Happy Holidays!

'Twas the Night Before... CalSERVES Style
Kathleen Chosa, CalSERVES Staff

'Twas the week before holiday and at our school sites
AmeriCorps members were all busy,
Finishing their work for the night.

Literacy assessments were due,
So was after school attendance.
Tracking fifteen hundred students daily
Is a feat, quite stupendous.

In the very beginning
Project SCHOLARS tutoring was our game,
Then the next year came COOL After School
To add to our fame.

We started out simple,
Tim and Deb - the office crew,
With Julie as Director
And six AmeriCorps VISTAS,
Brand new.

We made a commitment
To teach struggling children to read;
With the motto "Making a Difference",
We were fulfilling a community need.

With one-on-one tutoring
or in a small group with KidzMath,
We help students build TRIBES
And follow an educational path.

There's Homework! And Reading!
Just so much to do!
Yea for COOL Sports! And Friday Clubs!
I love them - don't you?

There's Nutrition and Science,
Sometimes even Art;
Now don't forget Family Lit,
And that's just a start!

We've partnered with school districts,
Written grants to expand and keep going;
Ten years we've succeeded
And we hope to keep growing.

Mendocino and Napa
Regional Projects are great.
Now we're a Demonstration Program,
One of just nine in the state!

We host conferences and trainings,
Sit on a panel or two.
We're not stopping there,
There's still plenty to do.

Promise Fellows and Team Leaders,
Part of our two hundred super stars;
A staff of twenty-two to assist them,
They're sure to go far.

Then there's our AmeriCorps mentors,
Too many to name:
They're our real heroes,
Our claim to fame.

They come from all over our nation
With one goal in sight -
To give all that they have
To make one child's world bright.

In a world full of "me" they think mainly of others,
Serving our community well,
Treating all men as brothers.

They've done it with pride
And for very little pay.
They're doing it right,
The AmeriCorps way.

As a Team we look forward
To the New Year with delight.
Happy Holidays from CalSERVES
And to all a Good Night!

The Bulldog Challenge

Katie Stone, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at Bellevue Elementary

One of my favorite components of our after school program at Bellevue is our weekly Bulldog Challenge. Every Wednesday, our students are in after school for two extra hours. With part of this extra time, we have a program-wide physical challenge we call the Bulldog Challenge. Every class is divided into two teams, blue and white (our school colors). During recess, mentors help our students put either blue or white face paint on. When recess ends, we divide all of our students, 1st through 6th, into the two teams and announce the game(s) we then play for 45 minutes. We have had track and field center, crab soccer, basketball drills, and even Pumpkin Olympics after Halloween. 6th graders cheer on 1st graders. Students look forward to physical activity. Mentors get pumped up. The Bulldog Challenge brings everyone in after school closer together.

A Mentor Reminisces

Emily Nagel, AmeriCorps Mentor at Wright Elementary

Mmm... fall time, like I know it, has finally arrived to my new home of Santa Rosa. I once again feel like I am back in the Midwest with crisp, cool air, vibrant trees, and hot apple cider. I was almost certain that this comforting feeling of fall would be forever absent during my time away from home. And although my favorite season has slowly approached us I have been reminded of what I do on a daily basis that can provide more comforts than those of fall time:

First grader Joe, whom I pick up first thing in the morning, is always eager to sport his perfectly gelled hair, giggling as he calls me Ms. Bagel.

Selomie's curiosity exhibits her eagerness to learn and continues to shine in all of her accomplishments.

For Bianca, creating a rendition of the material from High School Musical is a guarantee that she will earn her sticker for the day.

Grayson graciously throws me high fives and excitedly shares his childhood adventures of exploring the city "Francisco" with me.

Fredy, whom I have nicknamed the "Fredster", initiates conversations about animals, the universe and how the human race could potentially survive without the sun.

And how could I forget Shawn. A student in my afterschool class and a guarantee to brighten my day, he repeatedly tells me about his aspirations of becoming a professional NASCAR driver and his future plans of traveling to Florida to see Jimmy Johnson win the title for another year.

I have realized that I am teaching more than phonetics and sight words, I am being a role model and a mentor. Perhaps my students might not always remember the material but they can count on Ms. Nagel to provide encouragement and instill confidence that will ideally stay with them for their lifetime.

Making A Difference at Wright Elementary

Katie O'Looney, Supervising Teacher at Wright Elementary

Wright students Jesus Rosas and Jazmin Gomez hold a sign they made for Make a Difference Day.

