Heart House Austin
April 2008

Note: If you have problems viewing the graphics included in this email, a copy of this
e-newsletter can be seen online at http://www.hearthouse.org/newsletter.htm
  

In this issue:

• It's Gonna Be a Sizzlin' Summer!

• Student Spotlights

• Special Guests

• What We're Studying This Month

• Photo Scrapbook

• Donor Spotlight

• Heart House Angels: Friends and Supporters Who Make Our Program Possible

• Volunteer Spotlight

• Volunteer Opportunities

• Major Heart House Sponsors

Every year, students and staff get excited thinking about our summer program, Camp Heart House. As spring rolls around, kids begin to ask “What are we going to do this summer?” while staff smile and say, “I don’t know…what ARE we going to do?!”  The summer holds many possibilities each year for fresh ideas and new friendships and collaborations with community organizations and guest teachers. The addition of a new center has provided even more possibilities for summer programming as well.
   
Every summer, we learn and grow in our program planning and approach. One of the main components that we have added to our summer program includes a more “camp-like” feel which offers more variety and student choice. We will include two themes, “Lights, Camera, Action!” and “Amazing Athletes”, but we will also be adding new program elements to create a rich, well-rounded, and EXCITING program at both of our centers that will energize the minds, bodies, and spirits of students, staff, volunteers, the community and Heart House friends!

Some of the sizzlin’ activities tentatively on our schedule include: fashion class, movement math, mad science lab, sign language, reader’s theatre, green thumb gardening club, self-defense, a partnership with Badgerpup’s creative writing workshop, and so much more!
   
And on a side note: Last year, our summer was very successful due to the addition of Heart House Idol which has been highly requested to be repeated…..requested since September of last year! Students, staff, and families can definitely look forward to a fresh version of this program, full of fun student performances and panels of judges. They may also be seeing the addition of several other hot adaptations of TV game shows, including “Are You Smarter than a Heart House Kid?” and perhaps our first ever “Family Feud.”
   
You never know what will happen each day at the Heart House summer program…..
   
And YES…..there will be a whole lot of swimming!

“If a kid wants you to make a bad choice, don’t listen to them. Only make good choices.” –Carlos, Heart House Kindergartner

Heart House South’s student spotlight for this month is Oscar. Oscar is a 3rd grader in Ms. Mullen’s class at Casey Elementary. What makes Oscar a standout this month is his great improvement in behavior and work in class. He has really focused on studying more and listening to his teachers. Ms. Monica, his Program Leader at Heart House, has even noted how much he has improved. His teacher at school, Ms. Mullen, says, “He has shown nice improvement in his reading and math benchmark test.”  Great work, Oscar! 

Oscar’s favorite subject is math because “he likes to solve problems.” He has a younger sister, Emily, who goes to Heart House, as well as his cousin, Naomi. He says he enjoys the responsibility of taking care of them, which is a lot of hard work, according to his mom. Oscar says he is excited about the summer and later, jumping up to the 4th grade, which means new teachers and new friends. Good luck, Oscar!  

Jose is a fourth grader at Heart House North who has been attending our program for 3 years. He is an active participant in all of our activities, whether it is working hard on homework, painting rocks, or debating tough topics like bullying. It has been amazing to see him grow over time---in height, maturity, and creativity. He continues to “wow” us with his insightful opinions and laid-back demeanor. Since attending Heart House, his reading has improved by almost two grade levels! We are so proud of his accomplishments and look forward to even more success for him in the future.  

We had many special guests this month, including a presentation from the City of Austin on graffiti education, an interactive experience “tasting the rainbow” by Meals on Wheels and More, an Easter day of fun arts and crafts led by Austin Junior Forum, and a travel adventure to Panama, Turkey, Vietnam, and Sweden led by several awesome Heart House volunteers! And at the end of the month, our founder Anna Land came by and facilitated an art contest activity for the older students to offer them the chance to have their artwork featured on Torani flavored syrups. Thanks to the hard work and effort of the Heart House staff and volunteers, we had a very full month of exploring and learning with Austin community partners!

Children are eager to answer questions about Panama during a Fun Friday volunteer presentation.

This month’s theme is “When I Grow Up”, a unit which explores all of the possibilities that lie ahead for our children in their lives. The theme focuses on four major areas: understanding who they are now, exploring what kind of personalities and character traits they wish to possess in the future, and what career and educational opportunities might be available and interesting to them as they mature and choose certain paths. We will have several visits from adults who will hope to influence children to believe in the power of choice, hope, and the future!

