Bicycle giving tradition kicks off Christmas season at MCH

Thanks to the generosity of First United Methodist Church of Grapevine, children and youth at Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) were blessed once again with bicycles for Christmas. The annual donation of bicycles from FUMC Grapevine is a long-standing tradition at MCH, dating back to the late-1980s.

Whether they are served on the Waco campus, MCH Boys Ranch or through one of the 13 MCH Family Outreach offices, FUMC Grapevine makes sure every child that wants a bicycle will receive one in time for the holidays. This year 114 children received a bicycle and helmet.

This tradition began when FUMC Grapevine member Jim Kennebrew thought back and recalled his best Christmas as a child was when he received his first bicycle and decided he wanted to pass on that joy to the children at MCH. He approached his Sunday school class with the idea to refurbish bicycles and give them as gifts to MCH at Christmas, an idea that blossomed into a church-wide campaign.

The process begins each year in October when the church contacts MCH to determine a number of desired bicycles. FUMC Grapevine then negotiates costs with local retail stores and purchases the bicycles. On a Friday in early December, church members spend an evening putting together the bicycles by hand and loading them into a moving truck. The following morning several members drive to Waco to deliver the bicycles and are met by grateful MCH youth and staff for unloading.

“The arrival of new bicycles is one of the most joyous events of our year!” said Allison Crawford, director of benefactor relations at MCH. “Seeing the looks on our students’ faces as bikes are delivered is the very picture of Christmas joy. We are grateful to each person at First UMC Grapevine for carrying on this tradition for so many years.”

MCH Family Outreach in San Antonio shows support for its community during November events

Staff from MCH Family Outreach in San Antonio celebrated its community and families this month during events at local nonprofits.

On Nov. 7 MCH Family Outreach in San Antonio attended the grand opening of the new Texas Diaper Bank headquarters located at 1803 Grandstand Dr. Suite 150. The new facility is 30,000 square feet and will allow for the Texas Diaper Bank to continue offering diaper assistance to families in need in Bexar County.

MCH Family Outreach in San Antonio formed a partnership with Texas Diaper Bank which allows diaper assistance to families being served through Family Solutions and GAP programs. Participants of parent education classes are also provided diaper assistance for their infants and toddlers as an incentive for class participation.

“Families being served by MCH Family Outreach have been grateful for the diaper assistance made possible through our partnership with the Texas Diaper Bank,” said Melissa Arroyo, director of MCH Family Outreach in San Antonio.

On Nov.9, San Antonio staff members spent the morning giving back to their community by volunteering at The DoSeum, San Antonio’s Museum for Kids. The mission of The DoSeaum states, “Through joyful learning and discovery, The DoSeum grows minds, connects families, and transforms communities.”

MCH staff were assigned to separate exhibits throughout the museum and assisted San Antonio children in attendance from class field trips. Ages of children ranged from infants to school-aged. MCH staff assisted in Little Town, Spy Academy, and Dream Tomorrow Today exhibits.

“It was a great opportunity to give back to the San Antonio community and staff enjoyed sharing in the children’s time during their visit to The Doseum,” Arroyo said.

Coalition of Residential Excellence Award Winners 2018

The Coalition of Residential Excellence (CORE) recognized two members of the MCH family during its annual conference awards banquet on Oct. 10 in Waco. Arianna, a resident of MCH, received the 2018 Catherine Hersey Student of the Year Award and Charlsie Whitney, retired program administrator, was named the 2018 Administrator of the Year.

CORE is a national membership organization for agencies providing quality care for children and youth who cannot be adequately cared for in their own home. Residents of CORE agencies live and learn together within stable, supportive, education-focused residential communities that are designed specifically to meet their needs. This year MCH hosted the CORE annual conference at the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco from Oct. 9-11.

