Spring Fever at CIS - Mentoring Summit, Big Toy Day and more

CIS Connections

CIS E-News Issue: 17

March 2012

Spring has sprung!

From Calabash to Leland to Southport and everywhere in between, spring has come to Brunswick County. It is the season to plant ideas and watch them grow. Students in the After School program are thriving (just look at those smiles!) and exploring the world around them. Middle School students are taking charge of their environment by standing up against bullying. With CIS Scholarships in hand, High School seniors will be preparing to leave the nest. Children of all ages will be letting their imaginations take flight at Big Toy Day.

There are plenty of ways you can help ensure our children are prepared for the future. The Mentoring Summit will explore ways mentors help young people grow and develop into strong, confident adults. KFC and other organizations will be holding fundraising events throughout the year to support CIS programs. Even spring-cleaning can help if you donate unwanted items to the Thrift Shops. Thank you for being part of our garden. Together, our children will blossom.

Very truly yours,

Cynthia Tart, Executive Director

Partners

Mentoring Summit - March 27

Mentors help keep kids in school by providing support, friendship, and trust. The public is invited to learn more at a Mentoring Summit on March 27th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Odell Williamson Auditorium, Brunswick Community College. The theme of the summit is "Invest in the Future, Be a Mentor" and is sponsored by Communities In Schools of Brunswick County, CISNC, Brunswick Community College and Brunswick County Schools.

The summit will offer four workshops: "Understanding Generation Z" or "Elements of Effective Practice" in the morning and "Activities For Mentors" or "Mentoring Gang Involved Youth" in the afternoon. Full descriptions are available at www.cisbrunswick.org. Attendance is free and includes lunch. Seating is limited to 100. Pre-registration is required online or by calling 910-457-3494.

KFC for CIS

The Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises in Brunswick County will host a fundraising event on April 5, from 4:00 to 8:30 PM. Participating KFC's in Leland, Shallotte, and Southport will donate 10% of their sales plus any donations to support programs and services designed to keep kids in school. Now more than ever, we appreciate the efforts of local businesses and their customers. Their support enables us to serve children and families throughout the county.

Programs

anti bullying

No Bullies Allowed!

A handful of students can make the difference between a hostile environment and one which encourages friendship, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. Leland Middle School has the latter. Thanks to a federally funded Learn and Serve Grant through CISNC, students are working together to end bullying in their school. The program, called Live in Peace, involves nearly a dozen students committed to making their school a better place. Working in conjunction with Peer Court, the program teaches students about resolving conflicts in non-combative ways; the affects and prevention of bullying; stress management; and developing healthy relationships.

Summer Camp Registration

Take the stress out of summer and sign up now for Summer Camp. Activities include art, music, crafts, games, and sports. Weekly field trips will take campers to Jungle Rapids, Monkey Joe's, Alligator Adventures, Planet Fun and other exciting locations. Camp is offered at Belville, Union, Supply, and Southport Elementary Schools from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Check out the handbook for more details. Summer Camp is sponsored by Brunswick County Parks and Recreation and CIS.

Boom, boom, boom...

drumming The beating of drums could be heard throughout Brunswick County recently as the Visuals Rhythms Project came to a conclusion at the After School Program at Belville, Town Creek, Southport and Union Elementary Schools. At the age of eleven, Cheick Sissoko was introduced to the world of dance by his parents in Cote D'ivoire, West Africa. He now shares his stories, experiences and music with children and encourages them to tell their parents. Funding was provided through a Grass Roots grant award made possible by the Brunswick Arts Council and NC Arts Council and with the support of Brunswick County Schools.

Events

BIG TOY DAY

BTD The Fourth Annual Big Toy Day is set for May 19, 2012 from 11:00 - 3:00 at the Cape Fear Regional Jetport, Oak Island. Planes, trucks, and automobiles are on display. Kids 8 to 17 years old will be given the opportunity to fly - free of charge - in single engine planes provided by the Brunswick County Airport Commission as part of the Young Eagles Program. Camel and pony rides, other activities, souvenirs, and refreshments available for a nominal charge. Admission $5/ person (under 5 free).

The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through school-based coordination, CIS connects students and their families to critical community resources tailored to local needs. By providing students with a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult, a safe place to learn and grow, a healthy start and future, a marketable skill upon graduation and a chance to give back to peers and the community, CIS has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates. Contact us and make a difference in the life of a child, today!

In This Issue

Mentoring Summit

Anti-Bullying Club

Summer Camp

After School

Big Toy Day