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PNA News 2007/08 School Year
For archived news bits from previous school years, click the below links:
April 18, 2008 PNA's Director of Research and Development, Janell Wood, will graduate from Vanderbilt University in May with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Leadership and Policy Studies). She has worked tirelessly, juggling the demands of her teaching position at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro and her duties at PNA with her doctoral studies. Congrats, Dr. Wood! We are proud of you and so very fortunate to have you as part of the PNA team!
April 18, 2008 PNA is fortunate to have the best and brightest teachers in Metro schools working in the program and caring for the kids we serve. We're so proud of the below staff members who have been named "Teacher of the Year" at their respective schools. Congrats!
April 11, 2008
Bellevue
John Early
McMurray
Sylvan Park -- The 1st Annual PNA Ballet Recital will be held Friday, May 9th at 5:00 p.m. in the auditorium.
Two Rivers
March 27, 2008 Many thanks to the Predators Foundation for their generous funding of the "Bounce" program for 8th grade girls at McMurray PNA! Because of the Predators Foundation, the girls will enjoy a trip to Disneyworld! The Bounce program provides girls the opportunity to be mentored and to enjoy a variety of activities they would not otherwise experience. This program focuses on increasing self-esteem, teaching life skills, and health, fitness and nutrition. Attendance and participation at all meetings is required. The trip to Disneyworld for the Disney Y.E.S. workshop at the completion of the year is a way to reward these students for their hard work and commitment to the program. It is an incentive, as well as an additional opportunity for educational enrichment. The Y.E.S. workshop presents a variety of hands-on educational activities on a variety of topics including natural sciences, physical sciences, humanities and arts, and leadership and careers. PNA's Bounce reaches girls at a critical time in their development (8th grade) so they have the life skills to proceed into high school, making good decisions and taking ownership over their educational and professional futures. It truly has an impact on the girls’ lives, on an individual and long-lasting level. We so appreciate the Predators Foundation's generosity in providing funding for the end-of-year trip to celebrate the girls' graduation from Bounce and their transition to high school. March 10, 2008 McMurray -- Here's a "Good News" note from Site Director Deborah Mayberry: Our “O Ambassadors” were invited to apply for the “Girls World” program. Yea! We were chosen to participate. As participants in “Girls World,” our girls will get to actually communicate with girls in another country. We have been matched with a school in China. PNA students once again made valentines for Congressman Jim Cooper’s annual “Valentines for Veterans” campaign. The valentines that he collects are sent to our soldiers in Iraq and to the Veterans in the VA hospital. Our “Bounce” ladies made patriotic lap throws for the Veterans in the VA hospital. The “Bounce” ladies participated in a re-cycling community service project that helped people in our neighborhood do their part to preserve our sustainable environment. They also helped to inform and promote awareness in our neighborhood talking to people and distributing millennium fact/tip sheets, etc. “Kids Café” has become a wonderful thing for our kids and parents. It is amazing to see what a difference 2 to 3 nutitional meal can make. Our kids are always very excited on the days (as they put it) that “we eat.” A child stops me several times a week in the hallway during the day and asks what we are having to eat today. They have gone from kids who eat like they have never eaten before to kids who are just very excited and enjoying a big treat. We not only feed them, but are teaching them (and some of their parents) the life skill of how to talk and listen to each other during a meal. They are also learning about nutrition, etc. Eating vegetables earns them a reward. It never fails that a child asks me what part of the meal is vegetables. There is no activity that our kids look forward to like just being allowed to eat all they want to. It puts a spark in their eyes. One of our previous Dell/TechKnow students volunteered to create and show a wonderful power point presentation for McMurray’s “Black History” program. We worked on a song in PNA that some of our young ladies were allowed to perform during the program. Three of our PNA students were the only students to get to talk one on one with McMurray’s guest speaker……NY Giants champion player Osi Umenyiora.
March 6, 2008 Bellevue -- Two of the site's 8th graders are teaching Spanish to the K-2nd grade students. We are fortunate to have 7th and 8th grade students who are so willing to volunteer their talents to help others in the program. Some serve as tutors while others assist teachers with arts and crafts.
John Early
McMurray -- New photos have been added to the web page.
Sylvan Park -- The site will host a Talent Show on March 14th from 4:30-5:30.
February 15, 2008 McMurray -- Here's a "Good News" note from Site Director Deborah Mayberry: "Our “O Ambassadors” Club is off to a great start. Our Bounce ladies are sharing leadership and we have about 30 younger PNA girls who have joined. We are all learning a lot and are becoming soooo…much more “aware.” It touches my heart when the eager younger girls ask, “Are we having “O Ambassadors” today?” To me it shows that our kids still care and have heart. We have plans for some awareness and community service activities next month. Our new “Chess Club” is also off to a great start as a first tier of what will become our “Mind Games.” It has given the most unexpected kids a place to belong. For some, it is the only place they feel equal. I have seen it calm one restless young man who was constantly agitated and “in trouble.” I like to refer to our “mind games” activities as brain exercise. They definitely impact academic success."