 

Student of the Year: Arianna

Arianna has been a resident of MCH since September 2016. She took initiative and reached out to MCH after dealing with several challenges during her upbringing. She is now a senior at the MCH charter school and excels academically receiving awards including the A-Honor Roll. She is a member of the Bulldog Pride student leadership group and participates in athletics while also balancing the responsibilities of a part-time job. Arianna was also accepted into the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA), an industry-focused dual credit program.

After graduation, Arianna plans to become certified in construction and design. She would also like to work toward a degree in social work to support others who have had similar life experiences. Below is an excerpt from her nomination:

“Though she has faced many hardships in life, Arianna has been able to overcome her many challenges all the while taking intentional steps toward accomplishing her life goals. Arianna’s resiliency has allowed her to turn her trauma into motivation for the future as she feels restored hope with each achievement that she makes.”

Administrator of the Year: Charlsie Whitney

Charlsie Whitney retired in 2018 as program administrator of the MCH Waco campus following 23 years of service. She began her career with MCH as an English teacher at the Boys Ranch in 1995, then became a social worker on the Waco campus in 1998 and helped implement the strength-based philosophy of care. She was promoted to campus life director in 2002 and program administrator in 2007.

The MCH program of care was enhanced significantly during Whitney’s tenure. She played a leadership role in creating a charter school in partnership with the University of Texas Charter School system as well as developing the Transition Services program to support youth as they transition to independent living after graduating from high school. She also helped build an athletics program and created more of a community for the school through a cheer team, drumline, mascot, pep rallies, and school homecoming.

Whitney was a key leader in implementing trauma-informed care and helped develop afterschool and volunteer community service programs for MCH youth. Prior to her retirement she was instrumental in the development of a master plan for the Waco campus. Below is an excerpt from her nomination:

“Perhaps Charlsie’s most enduring legacy will be the guidance and mentorship that she has provided her staff. Her investment in home parents, social workers and administrative staff will keep paying dividends at MCH for decades to come. Five of Charlsie’s former social workers currently serve MCH as program administrators or associate administrators. Methodist Children’s Home is grateful for Charlsie’s faithful commitment, dedication and service to our mission.”

MCH Family Outreach in El Paso celebrates caregivers for Grandparents Day

Several El Paso caregivers received a special treat this month from MCH Family Outreach in El Paso in celebration of Grandparents Day.

During the monthly Caregiver Empowerment meeting on Sept. 11, staff members treated current and previous clients, who are grandparents or other relatives raising children, to breakfast and gifts as a way to recognize the job they do. Each caregiver received a yellow rose and a poem in honor of the sacrifices they make every day to ensure that the children are safe, healthy and happy.

Caregiver Empowerment Groups are support groups led by staff members that bring generational caregivers together to offer emotional support, educational opportunities and to give them the opportunity to share advice on ways to deal with common issues they face. Zahire Gonzalez-Villa, director of MCH Family Outreach in El Paso, said there was a diverse group of grandparents present who each had their own personal stories to share.

“The group laughed, cried and basked in each other’s successes,” Gonzalez-Villa said. “In the short time they spent together, they were able to provide each other with advice and community resources which might help them in their current situations. Because of the varying ages of the grandkids being raised, the grandparents were able to provide insight into what those grandparents with younger kids can do and expect in the future.”

Staff support families through the Gap Program by providing in-home assessments, case management services and support groups for caregivers. The Gap Program builds on the family’s strengths and works with all family members to find solutions to the challenges of raising children in today’s complex world.

For more information on services provided through MCH Family Outreach, visit MCH.org to find an office near you.

MCH students return to school

When the more than 100 students started back to school at the Methodist Children’s Home charter school this school year they were welcomed back into the classroom with new school initiatives, staff and technology.

The charter school, operated on the Waco campus in partnership with the University of Texas-University Charter School system, serves youth in grades 6 through 12 who live on the Waco campus and Boys Ranch, as well as a limited number of students from the community. The district theme this school year is “Framing the Future,” which is taken from a book on best teaching practices used by the charter school teachers called The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction by Sean Cain and Mike Laird. As part of the theme, school staff are challenged to think about how they are framing the future so students can be successful.