On October 24th, the Wright CalSERVES mentors and 100 eager after school students participated in Make A Difference Day, a national day of service. This year at Wright our students participated in a trash clean-up of the entire school, weeded areas by teachers classrooms, planted over 100 bulbs in planter boxes that will come up in the spring, swept and mopped the stage area, cleaned out lunch bins for teachers, wrote thank you letters to all of the teachers at Wright, wrote letters to elderly citizens and made 2 signs to help people get to Wright School.

Mentor Jay Harris and student Jesus Rosas put up their sign

Last year, our 5th and 6th grade students who were in our Service Club painted the "Wright School -->" sign and finally this year after getting approval, we were able to put up the sign on the corner of Price Avenue and S. Wright road. After our day of service, the teachers and staff of Wright school were very appreciative. Our school secretary told me that she "put up the old sign 20 years ago and was waiting for the day someone would replace it. It looks wonderful". We really did make a difference!

Kawana Knows How To Party

by Cyndie Granato, Team Leader at Kawana Elementary

5th graders with pumpkins they carved

Halloween festivities were in full swing at Kawana's CalSERVES programs last week! Promise Fellow Jenny Gibson worked nonstop to make sure that this Halloween would be one that Kawana kids wouldn’t soon forget. CalSERVES entire room was turned into a haunted house, and mentors got into the act by dressing in costume for the day of Halloween. Even in the rain, kids and mentors all had a blast this Halloween!

Some of the costumed Kawana mentors

Additionally, earlier in the week, students painted/carved pumpkins that had been donated from generous farmers and stores across Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties.

3rd graders with their mentor, Alli Campfield, show off their pumpkins

1st grade Daniel paints his pumpkin

Better than Coffee in the Morning

Jessica Pardue, AmeriCorps Mentor at Wright Elementary

Waking up at 7am has always been difficult for me. I arrive at Wright Elementary at 8am every morning to start a busy day of full-time mentoring. Not being a morning person, I may be guilty of being just a bit cranky and lethargic. Pulling out my tutoring box and setting up today’s Sound Partner’s lesson seems to take ten years. If only it would be brighter outside when I get up…if only it wasn’t so cold…grumble grumble grumble. At 8:20am, I go outside with the other three full time mentors to collect our 1st grade tutees. All the first grade classes line up together to be greeted by their teachers and checked in for the day. Sometimes they sing a “good morning” song that starts with “cloudy good morning” or “sunny good morning” depending on the weather.

On one particular morning, I came to pick up Eduardo. As usual, he was hiding behind one of his friends and giggling like mad. I told him it was time to go, and he came trotting out of line. I happened to be wearing eye-makeup that day, (not common for me) and Eduardo looked up at me and asked “Why are your eyeballs so crazy Ms. P?”. Naturally this was a very honest and serious question, but it cracked me up. I explained that I just felt like wearing makeup today and he took a minute to think about it. I asked him if he liked it, and he scrunched up his face and shook his head. “It looks too crazy” he replied. I accepted his opinion and walked to tutoring with a giant grin on my face. Thanks Eduardo, for being so much better than coffee in the morning.

KAWANA PRESENTS... Christian!

Cyndie Granato, Team Leader at Kawana Elementary

Christian Lugo, CalSERVES Tutoring and After School Student

Kawana has decided to profile one amazing student each month in a special section called KAWANA PRESENTS. And who better to choose for our first article than one of our star tutoring kids? So, Kawana is proud to present: Christian Avina Lugo.

Why Christian? Christian has been in CalSERVES Literacy Tutoring and After School programs for several years. Mr. Nyholm, Christian’s tutor, notes that he is “polite and down to earth; he’s a very clean cut and stylish kid.” He was known in After School all last year as one of the most polite kids in his class, and, just as importantly, for his style and dance skills. He is also a skilled poet, having performed his poetry live in the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, with an audience of hundreds. Christian dreams of being an NFL player when he’s older, but right now, his favorite things are math and cheeseburgers. Finally, Mr. Nyholm recalls, Christian “was the first kid to say hello to me at this school.”

Polite, funny, outgoing, smart, and friendly: these are just a few of the many things Kawana loves about Christian.

Christian and his mentor, Mr. Nyholm

No Place We Would Rather Be

Patrick McGrath, Full-time Mentor at Wright Elementary

Patrick McGrath and Emily Nagel, Mentors at Wright Elementary

The first two weeks of tutoring are done and I cannot begin to describe our excitement for this year. At times the planning seemed to be overwhelming, but our training and on-site support has proven to be more than helpful in preparing us to do our best.

