Community Narratives

Blog is on hold

2010-10-15T20:02:00.001-07:00

Due to being a new mommy, this blog is on hold and will not be updated for now. Links may be old and outdated so please use them with discretion. Thank you for viewing and I'll leave this blog up as a reference tool. Thanks again for your well-wishes and understanding. Gotta go...baby wants to play. :)

If America Were a Village

2010-05-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

If you like this amazing title that makes us look at our United States
communities in a whole new light... Then check out the rest of Citizen Kid's
globally-focused resources at
http://www.kidscanpress.com/US/CitizenKid-C2539.aspx?section=5&series=2.

Public Service Announcements

2010-04-13T17:03:00.001-07:00

Try creating a Public Service Announcement with your children. Teach them that persuasion comes in all forms and can be most powerful using video. Check out Wonderland Elementary's Megan Fox and 90 fifth graders uniting in opposition to the proposed education cuts to public schools in California www.saynotocuts.com. Good job kiddos!

J. Hardison Sims
hardisims@yahoo.com

Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding. --Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

(Dusty's new e-mail is dusty.sims@gmail.com)

Everyday Heroes Videos

2010-03-18T14:56:00.001-07:00

Heifer International's Read to Feed Program. The program dropped off the
radar for a while and is now back. Yahoo. Check out this cool video and take
a look at the great resources available to anyone wanting to make a
difference.

Video
http://www.heifereducation.org/site/c.lwL0KlN1LvH/b.5437871/k.94FA/Everyday_
Heroes.htm

Reading incentive program
http://www.heifereducation.org/site/c.lwL0KlN1LvH/b.4130829/k.B3E0/Read_to_F
eed_a_reading_incentive_servicelearning_program.htm

Community Challenge

2010-02-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've heard of CyberMission but if you haven't, it's soooooooo IB
and super cool. The deadline has passed for this year, that's ok, we're all
super busy anyways...but I just wanted to share some of these cool ideas so
we all can get inspired for next year.

I'm not sure if these "topics" or challenges stay the same or change but
they are amazingly perfect for a school service learning or IB program or
you can even design our own.

If you're a community group or even just an individual share these ideas and
partner up with a teacher or school in your area. You can even run this as
science fair or an after school club.

Take a look:
https://www.ecybermission.com/public/About/About_ECM.aspx

Teaching Tolerance - Good Stuff!!!!

2010-02-05T15:47:00.000-08:00

I've probably shared this before but no classroom or community organization
should be without this awesome FREE resource. Sign up for your subscription
today. Check out this really neat idea to get yourself or your students
really thinking about the "labels" you put onto others.

http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-37-spring-2010/check-labels

Have a restful and tolerant weekend, Jenny

Creating Sustainable Schools

2010-02-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

Follow Kari Grady Grossman's blog as she travels to Cambodia with Sustaining
Schools International.

http://www.karigradygrossman.com/wordpress/

Inspirational Video

2010-02-02T15:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA

50 in 52 Journey

2010-01-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

Check out these inspirational videos about people making a difference in
their community. What will you do this year to make a difference?

http://www.50in52journey.com/

Recycled Holiday Cards

2009-12-22T23:40:00.000-08:00

A simple and fun activity is to reuse holiday cards by cutting up used cards and pasting the art/designs onto another card or onto recycled paper. The recycled cards can be given to teachers, sold as a fundraiser, or sent to a local organization such as a senior center or a veterans association. We sent our cards to Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc. 665 Main Street, Suite 400 Buffalo, New York 14203 so soldiers will receive them by Christmas. Remember to tell your friends, families and colleagues to save their cards.

World Cup Unites Three Different Communities

2009-12-22T19:57:00.000-08:00

This movie came out in 2006 but I just found it. You have to find this
feature narrative, comedy, about a family of Mongolian nomads, a camel
caravan of Tuaregs in Niger, and a group of Amazon natives in Brazil, united
by their quest to view the 2002 World Cup between Germany and Brazil. Sports
is a universal language and this shows how the world is truly "flat" when it
comes to the commitment of the sports communities around the globe. Find
this movie to view the beautiful cinematography and chuckle at this humorous
comedy adventure.

Note: Parental advisory for some translated words and frontal nudity in some
of the shots of the Amazon women.

Movie: La Gran Final (The Great Final, English)
Director: Gerardo Olivares

To Know Me is to Love the Muppets

2009-11-26T10:35:00.000-08:00

It's Thanksgiving here in the U.S. I'm thankful for my family, for having
the means to share a dinner with my family and friends, for my comfy home
that I share with my loving husband, for running water, heat, TV, and a plot
to garden and grow healthy food, for a job where I feel I make a difference
and I'm surrounded by colleagues and children that feel the same, and for
friends that send me things like the link you'll see here because they know
what I like and want me to be happy.

And last but not least...I'm thankful that on a morning where I started out
feeling a little melancholy because my husband's out of town, I opened my
e-mail from my best-friend Deb and there was this awesome link to the
Muppets singing a tribute to Freddie Mercury. It cheered me right up and
made me smile. It changed my mood and my smiles made me remember wonderful
and amazing gifts I am able to enjoy every day.

Muppets are like that you know...Magical

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

To my fellow muppet community. Happy Gobble Gobble and may your turkeys be
brown, and your frog green.

Love, Jenny

Sarah Winnemucca from Native Peoples Magazine

2009-11-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

[from Native Peoples Magazine]
Sarah Winnemucca (18441891) was one of the most influential and charismatic
Native American women in American history. Born near the Humboldt River Sink
in Nevada to a legendary family of Paiute leaders at a time when the
Paiutes¹ homeland and way of life were increasingly threatened by the influx
of Anglo settlers, Sarah later wrote that the white men ³came like a lion,
yes, like a roaring lion, and have continued so ever since.²

Read this very interesting article that highlights a personal narrative that
I can't believe I didn't learn in school. What other incredible stories are
left out of our community narratives?

http://www.nativepeoples.com/article/articles/202/1/Sarah-Winnemucca-Paiute-
Activist--Spokesperson/Page1.html

Lemon Grove Incident

2009-11-24T10:56:00.000-08:00

Many people don't know about these courageous risk-takers who led the first
desegregation case in the U.S. Read about their incredible stories at

https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/86spring/lemongrove.htm

http://sdvoice.com/2008/09/17/the-lemon-grove-incident-changes-history/

Awesome Water Project Resources

2009-11-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

Now that we're finished with Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, check out
water-related resources for the Tap Project at
http://youth.unicefusa.org/tap/.

Go For It!

2009-10-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

Over the past 14 years, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have been
given to nearly 90,000 middle and high school students across the country
for helping the less fortunate, protecting the environment, and serving
their communities through volunteer activities. Apply now to win a sizable
cash prize, a trip to Washington, D.C., and a chance to inspire other young
people to get involved in volunteering.

The application deadline is November 2.

http://spirit.prudential.com/view/page

Conference--help our community

2009-10-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

Bright Green Future Conference
Solving San Diego's economic and environmental challenges
Price Center, UCSD
Saturday October 24: Public & Community Sessions

Bright Green Future is a conference bringing together experts on San Diego's
regional energy, natural resources, transportation, green business, job
training, sustainable living and building, and much more. Bright Green
Future provides useful, real-life information on how individuals, businesses
and government agencies can start to address the economic and environmental
challenges required to create a "Bright Green Future" for the San Diego
region.

