Joe Van Deuren | - Part 120

March 4, 2011

Community Service: Susie C. environmental clean up

When I walk along the big road near my house, I notice a lot of trash. People throw their trash on the ground and it’s wrong. I wanted to do something to help.

I made signs reminding people not to litter. The signs show pictures of animals so people will know that littering hurts animals. We put the signs up on the fence along the road where people litter the most.

I got my little brother Teddy to help me, and we loaded up our wagon with trash. We picked up the litter on the road and filled a big trash bag with all the litter. It was really gross but now the side of the road looks much better.

March 4, 2011

Community Service: Emma C. cleans up a park

Emma went to the park and saw that there was trash left behind by others. She chose to take the lead and clean it up. She picked up the trash and showed what we call in our school Super Responsibility. That is, she took on a task by cleaning up a mess that she did not make. She did this task because it was the “right thing to do”. Back in October we talked about being a R.A.D. person, Reliable, Accountable, Dependable. Emma is RAD!!

Your child can learn to be RAD too. Join us in our classes as we teach martial arts and life skills.

March 2, 2011

Life Skills: Confidence Raises Self Esteem

When you think of confidence what people, words or images come to your mind? I see a person with a smile who is working on something that they know they do very well. I have watched my wife working in the kitchen preparing a meal, with what seems to be a thousand things happening at the same time and in the end the meal is perfect and served together. She does it with an easy concentration and with confidence of the outcome.

When you are confident you have a special energy about yourself, you are not easily distracted from the task at hand and if an obstacle does come up, you deal with it without being flustered by the challenge. Since we cannot be confident in everything that we have to do in a day sometimes we have to put on the face of confidence, we must have the “I Can, I Will” attitude. How do we accomplish that?

We start with our physical self first. Our body will stand straight and tall, look others in the eyes and walk in a manner that looks like we know where we are going and that we will not be stopped, with a strong assertive voice. Continue reading “Life Skills: Confidence Raises Self Esteem”

February 28, 2011

Life Skill: Confidence- The Definition

Each month we define and discuss a word of character development and life skill with all of our students.

This month the word is Confidence and will be defined this way.

Young students: Confidence means: I believe in me!

Older students: Confidence means: Complete trust in ourselves or others.

Here are the worksheets for our students:

Confidence TT project confidence 5- 6 project confidence 7-12 project Confidence Teen Adult project

If you would like to see how we will deal with this subject with our students please follow our discussions here during the month of March or come in and TRY A CLASS.

February 24, 2011

Grants 4 Teachers: Balanced Life Skills Community Project

The winter cycle for grant applications is now complete and we will be meeting on Tuesday March 1, with the Advisory Board to award grants for applicants. We are looking forward to being able to meet some of the needs of our dedicated teachers in Anne Arundel County along with Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County.

If you are a teacher that would like a grant to accomplish something special in your classroom be sure to make application. If you are a person or business that would like to support and build the morale of teachers in our county please investigate what we are doing and consider contributing to the Grants 4 Teachers Fund.

February 23, 2011

Ryan R. supports Kidsico Orphanage in Kenya

Ryan R 1 — toys sent to orphanage in Kenya

My service project was to help collect gifts for the Kidsico Orphange in Mongomu,Kenya. Our youth group at church made denim bags for each of the kids and we filled them with little toys and school supplies.

I picked out the animals in the picture. We made flash cards with the names of the animals in English and Swahili. The pastor in Africa sent us pictures of the kids with the presents we sent. I think they really liked my gift!