Happy Holidays from the CalSERVES AmeriCorps Leaders!

CalSERVES Leaders

(Adapted from Clement Clark Moore’s “Twas the Night before Christmas.”)

Twas the night before Winter Break, when all through CalSERVES,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a nerve.
The schools were all picked up and cleaned with care,
In hopes that after break was over, they would still be there.

The tutors were all nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of lesson plans danced in their heads.
The leaders put on their sweet hats,
And settled near the fire for a few little chats.

Then once the clock turned the hour of midnight,
They all sprang from where they were to get a better look at the sight.
Away to the windows, they flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and almost knocked over the trash.

There stood a little old driver, so lively and quick,
They knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Then all of a sudden, his coursers came
And he whistled, shouted, and called them all by name!

“Now, Taylor Mountain! Now, Wright, Now Bellevue!
On, Kawana! On, RL! On, On Meadow View!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all covered with ashes and soot.
Smiling widely from cheek to cheek, while doing a quick happy dance,
All those who were staring at him, were in a joyful trance.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And spread a sprinkling of joy, then he turned with a sly smirk.
And wiggling his finger and touching his nose,
He gave a quick nod, and up, up to the sky he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
As soon as he was no where in sight,
Everyone heard: “Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good-night!"

CalSERVES Leaders - Goofy Picture

We hope everyone has a safe and fun winter break!

By Sandra Hwang, After School Regional Leader

Happy Holidays from CalSERVES!

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.

Tutoring on the Polar Express

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.

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!