All the students are great and have the chance to get out of class to do some one on one tutoring with us. It is a rewarding feeling to see smiles on the students' faces and know that we are making a positive impact on their lives.

Our After School program is beginning and our excitement has been raised to higher levels. With our own classes we can plan activities (whether it is lessons, literacy, group time, or games) and know we are keeping the students safe, educated, and entertained.

An additional perk in being part of CalSERVES is knowing that the site is full of committed mentors from all over the United States that want to help students learn. All mentors and students have been wonderful and there is no place we would rather be right now.

Joining the AmeriCorps Team

Jeremy King, CalSERVES Program Assistant

During the past few weeks, all the Leadership Team members and CalSERVES Program Assistants have been busy recruiting some great mentors for this year. Many professors at Sonoma State University and the Santa Rosa Junior College welcomed us to make brief presentations in their classes. We had many college students and staff come visit our table on campus and express their support for the work we are doing.

One day the JC team was even able to convince a student to play his saxophone near our table to attract more attention! I have seen the enthusiasm of our AmeriCorps Leadership Team members and am excited for the coming year!

Yesterday, the newly recruited half-time members joined in their first training - AmeriCorps 101. We are excited to have everyone on our team!

A Sweet Treat

Tasha Hruska, Supervising Teacher at Roseland Elementary

Roseland is excited to present a watermelon from our very own school garden. Ms. Nina Borokhim, After School Team Leader at Roseland, prepared slices of watermelon as a snack for our leaders of After School. The rewards of gardening are sweet!

Ms. Borokhim going to town serving up the tastes of summer!

Looks AMAZING!

A New Year

Emily Mann, Regional Program Coordinator

The new team of AmeriCorps members are getting started in their year of service. It has been exciting to see everyone joining the CalSERVES team and jumping right in to serving! We are still recruiting members, so if you or anyone you know is interested in joining our team, please contact us at 888-560-SERV (7378) or americorps@calserves.org.

Check out the cool video made by Sheppard Elementary AmeriCorps members last year to see what we do!

The Human Race!

Julie McClure, CalSERVES Program Director


What a beautiful day for a walk….100 of us joined together in the early hours of Saturday morning to walk in support of our kids and CalSERVES. We mixed into the group of thousands making the walk for their favorite program or cause. It is so wonderful to be among such caring and dedicated folks, taking the time out of their weekend to say “This is important and I am going to put my money and my time behind it.” It is very heartening for me. Many of us walked the shorter route, some ran, and some took the long stroll around Spring Lake. I think it is safe to say, all of us took away a great experience from the day! And yes…we have raised over $14,000!


If you would like to join in our fundraising efforts, you can make an on-line donation at our Human Race Page.

Far Beyond Rewarding

Ashley Smyk, Part-time Mentor at Wright Elementary


My experience at CalSERVES has been far beyond rewarding. When I began looking for a job, I knew I didn't want a behind-the-counter job, or a desk job, or any ordinary job. I've always loved helping people, and giving back to the community, so I decided to look for a position that followed those passions.

Whether it's reading aloud to my first grade class, playing handball on the blacktop, or monitoring homework time, I savor every moment. My role as a mentor is not only to provide after school care, it is to be a positive role model for my students; to be not only their friend, but somebody they can always count on; and to be there to challenge and enrich their academic and personal lives. While I strive to fulfill all of these mentor roles, the truth is that the kids are the ones who enrich my life. These students care so much about what you have to say that they will sit and listen to all of your stories. They look up to you so much that if you're gone for a day, they are genuinely worried. And these kids are just so darn cute that you want to take them home with you.

CalSERVES has been one of the best opportunities I've ever had. Working with the students at Wright has been perfect for me as a prospective teacher because I get hands-on experience in the classroom. The relationships that I've built with students in our after school classroom and the students I tutor is amazing. It's not very often that you have a position where you come to work everyday with a smile, and leave at the end of the day with an even bigger one.

Off to Africa!

Kean Witzeman, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at RL Stevens Elementary


R.L. Stevens After School was transported to the African plains by visiting local wildlife preserve Safari West this month. Thanks to the Discover Africa Scholarship Program, our students were given a free two-part tour of the preserve and were afforded the opportunity to see a multitude of exotic animals, many of which are endangered or at risk of becoming endangered. A few animals, such as the Scimitar Horned Oryx are actually extinct in nature, and are only still alive thanks to wildlife preserves like Safari West.


The first part of the tour was a walk through exhibits where students got up close and personal with cheetahs, lemurs, a 40-year-old tortoise, two fennec foxes, many exotic birds and cranes, and much more. Students learned about the physiology of cheetahs and what makes them able to run so fast. Students also learned interesting facts about the different animal species and important issues and problems that they face in the wild.