To follow the theme this academic year, students will receive “Bulldog bones” when they display good behaviors – symbols which will be displayed on the cafeteria wall. At the end of each six week grading period, staff will draw a name of one of the students who received a “Bulldog bone” and the winner will receive their picture on the wall as well as a gift card.

On Mondays and Fridays, students gather for “proactive circles” during homeroom where they are given a quote about a life skill during announcements. After the announcements, students and staff discuss that life skill. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, teachers use the “Why Try” curriculum, a resiliency program where teachers use graphics and art to explain an important life lesson.

Four new teachers were added to the charter school staff this year, along with three instructional aides who assist in classrooms. The building also received several new security cameras.

Sixty laptops will be used in classrooms for social studies, financial math, English and science classes, provided by the donor-funded Education Enrichment Fund. Students check out the laptop during class time to work on interactive lessons and web-based curriculum. The laptops are intended to help keep students engaged and focused on the lesson.

MCH Family Outreach back-to-school events

Staff in our MCH Family Outreach offices in 13 communities across Texas and New Mexico assist families each year as they prepare to return to school. As part of these efforts, many offices participate in community events serving families in need of school supplies or other services. Below are a few examples of back-to-school activities and events where MCH Family Outreach showed support for our local families.

Abilene:  On Aug. 17, Abilene Outreach participated in the Back-to-School Bash hosted by the Abilene Dream Center, a faith-based discipleship program that provides food, housing, education, and counseling completely free of charge. At the event, they distributed free school supplies to attendees. They also had food booths, games, door prizes, and community resource booths.

Abilene shared information during the Back-to-School Bash at Abilene Dream Center.

Albuquerque: This year, the Albuquerque office partnered once again with Help=Hope and collected backpacks stuffed with school supplies for all of the children served through their office.

Julia Burris, director of MCH Family Outreach in Albuquerque, said, “The volunteers at Help=Hope chose beautifully, and I believe many excited children and grateful caregivers will be the result of Help=Hope’s generosity. Several families have already been given backpacks, many with tears in their eyes, as providing school supplies has been an ongoing struggle for many of the families that we serve. New Mexico is, unfortunately, ranked nearly last in the country for education, due to many different factors. One factor, undeniably, is the poverty that so many of our families struggle with. How can children learn without the supplies they need? We are grateful here in Albuquerque for the generosity of agencies such as Help=Hope to help our children succeed, and are humbled to see the difference these efforts make.”

Children served through Albuquerque Outreach received backpacks
thanks to a partnership with Help=Hope.

Bryan/College Station: This year the Bryan/College Station office kept stocked backpacks in their office for current and former clients in need of school supplies or for anyone sent to them for assistance. They also have a list of area churches and organizations that host their own back-to-school events to provide families with the best fit for their family size, ages and location.

Corpus Christi: Staff in the Corpus Christi office and several of their community partners were able to receive a livestream training from Texas Christian University on Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and trauma-informed classrooms in early August. After the training, staff discussed how MCH can be a resource for continued trauma-informed care information and TBRI support to the community.

Dallas: On Aug. 4, the Dallas office held a Summer Splash party at the West Irving Aquatic Center for families they serve. About 60 clients and their families attended and were treated to pizza and cupcakes, as well as 50 bags full of school supplies and drinks. Dallas director Amanda Whatley said some of the clients had never been to a waterpark of any kind and were thrilled to be a part of it.  She said several of her staff members traveled all over Dallas to transport clients who needed assistance with transportation to the event.

“The clients repeatedly thanked staff for the party and said how grateful they were to be able to experience it,” Whatley said. “No one left emptyhanded, whether it be with leftover pizza and cupcakes or extra schools supplies. The party was a huge success.”

