The Clarke Middle School Library Media Center is looking for volunteers.  We need self-motivated individuals of any age who are willing to assist our school librarian while she teaches and collaborates with students and faculty.  Some of the jobs would include shelving books, straightening and organizing books, checking out books to our patrons, answering the phone, and assisting patrons with books and/or technology needs.  You do not have to be able to do all of these jobs, but the willingness to learn how to do a few of these tasks would be helpful.  We need dedicated individuals willing to fill the following shifts each week.

As a volunteer you would only have to take one of the 2-hour shifts on one day a week if that’s all your schedule allows.  You will be trained in the work, so consistency in attendance on your part is key so the media specialist has more time to continue doing her work with our students and teachers.

If you are interested in volunteering at CMS in one of the GA Exemplary Media Centers please contact Lauren Medina, CIS Site Coordinator at Clarke Middle School at 706-543-6547 extension 23355 or via email at medinal@clarke.k12.ga.us.

How Children Succeed

Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

Why do some children succeed while others fail?

The story we usually tell about childhood and success is the one about intelligence: success comes to those who score highest on tests, from preschool admissions to SATs.

But in How Children Succeed, Paul Tough argues that the qualities that matter most have more to do with character: skills like perseverance, curiosity, conscientiousness, optimism, and self-control.

How Children Succeed introduces us to a new generation of researchers and educators who, for the first time, are using the tools of science to peel back the mysteries of character. Through their stories—and the stories of the children they are trying to help—Tough traces the links between childhood stress and life success. He uncovers the surprising ways in which parents do—and do not—prepare their children for adulthood. And he provides us with new insights into how to help children growing up in poverty.

Early adversity, scientists have come to understand, not only affects the conditions of children’s lives, it can also alter the physical development of their brains. But innovative thinkers around the country are now using this knowledge to help children overcome the constraints of poverty. With the right support, as Tough’s extraordinary reporting makes clear, children who grow up in the most painful circumstances can go on to achieve amazing things.

This provocative and profoundly hopeful book has the potential to change how we raise our children, how we run our schools, and how we construct our social safety net. It will not only inspire and engage readers, it will also change our understanding of childhood itself.

The Clarke Middle School Library Media Center is looking for volunteers.  We need self-motivated individuals of any age who are willing to assist our school librarian while she teaches and collaborates with students and faculty.  Some of the jobs would include shelving books, straightening and organizing books, checking out books to our patrons, answering the phone, and assisting patrons with books and/or technology needs.  You do not have to be able to do all of these jobs, but the willingness to learn how to do a few of these tasks would be helpful.  We need dedicated individuals willing to fill the following shifts each week.

As a volunteer you would only have to take one of the 2-hour shifts on one day a week if that’s all your schedule allows.  You will be trained in the work, so consistency in attendance on your part is key so the media specialist has more time to continue doing her work with our students and teachers.

If you are interested in volunteering at CMS in one of the GA Exemplary Media Centers please contact Lauren Medina, CIS Site Coordinator at Clarke Middle School at 706-543-6547 extension 23355 or via email at medinal@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Eat great food and help Athens kids!!!

These Athens area restaurants will donate a percentage of their gross sales
all day August 23 to our work for children in Athens!

Barberitos (all 5):
259 East Clayton Street, 1860 Barnett Shoals Road, 1739 South Lumpkin Street,
1880 Epps Bridge Road (Athens), 2 South Main Street (Watkinsville)

Buffalo’s Cafe
196 Alps Road

Jason’s Deli
140 Alps Road

Last Resort Grill
174 -184 West Clayton Street

Mama’s Boy
197 Oak Street

The National
232 W. Hancock Avenue

Taqueria del Sol
334 Prince Avenue

Ted’s Most Best
254 W. Washington Street

  Willys Mexicana Grill 
196 Alps Road

If you wish to participate in GYSD, check out our list of projects. Once you find one you like, click “Register” and you’ll be taken through the registration process. 

There are projects on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the April 20-22, 2012 weekend. Parents, guardians, mentors and other caring adults are welcome to accompany youth to any of these projects. Please wear weather- and work-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes. Snacks and drinks will be provided to each project. All participants under the age of 18 must have the youth permission formsigned by a parent or guardian. We also have a Spanish version here.

