Hi all,
If you are looking for further opportunities for cool science experiences, here are but a few options:
Most of the state college's have summer high school programs in academic area's of study
oregonstate.edu/precollege
OMSI Summer Camps
oregon-summer-camp
Hoagies Gifted
marine adventure and hands on science
Education World ( free)
Marine Biology Summer Camps for teens
Outward Bound
Lead America robotics and engineering camp
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Some Resources on Israel and Palestine
Here are some useful links to learn about Israel and Palestine:
British Broadcasting Corporation
CIA World Fact Book: Israel
Israeli Tourism Videos
Palestinian Tourism Site
A Zionist Perspective
Zionist Perspective: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zionist: Israel MFA II
Zionist: Israeli history
Palestinian Perspective: Palestine History
Palestinian: Timeline
Palestinian: Nakba
British Broadcasting Corporation
CIA World Fact Book: Israel
Israeli Tourism Videos
Palestinian Tourism Site
A Zionist Perspective
Zionist Perspective: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zionist: Israel MFA II
Zionist: Israeli history
Palestinian Perspective: Palestine History
Palestinian: Timeline
Palestinian: Nakba
Trillium to host activist, film director
Hi all,
I am pleased to announce that the Health Speaker Series course I am facilitating will host a special presentation by Talal Jabari, director of Full Signal, a film about the impact of the proliferation of cell phone technology, on Wednesday, February 17th from 2:00 to 3:00.
All Trillium community members are invited and encouraged to attend. You can find more information about the film here and here and here. If you plan to attend, please RSVP me (Ken@TrilliumCharterSchool.org) so I can be sure to plan well.
You can view trailers here.
I realize this is a controversial issue, and look forward to bringing out diverse concerns and ideas from our community.
Best,
Ken
I am pleased to announce that the Health Speaker Series course I am facilitating will host a special presentation by Talal Jabari, director of Full Signal, a film about the impact of the proliferation of cell phone technology, on Wednesday, February 17th from 2:00 to 3:00.
All Trillium community members are invited and encouraged to attend. You can find more information about the film here and here and here. If you plan to attend, please RSVP me (Ken@TrilliumCharterSchool.org) so I can be sure to plan well.
You can view trailers here.
I realize this is a controversial issue, and look forward to bringing out diverse concerns and ideas from our community.
Best,
Ken
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Cell Phone Safety Resources
For those of you in Health Speaker Series, or just plain interested, here are some resources on the debate over cell phone saftery:
This is from the Federal Communications Commission
This is from the World Health Organization.
This is from RespectPDX.org
A link to a Full Signal, a new film about international health care safety.
More on RF signals from the FCC here.
This is from the Federal Communications Commission
This is from the World Health Organization.
This is from RespectPDX.org
A link to a Full Signal, a new film about international health care safety.
More on RF signals from the FCC here.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Health Coverage for all Oregon Kids
Governor Kulongoski announces the Healthy Kid Plan, open to all uninsured children:
February 5, 2010
All Oregon Children Now Have Access to Health Care, Over 30,000 Already Enrolled
(Salem) — Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced that all Oregon children now have access to high-quality, comprehensive health care under the state’s Healthy Kids plan, realizing one of his top priorities since taking office.
Healthy Kids was passed by the legislature during the 2009 session and has been implemented in phases over the last six months. This week, the Oregon Department of Human Services began providing coverage to families under Healthy KidsConnect, the final phase of Healthy Kids.
Healthy Kids provides access to health care in three ways: 1) No-cost option through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP); 2) Low-cost options through cost-share models; and 3) Full-cost options through newly-created state-sponsored private insurance plans – depending on family income.
No Cost: The plan provides free coverage through the Oregon Health Plan for children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($44,100 for a family of four).
Low-Cost: The program offers a cost-share model to assist Oregon’s middle-class families earning between 200 -300 percent of the federal poverty level (between $44,100 – $66,000 a year for a family of four). These families earn too much to qualify for the Oregon Health Plan, but too little to purchase private insurance on their own. On a sliding scale, these families share the cost with the state or can receive a subsidy to help pay for their child’s coverage through an employer-sponsored insurance plan.
Full Cost: For children in families with incomes above 300 percent of the federal poverty level (or $66,000 for a family of four), the program provides access to a new state-sponsored private insurance plans collectively called Healthy KidsConnect. These families pay the full premium.
