May 2008

Dignitaries, Families Anticipate May 9th Annual Celebration
 

 

Time is near to celebrate the amazing youth who have lead the "Be the Change" Movement in Monroe County for 2007-2008.

 

Expect to see lots of smiles, taste great food, and get to know the world's future leaders 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 9th at Sombrero Country Club in Marathon.

 

Adults are $15 and Students $10.

 

RSVP now to Sunny.Booker@keysschools.com

or call (305) 797-1328.

 

See you at 5:30 p.m. this Friday!

Created by Students to Change Rival Attitude

 

In high school many fights were in the ninth and tenth grade but those drastically reduced after 8TP was created to help meld rival middle schools into one cohesive class. The transition program is known as 8TP at Key West and Coral Shores or 6TP at Marathon. Incoming classes spend a team-building day on the high school campus where they plan to attend the next year. According to the Safe and Drug-Free Schools report the number of violent acts against persons, harassment, and fighting incidents on all three campuses has dropped. Students created this program to make the campus safer, reduce anxiety of freshmen and better prepare them to learn.

 

 

This larger-than-life presentation incorporated select major motion movie clips, top-of-the-chart music, and a story about middle school students who have rescued and care for more than 3,300 dogs and 500 cats in four years. Through an innovative, large three-screen presentation elementary school students and teachers throughout Monroe County heard "Count on Me" April 28 - May 2. More than 1,000 students were motivated to be responsible for themselves, others and the world. MYCP High School students showed true leadership by introducing the production and helping set up and break down the screens and video equipment between multiple programs in one day.

Students Speak about Service Learning
 

 

 

Students Bring Change Through Public Awareness

 

Through the Key West Leadership Class with MYCP Lower Keys Prevention Coordinator Mindy Vinson advising, student teams learn about business, environment, and economics. "They are learning through trial and error as they interview local dignitaries to find out how our community is run," Vinson said. In addition, the Key West environment contingent joined forces with the Coral Shores High School leadership class to clean up the bridges throughout the county. By next school year, students hope to see more garbage cans placed around bridges and proper signage posted to promote proper care of the Keys' natural resources.

Conference Set for May 19

 

In analysis of school data, Anglo students score highest on standardized tests and have the highest GPAs while Hispanic students place second and African American students score third. Yet, the African American students have the highest attendance rate.

 

What do you think about that?

What are the stereotypes that lead to your thinking?

 

Students are to face those questions in a unique opportunity to train with conflict resolution activist and professional trainer Elisa Levy. After the training, students plan to prepare ideas on how to solve this dilemma of inequality, known as the achievement gap, for administrators to study.

 

Countywide Students Access World-Class Educators

 

MYCP partners with the Cultural American Music Program (CAMP) & Careers which is ready to sign students up now! MYCP provides youth development/prevention speakers and curriculum during the five-week program. CAMP is open to 5-12 Grade students in hospitality, culinary arts, and film and video productions with core courses and electives in winds, brass, percussion, guitar, vocals, ballroom, Stomp, technical design, theater, culinary arts, film/video productions & more! Dual enrollment is available. The program runs from June 14 to July 19 at Marathon High School. Countywide transportation provided. Call 743-6215 for info.

 

Swadley to Save the Sick

 

Francine Swadley is ready to help heal the world. She attends Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida on full scholarship with a major in Community Health and Prevention - Epidemiology.

 

She is a member of the anthropology club; Circle K International, a community-based service club serving food at a weekly soup kitchen; Chi Omega Sorority to raise money that helps grant wishes for children in Make-A-Wish® Foundation; and the Civil Engagement Club she is going with on a service project to the Dominican Republic.

 

The summer after she graduated Coral Shores High School in 2006, she earned her CNA - a certificate as a nurse's assistant. Last summer she worked as the director of the St. James Summer Foster Child Day Camp 60 hours a week and attended algebra class once a week in Marathon. "I could keep going on about the things she's done. She's just amazing. We're very proud of her," said her mom.

 

Francine was part of the MYCP-sponsored Leadership Class for three years. She attended Challenge Day as a freshman and then served as a peer facilitator. She still remembers, "Half way through the day the awkward feeling [at the beginning] is gone and every one is sharing about themselves and being friends and supportive of each other."

 

She attended Next Step in California and was part of the brain child team that created the now keys-wide 8th-Grade transition program known as 8TP provided by MYCP.

 

"I would like to thank Michele Sutter, Sunny Booker and everyone who makes
Challenge Days possible," she said.

 

Her recent act of being the change was in February when Francine cut her hair and donated it to Locks of Love.

 

Next year, Francine returns to Florida Gulf Coast as a junior. When she graduates she hopes to become a medical doctor and work wherever there are poor people, hopefully with the World Health Organization or the Peace Corps.

 

"Francine just has that spark of life. She was committed to MYCP and what we were about," said MYCP's Michele Sutter.

 

Above, Francine sports her new short hair cut.

The bottom photo is Francine with Michele two years ago.

sunny.booker@keysschools.com

http://www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp