For several years, the District has had a close relationship with the Kiwanis International Organization through its Bring Up Grades (BUG) program, which rewards students for academic achievement. Now, Forbes takes that involvement a step further with a K-Kids Club, bringing together the ideals of leadership and community service.

K-Kids is the youngest membership grouping under Kiwanis, with the motto "building leaders." The goal is for these young students to learn leadership through service, maintaining responsibility for running their local club while performing community service projects. According to Forbes Principal Kristin Brown, "the club is designed to be a student-led organization providing its members with opportunities to perform service, build character, and develop leadership."  The four core values include character building, leadership, inclusiveness, and caring.

The group was founded at Forbes last year (2010-11).  Mrs. Brown said they have just selected 18 new members for this year's group and are in the process of electing officers. The students for K-Kids are in the third grade and have been selected via an application rubric process.  The club's sponsors (Head Teacher Jeremy Rega, Counselor Lisa Butler, Reading Specialist Linda Smith, Third Grade Teacher Michelle Rodden, and Behavior Specialist Ruston Brown) and Mrs. Brown "not only consider a student's interest in the position but also hold him or her to high standards of behavior, attendance, and academics," she explained.

Mrs. Brown said she feels K-Kids is the perfect fit for Forbes because it embraces the very foundation of the school's culture of being respectful, responsible, safe, and kind (which is the basis of Forbes' Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Program).  Current projects for the club include Green Team recycling and Pen Pals with Seneca Place.  It is interesting to note that the Pen Pals program won a 1st place award last year from the Pennsylvania Activity Professional Association (PAPA) in the State PAPA Creative Arts Festival for Intergenerational Programs.  Since the club is student-led, Mrs. Brown said, future projects will be decided upon by members as the year unfolds.

The response from the students has been very positive. Mrs. Brown said they love the program, adding, "They love the opportunity to be a leader...and they love to help others!"

Back Row, L-R:  Michelle Rodden, Cherekee Dixon, Kenya White, Devonnte Livingston, J'Kyah Kelley, Chloe Harvard, Luke Hansen, Kristin Brown Middle Row, L-R:  Lisa Butler, Emily Bubeck, Alyssa Klein, Kaitlyn Bittner, Soinha Fils-Aime, Amanda Collier, Chloe Campbell, Linda Smith Bottom Row, L-R:  Jeremy Rega, Demetrius Tindell-Epps, Dorthee Fish, Kayla Bowser, Wayne Queen-Walter, Aniyah Wynn, Ruston Brown (Student Katarina Pizzonia missing from photo)

Student DeShawn Jackson-Ralston and Teacher Casey Creegan check the price list

Classroom 159 works with local dry cleaners Frank and Johns to provide this convenient service and important learning opportunity.  The program was started about four years ago when a student's mother, who worked at the dry cleaners, approached Ms. Creegan with the idea. The program helps students learn counting, sorting, working with money, dry cleaning skills, interpersonal skills, etc. Ms. Creegan said she considered all of the work and daily skills that her students would be able to learn in order help further their existing skills and decided it would be beneficial. The classroom received training from the dry cleaner's staff and started the program, which also provides a percentage of each order to the classroom to enable them to purchase items for their educational use.

The program works in this way. Staff members bring their items to Classroom 159. Clothing is sorted, pockets are checked, and the items are examined for stains or other issues that would need special attention. The students orally report what the items are to Ms. Creegan, and they search their itemized list to determine the price for the work. The prices are written down on slips, which are delivered to the staff members by the students. A delivery person from the dry cleaners comes and picks up the orders, with a turnaround time of approximately one week. When the dry cleaner delivery driver drops off the finished orders, the students separate them and deliver the clothes to the staff members. At that time, they collect the money for the order.

Students Tyler Baird, Naquan Franklin-Pollard, and Greg Wolf check pockets

Ms. Creegan said the students have responded in a very positive manner. The work enables them to use their math, reading, and social skills. "They are able to sort, price, and check all of the clothes with staff prompting and limited assistance," she explained. "They are very aware of the process," she went on to say, "and complete it well and thoroughly." The Linton staff has also responded in a positive manner to the program, she said, with more staff members participating each year. It is convenient for them, she explained, adding that "most staff also enjoys giving a little bit back to the Life Skills Program."

"I think the greatest benefit is the academic and social skills the students continue to develop," Ms. Creegan stated.  Not only do students learn the process of the business and the job skills required to do it, she explained, they learn how to handle money and also how to interact with people relating to the job.  She said that another great benefit has been the ability to buy things for the Life Skills Program that enhance it for the students.  For example, she said they have been able to purchase appliances and also have been awarded the opportunity to go on many community-based outings that, prior to having the funds from the dry cleaning program, were not possible.  She said there is a Life Skills account established where all the proceeds go, and the funds are used for learning opportunities and growth for the students.

The PTA Council is now accepting applications for the annual PTA scholarships. The application is available on the District website, by clicking here, and in the guidance office at the Senior High School. The application can be completed electronically (preferred) using the Typewriter feature in Adobe Reader or filled out by hand.  Completed applications are due in to the Guidance Office no later than the final bell on December 16th. Scholarships will be presented at Linton on May 9th.  For instructions on completing the application, click here.

This past Veterans Day, second grade students at Washington were treated to a visit from Army Captain Christopher Sood. Captain Sood has been in the military for seven years. A Blackhawk pilot, he served in Iraq from 2008-09 and Afghanistan from 2010-11. Although he has been based out of Fort Drum, New York, he will be moving on to a new assignment in Missouri next month, where he will be working on his Master's Degree in Engineering.

Captain Sood is the brother-in-law of Second Grade Learning Support Teacher Amanda Schmidt, who arranged to have him come in and speak to the entire second grade. The students enthusiastically welcomed the captain with a sign thanking him for his service and some very interesting questions regarding his time in the army. They demonstrated their knowledge of military protocol, standing to salute him before his talk ended. Afterwards, students continued their interaction with the captain over cake.  (additional photos are available in the Washington Gallery)