To date, the state has enrolled more than 30,000 children in Healthy Kids. The goal is to enroll 80,000 children by the end of this year.
Parents can learn more about Healthy Kids and apply online at www.oregonhealthykids.gov or by calling 1-877-314-5678.
February 5, 2010
All Oregon Children Now Have Access to Health Care, Over 30,000 Already Enrolled
(Salem) — Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced that all Oregon children now have access to high-quality, comprehensive health care under the state’s Healthy Kids plan, realizing one of his top priorities since taking office.
Healthy Kids was passed by the legislature during the 2009 session and has been implemented in phases over the last six months. This week, the Oregon Department of Human Services began providing coverage to families under Healthy KidsConnect, the final phase of Healthy Kids.
Healthy Kids provides access to health care in three ways: 1) No-cost option through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP); 2) Low-cost options through cost-share models; and 3) Full-cost options through newly-created state-sponsored private insurance plans – depending on family income.
No Cost: The plan provides free coverage through the Oregon Health Plan for children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($44,100 for a family of four).
Low-Cost: The program offers a cost-share model to assist Oregon’s middle-class families earning between 200 -300 percent of the federal poverty level (between $44,100 – $66,000 a year for a family of four). These families earn too much to qualify for the Oregon Health Plan, but too little to purchase private insurance on their own. On a sliding scale, these families share the cost with the state or can receive a subsidy to help pay for their child’s coverage through an employer-sponsored insurance plan.
Full Cost: For children in families with incomes above 300 percent of the federal poverty level (or $66,000 for a family of four), the program provides access to a new state-sponsored private insurance plans collectively called Healthy KidsConnect. These families pay the full premium.
To date, the state has enrolled more than 30,000 children in Healthy Kids. The goal is to enroll 80,000 children by the end of this year.
Parents can learn more about Healthy Kids and apply online at www.oregonhealthykids.gov or by calling 1-877-314-5678.
Friday, February 05, 2010
S2 Advising Workshop Offerings
You can find the new staff and student-led semester two workshop offerings here.
Write about Peace, Win Money
The Physicians for Social Responsibility is holding their annual Peace Writing Contest for 11th and 12th graders. Check it out.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
A great critical reading resource from the University of Oregon
Here is a great guide, "On Reading Well/ On Being Well-Read," produced by the University of Oregon.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
End of Semester Class Surveys
Hi students,
Please fill out end of semester surveys:
Click here to take the Senior Project Class survey.
Click here to take the Global Studies Class survey.
Ken
Please fill out end of semester surveys:
Click here to take the Senior Project Class survey.
Click here to take the Global Studies Class survey.
Ken
Exhibition Schedule
Here is the latest schedule for Exhibition Day. This will change slightly to accommodate student resource needs.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Please Come to Trillium this Friday
Hi all,
As we talked about during our conferences back in December, this coming Friday the 29th is Exhibition Day. Students will each take turn being in the spotlight in front of peers and community members presenting their work from the past semester. You are warmly encouraged to attend.
Best,
Ken
As we talked about during our conferences back in December, this coming Friday the 29th is Exhibition Day. Students will each take turn being in the spotlight in front of peers and community members presenting their work from the past semester. You are warmly encouraged to attend.
Best,
Ken
High School Newsletter
Welcome to 2010!
As many of you know, the high school ended the 2009 school year on a very positive, pro-active note, with our first ever “Social Justice Symposium”. This symposium was the culminating event in our semester long drive in our individual advisings to “be the change” that we wish to see in the world. In addition to presentations on the service work that students have been involved in all semester, we had guest speakers, exhibitions, and smaller workshops run by students that ran the gamut from short films about Gaza to workshops on hunger and the prevention of HIV / AIDS. The event was a success, in our eyes, and we look forward to other symposiums like this in the future. However, before we can start planning our next symposium, we need to finish out this first semester, and there's a long list of tasks that both students and advisors need to accomplish before Friday.
First and foremost, the All School Project Fair will be held this Thursday at 6:30pm. The high school will be participating in this event in a different way, in comparison to years past, in honor of the hard work that students did in preparation for the “Social Justice Symposium,” and the fact that our fifth semi-annual annual “Exhibition Day” will be held the following morning from 9:00am to noon. The high school's contribution to the evening will be a panel discussion about the high school, presented by several advisors and the few high schoolers who are willing to give up some of their precious, last minute work time. Parents are invited to attend both the Project Fair and Exhibition Day, if they are so inclined.
