Thursday, July 24, 2014
Lil V and her Buddy Club.
My daughter, Little V, has a big heart. She is friends with everybody and works hard to make sure everyone feels included and loved. She and 7 other 2nd graders at her school even started a club with this very purpose. They founded the Buddy Club after hearing a bully prevention lecture in class.
In
the
students’
own
words,
the
purpose
of
the
group
is
“to
watch
out
for
bullies,
prevent
fights,
teach
kids
to
stand up
for
themselves
and
look
for
kids that
are
sad”.
To
advertise
this
group,
the kids
made
posters
that
are
hung
around
the
school, announced
on
the
school
intercom
encouraging
all
to
join
the
club,
presented
to
each
class
the
purpose
of
the
club
and
made
a
link
to
our
school
website
for
parents
and
students
to
view.
Because
of
this
group,
a
“Buddy
Bench”
was
ordered
and
placed
on
the
playground
so
group
members
can
help
those at
the
bench.
Any member
of
the
Buddy
Club
will
come
to
the
aid
of
anyone
in
need.
The
group
meets
at
least
once
a
month
over
lunch
to
brainstorm
techniques
in
helping
on
the
playground.
At
the
beginning
of
each
new
school
year,
the
club
will
talk
to
the
student
body
about
how
to
be
a
buddy
on
the
playground.
This
student
led
group
is now
a
permanent
part
of
our
school.
It was an amazing success. My daughter used it more than once. When Little V's friend "Mary" got a new best friend "Lexi", there was some conflict. Lexi did not like Little V and didn't want to play with her or let Mary play with her either. So, my Little V went and sat on the bench. Soon, fellow member "Carlos" came running up and listened to the problem. Then, they went together to talk to Lexi. With a neutral third party, the problem was quickly worked out. This is a way for kids to work their problems out on their own. This is kids supporting each other. It is amazing!
The counselor wrote up what they did and submitted it for a Kansas Promising Practice Award. We won! We were then entered into the national award and we were selected as a 2014 Promising Practice award winner by the Character Education Partnership.
This is what she wrote about the impact this has had on our school so far after just one year:
"Students
are
becoming
less
worried
about
specific
clicks
of
friends
and
are
becoming
more
interested
in
helping
out
others.
For example,
instead
of
fighting
over
the
soccer
ball
at
recess,
they
are
learning
to
teach
each
other
how
to
play
soccer.
Because
of
this club,
office
referrals
are
going
down
as
students
are
spending
their
energy
on
helping
instead
of
hurting
others.
The
more
students
see
they
have
the
peers
on
their
side,
they
will
feel
less
worried
about
recess,
bullying
and
friendships;
this
will
then
lead
to
fewer
students
missing
school
(an
increase
in
attendance
rate)
Daily,
students
are
asking
to
join
the
buddy
club
and
are
excited
to
be
a
part
of
this
movement.
There for
a
strong
sense
of
community
and
pride
is
being
created
in
our
school.
"
That, my friends makes this Mama so proud. She has already said she can't wait to plant a new Buddy Club at her next school. I can't wait to see her making a difference anywhere we go.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Memorial Day
My military man crush Monday:
Captain Pugh works hard, he travels all over the world, he misses so much to give us everything we could ever want/need. I love him and I am so proud to call him my husband.
Labels:
army,
family,
Man Crush Monday,
MCM,
Memorial Day,
military,
Military Monday
Monday, May 12, 2014
Military Monday
So, we are getting ready to move later this year. It is our first real move as a military family. We have been so very lucky to stay home for all these years. Steven was in the reserves and between the deployments, schools and that recruiting tour that we do NOT talk about, we never had to move. My girls have thus far been only minutes away from both sets of grandparents, all of their aunts, uncles and cousins.
The girls just had their first real deployment in 2011 and now their first move. I think it is the perfect one for our family. Only four hours away, a similarly sized town and similar climate. We can come home on weekends if we want/need to. We will be right by Tablerock, which means that family will probably want to come and visit us on occasion.
I am a bit apprehensive. Transferring colleges right as I am ready to start a nursing program is scary. Transferring the kids to a new school makes this mama nervous. Yet, Steven has sacrificed so much to make sure we are comfortable and this is the best thing for his career right now.
At this point, we are all excited and nervous. It is hard to predict the future but my girls are strong little ladies. We are going to rock this! New experiences and new places await. Remind me, I really need to tell my husband we prefer beaches over blizzards......
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
The man, the legacy.
My husband's grandfather passed away this morning. I loved that man. He was one of the most intelligent people I ever met and he had a heart of gold. He treated me like one of the family from the moment we were introduced.
He was a great husband who cared for his wife over 61 years. He was a writer, a photographer, an amazing cook, a veteran, a hard worker. He was an amazing storyteller, with a dry but impecable sense of humor.
There are so many people who are going to miss him. I know that I will everyday.
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