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October 2008

September 2008

Tower of Babble

November 17, 2008

It Doesn't Take Much

Last week, Miss Deborah, our volunteer who regularly staffs the "PREP Store" was absent, so Miss Kel and I worked the store together. The "store" is part of our behavior managment system for the children who attend PREP. Children earn tickets by demonstrating good citizenship, good choices, good coping skills and at the end of each week the child can use tickets to purchase something at the store, or they can bank their tickets and save for a big item. Our inventory includes: toothpaste, toothbrushes, chapstick, lip gloss, art supplies, pencils, hot wheels, hats, gloves, socks, t-shirts, uniform shirts, deodorant, stickers, tatoos, erasers, games, puzzles, books, balls, notebooks, playdough and lots of cool kid-friendly things we pick up at the dollar store. Apparently, I am a soft touch, because I ran a few specials (like if you bought toothpaste, I threw in a free toothbrush) and by 5:00 the store was depleted and the fourth and fifth graders hadn't been there yet!! If you have shampoo samples or any of the items listed above, or care to donate any of the items listed above we will put them in the store. The children LOVE the store and it is fun to teach them about saving, delaying gratification and smart shopping!

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November 06, 2008

An Apology

We released our November newsletter late yesterday and made a huge oversight. We neglected to include the logo of one of our largest and longest funding agencies the Mental Health Board. Ironically, this particular issue of PREP TALK is all about gratitude. We have always been and remain grateful for the support of the Mental Health Board. We would not be able to bring meaningful, innovative afterschool programming to impoverished children in the City of St. Louis without the support of the Mental Health Board. I hope all of the staff and board members of the Mental Health Board will accept our apologies and know that we remain grateful for their suport, guidance and investment in our work. www.stlmhb.com/

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November 05, 2008

Playing a Part- Changing Lives

Mentoring is fun stuff. I know mentors enjoy spending time alone with their kids and giving them the individual attention they all seem to want. And that is where the deeper relationships develop. But there is a lot to be said for the monthly group activities as well. Doing things with the kids that they have never before experienced is especially fun. One weekend they went to a lake in the country. Some had never been fishing before. Some had never been on a lake. Or even seen a lake. Or even been out of the city.

Mentoring makes you reflective. You start realizing how privileged and blessed some people’s childhoods are. You see how some kids don’t have the luxury of safe neighborhoods or have adults in their lives who take them to experience new places and things. Resources are scarce so kids cannot take advantage of the plethora of cultural experiences our city offers. Horizons are narrowed. Opportunities are missed. Less hope is felt about the future.

Mentoring changes lives. Kids get to sample what’s out there. They become more discerning consumers. They discover hidden talents and latent interests. The world expands before their eyes. Their futures brighten. And you know you played a part.

October 30, 2008

PREP's Got Talent!

Walk into Elementary PREP on a Thursday afternoon, and you might see some interesting activity – kids singing, dancing, or creating their own special scenes on huge paper. For the past several weeks, the kids have been working on a talent show to present to their families in the last week of PREP. But it’s not any ordinary talent show – the kids have each chosen a performance that reflects their unique heritage. We’ll have salsa dancing, an African song and dance, and the tango, just to name a few! The PREP talent show has given the kids an opportunity to learn more about their own cultures as well as to appreciate others’ differences.

They have practiced not only their songs and dances, but also patience, perseverance, teamwork, and problem solving. Shy kids have overcome some of their fears to get up in front of the group. Kids who might sometimes make fun of others have supported their peers in their efforts. To watch them work on preparing this show has reminded me how amazing our kids are and how important PREP is to help them realize their full potential and keep showcasing their own special talents, whatever they may be.

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October 23, 2008

The Difference

One of the questions I am frequently asked is: “What sets Discovering Options apart from other after school programs?” It is a fair question. There are several strategies Discovering Options employs that makes its approach unique and holistic. The first is that we enroll all of the children in our programs through a home enrollment visit. We meet families where they are. Going to the family solves a number of logistical challenges, like transportation, but mainly we create a personal connection with the families and start establishing trust and rapport in their living rooms.

We rely on research based curriculum and practices to strengthen our programs and to increase our efficacy with the children we serve. I also think that the team works diligently to deliver curriculum that is action oriented, interesting and stays away from the didactic. Because we know each child that we serve we can match them with resources and services when and if the need arises. We also have a visiting therapist that sees about 15-20 of our students a week. Every day we acknowledge that coming into your own is a process and it is our charge to honor that process, guide children and arm them with the tools they need to stay healthy, safe and in school.

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