Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Writing Contest!
Multnomah County Library is sponsoring a writing contest for people in grades 6-12. Winners take home a $75 Powell's gift card. Entries are due by January 18th. Check it out by clicking here.
A Holiday Thank You
Happy New Year everyone,
I am grateful this holiday season for the generosity of the parents who graciously donated supplies for our classroom. In an environment where we emphasize creative expression of learning through projects, it is a wonderful gift to offer students rich resources. We now have wonderful acrylic paints and brushes, amazing high-quality colored pencils, a plethora of colored tapes, card stock, poster board, an array of Sharpie markers, needles and thread, construction paper, and much more. I was also fortunate to receive gift cards to Powell's and am thrilled to be able to buy some additional books for the classroom. Thank you for taking the time and thinking of your student's classroom.
Best wishes for a safe and peaceful year,
Ken
I am grateful this holiday season for the generosity of the parents who graciously donated supplies for our classroom. In an environment where we emphasize creative expression of learning through projects, it is a wonderful gift to offer students rich resources. We now have wonderful acrylic paints and brushes, amazing high-quality colored pencils, a plethora of colored tapes, card stock, poster board, an array of Sharpie markers, needles and thread, construction paper, and much more. I was also fortunate to receive gift cards to Powell's and am thrilled to be able to buy some additional books for the classroom. Thank you for taking the time and thinking of your student's classroom.
Best wishes for a safe and peaceful year,
Ken
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sad News from Humble Hearts
Dear community,
We have received terrible news about Humble Hearts, our sister school in Nairobi, Kenya. The school and surrounding neighborhood was flattened by bulldozers just a few days ago. It has been difficult to get information, but it has been confirmed that the school has been destroyed. The slum in which the school had been located, Sinai (Paradise), is a narrow, seven-mile long area atop a buried petroleum pipeline managed by the federally-owned Kenya Pipeline Company, to which all of the residents pay rent. There are no laws in Kenya protecting against forceful evictions, or even requiring that residents be notified before such evictions take place.
Below is the latest update from our dear friend, Beatrice Anunda, the director of Humble Hearts, who discovered what had happened to her school upon the return from her wedding. This is of tremendous impact for the surrounding community, as well as the students and their families. Humble Hearts had been the primary source of water for the neighborhood, and the source of the only daily meal taken by many of the children.
I will continue to post updates here on the blog. If you are moved to assist the Humble Hearts community, Kids for Kenya sends 100% of all donations directly to Humble Hearts. Checks should be made payable to “Kids for Kenya” and sent care of Trillium Charter School, 5420 N Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR 97211.
Peace and blessings this holiday season,
Ken
Hello friends of Humble Hearts,
The information you got is very true, the school was completely flattened while I was in the remote interior of Malindi coast where my husband George comes from after my wedding. When it all happened at 3am, my mum and my sisters were called and ran to the scene. They found the bulldozers and armed policemen streaming in - not even the wails of women and children could stop them. As they were demolishing the neighboring houses, people were helping to remove the desks and books. It is only the school that was allowed to removed some of the belongings in a hurry, but the residents were not given even a second families were left homeless in a blink of an eye.
I am so mad at the government because they they now say all the demolition was done by mistake: the pipeline company has nothing to do with it. No one seems ready to tell the truth. We are being told to rebuild again with no compensation at all. All the affected persons have been called for a meeting tomorrow. Some residence have started rebuilding. I want us to wait and hear what the government officials have to say and am working on strategies of raising funds to rebuild by approaching local companies and banks to assist in which ever small way, unfortunately many offices are on Christmas break and they say we should try January.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words and concerns. The whole of HH is mourning. I am being asked so many questions on the way forward from both the children, parents and the community, it is now that people have realized that HH has had a positive impact on many.
So far nothing has been done. Its just today that i have been able to get some money for internet. We will appreciate any help you can offer towards this. I will keep you posted. I continue approaching more and more people for help as school must open come January.
My wedding was great George's family helped in making the day a success we are grateful to God and all of you who contributed through gifts and well wishes.
A merry Christmas to you and your families
Beatrice
We have received terrible news about Humble Hearts, our sister school in Nairobi, Kenya. The school and surrounding neighborhood was flattened by bulldozers just a few days ago. It has been difficult to get information, but it has been confirmed that the school has been destroyed. The slum in which the school had been located, Sinai (Paradise), is a narrow, seven-mile long area atop a buried petroleum pipeline managed by the federally-owned Kenya Pipeline Company, to which all of the residents pay rent. There are no laws in Kenya protecting against forceful evictions, or even requiring that residents be notified before such evictions take place.