On Saturday afternoon San Diego Roots President Matt Finkelstein will be
speaking on the Protecting Local Places panel about the effects, problems,
and challenges created by a global, industrialized food system on our local
communities and then showcase the local solutions being developed and
implemented to address these issues. From environmental sustainability to
social justice, the food choices we make every day have vast impacts on the
health of ourselves, our communities, and the Earth at large. Eating is
always an environmental act and we must address our food system to create a
bright green future!

Click here to go to the Bright Green Future website
<http://brightgreenfuture.net/>

Adobe Youth

2009-10-07T18:03:00.000-07:00

Great digital tools to share your voice with the world from Adobe Media and
the Black Eyed Peas. http://plantandinspire.org/resources/

Slow Food

2009-10-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

Cool website on Slow Food - grow it - eat it. Good resources for school
garden projects. Check-out the detailed how-to guide.

http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/programs/in_schools_detail/get_started/

Community of Bottle Caps

2009-10-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

From I Love a Clean San Diego's October Newsletter

25th ANNUAL CCD RECORD-BREAKING RESULTS!
Volunteers in San Diego County celebrated the 25th Anniversary of California
Coastal Cleanup Day bigger and better than ever before this year! Thanks to
these stellar volunteers, communities, beaches, bays, and open spaces are
now 133,453 pounds of debris cleaner! Coordinators at I Love A Clean San
Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper were hoping to engage 10,000 volunteers, and
San Diegans rose to the occasion! A proud 10,143 volunteers participated at
80 coastal and inland cleanup sites, where they removed litter, cleared
invasive plant species, painted storm drains with a preventative message,
painted murals, created trails, and planted trees and other native plants.

Thanks are in order to these volunteers, as well as this year's event
sponsors. This year's Coastal Cleanup Day was presented by the County Board
of Supervisors through the support of Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and
Supervisor Greg Cox along with the City of San Diego's Think Blue Stormwater
Department. Additional support was generously provided by the Sempra Energy
Foundation, Allied Waste Services, Qualcomm, Kashi, Belmont Park, The
Wavehouse, SeaWorld Adventure Park, The San Diego Bay Watershed Group,
Alaskan Brewery, Bank of America, Sanyo, Hornblower Cruises and Events,
Harrah's Rincon Casino, Sturgeon Services International, General Dynamics
NASSCO, Lincoln Military Housing, Fitness and Wellness Insurance, Birch
Aquarium at Scripps, and DMAX Engineering.

To view more results from this years Coastal Cleanup Day, please visit
www.cleanupday.org.

4. RECYCLING BOTTLE CAPS, By Beth Kimball, ILACSD's Administrative
Coordinator
According to data collected from California Coastal Cleanup Day, bottle caps
rank in the top 5 items found by volunteers at this annual event. These
discarded caps never biodegrade in the marine environment, where they
persistently pose a threat to wildlife. Small, brightly colored bits of
plastic are often mistaken for food and ingested by seabirds and other
animals. At this year's Coastal Cleanup Day, San Diego volunteers collected
11,227 caps and lids!

Therefore, it is no surprise that a common question we are asked at our
recycling and hazardous waste hotline is: What about bottle caps?

Unfortunately, bottle caps, unlike plastic bottles, are made of
polypropylene plastic. This type of plastic, usually labeled with a number 5
recycling symbol, has a much higher melting point than bottles. This
difference is significant to recycling processors. Recyclables are sorted at
processing plants and filtered for contaminants, although some caps still
find their way into the mix. If this happens, the whole load becomes
contaminated and the mix turns into a tie-dye swirl of melted bottles with
bits of solid caps. For this reason, we advise residents to separate caps
from bottles.

What can I do with my caps?
There are several recycling companies in San Diego that take back
polypropylene (#5). Visit our website, www.wastefreesd.org, to find one near
you. Please call ahead as some recyclers have specifications.

Also, eco-friendly manufacturers, such as Aveda take caps back at their
retail locations. They collect twist top and flip-top lids, which are
recycled to make new Aveda products and packaging. To learn more about the
program, visit http://aveda.aveda.com/aboutaveda/caps.asp.

Coastal Clean Up Art Contest

2009-09-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

This is a great idea for Clean-ups everywhere. Follow California's lead if
you're planning a big event.

http://www.cleanupday.org/kids.htm#contest

CAL STEM

2009-08-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

Service learning intiative is working regionally and statewide to increase
the number of women and minorities becoming engineers, scientist and
technologists of tomorrow. Check out their resource page and think about how
you can partner with local engineering, scientific community and technology
businesses to support Service Learning: Education in Action.

Www.calstem.org

Beads for Life

2009-08-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

Start designing your holiday gifts by making jewelry using "Beads for Life."
Buy your supplies from women making their own beads to support and nourish
their families and communities.

Another idea is to buy these supplies and for children's group projects and
service clubs.

www.beadforlife.org.

Almost on vacation

2009-08-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, couldn't resist one last post for San Diego before I leave...

Edible City Celebration
A full week of activities produced by Food Not Lawns

Each year, our friends at San Diego Food Not Lawns
<http://www.sdfoodnotlawns.com/ecc.php> sponsor and plan an amazing weeklong
series of events called Edible City Celebration. Here's what they've got
lined up:

Sunday, Aug 23, 1 to 2pm - Guided Tour of the Hillcrest Farmers' Market
Sunday, Aug 23, 4 to 6pm - Local Iron Chef
Monday, Aug 24, 6 to 8pm - Fermentation Workshop
Tuesday, Aug 25, 6 to 8pm - CSA Meal Planning
Wednesday, Aug 26, 6 to 8pm - Movie Night
Thursday, Aug 27, 6 to 8pm - Food Preservation
Friday, Aug 28 - Locavore Day
Saturday, August 29, noon to 1pm - Composting Workshop at the City Heights
Farmers' Market
Saturday, August 29, 4 to 8pm - Tomato/Basil Festival with potluck and live
music!
Saturday, Aug 29, 2pm - Fermentation and Backyard Chickens in North County

For more information about each of these events,
click here to go to the San Diego Food Not Lawns website.
<http://www.sdfoodnotlawns.com/ecc.php>

On vacation

2009-08-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

Blog's on break...We're heading up to the Sequoias. Have a wonderful
summer's end. --Jenny

Diana Bergman's Newsletter

2009-08-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

Be sure to sign up for the Regional School Garden Newsletter. If you would
like to sign up to receive monthly announcements directly please email
diana.bergman@rcdsandiego.org. The San Diego Regional School Garden Resource
Center is a program of the Resource Conservation District of Greater San
Diego County in partnership with the California Department of Education.

Here's just a taste of what you'll get in your inbox each month...

Gardens for Learning Online
The California School Garden Network has distributed its 10000 printed
copies of Gardens for Learning, a beautiful book full of ideas, models, and
resources for California garden educators. The book will be available online
for posterity as a download. Click to go to the Gardens for Learning
<http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=trac
k&j=280311484&u=3062846> comprehensive school garden guidebook.

Kids are our Customers

2009-08-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Students are taking action to change policy. After all, who better to let us
know what they want than our customers, the students themselves. Read more
from What Can Kids Do article: Having a Say:
http://www.whatkidscando.org/featurestories/2009/07_having_a_say/index.html

Coastal Clean-up Day

2009-07-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Save the date...25th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day
When: September 19, 2009

http://cleanupday.org/

Sign-up for Taking It Global Ed Blog

2009-07-31T15:43:00.000-07:00

TIGed blog at http://www.tigblog.org/group/tiged.