Global Youth Service Day is partnering with the Green Day of Service (GDS), a project of Athens Greenfest. GDS projects are listed, too, and welcome volunteers of all ages. The GDS projects are noted with “Green Day of Service” in their project title. Check out the Greenfest website for more information about this initiative.

Dress Sale Fundraiser

You can also participate in GYSD by shopping at the Dress Athens dress sale, coordinated by YOUthServe Leadership Project participants, which will benefit Project Safe. The dress sale will be held at 250 W Broad Street from 3pm-8pm on Friday and 8am-3pm on Saturday.

Film and Art Show Awareness Event

Another set of YOUthServe Leadership Project participants are hosting a Film & Art Festival on Sunday from 5 – 7pm at the University of Georgia Miller Learning Center, room 101. The title of the event is Showcase of Art Forms to Illustrate Social Issues in Athens.

Celebration Event!

Coile Middle School is serving as our signature site for Global Youth Service Day 2012. Each of Coile’s students will participate in a service-learning activity on Friday, April 20th. Then on Friday afternoon beginning at 2:30, they will be showing films created by students about service. Public officials, media and the general public are invited to join us at this event to support Coile’s students.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP by April 13th by completing our RSVP form.

Please visit http://handsonnega.org/gysd for more information or contact Dawn Aiello at Community Connection!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

10 – 2

What is Active?   A fun, proven, effective, positive approach to parenting.

Who should participate?  The whole family and anyone else interested in learning more about their parenting style, their child’s development, positive discipline, and stress management.

How much is it?  Free, lunch donation appreciated

How do I register?  Pre – Registration is required, by April 10^th

Location:  Campus View Church of Christ, 1460 S. Lumpkin St. Athens

Call (706) 548 – 3216 or email Grace (garthur@pcaathens.org)  to register and for directions.

Child Care will be provided if requested in advance

We have a family in need of a couch for their home.  If you, or someone you know are planning on purchasing a new couch please consider donating your older couch to Communities In Schools so that we can give it to this family in need.  We have volunteers who can come pick up the couch from you at your convenience and school staff will ensure that it gets to the family.

If you would like to donate your couch please contact Lauren Medina, Communities In Schools site coordinator at Clarke Middle School via email (lauren.medina@witathens.org) or via phone (706-543-6547 extension 23355).

Please pass this on to friends, neighbors, colleagues, your church friends, etc.! Thank you!

The Athens Junior League provisional class is hosting a Kids in the Kitchen event!  The Kids in the Kitchen program is dedicated to providing families with information on eating healthy and making healthy meals that are budget friendly.  Weekly menus are being sent out to local elementary schools in Athens with ideas for healthy and inexpensive meals for an entire week!  Here is the first menu with a description of what the menus have on them.

The menus will all lead up to a fun family event that will be held on April 28th at the Athens Housing Authority Offices on Rocksprings Rd. across from Clarke Central High School.  This event will consist of a cook off between two high school students from Athens.  These students will create a healthy entree with the help of a mentor chef from the area who will lead them in the preparation of their creation!  The students will then be judged by fair patrons and a panel of guest judges.  The winner will receive an apprenticeship at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynold’s Plantation as part of their Hospitality Careers Academy.  The winner will work realistic 16-hour days for a week preparing for the big event at the end of the apprenticeship preparing an event for up to 100 guests.  If you know of any high school students who may be interested in participating in this event please pass on the application to them and have them enter!  All food will be provided free of charge to the contestants cooking at the event.

The event held on April 28th will be filled with fun prizes (Barberitos gift cards, AHA residents can enter to win money off of their rent, grocery store gift cards and more!), activities, booths by local organizations and businesses (Kaiser Permanente, Subway, a local sports injury doctor, the Junior League of Athens, the Athens Housing Authority, and many others).  There will be hula hoop contests, Zumba lessons, couponing classes and the food tasting for each of the Young Top Chef contestants.  Please pass on the flyer to anyone who may be interested in attending this free and fun event!

