Kids Love Dogs

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

A Trip to "The Jungle"!

Kori Farrell, AmeriCorps Mentor at Wright Charter School
  

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

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

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!