dancers at Anne ArundelTHE PATHFINDER

January, 2014 

                           NEWSLETTER OF THE PATHWAYS SCHOOLS/CROSSWOOD, INC.
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As 2013 drew to a close and students at Pathways-Northwood prepared for the winter break, they participated in the spirit of the season by giving back to their community.  Now, as the new year begins, stories of the students' willingness and helping hands add a spot of brightness to these mid-winter weeks.
 
 Helping Others
 

 

Northwood at Hyattsville held a Community Service Day on December 20. Students made sandwiches and delivered them to a local soup kitchen. They fashioned dog tug toys out of old t-shirts they had collected and gave them to an animal shelter. They beautified their school by taking a van load of  broken and damaged items to the dump and painting a stairwell and hallway ramp.

 

These specific activities were chosen in part to give the students experience in career fields in which they expressed interest: food service, animal care, and construction.

 

Making sandwiches

After making the sandwiches, students took them to the Community Café, located in the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville.  There they met the manager, who introduced them to the community kitchen staff.  He spoke with the students about how thankful he was for their contribution and about the importance of education and staying focused on your goals. 

The box fills up
Although it was still 45 minutes until lunch was due to be served, many people already were waiting outside.  This led to a conversation about how vital these meals are to community members.

 

The last sandwiches are made. Ready to take to the cafe. 
Northwood student gives the tug toy to an animal shelter resident.

 

 

 

Other Northwood students took the tug toys to the Washington Animal Rescue League.  They were met by Debbie Duel, Director of Humane Education.  She gave them a tour of the facility, including the animal hospital, where they met the head veterinarian.  Then they were able to meet the animals and give them some of the toys--the part of the visit that the students enjoyed most.  The extra toys were left under the shelter's holiday tree.

 

 

 

  

 

 

As 2014 begins, the students are not done with their service.  The school is participating in the Teens for Jeans drive.  This is a project of a national nonprofit that encourages young people to take action for social change. The idea behind the Teens for Jeans drive is that if teenagers donate their old jeans, the clothes will be in style and teens who are homeless won't be embarrassed to wear them.  Northwood at Hyattsville students are busy collecting jeans and plan to deliver them early next month.

Students with tug toys and Northwood therapist Sheena Hihn in front of the animal shelter holiday tree.


Alumni News 
 

Elicia M. graduated from Pathways-Hyattsville's middle school program in 1994 and from DuVal High School in 1998.  She studied business management at Prince George's Community College and has been employed for years as an account representative with a firm that handles credit card transactions primarily for American Express.  She knows that business is a good field for her and plans to obtain a four year degree.  She credits Pathways with helping her become more self-aware as well as giving her skills to manage her emotions and express herself honestly and appropriately.  She is engaged to be married in the spring and is expecting her first child, a girl, this month.