Aboriginal Canada Portal at TIG

2009-07-31T15:40:00.000-07:00

August
In August, the Taking it Global site will be focusing on indigenous people
around the world in celebration of the International Day of the World's
Indigenous People on August 9th. Be sure to check out the resources
available on the site, especially on the Aboriginal Canada portal, and
explore issues affecting indigenous people in your classroom.
http://canada.tigweb.org/indigenous?ec=413,95424

Set Your DVR!

2009-07-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

THE NEW AMERICANS Premiered July 5, 2009 on PBS WORLD. This mini-series will
trace the journeys and dreams of America's newest arrivals from their roots
in their homelands through their first difficult years in America. Read more
about the New Americans and the series Global Voices. Great first person
narratives representing a variety of perspectives. Let's learn more about
each other so we can better understand one another. Check it out for sure!

http://www.pbs.org/itvs/globalvoices/guide.html

Volunteer Serve-a-Thon

2009-07-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

Save the date...
Volunteer San Diego's Serve-a-thon. Mark your calendars now! Serve-a-thon
2009 is coming: October 2-4. This year's event will focus on the issue of
Poverty in San Diego County.This exciting event will have volunteer
opportunities for everyone and a chance to learn about an important
community issue.

Projects will be open for registration at the end of the month. Check
Volunteer San Diego website for updates. http://www.volunteersandiego.org

Our Latino Community Effected by Cuts

2009-07-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

All Californians will feel the education budget cut ax, but the Latino
community may suffer an especially big hit. Read more...
http://www.latinola.com/story.php?story=7645

Who Will Educate Tomorrow's Youth?

2009-07-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

.... a total of 45,000 California students will be left without choices for a
four-year institution. That is, unless they come from families with the
resources to pay for a private college education.

Looking for Costal Champions

2009-07-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

2009 Coastal Champion Awards

San Diego Coastkeeper is pleased to announce that applications for the 2009
Coastal Champion Awards will be accepted from July 17 July 31, 2009. The
awards, which will be presented in front of hundreds of San Diego¹s
community leaders at the Gala benefit and announced via press release and
email to over 5,000 individuals, recognize outstanding dedication to
preserving and protecting San Diego¹s coastal environment.

Honorees will be selected in three categories: Business,
Community/Volunteer, and Youth.

http://www.oceangala.org/oceangala/awards.html

Wanted: Clean-Water Ambassadors

2009-07-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

Become a Clean Water Ambassador
When: July 23 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Where: Nimitz Marine Facility
397 Rosecrans St
San Diego, CA 92106

Launched in 2009, Clean Water Ambassador trainings highlight Coastkeeper's
work, and the critical issues facing the San Diego Region. The next forum
will focus on current State efforts to protect our ocean ecosystems with the
establishment of marine protected areas along our coastline. Joining
Coastkeeper's Marine Conservation Campaign staff will be marine ecologist
Dr. Ed Parnell from Scripps Institute of Oceanography and others. Contact
Sarah Blakeslee for more information and to RSVP Sarah@sdcoastkeeper.org.

Learn more about the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
http://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/content/programs/marineCon/areas.htm

Why is all of this so important?
-Fishermen are now catching less than half of what they did in 1990 and the
fish they do catch are 45 percent smaller.
-Some fish populations in California are depleted to 10 percent of historic
levels.
-Seventy percent of California¹s kelp forests, key breeding habitat for
certain types of fish, have vanished in the last 50 years.
-Many fish off California¹s coast are in such decline that some species will
take 50-80 years to recover to healthy levels. If current conditions
persist, some never will.

MPAs provide safe refuge for fish to grow and thrive because human impacts
are limited resulting in more diverse, abundant and larger marine animals
and ecosystems that provide a more reliable source of food for larger
animals such as marine mammals, sharks, and even humans where allowed.

(PB Middle Students attending the Clean Water Ambassador trainings with
their parents earn double service hours.)

Water Monitoring

2009-07-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Learn to be a Water Monitor and meet some new friends at the Water
Monitoring training hosted by SD Coast Keepers. Sign up for July 18th
training.
http://www.sdcoastkeeper.org/content/programs/waterMon/getInvolved.htm

Student contests - Good luck!

2009-07-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

Student Contests from Diana Bergman's SD Regional School Garden E-Newsletter, July 2009 (great resource!) Funky Nests in Funky Places - Entry deadline July 31, 2009 The Cornell Lab of Ornithology encourages people of all ages to celebrate spring by submitting photos, artwork or stories about Funky Nests in Funky Places. The first 50 entries will receive a copy of the "Doves and pigeons of North America" poster, and selected entries will be posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds Web site. Learn more <http://action.neefusa.org/page/m2/2b1c8f4/b7b7515/3e4de6e9/7b04646e/3936329
378/VEsHAA/>

2009 NACD Poster Contest DIG IT! The Secrets of Soil Local entry deadline September 1, 2009 The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), in collaboration with their state and local counterparts, announces its annual student poster contest theme ³Dig It! The Secrets of Soil.² Any media may be used to create a flat or two-dimensional effect on poster paper sized between 8.5x11 and 22x28. The 2009 Stewardship title ³DIG IT! The Secrets of Soil² must be on the poster. You must FIRST submit to the local level contest, then two winners from greater San Diego County will advance to the state level, and state winners will be submitted to the NACD contest.

For rules, entry form, and submission requirements (please read carefully!), go to the website of the California Association of Resource Conservation District <http://carcd.org/education.php> . For examples from previous year¹s contests, click here
<http://www.nacdnet.org/education/contests/poster/> . To submit to the local contest, call Diana Bergman at (619) 562-0096.

Calling All Kids- Video Contest! Tell us why you are a Victory Grower - Entry deadline Sept. 1, 2009
Food Independence Day is asking kids to create a video describing why they are a Victory Grower and how that affects who they want to be and what they want to do in the future. For more info visit:http://foodindependenceday.org/post/116892037/telavision

Year of Science Zine-A-Thon Contest - Entry deadline November 1, 2009 The Year of Science
<http://action.neefusa.org/page/m2/2b1c8f4/b7b7515/3e4de6e9/7b04646d/3936329 378/VEsHAw/> challenges students and adults to design a mini-magaZine on one of the twelve Year of Science themes. A template, examples, and tips are provided on the Web site. Zines are judged by a panel of scientists, artists and students who will award up to 36 prizes. Learn more <http://action.neefusa.org/page/m2/2b1c8f4/b7b7515/3e4de6e9/7b04646c/3936329
378/VEsHAg/>

Imagine this... Story Writing Contest - Entry deadline Nov. 1, 2009 Plan to enter your student's creative stories in the Imagine this... contest in the new school year. The Story Writing Contest meets California Academic Content Standards 1.0 writing strategies and 2.0 writing applications. Submit up to five stories per classroom. Entries are now being accepted. Entry form, and regional submission addresses available for download from
the Web site, www.cfaitc.org/imaginethis <http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=trac
k&j=280311484&u=3062842> .