JOB DESCRIPTION

(Half Time CIS Site Coordinator Job Description)

Family Connection-Communities In Schools of Athens

Communities In Schools is the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization. The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.  By bringing community resources into the schools to address children’s unmet needs, Communities In Schools provides the link between educators and the community. The result: teachers are free to teach, and students – many in jeopardy of dropping out – have the opportunity to focus on learning.

Family Connection-Communities In Schools of Athens is the local affiliate of Communities In Schools. The site coordinator position is integrated with our Whatever It Takes initiative.

Position Summary:

The Site Coordinator opening is a half-time (20 hours/week, job share) position responsible, with the other half-time Site Coordinator, for the overall planning and coordination of Communities In Schools (CIS) operations in the implementation of the CIS model of integrating student services at Clarke Central High School. The site coordinators will work with community partners and volunteers to marshal resources necessary to address the social and emotional needs of students who are at risk of dropping out of school.  Through the coordination of individual and group interventions as well as prevention activities the Site Coordinator is a key player in helping students toward graduation.

With a grant from the AT&T Foundation and local support, we have two site coordinator positions, one at Clarke Middle School and the other at Clarke Central High School (the latter now a job-share position). Funding will be sought to continue these positions after the AT&T grant period and to replicate them at other schools.

The Site Coordinators report to the executive director and work closely with the principal and support team at the school.

Responsibilities:

• Program management of the assigned CIS site: Coordinate implementation and monitoring of the annual site operations plan in partnership with the school site staff and administration.  Ensure that needs assessment, service delivery, data tracking, and evaluation/reporting take place.

• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings with school staff and other resource providers involved in collaborative services. Represent CIS at events and meetings, as necessary.  Work collaboratively to maintain a positive CIS image.  Understand and demonstrate the CIS mission, goals and initiatives within the community.

• Secure community support and partnerships to meet school-wide and students’ needs as identified in the site operations plan.

• Work with public school stakeholders, including school administrators and staff, families, and counselors/social workers to identify students who need CIS services.  Follow procedures for referral processes, assessment of student needs and strengths related to social, emotional and behavioral issues, identification of counseling focus, parent contacts and the use of referrals. Provide direct services to individual students and their families to identify and eliminate barriers to their academic/school success

• Coordinate whole school and prevention activities to meet school wide needs as identified in the annual site plan.

• In middle school settings provide opportunities for career exploration and in high schools provide opportunities for career exploration, job shadowing or internships by linking with the local business community.  Assist students with post-secondary education planning, financial assistance, and applications.

• Coordinate and engage students in community service and service learning projects.

• Support and participate in school orientations, open houses, and parent events.  Serve as a resource to the whole school, and consult with staff.  Adhere to procedures regarding communication and coordination with teachers, administrative and referring staff regarding confidentiality.

• Engage volunteers in a variety of ways to support student success.  Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers for school site.  Provide overall scheduling and coordination of volunteer/student activities

• Coordinate data collection plan to evaluate the effectiveness of services in achieving school-wide goals and addressing the needs of individual students. Document progress and track site and student outcomes.  Monitor and adjust services as needed to maximize effectiveness and impact.

Required qualifications:  Commitment to the mission of Family Connection-Communities In Schools; strong verbal, written, and presentation skills; Bachelor or Associate’s Degree, preferably in the areas of social service, education, youth development, public administration or a related field; proficiency in traditional office computer applications and social media; valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation and proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage; ability both to work independently and to work in a team with school staff, students, parents, community representatives and the general public; ability to manage conflict and stressful situations; ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; excellent coordination and time management skills; willingness to work flexible hours as needed. Must pass criminal background checks and cannot be listed on Sex Offender Registry.

Preferred qualifications:  Proficiency in Spanish; familiarity with education, health, child welfare, human service, and related systems in Athens; experience working with children, youth and families; experience in community organization.

Salary:  Up to $1,500/month (20 hours/week) depending on qualifications and experience.

Applicants of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. FC-CIS is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply, send cover letter, resume, and at least three references to witathensjobs@gmail.com.

Please, no phone calls!