Established
in 1985 to increase business and community involvement in public schools and to
provide programs and activities beyond the financial capabilities of the school
district, the nonprofit foundation is the only organization that provides
assistance to all public schools in Volusia
County.
www.FuturesVolusia.org
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Volusia County Schools
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Upcoming Events
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April 20-21: Turn Around judging
April 21: FUTURES Board meeting
April 22: Tomorrow's Leaders graduation program
April 27: First Year Teacher Award ReceptionApril 30: Caribbean Party, beginning at 7 p.m., Riverfront Center at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Daytona Beach
May 18: Turn Around Program at Cubs Stadium
May 19:FUTURES Board meeting
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Tomorrow's Leaders Present Projects
Students from all Volusia County public high schools will do
presentations before an audience of family, business and community members on
April 22 as part of Tomorrow's Leaders' graduation projects.
The projects cover social media. The students worked collaboratively as a
team to build consensus and use their diversity of knowledge and skills on the
projects.
They explored areas of
social media, including Facebook, texting, Twitter and blogging, examining both
the positive and negative aspects to advocate on the role of social media in
our society.
Students are
competitively selected for FUTURES
Tomorrow's Leaders, a program similar to Leadership DeLand or Leadership
Daytona.
They participate in four day-long seminars in the areas of
health and social services, economic development and criminal justice. Through the
seminars, panel discussions and study groups, participants are challenged to
expand their awareness of the interrelationships and complexities of our
community.
 
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The Sweetwater Elementary Peli-CANS Steel Drum Band welcomes guests to the 2009 Caribbean Party.
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Greetings!
If you haven't yet made your reservation for FUTURES'
seventh annual Caribbean Party, there is still time. You won't want to miss
the island cuisine by Chef Papa's Catering, plus music and
entertainment. Reservations, $60 each,
continue to be available for the party, which begins at 7 p.m. on Friday,
April 30, in the Riverfront Center at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox
Church, 134 N. Halifax Ave., Daytona Beach.
All money raised will support FUTURES programs.
This year's event is extra special because it celebrates 25 years of FUTURES' support for Volusia County public
schools through scholarships for students; dropout prevention programs; grants
for the classroom; and teacher, student and staff recognition. For tickets or Caribbean Party sponsorship opportunities, contact Beth Butera, FUTURES Director, at (386) 255-6475, ext. 50730. To place your song requests in advance, e-mail D.J. Jeff at FuturesCaribbeanPartyMusic@gmail.com |
In Remembrance of Rachel Scott: Schools Answer Bullying Challenge
 Mini-Grant funding from FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools is helping one local school in its efforts to add to the good that has grown from a tragedy through Rachel's Challenge.
Rachel Scott was the first student killed during the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, 11 years ago on April 20. In the ensuing years, her family and an ever-widening circle of friends has spread her message of kindness and compassion to schools all over the world. Media specialist Dana Thompson has brought Rachel's Challenge to New Smyrna Beach Middle School, where it has become an objective in the school improvement plan: "Promote positive relationships through Rachel's Challenge, address bullying and negative bahaviors."
Local businesses, organizations and the school's PTA and mentoring program all were important in raising almost $4,000 to kick off the program in October 2009 with assemblies, training and a community event. The additional $900 from FUTURES established student clubs called Chain Links for each grade level.
Thompson says the clubs' projects include making signs with positive messages relating to kindness and encouragement, making periodic announcements, producing skits and honoring teachers. "At least once a week, they do something relating to the challenge," she says. In February, all students received Valentines as one of the constant reminders to "start a chain reaction of kindness."
Mini-Grant money purchased the program's activities curriculum and all the supplies for carrying out these activities. It is believed the academic impact will be to decrease behavior referrals, increase time in class and improve test scores.
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T. DeWitt Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson, the counseling department and the sixth-grade language arts department have collaborated on their own anti-bullying project, called "Airing Dirty Laundry and Washing Out Bullying."
Again, the goal is to promote school community and decrease the number of referrals for bullying behavior, increasing the amount of time spent learning. The visual result, though, will be a clothesline pinned with t-shirts designed by students who have been bullied or have witnessed bullying.
Regina Tyus, eighth- and ninth-grade counselor, says about 150 shirts, painted and designed by sixth graders, will be on display April 29 and 30. Grant money from FUTURES, $500, purchased supplies and curriculum resources, such as a "Schools Where Everyone Belongs" book and DVD.
She says the students are now making good progress on the shirts.
FUTURES awarded 103 Mini-Grants to Volusia County Schools
teachers during a presentation at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach at the end of 2009. A total of $60,385 was
awarded to teachers in amounts ranging from $150 to $1,500. Over 25 years of
community support, FUTURES has funded more than 2,200 such Mini-Grants, totaling $1,126,681, thanks to generous sponsors.
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2010 Bowl-A-Thon Fundraising Total Announced
Bowl-A-Thon 2010 wrapped up in mid-March, and most of the funds raised have now been turned over to FUTURES to support its educational programs. Here is a bit more about the fundraiser: - To date, Volusia County public schools, local businesses and this year's new Wii bowling component have raised a grand total of $14,087.
- Spirit Banners for the elementary and secondary schools that raised the most money per capita through Bowl-A-Thon will be presented to two principals at a meeting in May. Each 6-foot-long banner will be displayed in a winning school's main office.
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