February 13, 2008 Sylvan Park -- The site is in need of:
February 12, 2008 Special thanks to the Nashville Predators for donating tickets to two games this week! Tickets are being used as incentives and awards for PNA students.
February 12, 2008
Gra-Mar
John Early -- 15 students made the Principal's List (straight A's) and an additional 12 students make the Honor Roll (A's & B's). Congratulations! Many thanks to Mr. Pugh for his excellent math tutoring sessions which have obviously made a difference.
Kirkpatrick -- Teachers have reported a 100% homework completion rate this semester for PNA 1st and 2nd grade students. Way to go, kids!
Rose Park -- The ACES program (Adventure Club for Exploring Science) kicks off this month. This unique club membership is offered only to Rose Park PNA students. Meetings are held each Wednesday in partnership with the Adventure Science Center.
January 31, 2008 The Ansley Fund of the Frist Foundation has generously granted support for the translation of various PNA materials into other languages. We hope that having our materials available in several languages will make our program, and all of the activities and benefits therein, more accessible to the entire community we serve. Many thanks to the Ansley Fund and the Frist Foundation.
January 30, 2008 New pictures have been added to the Gra-Mar PNA page.
January 14, 2008 Thanks to Second Harvest Food Bank and their "Kids' Cafe" program, students at McMurray PNA will now enjoy a full nutritious meal each Wednesday and Friday after school! Special thanks also to Site Director Deborah Mayberry for her initiative in coordination this effort.
January 9, 2008
John Early -- The site will host its first annual Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Contest on Wednesday, January 30th at 4:00 p.m. The general public is invited to attend and support the students!
Kirkpatrick -- Just before the Winter Break, the students presented "Celebrating Culture" for guests and parents. The presentation centered around the history of Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah. The program was well-attended, and the kids' performances were outstanding!
Two Rivers -- Special thanks for Ms. Williams for volunteering her time and talent in sewing classes at the site!
January 7, 2008 New photos have been added to the Bellevue page.
December 11, 2007 Students at Bellevue and Haynes are looking forward to their graduations from the Dell TechKnow program this month. Even more, they are ecstatic to take home their own computers that they personally rebuilt!
Two Rivers hosted a special Thanksgiving breakfast last month, and Joelton celebrated the holiday with a Mexican-themed feast! Kirkpatrick once again hosted its annual Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Dinner for students and families, and the site extends special thanks to Kroger for donating all of the fabulous desserts!
Bellevue -- According to Site Director Deborah Whitman and Lead Teacher Jackie Harper, "We continue to be blessed with valuable parent support. They support our decisions about discipline and encourage good behavior. Our Bellevue parents also make financial donations to the program."
Haynes -- The kids are preparing to perform a holiday play, "Scrooges", for parents and visitors.
Rose Park -- The school's Librarian and Guidance Counselor are donating their time to lead Scrabble, yoga, and chess activities for the kids.
Sylvan Park -- The site has published the following "wish list": ballet bars; volunteer to teach chess; books, materials, and information on etiquette and manners.
November 14, 2007
McMurray -- Site Director Deborah Mayberry has been chosen to lead an "O Ambassador" club at McMurray. O Ambassadors is a project launched by Oprah Winfrey to inspire young people to become active, compassionate and knowledgeable global citizens. Ms. Mayberry's PNA "Bounce" ladies will serve as lead ambassadors. The McMurray club's goals will focus on poverty, education, health, and sustainable development, both locally and around the world. For more information on the O Ambassadors program, visit http://clubs.oambassadors.org/global/about-the-program. Congrats and many thanks to Ms. Mayberry, who continues to be proactive in bringing new and exciting programs to her PNA site and its students!
Sylvan Park -- Special thanks to Donna Coggeshall of Half Moon Yoga in Franklin for donating 15 mats for use in the yoga classes!
November 8, 2007
John Early
November 7, 2007
November 5, 2007
November 1, 2007
October 29, 2007 The Tennessean recently covered Apollo's Lights On Afterschool event. See http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071026/COUNTY0104/710260310.
October 11, 2007 John Early's Lights On Afterschool event theme is "Protecting and Uplifting Our Youth". Newly elected 19th District Councilmember Erica Gilmore will be in attendance. The Village Cultural Arts Center will perform. We're hoping for a special appearance by Tennessee Titans mascot "T-Rac".
October 10, 2007
September 24, 2007
Project for Neighborhood Aftercare does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or age. |
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