Newsletters 2014-15 Focus newsletter, [1] fall | Page 4

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE PAGE 4 Program provides services to militaryconnected families The Anoka-Hennepin School District is partnering with the cities of Anoka and Blaine to support military service members and their families. The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon (BTYR) program provides military-connected families with community support, training, services and resources. And this year, she said the Boy Scouts’ Northern Star Council, which serves much of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, will reach 2,200 special needs students. School social workers will receive periodic newsletters, curriculum and resources from the BTYR child and youth program coordinator. They understand the unique needs of military-connected youth and are available to help with related topics such as stress, coping, communication, positive thinking, changing family roles and fostering resilience. Military parents of Anoka-Hennepin students in Anoka and Blaine are encouraged to contact their school’s social worker to access these and other supports. For the students, it’s a real chance to experience being a Boy Scout. Each lesson has started with the scout’s oath — three fingers in the air and all. And at the end of the day, Kvidera said the students and their families might be interested in more. Veteran’s service members and military families are also invited to provide contact information to their city’s BTYR program so they can receive support. “Sometimes special needs students and their families don’t think of the Boy Scouts, so it’s an opportunity for them to get into it,” she said. BTYR also welcomes volunteers to assist with this effort. Students James Oakley (orange shirt) and Micah Simbeck work with Boy Scout executive Tammy Kvidera, left, and extended school year teacher Heather Grove, to fold the American Flag during a modified citizenship lesson on July 18. Boy Scouts team with district to provide special opportunities for all youth Tammy Kvidera begins her lesson at Anoka High School (AHS) with a flourish. Holding a folded up American flag, she unfurls it with a wave of her arms. Instantly her students are smiling. Kvidera is an executive with the Boy Scouts of America Northern Star Council and she spent time at AHS July 18 to offer some of Anoka-Hennepin’s special needs students a chance to experience what the Boy Scouts are all about. “We have a mission to impact 100 percent of youth in the community,” she said. “That includes underserved youth like those with special needs.” Kelly Peryam, the summer program site supervisor at AHS, said it’s been fun to see the students participating. “It’s wonderful,” she said. The modified scouting program began earlier in the summer when Kvidera and her AHS students engaged in a unique servicelearning project, making more than 300 blankets and toys for the pets of the Humane Society. “These are the kids who are used to getting something from the community,” Kvidera said. “This shows that they can be givers, too. It’s wonderful to see their reactions.” Kvidera said Blaine and Champlin Park High School’s have had similar programs, but the scouts are always seeking opportunities to bring scouting to underserved groups. “Our philosophy is that all people should have a scouting experience,” Kvidera said. While the service–learning project was done at a previous lesson, the American Flag was the introduction to the day’s citizenship project. In addition to learning some facts about the flag — the stripes represent the 13 original colonies and the stars represent today’s 50 states — the students made their own flags, ones that represent them. Peryam said the Boy Scouts have been a great partner. In addition to the great learning opportunities, all of the supplies for the program are supplied by the scouts, from blanket and dog toy supplies, to the flags and markers. “The kids just show up and benefit from an amazing lesson — everything else is provided by the Boy Scouts,” she said. ■ This program is an effort to not only provide service to veterans, service members, and military families, but to also let them know their hard work, dedication and sacrifices do not go unnoticed. Those desiring support or wishing to volunteer should contact: Anoka: Butch Hathaway at [email protected]. Blaine: Mayor Tom Ryan [email protected] or Terry Wold at [email protected]. ■ Oak View students helping make the world a better place, $25 at a time For five years, students in classes taught by Shannon Raabolle, Chris Roberts and Brian Krebsbach have been lending money around the world through Kiva, an online microloan organization in which participants lend money to individuals and groups in developing nations. The project began as part of the eighth-graders’ yearly study of Africa. “Chris