The second part of the tour was a ride through the fenced preserve on a large safari truck. During the drive, students were greeted by curious giraffes who walked up to the trucks and introduced themselves to the great students of RL Stevens. Another popular animal was the Watusi cattle, a horned breed of cow that is highly regarded in many African cultures and used as a form of currency for certain tribes. The preserve was also filled with different species of antelope, guinea fowl, cranes, and even ostriches!

The trips to Safari West were a great experience for our students, who have been raised predominantly in a city/urban environment. It was a natural experience unlike any Zoo visit. The variety of diverse wildlife with which the students came face to face and the valuable information they learned was a fun and enriching experience for all!

Science Fair!

Nicole Lafreniere, Supervising Teacher at Kawana Elementary

On March 21st, students in the CalSERVES After School program showcased science projects to Santa Rosa residents, parents, and teachers in the cafeteria of Kawana Elementary School. As a class or with an individual mentor, kids were able to conduct a two-week experiment of their choosing. They then illustrated what they learned on a traditional display board. “We really wanted to support our kids in researching a topic that interested them and not say something is or isn’t science because science is everywhere,” says fair founder and After School Mentor, Kelly Richmond.


Projects entailed Defining Density (3rd grade), “Catching” a Rainbow (4th), examining Plant Absorbency (5th), and uncovering the tactile wonders of creating a “Rubber Egg” with a little amateur chemistry (1st/2nd).

Kawana’s 6th grade class was so inspired that after studying the functions of the human lung, they sought to use their findings to serve a greater cause—educating the public about a healthy lifestyle. “We are going to use our findings in our service outreach with the community,” said 6th grade mentor Sam Sowl. “It’s going to be nice that, after all the work, our kids will be able to see not only the scientific process, but how this is applied in a greater context.”

Yet, aside from the sheer fun of an experiment, Kawana’s After School Science Fair also gave students a chance to explore a subject sometimes absent from the normal school day. Due to funding and unfortunate budget cuts, science has taken second-stage to other subjects such as English and Math. However, as they highlighted their results on Friday, students seemed better acquainted with a new academic discipline.

Organizer Kelly Richmond feels that the fair was a great success. “All I wanted was to get kids interested, to have them question the things that occur in life, and to understand that science is an interesting approach to answering these questions,” Richmond said. With a smile she then added, “I think, at least, that we saw that interest today.”

Service Learning at Sheppard Elementary

Amy Porter, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at Sheppard Elementary

The AmeriCorps mentors and students at Sheppard Elementary are all engaged in Service Learning, amidst the hustle and bustle of many spring activities.

Our second grade after school class has chosen to do their service learning project on protecting marine wildlife. After studying the amazing creatures of the seas, they decided they wanted to do something to protect and keep these animals safe.

As a Promise Fellow, I was asked to find a presenter or field trip to enrich their learning experience. After doing much research and contacting about 6 different organizations, we were graced with a response from the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco. They were willing to provide our students with a free trip to their Aquarium; we just had to provide the traveling cost.

In order to raise the money to get there, our second grade mentors and students have stepped up and put on a fantastic bake sale for the teachers, a fund raiser at the restaurant Chevy’s, and a car wash. To watch our team come together to serve and enrich our student’s lives has been truly amazing. It is awe inspiring to watch people who are so busy with this life take those little extra steps to support one classroom.

It has also been exciting to see the support we have from the core day teachers at Sheppard. My feelings of gratitude for the school we serve in have grown exponentially in the last few days. I knew we had support, but to watch the love pour in from all directions has only reaffirmed why I love being a part of the AmeriCorps experience. Only when we push ourselves and give of ourselves freely, do we see the simple truth: there is no more beauty in this world than that which we make.

Welcome to the CalSERVES Blog!

CalSERVES is excited to begin blogging. Here you will find information on the fabulous things that happen in our programs. You will see pictures and read about amazing mentors and students who are discovering their passions, realizing their potenial and expressing their power.

CalSERVES began in 1998 as the tutoring program, Project Scholars. The next year, After School program COOL School began. Since then, the organization has grown to include over 100 partnerships with schools throughout the state of California!

Locally, CalSERVES provides in-school tutoring and after school programs in 8 Sonoma County schools. In addition, we also have a partnership with Santa Rosa Junior College that creates a Family Literacy program, where parents are able to take free English and GED classes while their children are also receiving academic support.

CalSERVES is dedicated to serving children and families and MAKING A DIFFERENCE in our communities!