Below is the latest update from our dear friend, Beatrice Anunda, the director of Humble Hearts, who discovered what had happened to her school upon the return from her wedding. This is of tremendous impact for the surrounding community, as well as the students and their families. Humble Hearts had been the primary source of water for the neighborhood, and the source of the only daily meal taken by many of the children.
I will continue to post updates here on the blog. If you are moved to assist the Humble Hearts community, Kids for Kenya sends 100% of all donations directly to Humble Hearts. Checks should be made payable to “Kids for Kenya” and sent care of Trillium Charter School, 5420 N Interstate Avenue, Portland, OR 97211.
Peace and blessings this holiday season,
Ken
Hello friends of Humble Hearts,
The information you got is very true, the school was completely flattened while I was in the remote interior of Malindi coast where my husband George comes from after my wedding. When it all happened at 3am, my mum and my sisters were called and ran to the scene. They found the bulldozers and armed policemen streaming in - not even the wails of women and children could stop them. As they were demolishing the neighboring houses, people were helping to remove the desks and books. It is only the school that was allowed to removed some of the belongings in a hurry, but the residents were not given even a second families were left homeless in a blink of an eye.
I am so mad at the government because they they now say all the demolition was done by mistake: the pipeline company has nothing to do with it. No one seems ready to tell the truth. We are being told to rebuild again with no compensation at all. All the affected persons have been called for a meeting tomorrow. Some residence have started rebuilding. I want us to wait and hear what the government officials have to say and am working on strategies of raising funds to rebuild by approaching local companies and banks to assist in which ever small way, unfortunately many offices are on Christmas break and they say we should try January.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words and concerns. The whole of HH is mourning. I am being asked so many questions on the way forward from both the children, parents and the community, it is now that people have realized that HH has had a positive impact on many.
So far nothing has been done. Its just today that i have been able to get some money for internet. We will appreciate any help you can offer towards this. I will keep you posted. I continue approaching more and more people for help as school must open come January.
My wedding was great George's family helped in making the day a success we are grateful to God and all of you who contributed through gifts and well wishes.
A merry Christmas to you and your families
Beatrice
Monday, December 14, 2009
Financial Aid Night this Wednesday
Hi Parents of the Class of 2010,
As many of you hopefully know, Trillium is hosting a Financial Aid Night this Wednesday at 7:00. It is an on-line interactive video program put on by NELA and will be held in my room. Families and students are encouraged to attend. More information can be found below.
Please let me know if you plan to attend and how many you will be.
Best,
Ken
At the NELA Center for Student Success, we believe every student should have access to unbiased and accurate college information, no matter how large, small, or isolated the school they attend.
On December 16th at 7:00 pm, we will be hosting “FAFSA Night with the NELA Center”, a virtual financial aid night, available to high schools in communities all over the Northwest. As always, there is no charge for services offered through the NELA Center.
During our one hour session, we will go over the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process and the individual FAFSA questions, so that by the end of the session, families will:
· Develop a personal plan to complete the FAFSA
· Identify which family members’ information should be reported on the FAFSA
· Identify which data will be required to successfully complete the FAFSA
· Register for a PIN with the US Department of Education
This will be a facilitated discussion; each site will be able to type in questions for the presenter. In addition, we will have financial aid administrators available by telephone to answer more detailed questions.
As many of you hopefully know, Trillium is hosting a Financial Aid Night this Wednesday at 7:00. It is an on-line interactive video program put on by NELA and will be held in my room. Families and students are encouraged to attend. More information can be found below.
Please let me know if you plan to attend and how many you will be.
Best,
Ken
At the NELA Center for Student Success, we believe every student should have access to unbiased and accurate college information, no matter how large, small, or isolated the school they attend.
On December 16th at 7:00 pm, we will be hosting “FAFSA Night with the NELA Center”, a virtual financial aid night, available to high schools in communities all over the Northwest. As always, there is no charge for services offered through the NELA Center.
During our one hour session, we will go over the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process and the individual FAFSA questions, so that by the end of the session, families will:
· Develop a personal plan to complete the FAFSA
· Identify which family members’ information should be reported on the FAFSA
· Identify which data will be required to successfully complete the FAFSA
· Register for a PIN with the US Department of Education
This will be a facilitated discussion; each site will be able to type in questions for the presenter. In addition, we will have financial aid administrators available by telephone to answer more detailed questions.
Intensives Shout Out
Hi All,
We had our first day of intensives today and it went great. We are needing some extra help with a few things.
