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EdGE Update
Maine Sea Coast Mission
Fall and Winter 2010-2011 |
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 Greetings! | | Welcome to the Fall and Winter 2010-2011 online version of the EdGE Update. It has many new features which we believe you will find useful. We have also provided several links to related items. I hope you enjoy reading about the award winning EdGE program.
Sincerely,
Charlie Harrington
Director of EdGE |
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EdGE Opportunities at
Narraguagus High School | |
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Narraguagus High School students prepared and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. They also shared stories about what they were thankful for in their lives. |
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High school students and staff created a vampire scene for the Haunted Trails. The proceeds assisted the Mission's Food Pantry. |
The EdGE offers many different programs for high school students. It offers a mentoring program which consists of upper class students working with selected freshman. The upper class students help guide their mentees through what can potentially be a very difficult time in a young person's life. This group meets once per week throughout the school year. They work on group problem solving activities and discuss personal issues. Presently, there are 25 student pairs participating in the mentoring program. The EdGE also offers an after school program for 9th and 10th graders at Narraguagus High School. While the primary focus at the high school level is academic tutoring and homework assistance, after school students are also involved in many other activities. They have gone bowling at Eastward Lanes in Ellsworth and on a ski trip to Herman Mountain. Students held a food drive to donate much needed food to the food pantry during the holidays. In November, they prepared a Thanksgiving dinner to share with family and friends. In addition, the EdGE offers an employment program. First, they join the program as high school volunteers. After volunteering 40 hours, under the training and supervision of an EdGE staff member, they become eligible to be hired as EdGE staff and work with elementary school EdGE students. Several of our high school staff members have had successful college careers and/or returned to work for the EdGE summer camp program after they completed the employment program. Back to top |
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| Winter Adventures at EdGE |
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EdGE students from Cherryfield, Milbridge, and Harrington learn winter survival skills. |
This year, Maine had a large amount of snow which gave the students many opportunities to enjoy winter adventures. EdGE students enjoyed skating at an ice rink which was constructed in the EdGE parking lot. The students also enjoyed sledding, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing on trails around the EdGE Center. A group of approximately 20 students met for several sessions to learn winter survival skills. They learned about proper winter clothing, how to build a fire, and how to construct a shelter to survive in frigid winter temperatures. Back to top |
| EdGE Expands to Third Grade |
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Third grade EdGE students from Cherryfield Elementary School, Aspin Schoppee and Reese Brown, dress up in traditional West African attire. |
This fall, the EdGE expanded to include third graders from Peninsula Elementary School, Cherryfield Elementary School, and Mountain View Elementary School. The third graders are very enthusiastic learners. This is both exciting and contagious for the other students. The EdGE now offers separate classes for students in grades 3rd - 5th and grades 6th - 8th. The students have enjoyed the updated programming which has resulted in an increase in elementary and middle school attendance. Back to top |
| African Culture Brought to Down East Maine |
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Harrington EdGE students play and learn about West African culture. |
EdGE students were introduced to African culture, geography, language, and artifacts by Beals Island resident Kelly Cunnane, who spent time in West Africa. Kelly spoke to EdGE students in Addison, Beals, Cherryfield, Franklin, Gouldsboro, Harrington, Jonesport, Milbridge, Sorrento, and Sullivan. She used drama, drawing, and writing to bring alive the world of the Kalenjin tribe and the Sahara. Her goal was to build a connection between isolated places in Maine and West Africa. The students dressed in traditional clothing and were introduced to objects which are used daily in West Africa. They also performed a play which taught them about West African culture. Kelly shared her book entitled, "For You are a Kenyan Child", for which she won the Ezra Jack Keats book award. Back to top |
| Upcoming Events | |
The EdGE will hold its annual Winter Carnival on Saturday, March 19. Events will include skating, sledding, snow shoeing, and snow sculptures. Indoor events will include arts & crafts and games. This will be an event for the whole family.
The EdGE high school volunteer and staff groups will be traveling to Washington, D.C. during April vacation. Students must volunteer and/or work 40 hours or more, during the school year, for the EdGE program, to attend.
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| Staff Update | |
Charlie Harrington, Program Director, and Jordan Clark, Lead Site Coordinator, attended director's training sessions for 21 Century CCLC grant recipients, on November 5, 2010 and February 4, 2011.
Gail Myshrall, an instructor at Narraguagus High School, was selected as the EdGE Site Coordinator at Narraguagus High School last fall. She has worked as an EdGE teacher at Narraguagus in previous years and brings a great deal of experience, energy, and enthusiasm to her new position.
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| Do you want answers to all of your estate planning questions? | |
Visit Maine Sea Coast Mission on the Web at www.seacoastmission.org. Read the latest articles on charitable giving, refresh your memory with our glossary of terms, and calculate your income tax deduction for charitable gifts.
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