Fish are Family Too

2009-07-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

Join Coastkeeper at "The End of the Line" Film Screening this Friday
Imagine a World Without Fish

Join San Diego Coastkeeper at Hillcrest's Landmark Ken Cinema for the screening of "The End of the Line." This stunning documentary (based on the book by Charles Clover) explores the devastating impacts of overfishing and its global consequences. Learn why some scientists are predicting that if we keep fishing at the current rate the planet will run out of seafood by 2048 and what we can do to help prevent this catastrophic consequence. Stay after the film for an informative Q&A session with Coastkeeper's Director of Marine Conservation, Kate Hanley, and representatives from both WildCoast and Scripps Institute of Oceanography. The film is showing in San Diego for one week, so please mark your calendars and do not miss this must-see film. We hope to see you there! What: "The End of the Line" Documentary Screening in San Diego (general tickets $9.00) When: Friday, July 10 from 7:30pm - 9:00pm Where:

Landmark Ken Cinema 4061 Adams Avenue San Diego, CA 9211

First Nation Communities

2009-07-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

We're always looking for viewpoints from all communities. Check out Indian Country Today.

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/50134432.html

Shift Happens

2009-07-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Think about the implications for serving a quickly changing community, with
a knowledge, information, and social networking base that is growing
exponentially. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY

SD Service Learning Opportunities

2009-07-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Trainings, Conferences, and Service Opportunities:

* Engaging Students Through Service: Comprehensive Service-Learning Training on July 29th at San Diego County Office of Education from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (SDUSD Discover Credit is available) registration and detailed information is attached * STEM Service-Learning Institute from August 5th to August 7th at Sacramento State University - registration and detailed information is at http://www.ycoe.org/depts/cis/STEM/WorkshopsInstitutes.htm * Serve-a-thon (formally Volunteer San Diego¹s Hands-On San Diego) is coming: October 2-4. This year's event will focus on the issue of Poverty in San Diego County. This exciting event will have volunteer opportunities for all ages and a chance to learn about an important community issue. See www.volunteersandiego.org <http://www.volunteersandiego.org> for all the
details and how to become a site captain.

Curricula and Resources:

* Just announced: eXcel Youth Zone becomes the San Diego PeaceJam chapter! This incredible curriculum links students to 12 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and their Ten Global Calls to Action. eXcel Youth Zone will be offering trainings and support in PeaceJam in San Diego. Please stay tuned for dates. For more on PeaceJam visit www.peacejam.org <http://www.peacejam.org> * For the ongoing funding resources please visit: http://www.volunteersandiego.org/AboutUs/index.php/youth_families/grants.htm * If you haven¹t heard, there are new High-Quality Service-Learning Standards. National Youth Leadership Council has updated the standards (see attached). A simple way to see these standards is to note they represent the three levels of service-learning project complexity and expertise: > * Basic: Meaningful Service, Link to Curriculum and Reflection > * Intermediate: Basic plus Diversity, Youth Voice and Partnerships > * Advance: Intermediate plus Progress Monitoring and Duration and Intensity > (and in California we add Civic Responsibility) Whatever level you are, know that they are a doable and make a huge difference in the lives of youth and our community. Let me know if I can support you in mastering your level or taking it to the next level. -Jennifer Hamilton, new Program Director at Excel Youth Zone, the new service-learning powerhouse for San Diego Note: San Diego service learning and student service clubs have moved from Volunteer San Diego to Excel Youth Zone

SAVE THE DATE...

2009-07-05T17:02:00.000-07:00

Growing Places, San Diego Roots inaugural art-for-farmland festival, will
take place in Little Italy, San Diego on August 1.

*backyard grown wheat
*vegetable dyes
*donation station
*art+response projects
*a super-loungy food library
*a raffle with prizes from businesses that support local food and local arts
*performances and live bands!
*snacks and treats grown and made by local healthy food start-ups
*...and some really great ART!

See you there!

FW: Growing Partnerships

2009-06-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

If you're ever in San Diego's mid-city stop by a hidden community jewel.
City Farmer Nursery is a great example of a business that builds community
and vice versa. Unfortunately, due to Woker's Comp laws, the normal throngs
of volunteers aren't able to give of their time anymore but hopefully other
states don't have the restrictions and can really build on what Bill at City
Nursery has started for the San Diego Community by teaching community
members how to garden. In turn, he was able to keep labor costs down. This
is a really dumb law, because his volunteers could sign a waiver, but oh
well, dem's the law.

Here's an example of an event that doesn't run into city regulations...

City Farmer Nursery 21st Annual Pumpkin Growing Contest: Wrangle up your
little ones, your grandchildren, nieces & nephews, neighbors kids and teach
them the joys of gardening. It's never too early or too late to share the
fundamental awesomeness of gardening! Seeds and sign up information are now
available at the nursery. This FREE event is open to all children ages 16
and younger. 1st place wins a $100 savings bond, 2nd place wins a $50
savings bond and 3rd place wins a City Farmers Nursery gift certificate.
City Farmer Nursery is located at 4832 Home Ave. in San Diego. Phone (619)
284-6387. Bill has giant pumpkin seeds to start your garden.

Water Water Everywhere

2009-06-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Communities cannot exist without water. It brings us together, it keeps us
alive. Check out these water resources that address community needs.

Thirsty for fun? Play this water game from Voices for Youth
http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/wes/explore_wes.php

Kids play and pump. Technology at it's finest. Two problems solved with one
super smart design!
http://www.playpumps.org

(from PlayPumps.org)
The World Water Crisis: Fast Facts

More than one billion people worldwide do not have access to clean water.
That is 1 in 6 of us. Water-related diseases are the leading cause of death
in the world. Every 15 seconds a child dies from a preventable,
water-related disease. 40 billion hours are lost annually to hauling water,
a chore primarily undertaken by women and girls.

Take Action In honor of World Water Day, March 22, start planning now.
Limit the amount of water your household uses, donate your coffee or soda
money, or host a water walk. You can take simple steps to raise awareness of
and stand in solidarity with the 1.1 billion people worldwide who do not
have access to clean drinking water: Sign the petition to adopt Article 31,
the right to water at www.article31.org. Host a FLOW Screening Party. Order
your copy of the film today on Amazon. Send a text to five of your friends
about World Water Day. Educate them about the global water crisis. Donate
your email signature. Hold a water walk at your school, church, or office.
How far you can carry a 5 gallon water jug? Download our Action Kit and get
started to create your very own fundraiser for school groups, faith-based
groups, club fundraisers, wedding and birthday gifts, and more.

World Water Day Links. Learn more about things people did for World Water
Day 2009. Start planning now for March 22, 2010:

UN Water:
http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday

World Water Day:
http://www.worldwaterday.org

World Water Day Events:
http://www.worldwaterday.net

American Museum of Natural History:
http://www.amnh.org/programs/specials/worldwaterday

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Day_for_Water

Worms Rule!!!!!

2009-06-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Check out the Solana Center resource page. Read their regular blog featuring
the best of the Rotline questions about composting and vermiculture. Lots of
free composing classes offered over the summer and you can volunteer to help
out planting their garden on July 7th.

http://solanacompost.wordpress.com/

To post

2009-06-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

See how one community makes room for this artistic style.
Kids learn how to channel their inner graffiti artist at Writerz Blok.
http://www.10news.com/news/15819262/detail.html

A Graffiti Artist Goes Mainstream
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/08/sunday/main4783448.shtml

$ervice

2009-06-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some ideas that kids can try to boost their own piggy-banks by
helping to bring community together or providing needed services or
products. Identify and satisfy a community need and you just might become an
entrepreneur while you're at it.