First -I need a adult to go swimming with the swimming intensive. The intensive has a leader but needs another adult in the water.
Second - We need some drivers for drop off and pick up.
If you are available for either of these please let me know.
Thank You,
Polly
Service Coordinator
Polly@TrilliumCharterSchool.org
We had our first day of intensives today and it went great. We are needing some extra help with a few things.
First -I need a adult to go swimming with the swimming intensive. The intensive has a leader but needs another adult in the water.
Second - We need some drivers for drop off and pick up.
If you are available for either of these please let me know.
Thank You,
Polly
Service Coordinator
Polly@TrilliumCharterSchool.org
Sunday, December 13, 2009
This Great Week
Hi all,
Almost there, almost there..... As we all think deep thoughts of snowstorms that cancel school and the break that is right around the corner your students and I are preparing for a creative break from the usual routine.
No regular academic classes are happening during this week The last month of Semester 2 is in January, when we return from break. Instead, we will be participating in school wide Intensives every morning and Advising projects in the afternoons. Your student is expected to attend and participate fully all week. Here's our schedule
Monday- Thursday
Advising morning check in 8:35-9:50
Intensives 9-12pm
Lunch 12-12:30pm (this is a little shorter than usual, so students should plan to bring their lunch, have school lunch, or get to-go close by.
Advising 12:30-3:15
Friday
High School Social Justice Symposium 10-12pm
Your student found out on Friday which of their three Intensive choices they were placed in. Students are expected to participate fully in Intensives. While they are not, by default, available for credit those options may be possible. Your student should ask their Intensives teacher if there is extension work available (in addition to full attendance and participation in the class, for .25 credit.
9th and 10th graders will continue to complete their statewide reading, math and science tests throughout the week.
The main focus of our Advising afternoons will be for students to complete their groups work in preparation for Fridays big event- the High School Social Justice Symposium. Your students will be presenting, teaching, making art, and educating at literature tables. Students have been given invitations to share with people outside of school whom they would like to attend.
In our group we also felt that we needed some holiday cheer and fun in those long afternoons together. So this is what we came up with (and notice the places where we could use your support!)
Make holiday cards (I have some supplies, but would love to get block printing goods like linoleum squares and knives!)
Make holiday cookies (borrowed cookie cutters or other decorating things would be great!)
Make dip candles (tapers). We are asking for a $5 donation to help offset the cost of supplies for this.
Watch a film a little bit each day IF symposium work is rolling along well.
Have a potluck on Thursday (help your student make or buy something to bring in!)
Draw random names and gift each other with the theme of "Bringing in the Light" (should be handmade or no more than $3.... a joke, a poem, a drawing, a lightbulb ;)
It's going to be a great week!
And on December 18-20, Elizabeth's advising is spear heading a great opportunity to share our time again in service with the farmworking community. Volunteer students and parents can help to sort and package toys gathered in a toy drive (we are not doing a lrage scale drive but welcome any donations in order to bring a small box with us. There will also be a collection box with Adib, Cody and Fabian at their table on FSSW and WFWA during the Social Justice Symposium... bring something by when you come to visit!). We can also spend a day cooking and preparing for a huge Christmas feast and then serving and cleaning up from the event (which gathers several hundred people.... families within the farmworker community). I am excited to share in the spririt of giving during the holiday season and hope your student will join in.
Please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts. Thank you for supporting your student during this busy busy week.
Peace.
Ken
Almost there, almost there..... As we all think deep thoughts of snowstorms that cancel school and the break that is right around the corner your students and I are preparing for a creative break from the usual routine.
No regular academic classes are happening during this week The last month of Semester 2 is in January, when we return from break. Instead, we will be participating in school wide Intensives every morning and Advising projects in the afternoons. Your student is expected to attend and participate fully all week. Here's our schedule
Monday- Thursday
Advising morning check in 8:35-9:50
Intensives 9-12pm
Lunch 12-12:30pm (this is a little shorter than usual, so students should plan to bring their lunch, have school lunch, or get to-go close by.
Advising 12:30-3:15
Friday
High School Social Justice Symposium 10-12pm
Your student found out on Friday which of their three Intensive choices they were placed in. Students are expected to participate fully in Intensives. While they are not, by default, available for credit those options may be possible. Your student should ask their Intensives teacher if there is extension work available (in addition to full attendance and participation in the class, for .25 credit.
9th and 10th graders will continue to complete their statewide reading, math and science tests throughout the week.