And last month we studied...

Last month’s theme was “Where in the World?”  Students traveled the world, following characters who took them to mysterious, interesting, and historical cities and landmarks! Through hands-on and interactive experiences, students explored world geography and adventure around the globe, including everything from the Loch Ness Monster to King Tut. At the end of the month, our North center wrapped up with a World Jeopardy game and Edible Maps of the countries they studied, while Heart House South turned their classrooms into giant maps of the world! 

Your turn:  Guess the Cookie Dough Country! Can you guess which country these doughy masterpieces represent? Test your candy and country knowledge here. (Were you right? Answers at the bottom of this section of the newsletter.)

1.
2.
3.

Get Engaged!

We love special guests at Heart House!  In the past, we've had everyone from ballerinas to slam poets to Scuba Steve visit us.  You're invited to join us one day after school to share your talent and passion with the children. If you would like to be a special guest or organize a special project with your friends, please let us know.  You can call Kimberly at (512) 929-8187 or email us at volunteer@hearthouse.org.  We look forward to hearing from you. 

Answers to Cookie Quiz: 

1. China

2. Panama

3. Vietnam

Thank you to our many donors and friends who donated funds, time, and talent to our organization this month! For more information on donating to Heart House, please visit our website at http://www.hearthouse.org/giving.htm.

New and Recurring Donors:

Anonymous Donor
Andrew Bowen
Foundation Communities
IBM Employees
Tooran Khosh
Andy Land
Emeka Obianuw
Omega Chi Epsilon (UT Chapter)
CeCe Ridder
Jay Rogers
John Rosacker
Tien Mongkieu Tran
Judy Waxman
Amy Wilson
Wright Family Foundation
  

Volunteer Special Thanks:  Thanks to Sara Khanzadeh, Piruze Sabuncu, and Greg Bellush for the special “Around the World” activities on Friday, March 28th! Volunteer Opportunities: This summer is shaping up to be the best ever!  our summer program, Camp Heart House, will run from June 16th to August 8th from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Monday-Friday.  Contact Kimberly Truitt at volunteer@hearthouse.org for information on summer volunteer opportunities at Camp Heart House! Upcoming orientations at Heart House are listed below.  You may attend either location for an orientation. Heart House North  Map   Wednesday, April 30th 6:00 to 7:00pm RSVP for this orientation! Wednesday, May 14th  1:00 to 2:00pm RSVP for this orientation! Wednesday, May 14th  6:00 to 7:00pm RSVP for this orientation! Tuesday, May 20th  6:00 to 7:00pm RSVP for this orientation! Heart House South  Map Tuesday, April 22nd 6:00 to 7:00pm RSVP for this orientation! Wednesday, May 7th Noon to 1 pm RSVP for this orientation! Wednesday, May 7th 6:00 to 7:00 pm RSVP for this orientation!    Tuesday, May 27th  6:00 to 7:00pm RSVP for this orientation!     Fill out an online application for Austin today!     For more information on volunteering at Heart House Austin, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, 512-929-8187

Alison Kwiecinski came to Austin last summer when her husband received a job transfer from Glasgow, Scotland. She has already taken advantage of Austin’s excellent hiking and running trails. She also enjoys reading, cycling, swimming, cooking, and traveling of course! Alison began volunteering at Heart House South in October and has been having a blast. “There have been so many memorable moments,” she says, “For example, being given drawings by the kids to take home, kids teaching me how to play basketball and Foos-ball, and kids reading to me.” Alison has been teaching the Heart House kids more about the United Kingdom and Europe. “They have been very interested in where I’m from and have been asking questions.” She feels that she would rather continue to work with kids than return to her field of I.T. “I’m putting off going back to work, as I don’t want to give up volunteering at Heart House. As I’m new to Austin, I love being involved in the community and making good use of my time. Being here energizes me and is so much fun.” She loves to see the progress the kids are making. “They ask very intelligent questions and their artwork is amazing.” We’re so glad to have Alison in the Heart House family!

Heart House Program Sponsors and Diamond Sponsors provide core support for our mission. Please join us in recognizing and thanking them for making Heart House possible.

Program Heart Sponsors

Diamond Heart Sponsors

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The Heart House Herald is an online publication of Heart House, a free afterschool program dedicated to providing a safe haven and academic support to low-income children and encouraging them to become good citizens.  

www.hearthouse.org