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Summer_Entrepreneurs_Money/

WATER = LIFE

2009-06-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

Learn more about conserving water in San Diego and beyond. Clean-water is an
issue that will eventually affect all of us.

http://www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation/drought/index.shtml

Amor Del Mar / Love our Marine Environments

2009-06-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Learn more about the coastal marine life at the Tijuana Estuary website.
There's even a link for educators.
http://tijuanaestuary.org/

Volunteer to feed the white sea bass fingerlings at www.sdoceans.org.

Let there be Life!

2009-05-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

Instead of watering your thirsty grass, how 'bout using your water to feed
your friends and family? Check out Victory Gardens. Ding, ding,
ding...dinner's ready! http://www.victorygardenssandiego.com/index.html
http://lesslawn.com/ Check out the article on "permaculture".

Are you in a wheelchair? Need increased access? Try a container garden.
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/gardening.shtml or
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0803/is_4_44/ai_61860209/

San Diego Teachers: May 28, 2009
K-12 Grade Teacher Workshop: Water-Wise Gardening. The San Diego County
Water Authority (SDCWA) is hosting a five-hour workshop to provide teachers
with basic instructions on building water-wise gardens. SDCWA will pay for a
substitute so teachers can attend.
http://www.sdcwa.org/education/teachers-workshops.phtml

President Wants Your Story!

2009-05-06T09:04:00.001-07:00

Supporters of Service-Learning,

We need to greatly increase the service-learning knowledge base at the
federal level. There are exciting opportunities on the horizon. However, we
will miss this chance if we do not let the President know of the wonderful
results that are happening for youth to Learn, Serve and AchieveŠ

The Whitehouse has set up a web site that allows you post a message on how
you and your students are delivering on changeŠ

Have teachers, students, parents, community members, school board members
and others post information and success stories on
www.whitehouse.gov/change.

Community Crusader

2009-05-02T08:41:00.001-07:00

Gillian Gillett, turned her busy intersection into a place where neighbors
connect. She saw a problem and fixed it! More about San Francisco's Guerrero
Coalition and grassroots greening at http://www.sanjoseguerrero.com/

Place-based Learning

2009-05-01T10:29:00.001-07:00

Great educators know that learning must be relevant and nothing is more
relevant than collecting real-data and interacting with real-life
environments and local communities. We've done our jobs as educators when
students have the skills, knowledge, understanding and attitudes to act upon
what they've learned and make the world a healthier, safer, more beautiful
place for us all. Check out this KPBS article then go outside!
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/mediainfusion/

New Marching Band Takes to the Street in New Orleans

2009-04-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

The Roots of Music Marching Band: Read an excerpt from The Times Picayune "Just before the parade, the band's youngest trombonist, Anun Bennett, 9, a chubby-cheeked third-grader at Martin Behrman Elementary School, had fiddled with his mouthpiece and claimed he wasn't nervous. "But if I am nervous, it's because I don't want it to rain," he said. He also wanted to sound good, he said. His key moment would come, he said, when the drum major held up three fingers, the signal for their version of the Barry White song, "Your Sweetness is My Weakness." It's his favorite tune so far, he said, partly because he has a solo part. "I hope I don't mess up," he said. Music can build a community and make a difference where schools may not. Read the article at the link above.

2009-04-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

Christopher Dale: My Friend

2009-04-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

Friends are invaluable. Here's a great example of serving your community and having a great time doing it. Thanks always goes out to my good friend Christopher Dale. He's the son and nephew of teachers, and understands the importance of turning kids on to music. He graciously donates his talent and time to shelters and local schools. Three cheers to the students of Warren Walker Elementary, in San Diego. Check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l6cgYACdeY.

Awesome Stories

2009-04-23T07:45:00.001-07:00

Community Narratives can come to life through biographies. Even though
biographies can be boring to read sometimes, they are important because they
give us a snap-shot into the history and lives of people and community.
Often biographies are written about people who made a difference. Here's a
free website that has short, interesting biographies, and some even have
links to powerpoints that illustrate their lives.
http://www.awesomestories.com/biographies

Stories of Survival

2009-03-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

How do people survive and use what they've learned to make the world a
better place? I'd love to know your story of "survive and serve". Here's an
example of one "Story of Survival" from SurvivorCorps.

Bui Xuan Than
Southeast Asia Vietnam

In 1992, Than and a group of other men were cultivating a field in An Giang
Province, Vietnam when a mine left over from the Vietnam War detonated,
firing debris and metal scraps in all directions. The explosion shot
shrapnel into Than¹s spine. He was paralyzed below the waist. ³I began to
bleed heavily and the sky became dark in my eyes. I fainted from the pain.²
The injuries paralyzed Than below the waist. ³The doctors and nurses did
their best to take care of me, but my spine was too badly damaged,² Than
remembers. For 15 years Than lived with very limited mobility and suffered
from depression. ³I didn¹t want to communicate with anyone. Sometimes I
wanted to die.²

Survivor Corps met Than in 2007. We helped him connect to Vietnam's Bureau
of Internal Affairs, where Than was provided with a wheelchair and access to
health care. We also linked him to a supportive community of other
survivors. Than was invited to participate in disability law trainings,
where he learned to advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities
in society and public affairs. Than also had Survivor Corps¹ help to develop
a business weaving baskets. His baskets were recently displayed in two
well-known trade exhibitions in Hanoi. ³I¹m more empowered today, more
confident to live and produce durable goods for the community.²

Publishing from Detention

2009-03-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

These students have a voice in the most unlikely of locations. Check out
this article from What Can Kids Do?

http://www.whatkidscando.org/your_stories/2009/03_blogging/index.html

Amnesty International Kids

2009-02-22T23:55:00.000-08:00

AIKids' Urgent Actions are simply-written actions in large typeface, for
children, about children. They provide unique hands-on human rights
educational opportunities for the home or classroom. The monthly AIKids'
Urgent Action offers teachers and parents a chance to introduce children to
letter-writing as an empowering tool. Read more at
http://www.amnestyusa.org/individuals-at-risk/ai-kids/aikids-urgent-actions/
page.do?id=1108057

Submit Your Migration Narrative to ePals!!!!

2009-02-22T22:39:00.000-08:00

[from ePals e-newsletter]
Gain Global Perspective on Hopes for a Better Future
Last week to contribute to ePals' Living Memory Storybook

As the ePals Global Community expands with new classrooms from around the
world, you can find more opportunities than ever to help your students
become global citizens through understanding and appreciating a variety of
cultural perspectives worldwide.

We want to remind you about the the Living Memory Storybook project in our
most recent focus area, Black History. Based on painter Jacob Lawrence's
moving series, "Migration", this project is an opportunity for students to
exchange points of view on the difficult yet critically important issues of
racism, discrimination and prejudice. How would your students envision a
world without racism? How do we get there? How will things have changed for
the better?

For this project, we are privileged to work with the Whitney Museum of
American Art in New York City and the Phillips Collection in Washington,
D.C. to showcase Lawrence¹s art. In addition to his vivid paintings, our
site includes interactives specifically designed to show students how to
create their own narratives. Submissions are due by February 28, the end
of Black History Month in the U.S. Entries will be displayed on the site for
all community members to enjoy, comment on and rate. The first 20 groups to
submit entries will receive a Jacob Lawrence poster for their classrooms.
Our goal is for these ideas and discussions to continue on related forums
throughout the year. Help keep this worldwide conversation going!

http://www.epals.com/projects/info.aspx?divid=migrationstorybook

Duration and Intensity

2009-02-18T21:46:00.000-08:00

Instead of the Super Seven elements that define a "high-quality"
service-learning experiences, I guess we can now call them the Nifty Nine!