Dallas families enjoyed the Summer Splash party.

Houston:  The Houston Outreach office participated in several Back-to-School and community fairs in August. On Aug. 4, staff attended the BakerRipley Back-to-School Health Fair as well as Spring ISD’s annual Family and Community Resource Expo. On Aug. 9, they participated in the Gulf Coast Community Services Association Health and Wellness Fair, and the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Back-to-School Basketball Bash on Aug. 11. Finally on Aug. 17, staff joined other community resources at the Houston ISD Back-to-School Extravaganza.

Killeen: On Aug. 5 Killeen staff participated in Grace United Methodist Church’s Back-to-School Buzz. MCH facilitated activities for children and shared about MCH services. Also, FUMC Killeen supplied 20 backpacks filled with school supplies for some of our KISD families. Killeen staff also participated in Harker Heights UMC Back-to-School Giveaway on Wednesday, Aug. 22 by hosting a game and sharing information about services.

Killeen staff members shared information during local events.

Las Cruces:  Las Cruces staff hosted a backpack drive for their MCH families. Each of the children served through their office received a backpack full of school supplies for the new school year.
“By providing the children with these tools we are helping them succeed in school,” said Michelle Perez, Las Cruces Outreach director. “A big thank you to our volunteers that helped to make this a memorable event for our families.”

Children served through Las Cruces received backpacks with supplies.

Lubbock:  The Lubbock office was involved with two back-to-school events. The first was the annual Back-to-School Bash hosted by The Lubbock Dream Center. MCH Family Outreach was a sponsor of the event and had a resource table available for participants to visit and learn about services that are provided to the community. More than 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies were given to children at the event. Free haircuts and vouchers for school uniforms were also provided, as well as games, activities, door prizes and food.

MCH Family Outreach Back-to-School Bash is an annual event for Gap and Family Solutions clients. Families in attendance were given a pair of shoes for each school-aged child. A meal was served and activities were provided. Children and their caregivers made stress balls, calm-down bottles and participated in parachute games.

Lubbock staff shared information to members of the community during local back-to-school events.

San Antonio: In July case managers hosted a family bingo event for families of the Prospera Housing Community Services which provides housing and support services for residents. They also partnered with the organization for a back-to-school potluck in August where children were provided with backpacks and school supplies. Residents were able to hear about services and meet with case managers during the events.

On July 21, San Antonio case managers attended the San Antonio Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Coalition’s first annual Picnic Day at San Pedro Springs. Approximately 150 people attended the event. On July 26 -27, MCH staff participated in the Annual Back-to-School event for grandparents raising their grandchildren hosted by Alamo Area Council of Governments. AACOG and other vendors provided vouchers for school clothes, backpacks and other school items for the grandchildren. MCH staff distributed around 150 bags containing school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, erasers, ruler, boxes of Kleenex, crayons, and other items for grandchildren. MCH staff provided the grandparents with information about the Gap Program and had several grandparents sign up for services.

On Aug. 14, MCH Family Outreach in San Antonio participated in the Coker United Methodist Church Backpack Give Away where 1,500 backpacks with school supplies were distributed to families in need. MCH Family Outreach distributed “Be You” pencils and watercolor bookmarks with inspiring words on them. Several participants signed up to receive additional information of services provided by MCH.

San Antonio staff reached out to grandparents and other caregivers raising children during a local event.

Tyler: The Tyler Outreach office participated in a back-to-school event held at Harvey Hall. MCH provided 300 bags of school supplies for the event. The Tyler Outreach office also participated in a back-to-school event in Athens where MCH provided 600 bottles of glue. Kristy George, director of MCH Family Outreach in Tyler, said, “Both events are a great help to the community for those in need of school supplies.”

Waco: On Aug. 14, Waco Outreach participated in Meet the Teacher night at Indian Springs Middle School to share information about programs.

Thank you to all organizations who partnered with us to support children headed back to school.