The main focus of our Advising afternoons will be for students to complete their groups work in preparation for Fridays big event- the High School Social Justice Symposium. Your students will be presenting, teaching, making art, and educating at literature tables. Students have been given invitations to share with people outside of school whom they would like to attend.
In our group we also felt that we needed some holiday cheer and fun in those long afternoons together. So this is what we came up with (and notice the places where we could use your support!)
Make holiday cards (I have some supplies, but would love to get block printing goods like linoleum squares and knives!)
Make holiday cookies (borrowed cookie cutters or other decorating things would be great!)
Make dip candles (tapers). We are asking for a $5 donation to help offset the cost of supplies for this.
Watch a film a little bit each day IF symposium work is rolling along well.
Have a potluck on Thursday (help your student make or buy something to bring in!)
Draw random names and gift each other with the theme of "Bringing in the Light" (should be handmade or no more than $3.... a joke, a poem, a drawing, a lightbulb ;)
It's going to be a great week!
And on December 18-20, Elizabeth's advising is spear heading a great opportunity to share our time again in service with the farmworking community. Volunteer students and parents can help to sort and package toys gathered in a toy drive (we are not doing a lrage scale drive but welcome any donations in order to bring a small box with us. There will also be a collection box with Adib, Cody and Fabian at their table on FSSW and WFWA during the Social Justice Symposium... bring something by when you come to visit!). We can also spend a day cooking and preparing for a huge Christmas feast and then serving and cleaning up from the event (which gathers several hundred people.... families within the farmworker community). I am excited to share in the spririt of giving during the holiday season and hope your student will join in.
Please let me know if you have any questions or thoughts. Thank you for supporting your student during this busy busy week.
Peace.
Ken
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Intensives and You.
Hi all,
Intensives week is coming up soon (Dec. 14-17), and we have some fabulous offerings to look forward to. Polly, the organizer of Intensives (Polly@TrilliumCharterSchool.org) is asking for a few more hands to finish getting things together. Needs right now:
* Spaces! - We have so many offerings and so few places to put them! If you have a warm sheltered area (house, business, studio, etc.) not terribly far from school that could house an Intensive, please let us know.
* Drivers! - If you might be willing to shuttle some students just once (or even every day), that would be stellar.
* Hands! - There are always small tasks to be done. Whatever the time you have to volunteer with us, your work will be appreciated.
* Phones! - We have a long list of community partners that we need to keep in contact with to run this smoothly. If you have a moment and willingness to make some phone calls, that would be great.
Again, please contact Polly (Polly@TrilliumCharterSchool.org) or find her at the Kids for Kenya cases in the lobby in the mornings if you might be able to lend a hand.
Ken
Intensives week is coming up soon (Dec. 14-17), and we have some fabulous offerings to look forward to. Polly, the organizer of Intensives (Polly@TrilliumCharterSchool.org) is asking for a few more hands to finish getting things together. Needs right now:
* Spaces! - We have so many offerings and so few places to put them! If you have a warm sheltered area (house, business, studio, etc.) not terribly far from school that could house an Intensive, please let us know.
* Drivers! - If you might be willing to shuttle some students just once (or even every day), that would be stellar.
* Hands! - There are always small tasks to be done. Whatever the time you have to volunteer with us, your work will be appreciated.
* Phones! - We have a long list of community partners that we need to keep in contact with to run this smoothly. If you have a moment and willingness to make some phone calls, that would be great.
Again, please contact Polly (Polly@TrilliumCharterSchool.org) or find her at the Kids for Kenya cases in the lobby in the mornings if you might be able to lend a hand.
Ken
Two Changes to the High School Social Justice Symposium
Hi all,
With the collision of testing week, Intensives, and Symposium, we have decided to make two changes:
First, we have moved the Social Justice Symposium to Friday, December 18th.
Second, parents are invited. We will open the symposium at 10:00 and will run until 12:00.
Students have been working hard to synthesize the work they have done through our Be the Change theme in advising over the past several weeks. We will have speakers, multi-media presentations, posters, tables with information on hunger issues, gardening, conditions facing migrant workers, and much more. We hope you can make it.
Best,
Ken
With the collision of testing week, Intensives, and Symposium, we have decided to make two changes:
First, we have moved the Social Justice Symposium to Friday, December 18th.
Second, parents are invited. We will open the symposium at 10:00 and will run until 12:00.
Students have been working hard to synthesize the work they have done through our Be the Change theme in advising over the past several weeks. We will have speakers, multi-media presentations, posters, tables with information on hunger issues, gardening, conditions facing migrant workers, and much more. We hope you can make it.
Best,
Ken
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