices

Blender

Paper cups

Combine all ingredients in blender container (divide recipe in half to fit). Blend until mixture is smooth. Pour into cups. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Tip: For a thicker consistency, freeze grapes before blending ingredients. To freeze grapes, rinse, dry, and spread grapes in a single layer on a cake pan or pie pan. Cover and freeze 11/2 to 2 hours until completely frozen.

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories 187, Carbohydrate 48 g, Dietary Fiber 5 g, Protein 2 g, Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 4 mg