Parents and other Trillium community members are warmly welcomed at Exhibition Day, this Friday, from nine to noon. Each student will have his or her turn to present and defend his/her from the past semester in front of a group of peers and family. Please come celebrate your student.
In addition to these presentations, students are also signing up for next semester's classes during advising, which they've hopefully spoken to you about in conversation. The course catalog is available online, should you chose to walk through course sign-up with your student at home, if you wish to augment what's already happening in advising. Course sign-up will officially end on Friday, and students will receive their new semester schedule when they return to school on Wednesday, February 3rd (Remember : Monday and Tuesday are in-school service days for teachers.)
As always, we're available to talk about your particular student by e-mail, so please don't hesitate to ask questions about missing work or overall student performance.
Thank You For Reading.
The Trillium High School Team
As many of you know, the high school ended the 2009 school year on a very positive, pro-active note, with our first ever “Social Justice Symposium”. This symposium was the culminating event in our semester long drive in our individual advisings to “be the change” that we wish to see in the world. In addition to presentations on the service work that students have been involved in all semester, we had guest speakers, exhibitions, and smaller workshops run by students that ran the gamut from short films about Gaza to workshops on hunger and the prevention of HIV / AIDS. The event was a success, in our eyes, and we look forward to other symposiums like this in the future. However, before we can start planning our next symposium, we need to finish out this first semester, and there's a long list of tasks that both students and advisors need to accomplish before Friday.
First and foremost, the All School Project Fair will be held this Thursday at 6:30pm. The high school will be participating in this event in a different way, in comparison to years past, in honor of the hard work that students did in preparation for the “Social Justice Symposium,” and the fact that our fifth semi-annual annual “Exhibition Day” will be held the following morning from 9:00am to noon. The high school's contribution to the evening will be a panel discussion about the high school, presented by several advisors and the few high schoolers who are willing to give up some of their precious, last minute work time. Parents are invited to attend both the Project Fair and Exhibition Day, if they are so inclined.
Parents and other Trillium community members are warmly welcomed at Exhibition Day, this Friday, from nine to noon. Each student will have his or her turn to present and defend his/her from the past semester in front of a group of peers and family. Please come celebrate your student.
In addition to these presentations, students are also signing up for next semester's classes during advising, which they've hopefully spoken to you about in conversation. The course catalog is available online, should you chose to walk through course sign-up with your student at home, if you wish to augment what's already happening in advising. Course sign-up will officially end on Friday, and students will receive their new semester schedule when they return to school on Wednesday, February 3rd (Remember : Monday and Tuesday are in-school service days for teachers.)
As always, we're available to talk about your particular student by e-mail, so please don't hesitate to ask questions about missing work or overall student performance.
Thank You For Reading.
The Trillium High School Team
Friday, January 22, 2010
Exhibition and Class Sign Up
Hello parents,
Please come celebrate your students work over first semester by taking part in Exhibition Day on Friday, January 29th. Each student will have about seven minutes to present and reflect in front of their peers on a significant project, work, or experience from semester one. Parents are encouraged to attend. Exhibitions run the entirety of the Friday half-day. A schedule will be out early next week to highlight the time-slot in which your student will appear.
Course selection sheets and catalogs are now available. I have conferenced with most students around selection and will finish up doing so on Monday and Tuesday.
And as long as I have your attention, my advising is swimming in graciously donated supplies, of all consumable varieties, for which I am most grateful. We seem to have come away with a preponderance of spreadable staples like butter and peanut butter, but nothing on which to spread it (save for Finn's daily delivery of bagels!). We need bread. Can toast. Can freeze. Not too picky, except I only want to feed the students whole grains.
Best,
Ken
Please come celebrate your students work over first semester by taking part in Exhibition Day on Friday, January 29th. Each student will have about seven minutes to present and reflect in front of their peers on a significant project, work, or experience from semester one. Parents are encouraged to attend. Exhibitions run the entirety of the Friday half-day. A schedule will be out early next week to highlight the time-slot in which your student will appear.
Course selection sheets and catalogs are now available. I have conferenced with most students around selection and will finish up doing so on Monday and Tuesday.
