Meet Isa and Leslie, two of our student leaders. They answered a few questions for us today!
Stay tuned for some additional staff/student/supporter interviews!
Monday, October 7, 2013
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens: A Series
We are excited to announce a new seven month (October to April) series on "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" here at the center. For the next seven months we are going to be high-lighting a habit from the Sean Covey work.
Each month we will observe the behavior and attitude of the teens here at the center. Scholars will nominate their peers, and at the end of each month there will be a plaque awarded to the teen who embodies the spirit of the monthly "habit" in a positive and visual way.
The month we begin with the first habit-- Be Proactive.
Being proactive means taking control of and responsibility for your actions.
Our first student of the month will be nominated this month, in October. It is going to be difficult, as all of our scholars exhibit such awesome, positive attitudes. We know they are willing to rise to occasion and discover a new (personal) best!
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
A large portion of the culture at Maria-Catalyst High School is centric to creating college-readiness for students. The school does an amazing job of teaching academic gumption and follow-through, preparation, and tenacity in academics.
Author Sean Covey wrote "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" as a way to guide teens (and their parents) through the trials, tribulations, and hardships of the age.
The system is fairly simple-- a routine centered around personal responsibility, getting rid of procrastination, and prioritizing.
Author Sean Covey wrote "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" as a way to guide teens (and their parents) through the trials, tribulations, and hardships of the age.
The system is fairly simple-- a routine centered around personal responsibility, getting rid of procrastination, and prioritizing.
1. Be Proactive
2. Begin with the End in Mind
3. Put First Things First
4. Think Win-Win
5. Seek to Understand, Then to be Understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the Saw
With any personal development comes a great amount of work and perseverance. Nothing worth doing is ever easy-- and that includes bettering yourself, intrinsically.
Our scholars are making huge strides every day-- and we applaud their achievements!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Reflection Share: These Blank Pages
During Reflection, scholars are given a chance to share their struggles, their joys, and their personal expressions. On Friday we had a brave student share her personal poetry.
Blank Pages
Empty white lines
No titles
No words or pictures
Nothing
Those blank pages...
Take a closer look at that blank piece of paper
You might still see nothing, but there's something there
On that paper is:
The cries of babies killed during abortion
The rapes and beatings of girls too scared to talk
The feelings that men keep bottled up inside them
The suicide notes that many didn't write
Lastly, on that paper are the words that should have been said,
But weren't...
DS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is clear that Reflection has become very meaningful for the scholars.
On Friday scheduling was a bit different-- and the group began in the dining area, not the chapel.
This change is routine was disappointing to many of our students.
One girl said, upon entering the Center on Friday-
"Everytime I walk in here [chapel]-- I just feel better."
When being directed downstairs to eat his bagged lunch, he exclaimed-
"What do you mean? We aren't going to the chapel today?!"
This time for intrinsic dialogue, peer support, and spiritual exploration has become so important to our group. We will never change the time for Reflection again!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Conference Day: Discovering the Center
Today was progress report pick up and scholar-led conferencing at Catalyst-Maria High School. Students welcomed their parents to the school to speak with teachers and discuss their progress.
Before I knew it, I was approached by students' proud proclamations.
We are so proud of every scholar at the MKC-- and all they've achieved. Parents noted the difference the MKC has made to so many students. They boasted an increase in self-confidence, critical thinking, and a new found expression in rhetoric.
One girl asked her mother a serious question she'd never asked.
"Mom, why are people so mean to one another?"
Our students are questioning norms and practices they'd never acknowledged before... and we are so proud of them.
In addition to these awesome personal experiences, we had a chance to welcome students to experience the Center. The half day gave us an opportunity to welcome scholars from CMHS into our Center. They played games, painted rocks, de-compressed, talked, laughed, and enjoyed their afternoons. It wasn't so important they were occupied with programming the whole time-- rather, we focused on having the students facilitate their own fun. This was done in a safe, nurturing environment... no fights, no swearing, no negativity.
We saw so many new faces-- and we hope to see them again soon!
Before I knew it, I was approached by students' proud proclamations.
"Ms.Quinn, look! All A's"
"Ms.Quinn, I only got one B! All A's"
"I worked really hard, and it payed off."
We are so proud of every scholar at the MKC-- and all they've achieved. Parents noted the difference the MKC has made to so many students. They boasted an increase in self-confidence, critical thinking, and a new found expression in rhetoric.
One girl asked her mother a serious question she'd never asked.
"Mom, why are people so mean to one another?"
Our students are questioning norms and practices they'd never acknowledged before... and we are so proud of them.
In addition to these awesome personal experiences, we had a chance to welcome students to experience the Center. The half day gave us an opportunity to welcome scholars from CMHS into our Center. They played games, painted rocks, de-compressed, talked, laughed, and enjoyed their afternoons. It wasn't so important they were occupied with programming the whole time-- rather, we focused on having the students facilitate their own fun. This was done in a safe, nurturing environment... no fights, no swearing, no negativity.
We saw so many new faces-- and we hope to see them again soon!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Teen Talk: An Opportunity to Share
One of the sessions offered today is "Teen Talk". It's a multiple-week series led by Ms.Walls, the former Dean of Students at Maria High School.
Ms.Walls, a trained facilitator, leads discussions with a small group of teen girls in this safe, sharing, and nurturing environment.
Topics include:
Ms.Walls, a trained facilitator, leads discussions with a small group of teen girls in this safe, sharing, and nurturing environment.
Topics include:
- Healthy/unhealthy relationships
- Addiction
- Suicide
- Violence prevention
- “Where is God in the suffering?”
These are important issues faced by teens everyday. We are so thankful to be able providing programming wherein these teens can confront these issues and work through healthy, positive ways to deal with them.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Affy Tapple Sales at the MKC
Our scholars wanted a way to raise funds for the Center. This was a unique opportunity to give these high school scholars decision-making responsibilities. The Team Leaders (a group of teams that volunteer in a leadership function here at the MKC) had a meeting with Ms.Quinn yesterday about the logistics of doing an Affy Tapple Fundraiser.
The student leaders picked four products to sell, and the prices at which to sell them. They engaged in serious discourse about ideas they will discover later in economics classes. They talked about supply and demand, price and profit margins, and how to market the sale to their peers.
Overall, this was an important exercise in fiscal responsibility and responsible decision-making. The scholars exercised great judgement, a respect for the ideas expressed by their peers, and the dedication to a commitment they made.
Affy Tapple sales start this week at the MKC!
To learn more about having an Affy Tapple fundraiser (or to order from their factory store), please visit their website:
www.affytapple.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)