A Hollywood FLOW Tradition

Mentor and mentee at the Church of the Ascension in 2010.

Over the past three years the Hollywood Elementary FLOW program has created a tradition of giving back to the community during the holiday season. Led by Site Leader Dave Morris, who has run the Hollywood FLOW program since it's beginning in 2008 and who has created a truly remarkable mentoring community at his school, mentors and mentees take a field trip each year to the Church of the Ascension in Lexington Park. There they spend the afternoon helping in the church's food pantry, a program run by Jess Davis, that serves people with emergency food needs in the Lexington Park area. The Hollywood mentors and mentees sort hundreds of canned goods into appropriate categories and decorate paper bags in which the food will be distributed.
            Throughout the experience, Dave Morris and his mentors talk to the students about the meaning and importance of community service. "Prior to the day and then a week later, we remind ourselves of why we are doing this. We get nothing out of this, we are not doing it for a reward, we are doing this as a service to those in need. This is a selfless way to show love in a world where love is not always seen" says Mr. Morris. He then goes on to add that "while this is only one day a year, for 3 days in three years, we are building strong hearts to help others, expecting nothing in return. I remind them that it is OK to feel good about helping others....that you can be proud of it!"

            In the pictures above and below you can clearly see the pride the students in this program feel for the contributions they are making. We want to recognize Mr. Morris and all the mentors at Hollywood Elementary for supporting this wonderful tradition and passing the very important message of service on to the students in their program.

Decorating paper bags for the food pantry in 2010.

Sorting canned goods at the food pantry in 2009.

Hollywood's first year at the food pantry in 2008.

Snapshots from FLOW!

Mentor/mentee pair at Lexington Park Elementary.

A mentor and his group of mentees at Leonardtown Middle School.

A mentor and her mentee, dressed for the winter, at Piney Point Elementary.

A mentor/mentee pair, matching in plaid, at Ridge Elementary.

A mentor and his group of mentees at Esperanza Middle cool down after a game of basketball.

A mentor/mentee pair at Hollywood Elementary.

A mentor and his mentee make holiday wreaths for the Chesapeake Shores Nursing Home at Lexington Park Elementary.

A mentor and her mentee at L. M. Dent Elementary.

Making homemade ice cream at Mechanicsville Elementary!

A mentor and mentee checking HAC at Leonardtown Middle.

A mentor/mentee pair at Town Creek Elementary.

Charlie Appelstein is Back!

FLOW Mentoring proudly presents:

"The Glass Ain't Full,

Heck It's Overflowing!"

The Power of a Strength-Based Approach in Mentoring

A workshop with Charlie Appelstein, M.S.W.

When: Thursday, February 24th, 6:30-8pm
 

Where:  Leonardtown High School

23995 Point Lookout Road , Leonardtown, MD 20650

Who:  FLOW Mentors and Site Leaders, SMCPS employees,

youth services organizations, members of the community

Cost:  FREE!  *Registration is required (see below)

Workshop Description:

Strength-based practice is an emerging approach to helping young people that is very positive and hope-inspiring. Its focus is on strength-building rather than flaw-fixing. It begins with the belief that every child and youth has strengths and past successes that can be utilized to stop problem behavior and enhance decision making. This workshop will highlight some of the key principles and techniques of this life-changing, inspiring approach to maximizing the potential of every youth. Participants will walk away with tools to more deeply connect with youth and help kids be all that they can be.

About the Presenter:

Charlie Appelstein, M.S.W. is a nationally prominent youth care specialist who has worked in child welfare for over 25 years. As president of Appelstein Training Resources, LLC, he provides original, strength-based training, consultation, and youth care literature to individuals and groups all over the world who are seeking to better understand and respond to troubled children and youth. Charlie works primarily with residential and foster care programs; children's and adolescent psychiatric facilities; public, private, and special education schools; parent groups; and detention centers. He has authored three youth care books that are widely used within the field, including No Such Thing As a Bad Kid: Understanding and Responding to the Challenging Behavior of Troubled Children and Youth.

For more information about Charlie and Appelstein Training Resources, LLC, visit www.charliea.com.

To register for this free workshop, please contact Sarah Tyson, FLOW Mentoring Program Manager at:

srtyson@smcps.orgor 301-475-5511 x.145

Mentoring in the News

The Month for Mentors

The Greenview Knolls Elementary FLOW Mentoring program was featured in the Enterprise this month!

Click here to read this article.

First Lady Urges More People in US to Mentor Youth

Read about Michele Obama's call for corporations and individuals to embrace mentoring at the National Mentoring Summit in Washington D.C. (You can view her full speech at www.whitehouse.gov.)

Click here to read this article.

Presidential Proclamation - National Mentoring Month

Read Barack Obama's proclamation about the importance of mentoring and the dedication of January as National Mentoring Month.

Click here to read this article.

Team Work:  Grizzlies Foundation Launches Program During National Mentoring Month

Read about the Team Up Youth Mentoring Initiative, a group mentoring program that just started in two middle schools in Memphis, Tennesee.

Click here to read this article.

Staples and Mass Mentoring Partnership Team Up to Encourage Adults throughout Massachusetts to Serve as Mentors for Local Youth

Staples, the world's largest office supply company, is donating $25,000 to the Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership to promote mentoring throughout the state.

Click here to read this article.