The Service Learning Standards now include: DURATION & INTENSITY

Here's what the National Clearinghouse on Service Learning says:

Standard: Service-learning has sufficient duration and intensity to address
community needs and meet specified outcomes.

Indicators:
Service-learning experiences include the processes of investigation of
community needs, preparation for service, action, reflection, demonstration
of learning and impacts, and celebration.
Service-learning is conducted during concentrated blocks of time across a
period of several weeks or months.
Service-learning provides enough time to address identified community needs
and achieve learning outcomes

For more information or to view the Service Learning Standards and research
supporting the Nifty-Nine, go to:
http://www.servicelearning.org/instant_info/fact_sheets/k-12_facts/standards
/

SD Servapalooza

2009-02-13T10:57:00.001-08:00

What is Servapalooza?
Volunteer San Diego, eXcel Youth Zone and Kids for Peace are co-hosting
Servapalooza to celebrate Global Youth Service Day. Servapalooza is a
Service Festival and Parade of Wishes in Balboa Park on Sunday April
26, 2009.

This Service Festival celebrates groups making a wish for our world and
serving to make this wish possible. Participants will enjoy the
entertainment, Parade of Wishes, food, vendor booths, and the main event,
Service Stations.

How to Participate?
There are many fun ways to take part in Servapalooza before, after and
during the event! Check out all the ways you can be involved!

Wish
Create a wish for the world; do a service project to grant your wish; and
celebrate at Servapalooza by marching in the Parade of Wishes and displaying
your wish banner at the event.

Serve
Interested teens and college groups are matched with community organizations
to facilitate the hands-on service project at the Service Station.

Support
Win great prizes by raising money to support youth serving year-round. When
youth serve they stay in school, say no to drugs and violence, and continue
to serve their whole lives! What a great cause!

Participate
Come to Servapalooza and ave fun at the festival. Participate in Service
Stations, complete Servapalooza passport to win Service Hero button, enjoy
the entertainment, eat, dance, etc.

Promote
Invite others to join you at Servapalooza. Share with your family, friends,
clubs, school, churches, synagogues, libraries, coffee houses, etc.

For more information and to participate or engage in any part of
Servapalooza visit www.servapalooza.kintera.org.

Bones That Float

2009-02-11T16:15:00.000-08:00

Get out your tissue and read this book about adopting and serving in
Cambodia.

www.bonesthatfloat.com

We're Back, Check Out Know h2o

2009-01-26T12:24:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the unintended hiatus. We were busy with New Year and new semester
curriculum here at PB Middle.

Anyways, check out this clean-water resource. Know h2o has ideas for taking
action by providing clean drinking water to the world.

http://www.knowh2o.org

Human Footprint

2008-12-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

FREE! This unique and eye-opening documentary will help you understand your
impact on the world. Watch the Human Footprint. This free online version has
advertising but you can purchase the video from National Geographic as well.
http://www.snagfilms.com/films/watch/human_footprint/

Human Footprint

2008-12-04T17:09:00.000-08:00

View this amazing documentary for free. What is your human footprint?
http://www.snagfilms.com/films/watch/human_footprint/

Need a little inspiration?

2008-11-30T19:19:00.000-08:00

I've posted this before so humor me if this is a repeat. I need a little
inspiration to get me into the "giving season" and as I'm feeling the crunch
to get all of my shopping done I realize that these quotes can offer me a
little balance. These quotes remind me that giving is more than just
gift-cards and piles of wrapping paper. Hope you had a wonderful
Thanksgiving.

³There¹s a radical&lsqauo;and wonderful&lsqauo;new idea hereŠ that all children could and
should be inventors of their own theories, critics of other people¹s ideas,
analyzers of evidence, and makers of their own personal marks on the world.²
Deborah Meier, educator

[FROM Teens with the Courage to Give]
To laugh often and much,
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends,
to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others,
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let him that would move the world first move himself.
-Socrates

Everybody can be greatŠbecause anybody can serve. You don¹t have to have a
college degree to serve. You don¹t have to make your subject and verb agree
to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Some people see things as they are and ask why. I dream things that never
were and ask why not.
-Robert F. Kennedy

History, although sometimes made up of the few acts of the great, is more
often shaped by the many acts of the small.
-Mark Twain

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your
country.
-John F. Kennedy

[FROM The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to
Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social
Action]

If you need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm.
-Yiddish Proverb

The job of an educator is to teach students to see the vitality in
themselves.
-Joseph Campbell, Author

No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both
are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be
included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs it
lifeline.
-Kofe Annan, Secretary General, United Nations

A person¹s mind stretched by new ideas never goes back to its original
dimensions.
-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jurist and Writer

Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, other transform a yellow
spot into the sun.
-Pablo Picasso

From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.
-Arthur Ashe, Athlete

A pitcher cries for water to carry. And a person for work that is real.
-From To Be of Use by Marge Piercy, Poet

If you think you¹re too small to have an impact, try going to sleep in a
room with a mosquito.
-Anita Roddick, Activist and Founder of The Body Shop

Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both
young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing.
-Quincy Jones, Musician

The elders were wise. They knew that man¹s heart, away from nature, becomes
hard; they knew that lack of respect for growing, living things, oon led to
the lack of respect for humans, too.
-Chief Luther Standing Bear of the Lakota Sioux

The Earth is now ours; it is a treasure we hold in trust for future
generations.
-African Proverb

No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helps you.
-Wilma Rudolph, Athlete

Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid of standing still.
-Chinese Proverb

A Recovering American Soldier

2008-11-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately this well-meaning e-mail request is False. Check out Snopes for the whole story. http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/walterreed.asp

[fake e-mail] When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people would receive. A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington , D.C. 20307-5001

Instead, Snopes.com suggests you send your cards to Holiday Mail for Heroes. Deadline is December 10th and details are available at http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_8382,00.html

Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk in San Diego

2008-11-29T14:19:00.000-08:00

[Kirstin Clapham, Tate and Drew's mommy, writing about the Beach Babes Cheer
Tent at Santa Clara Point]

I recruited Tate the Sticker Man this year. He did a great job! "Would you like a sticker?". "Thanks for walking." Tate was such a trooper and a big
hit with the walkers. Our group received such awesome feedback from people, walkers and public alike. Thank you's all around. If you ever get the chance to participate in this awesome event in some way you should, it is amazing. Every little bit helps. Tate and Drew were in great spirits the entire THREE hours we were at the Cheer Tent. He was very in to his "job"
and wanted to stay longer ("There's more stickers, Mom. They're still
walking!") but I rounded them up around 2:30 and they both fell asleep on the way home :-)

I included a few shots of the day. We wrote names down for our loved ones , currently fighting the disease, have lost the fight, or those who are survivors. The names stretched about a block down the boardwalk. Quite a sight. I think walking with us in the Race for the Cure helped Tate grasp
the concept of today. He kept seeing the people in pink and saying "they're walking a really, really long, long way to help people! To make them stronger!" I'm so proud of Tate and love him so!

Upper Arm

2008-11-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

Do you know that Doctors Without Borders volunteers use an arm bands to
measure the circumference of a child's arm to determine the level of
malnourishment. Doctors use data to save lives in refugee camps around
world. This and other valuable health and social information can be found on
the Doctors Without Borders teacher and student resource page.