And as long as I have your attention, my advising is swimming in graciously donated supplies, of all consumable varieties, for which I am most grateful. We seem to have come away with a preponderance of spreadable staples like butter and peanut butter, but nothing on which to spread it (save for Finn's daily delivery of bagels!). We need bread. Can toast. Can freeze. Not too picky, except I only want to feed the students whole grains.
Best,
Ken
Course Sign Up!
Hi all,
Here is the link to course catalogs and sign up sheets. Please have them in early next week.
Ken
Here is the link to course catalogs and sign up sheets. Please have them in early next week.
Ken
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
News from Humble Hearts
Hi ,Polly and Trillium
We opened school yesterday HH was already flocked with parents and kids by the time I arrived there, everyone was eager to hear and know the way forward.
I was frank to tell them that we had been given just three months to vacate from the slum area according to information from the District Officer who represents the government
The parents not knowing where else to take their children agreed in unison that we should put up temporary structures for kids to continue with classes as we look for a way to solve the problem, parents and guardians immediately started raising money to buy poles while others went ahead to start construction. I was so shocked on how these people proved their love for the school.
The community loves and trusts HH so much that even with no proper classes right now we are getting new parents who are asking for vacancies for thier children who are either not in school or are in another school that is not performing well academically.
At HH we are putting up classes for the babies and small kids who cannot cross the road to the church that we haverented to hold temporary classes. Classes four,five,six,seven,eight,form one,form two,form three and form four are learning from the church, for us to create good learning class like environment, we need to do timber and ply wood partitions that will be put aside every Saturday to create room for the church on Sunday, the primary kids are learning from the church hall while secondary have been given each a room that is normally used by the Sunday school kids
The demolsion and the one to come in March has caused so many families to move,not all the kids have reported .I cannot tell who will be coming back but we can know this for sure at the end of this month. I feel hopeful to have had as many as we have return.
Am of the idea of us looking for land for HH, land that will not be in the slum and not far from the slums, it is difficult to get such land but we are continuing to scout around, then we can start fundraising starting with the money that has been raised for rebuilding HH, we need to look for a long term solution to this.
The present HH is made of tin roof and polythene wall we have made very temporary, we do not want to incure any cost then experience great loses later.
Beatrice
We opened school yesterday HH was already flocked with parents and kids by the time I arrived there, everyone was eager to hear and know the way forward.
I was frank to tell them that we had been given just three months to vacate from the slum area according to information from the District Officer who represents the government
The parents not knowing where else to take their children agreed in unison that we should put up temporary structures for kids to continue with classes as we look for a way to solve the problem, parents and guardians immediately started raising money to buy poles while others went ahead to start construction. I was so shocked on how these people proved their love for the school.
The community loves and trusts HH so much that even with no proper classes right now we are getting new parents who are asking for vacancies for thier children who are either not in school or are in another school that is not performing well academically.
At HH we are putting up classes for the babies and small kids who cannot cross the road to the church that we haverented to hold temporary classes. Classes four,five,six,seven,eight,form one,form two,form three and form four are learning from the church, for us to create good learning class like environment, we need to do timber and ply wood partitions that will be put aside every Saturday to create room for the church on Sunday, the primary kids are learning from the church hall while secondary have been given each a room that is normally used by the Sunday school kids
The demolsion and the one to come in March has caused so many families to move,not all the kids have reported .I cannot tell who will be coming back but we can know this for sure at the end of this month. I feel hopeful to have had as many as we have return.
Am of the idea of us looking for land for HH, land that will not be in the slum and not far from the slums, it is difficult to get such land but we are continuing to scout around, then we can start fundraising starting with the money that has been raised for rebuilding HH, we need to look for a long term solution to this.
The present HH is made of tin roof and polythene wall we have made very temporary, we do not want to incure any cost then experience great loses later.
Beatrice
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Freshmen Update
A note from Elizabeth Johnson, facilitator of Freshmen Inquiry:
Dear Freshmen Parents,
I would like to take a minute and update you on our work in Freshman Inquiry class so that you can support your student's learning and progress. The end of the term is just a month away and two important assignments are in progress. First, after a month of arduously following the writing process, in-class lessons on essay basics, and teacher/peer editing sessions (most) students submitted their analytical essays before we left for Winter Break. On our first day back students will have their final copy returned with an evaluation and grade attached. As clearly written on the evaluation, students may AND ARE ENCOURAGED to revise and resubmit their essay as many times as is necessary in order to receive the best grade they are capable of. Asking to review the essay and its evaluation is a great opening to supporting your students' development as a writer. As a High School program we have focused Freshman Inquiry on analytical writing skills because it is such an essential foundation for their success. Most of the students in class were writing an essay for the first time in their school experience and a learning curve is natural and okay. Those students, however, for whom this process was very difficult and stressful may benefit from additional support outside of the classroom. If this is the case for your student, I encourage you to speak with their student's Advisor about their writing (Advisors have copies of student essays and evaluations).
With essays (mostly) done we now turn our attention to our next task: independent projects. Typically, this unit is about two months long. This year, however, the group required extended time on the reading and writing unit and so our projects have taken on the exciting new requirement of a time challenge of 3 weeks. Students may do their project on any topic of their choice but must follow and document the process laid out in class: project proposal, research/gathering, planning, creating, presenting. It is this process that students will be evaluated on, which is a shift from many of their Middle School experiences where projects are drawn out over a long period of time (with a lot of socializing and procrastinating throughout!) and the emphasis is primarily on the exhibition of the final product. I will be encouraging students to make personal choices that will lead to their success, such as picking a high interest topic that requires few outside resources or in-depth research. Coming to class prepared and focused will also help them make the most productive use of our daily hour together. In class we will look at the popular website created by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher “Learning to Love You More” that is filled with an extensive list of creative assignments that could be great jumping off points for a more fully developed project. This may be fun to look over as a family.... and maybe even collaborate on something together! (www.learningtoloveyoumore.com)
I hope this email leaves you feeling more informed on our class happenings and with a great opener to good communication with your child about their learning and classwork. Please let me know if you have further questions, ideas, or are wanting specific feedback on your student. We are all halfway through the exciting transition to High School freshman year provides... let's keep learning and growing together.
Best,
Elizabeth Johnson
Dear Freshmen Parents,
I would like to take a minute and update you on our work in Freshman Inquiry class so that you can support your student's learning and progress. The end of the term is just a month away and two important assignments are in progress. First, after a month of arduously following the writing process, in-class lessons on essay basics, and teacher/peer editing sessions (most) students submitted their analytical essays before we left for Winter Break. On our first day back students will have their final copy returned with an evaluation and grade attached. As clearly written on the evaluation, students may AND ARE ENCOURAGED to revise and resubmit their essay as many times as is necessary in order to receive the best grade they are capable of. Asking to review the essay and its evaluation is a great opening to supporting your students' development as a writer. As a High School program we have focused Freshman Inquiry on analytical writing skills because it is such an essential foundation for their success. Most of the students in class were writing an essay for the first time in their school experience and a learning curve is natural and okay. Those students, however, for whom this process was very difficult and stressful may benefit from additional support outside of the classroom. If this is the case for your student, I encourage you to speak with their student's Advisor about their writing (Advisors have copies of student essays and evaluations).
With essays (mostly) done we now turn our attention to our next task: independent projects. Typically, this unit is about two months long. This year, however, the group required extended time on the reading and writing unit and so our projects have taken on the exciting new requirement of a time challenge of 3 weeks. Students may do their project on any topic of their choice but must follow and document the process laid out in class: project proposal, research/gathering, planning, creating, presenting. It is this process that students will be evaluated on, which is a shift from many of their Middle School experiences where projects are drawn out over a long period of time (with a lot of socializing and procrastinating throughout!) and the emphasis is primarily on the exhibition of the final product. I will be encouraging students to make personal choices that will lead to their success, such as picking a high interest topic that requires few outside resources or in-depth research. Coming to class prepared and focused will also help them make the most productive use of our daily hour together. In class we will look at the popular website created by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher “Learning to Love You More” that is filled with an extensive list of creative assignments that could be great jumping off points for a more fully developed project. This may be fun to look over as a family.... and maybe even collaborate on something together! (www.learningtoloveyoumore.com)
I hope this email leaves you feeling more informed on our class happenings and with a great opener to good communication with your child about their learning and classwork. Please let me know if you have further questions, ideas, or are wanting specific feedback on your student. We are all halfway through the exciting transition to High School freshman year provides... let's keep learning and growing together.
Best,
Elizabeth Johnson
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.
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