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Greetings!
This is the July 16th edition of a weekly report that is being shared with the LINC Commission.
Our board is deeply interested in our work and wanted to have more information that can be shared with others about the great things LINC is doing and helping accomplish.
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Hickman Mills: Fixing up one school, losing power at another
Over 125 volunteers turned out to fix up Santa Fe Elementary School last Saturday in an effort that organizers considered to be a big success.
Leading the efforts were the Hickman Mills School District, Turning Point Church and LINC. Volunteers spent the day cleaning and beautifying the school and the surrounding neighborhood. The theme for the Santa Fe event was "When Schools Gleam, Kids Beam" - a theme they borrowed from the Independence School District, which has a similar effort. A video about the day is on the LINC website.
The next day the area was hit by a major rainstorm, resulting in the loss of power for large portions of south Kansas City. By Monday, power was still out in the Ruskin Heights and Hickman Mills neighborhoods. Due to the power outage, LINC had to close its summer camp program at Johnson Elementary School, which serves over 130 children from Johnson, Truman and Warford elementary schools. Power was restored Monday evening and the Johnson summer camp reopened Tuesday. |
Hands of Hope: July 24th volunteer project in the Kansas City, Mo School District
The Kansas City, Mo. School District (KCMSD) "Hands of Hope" initiative will re-launch Saturday, July 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., through a mix of revitalization work and upgrades at 30 school sites.
Led by the KCMSD Adopt-A-School Steering Committee, volunteers from across the metropolitan area will help prepare schools for the 2010-2011 school year. The effort includes:
- Painting of curb areas
- Sweeping and repainting parking stripes
- Raking along fence lines
- Painting of fourth-floor hallways at Southwest High
- Painting of the café at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy
- Painting of classrooms at Banneker Elementary
The work is planned to be completed on July 24. Due to the scope of work at Southwest, Lincoln and Banneker, an additional day of service precedes the district-wide event. Potential volunteers are encouraged to contact Irene von Collins at the Parent Resource Center by calling (816) 418-8615. |
Bill Rogers retiring
Bill Rogers will retire from LINC at the end of July. He will become executive director of NorthWest Communities Development Corp. which serves western Independence.
Rogers has worked at LINC since 1995, when he became the Caring Communities site coordinator at Van Horn High School. Bill is one of the original LINC site coordinators.
Prior to LINC, Rogers worked at Van Horn for the Kansas City, Mo. School District Centers for Learning and Neighborhood Services coordinator.
For the past several years, Bill has served as Caring Communities site supervisor for the Independence and Fort Osage School Districts which include 18 Caring Communities sites.
Bill's involvement with the NorthWest CDC is not new. He helped organize the community development corporation in 1997 as an initiative of the Van Horn Caring Communities site council.
The NorthWest CDC has been an important partner to LINC in the effort to revitalize western Independence. Current Northwest CDC initiatives include:
- Building seven new houses and rehabilitating five additional houses
- Obtaining a bus to transport seniors
- Obtaining the services of a gerontologist to serve senior health needs
- Partnering with the Independence Parks and Recreation department to provide additional services for children and families in western Independence
Rogers looks forward to working in his home neighborhood and to a continued relationship with LINC in developing western Independence. |
Summer Chess Camp
The LINC Chess for Life Summer Camp is set for August 2-6.
There are two sessions: a morning class for younger or less experienced players and an afternoon session for older or more experienced players. Both sessions are full, with 24 students registered for each.
The camp features individual and small group instruction and coaching, computer lab programs, and chess matches. Fun exercises, snacks and visits from special guests who demonstrate their advanced abilities will enliven the days.
This year the program is hosted by St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 9420 James A. Reed Rd, Kansas City. There is no charge for the camp.
All chess players and enthusiasts are welcome to participate in the Sunday Open Play Days that run through August 22. Open Play is hosted by local libraries from 2:30 - 5 p.m. For a schedule of upcoming locations visit www.kclinc.org/chess. |
LINC gets Coro intern
Jordan Buchheit spent the week at LINC as a Coro intern. Coro is a national non-profit that aims to develop future community leaders through exposure to community issues, leadership development, civic leaders and organizations. It is supported in Kansas City through a partnership with Park University. Buchheit will be a senior this fall at Truman State University, where he is majoring in political science and economics. Jordan is from Cape Girardeau, Mo. Buchheit is spending five weeks in various job placements including non-profits, government, business and other organizations. |
First Day of School: Sooner than you might think
Hickman Mills students and Grandview 6th and 9th graders will lead our metropolitan schools into the new academic year as their first bell rings on Thursday, Aug. 12. All Hickman Mills classes convene Aug. 12. In Grandview, 6th and 9th grade students will report that morning for a half-day of transition to their new surroundings before their classmates arrive on Friday.
Center, North Kansas City, Fort Osage, and Independence school districts all start classes during the week of Aug. 18. The Kansas City, Mo. School District welcomes students back Monday, Aug. 30.
New teachers in Hickman Mills will be the first educators in school halls, with their orientation on July 29 being the earliest start in our local districts. |
Independence holds Project Shine
Independence holds its volunteer school building extravaganza on Saturday - the third year for what has become a hallmark project for the school district.
School buildings involved include Truman High School and four elementary schools - Glendale, Luff, Ott and Randall. |
LINC Commission Meeting
This months' meeting is Monday, July 26, 4-6 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation.
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Contact Information
Brent Schondelmeyer, Director of Communications
phone: (816) 410-8350
email: bschonde@kclinc.org
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