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.co.nz/education/activities/braceletoflife/i
ndex.html

Cultural lesson

2008-11-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Ooops...here's the link.

http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=437

--Jenny

World Of Perspectives from What Would Kids Do

2008-10-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

Sign up to have What Would Kids Do Feature Stories delivered to your e-mail.
You have awesome student created videos, books, and feature stories at your
fingertips. See this month's focus: Democrats & Republicans, comparing
festivals, early marriage and pregnancy -traditions, and globalization.

http://www.wkcd.org/featurestories/2008/10_worlds_together/index.html

Water Stories A World Apart

2008-10-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

Communities rely on water. We can't exist without it.

Read about two communities and how they use water in Albion, New York and
Kambi ya Simba, Tanzania.

In the town of Albion in upstate New York, students understandably take
running water for granted. Shiny drinking fountains and bathrooms with
toilets don¹t get a second look, and the high school swimming pool doesn¹t
raise any eyebrows.

Six thousand miles away, in the Tanzanian village of Kambi ya Simba,
students use jugs to fetch water from the nearest pump and bring it back to
school, where the water is then used for drinking (after being boiled),
cooking, and cleaning. At the primary school, the nearest water pump runs
dry six months of the year. Then, it¹s a five-kilometer walk to fetch water.

As part of WKCD¹s ³In Our Global Village² program, students have shared
water stories...

in Albion: http://issuu.com/wkcd/docs/albion_water

In Kambi ya Simba: http://issuu.com/wkcd/docs/kambiyasimba_water

Cultural training

2008-10-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

I found this cool link to learn about customs from other cultures.

http://culture101.rice.edu/intro.cfm

Sharing Our Humanity Global Poverty Focus

2008-10-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Check out the IB World School Theme "Sharing Our Humanity". There's a
student blog and teachers can access lessons to teach about the global issue
of poverty. Check it out at...

http://communitytheme.ibo.org/

How do you see the world?

2008-10-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Teaching Tolerance provides a teachers guide to help students discuss how
their frame-of-mind and perspective affect how they see the world and other
people. This link focuses on having students participate in a pre-service
reflection on their personal experiences that make up their FRAME. This
pre-reflection can help prepare them for a more successful service-learning
experience.

http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=733

Speaker: Doctors Without Borders

2008-10-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

On the Medical Frontlines: A Conversation with Doctors Without Borders
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - 7:00 PM
San Diego Natural History Museum
Balboa Park
1788 El Prado
San Diego, CA
Please join Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for a
moderated panel discussion featuring Lorena Bilbao, Program Officer for
MSF-USA, MSF nurse Mary Jo Frawley, San Diego-based surgeon Sandra Freiwald,
and Alan Hickey, logistical expert for the organization. These MSF aid
workers will share their experiences working overseas for the organization,
explore MSF¹s humanitarian principles, and address current activities and
concerns. The panel will be followed by audience Q&A.
This event is free, wheelchair accessible, open to the public

Service Learning Student's Guide & Journal-Awesome!!!

2008-10-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

The flyer says..."Help students organize and document their Service-Learning
project, and help them acquire the knowledge and skills they need to become
civically engaged, produdctive, and fulfilled citizens. In addition this new
Service-Learning resource will assist you in assessing the success of your
Service-Learning program.

This guide is the coolest...totally helpful for a student-led,
student-focused service learning experience. I wish I would have thought of
this. It's not cheap though, that's the only catch. $9.95 each.
www.servicelearn.com

Service Learning Blog

2008-10-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

What are you doing for Learn and Serve Week? E-mail me and I'll post it
here.

Adopt a Beach

2008-09-20T21:25:00.000-07:00

In San Diego we have a program where groups can adopt a beach. Pacific Beach Middle School seventh graders adopted a beach named PB Point. We just finished one of many beach clean-ups. For more information or to get ideas about setting up an Adopt a Beach program in your city go to www.adoptsd.org

Pick Up Your butts!

2008-09-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hey smokers, quit making such a mess!

Today 40 students, parents and teachers from Pacific Beach Middle School International Baccalaureate World School collected over 2000+ cigarette butts at Tourmaline Beach in San Diego. Volunteers gathered all of the cigarette discards and over 100 lbs. of trash in less than three hours.

What a huge mess. What's scary is this was only a one day clean-up. I can't imagine how much marine debris is present following a storm.

I know how bad smoking is for human but today we saw the effect that smoking can have on marine animals. Animals eat cigarette butts that travel through our filter-free storm drains and directly into our oceans. We can make a huge difference by picking up the butts wherever we see them. Yes, it's gross but what a huge difference we can make and it won't cost us a dime, maybe just a lot of soap and water to wash our dirty hands.

Shout out to PBMS students for serving our community. I dare someone to say that teenagers don't care.

Oh, and thanks especially to Mr. Ketchum who came out to clean-up trash on his birthday! Now that's dedication to keeping our water clean.

Art + Compassion

2008-09-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is so wonderful. There are people quietly doing good things
everywhere. Regardless of our personal politics, we can all use our talents
to make a difference.

http://www.militarytimes.com/hancock

Honor Service

2008-09-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honor young people in middle level
and high school grades for outstanding volunteer service to their
communities. Created in 1995 by Prudential Financial in partnership with the
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the awards
constitute the United States' largest youth recognition program based solely
on volunteering. Over the past 13 years, the program has honored more than
80,000 young volunteers at the local, state, and national level.

You can apply online for The 2009 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards at
http://www.prudential.com/spirit

Ocean Pollution

2008-09-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

We're working hard on our PBMS International Waters theme so bare with me if
I spend my time afterschool loading the blog with water-related items.

California Coastal Commission has a great website that talks about reducing,
reusing and recycling as a strategy to cut down on ocean pollution.

http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/marinedebris.html

WORMS RULE!

2008-09-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

Worms are cool. Kids can check out this easy to use website to learn more
about the benefits of these little vermi guys.
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Kidstuff/

Read to Feed Is Changing???

2008-09-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

It seems the Read to Feed program has been, or is being, revised. We will
miss this program. Apparently Heifer Intl. is creating new guides that are
aligned with service learning objectives and state standards. I went on
their site and signed up to receive e-mail notification of any updates. If
anyone knows of anything similar to the ol' Read to Feed please let me know.
This was a staple of our 8th grade reading incentive program.

RECYCLE THIS BRO!!!!

2008-09-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

[From Surfrider Foundation]

Wrap your head around this: rather than sending that snapped surfboard off
to the landfill you could give it to rerip.com or HomeblownUS to be recycled
and made into new materials.

Surfboard manufacturing can be a dirty business so the more we can reduce,
reuse, rerip and recycle surfboard the better off for the environment and
everyone.

This is one of the first chances to drop off boards in any condition to have
them be recycled. Look for the rerip.com booth at the Surfrider Paddle for
Clean Water event, September 14, at the OB Pier, San Diego, CA.

The person that brings in the most used boards for recycling gets a free
stand-up-paddle blank from Biofoam/HomeblownUS!!

3r's - Play the Game

2008-09-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Fun, easy only game to learn about items that can be reused, reduced and
recycled.

http://www.kidsbegreen.org/

Disney's Environmental Challenge

2008-09-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

For 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.

http://disney.go.com/environmentality/dec/california.html

Dying of Thirst

2008-09-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

Video advocating the need for clean-water for all...

http://www.globalwater.org/video-dyingofthirst.html

Save the Date: September 20th

2008-08-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

San Diego Coastal Clean-Up Day

[from I Love a Clean San Diego Newsletter]
24th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 9AM - 12Noon
Over 50 Sites Countywide
I Love A Clean San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper are excited to once again
host thousands of San Diegans for the 24th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day event!
This year, the event expands its reach with several bi-national site
additions in Baja California, in an effort to protect the watershed and
environment that we share with our neighbors to the south. Cleanup sites
extend from Oceanside past the border, so getting involved is easy!
Registration is available on the event website starting the first week of
August, at www.cleanupday.org. Sign up soon to make a difference at your
favorite beach, park, or open space area!

Service Learning Docs

2008-08-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a link ot the service learning planning documents that I said I'd
post following the IB ARC in San Fran. Again, thanks to all of you who
attended my session. Happy planning.

http://www.ibnaconference.org/node/488

Exemplary Community-Owned Business Partner

2008-08-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Do you know a locally-owned business that goes out of their way to support the community? We have one in San Diego. Why go out of your way to frequent a local store instead of going to the giant mega chain stores?

They might cost a little more but here are a couple reasons why you should support your local businesses:

Reason 1: The money stays in the area. They support local schools, community groups and often carry products that are better for the community and environment. Why? Because they live there too.

City Nursery is a funky, friendly, family-owned gem in central San Diego. They have art events where community members can exhibit for free. They have free seminars on composting, green roofing, cooking with herbs and more. They have a corral with farm animals, pond with koi and a play area. They make it fun for kids to just go an hang around while their parents check out the unique plants and trees. Everyone's welcome. Oh, and did I say they have a "dig your own worms" bin? Too cool.

Reason 2: They are your neighbors and you can build personal relationships that last for years, or hopefully, for a lifetime.

Last year when I was at the nursery I mentioned that I'd planted
pumpkins a little late and I was worried they wouldn't be ready in time for Halloween. Bill, the owner said, "Hey, give me your phone number and I'll call you when you need to plant them next year." OM Gosh! He did, he did. He left a message on my home phone, eight months later, reminding me to plant
my pumpkins. How cool is that? That's why I choose to spend my money at City Nursery on Euclid and Home Avenue in San Diego.

Rumor has it they are getting ready to stock Tilapia for home fish farming. Can't wait...project # 546 on the summer to-do list.

Save the date: October 25th is their giant pumpkin judging contest and local artist sale. While it's too late to plant your giant pumpkin seeds, there's still time to sign up to display your artistic wares. Even kids can sign up to sell their art at the event. Call the number on the website for more
information and we'll see ya there.

http://cityfarmersnursery.com/

E-mail me your favorite locally-owned business and share why you believe
it qualifies as an "Exemplary Community-Owned Partner."

Where is Matt?

2008-08-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

Want to smile? Maybe building a global community is as simple as doing a funny dance and inviting others to join in the fun??? Too cool. Human Ingenuity indeed!

ARC Speaker #3 Women, Religion and War

2008-07-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

At the IBNA ARC conference Joan Chittister was our final keynote speaker. She talked about Religion, Women and War. Her message was based on her religious beliefs as she's a Benedictine Nun so I was curious how she'd make her message universal and not one-sided. She was well spoken and well-read. Dr. Robert M. Franklin might have said she's a true Renaissance women. While she was definitely passionate about her religious beliefs and experiences, her words ended up being meaningful and inclusive.

She talked about how women and children are increasingly the unseen, rarely reported, never negotiated, victims of war and religious conflict. She talked about the need for all religions to come together to stop war. She argued that instead of focusing the politics of fear, vengeance and violence we all, regardless of our beliefs, ethnicity or gender, can choose to call for political policy and personal action built on virtue and vision for a
peaceful future. "It is time for women to reach across the borders that men will not breach to take the hands of the other -- not to bind them but to bond them. It is time for women¹s analyses of world situations and women¹s solutions to conflict to be heard," Chittister said. Interesting perspective that, like Eboo Patel, I'd never really heard or considered. Since we're coming out of a century that suffered one war after another, and Chittister reported 97% of the deaths in Iraq are civilian deaths, her message underscores the importance that all leaders, secular and sacred, explore solutions. Together we need to find a way to focus on solutions that promote and sustain world peace based
on vision and virtue, not on violence and vengeance.

IB ARC Keynote Speaker Dr. Robert M. Franklin

2008-07-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dr. Robert M. Franklin, the new president of Morehouse College, spoke to the IB educators and students at the IB Annual Regional Conference in San Francisco. His speech challenged us to address the crisis in education by creating Renaissance Men (and Women). His Morehouse Renaissance Man (Woman) must develop himself/herself to possess the following traits:

Well-read and have a broad education beyond their particular subject area. They must read poetry, literature, especially the classics like Aristotle

Well-traveled: challenge what is familiar by deparochializing our citizen to be prepared to see the world

Well-spoken: be able to articulate feelings verbally and writing, to capture w/ precision what they want, express nuance with style, not only at least bi-lingual but tri-lingual

Well-dressed: able to present themselves in public

Well-balanced: healthy minds in healthy bodies with healthy values

To read more about Dr. Robert M. Franklin's ideas visit the Morehouse College website. http://www.morehouse.edu/about/presidentfranklin/visionstatement.html

Build the Beloved Community w/ Eboo Patel

2008-07-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

"It's not the time for anger, this is the time...to build the beloved community." Dr. Martin Luther King

No matter what you're religious beliefs or ethnic background you are or aren't, you might be interested in viewing and listening to the ideas and solutions of Eboo Patel.

"We need to find ways for people from different backgrounds to get to know each other." He poses that brotherhood and understanding is the key to disarming conflict, especially the conflicts and wars that are born from religious misunderstandings. He says that too often it's children and teens that are fighting wars around the world so it's important that we build opportunities for children and teens to talk across the borders of faith, especially as America's original policies were based on the ideals of freedom and tolerance. Patel shares that America is a nation where people from the four corners of the world come together and it's our nation where open dialogue and discussion is allowed happen. He tells the story of a man and his son reflecting on their internment during WWII, "...[A]nd by your people I don't just mean the Japanese, never let American forget about this, because America is too good for what it did to us. [Japanese Internment]" The reason there is freedom in America is due to the diversity that protects this freedom. It's up to all of us to embrace our differences and learn about each other so we have peace and tolerance instead of mistrust and conflict.

The Interfaith Youth Organization webpage says "Imagine a world where people from different religious backgrounds come together to create understanding and respect by serving their communities. This is the world we are building."

Powerful stuff and a message that I personally had never considered, especially in the public school setting.

Listen to his intelligent, inspirational and enlightening video from his speech at Cincinnati's Freedom Center. What does this mean for public school students? Can we have these discussions in school? What do you think? Feel free to send me your comments after listening to his video in its entirety. http://www.ifyc.org/about_movement

Bill Strickland Serves the Good Stuff

2008-07-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

The only thing wrong with poor people is they don't have money and that can be fixed...You gotta hear this man! At the Annual Conference for International Baccalaureate North America in San Fran I had the immense privilege of hearing Bill Strickland. His keynote speech was one of the most inspiring, dynamic presentations I've ever heard. He "Make[s], The Impossible Possible" and that's the title of his book. Check him out!