Connecting through a common interest

MCH encourages staff members to utilize their gifts and talents in serving youth. For school support staff member Michael Lewis, his interest in fitness enabled him to help a student make a positive transformation.

Lewis was approached by Bryce, a student at the charter school, in February 2018. Bryce, now a freshman, wanted to know how Lewis was able to maintain his muscular physique at age 61. Lewis gave him some tips on exercise and nutrition and Bryce took his advice and put it into action. Within only a couple of months, Lewis noticed that Bryce’s appearance was changing. Bryce said he lost around 30 pounds before the end of that school year.

“I started changing my diet and eating things that I knew were good for my body, beneficial,” he said. “Not just empty calories that you get from chips and sodas. It is to the point now that I don’t even like other foods anymore. I got used to eating fruits and vegetables and healthy foods that I know help with building muscle.”

Once the summer hit, Bryce and Lewis began meeting three or four days a week to work out at the gym on campus. Lewis said he is proud of the sacrifice and motivation Bryce has shown in continuing his good habits. Lewis said they spend their time in the gym not just working out, but also talking about life and have built a positive relationship.

“It is more than just working out,” Lewis said. “I’ve seen him become more responsible, grow mentally and sometimes I have to remind myself that he is only 14.”

Lewis said he hopes he is helping Bryce build a solid foundation for the future by living a healthy lifestyle now in order to prevent diseases such as diabetes or heart failure. He also hopes these efforts will inspire other students at MCH. 

“The physical body is something God wants us to take care of,” Lewis said. “How to eat is in His Word. The physical body has to be maintained just like the mental and spiritual.”

Bryce has now dropped around 50 pounds and said he has gained confidence and will continue working out with Lewis.

“I feel stronger since I’ve been in the weight room,” he said. “People have given me more respect because I’ve been willing to do this. It got me out of my comfort zone and I will feel better in the future.”  

MCH youth gain perspective through summer trips

Nikkie attended a mission trip and Glen Lake camp this summer.

Each summer, MCH youth have a chance to rejuvenate and grow closer to God through summer mission trips and Christian camps.

This year, MCH youth had the option to travel with Spiritual Development staff to off-campus trips including Central Texas Conference Youth in Mission (CTCYM) in Lovington, New Mexico; Glen Lake Camp and Retreat Center in Glen Rose, Texas; and United Methodist Action Reach Out Mission by Youth (U.M. ARMY) in Longview, Texas, as part of a partnership with Kingwood United Methodist Church. For the final trip opportunity, students were led by recreation and other staff to the Shepherds of the Ozarks camp in August.

“We consider attending a Glen Lake Camp or a mission trip to be a privilege set aside for students who are seeking to grow in their relationship with Christ,” said Kim Clark, director of spiritual development. “We also take into consideration their level of responsibility and social and leadership skills. We take students who are able to take direction well, work hard, work with a team, are eager to deepen their relationship with Christ, and have a positive attitude.”

Eligible students fill out an application and must also have staff recommendations. They then must be approved by unit managers and administration with factors such as summer school, home visit schedules, and behavior being considered in the approval process.

Nikkie, age 15, attended the CTCYM trip as well as Glen Lake camp for the first time. She said she wanted to go on the mission trip because she likes to help others and felt it would be a good experience to spend some time away from campus. While on the trip, she worked with youth from different areas on three homes completing projects such as building wheelchair ramps, installing porch railings and making home repairs.

“When I came back I felt like a whole different person,” Nikkie said. “Something had changed in me. I felt like God was telling me to work hard to get something done and to believe in myself.”

During camp, Nikkie said she gained a fresh perspective and enjoyed her time with other MCH youth.

“At Glen Lake my favorite thing was getting closer to MCH kids,” she said. “I feel like Spiritual Development and these trips are helping me get closer to God and closer to everyone else. You learn on these trips that God is always here.”

MCH staff from different areas accompanied seven youth to Shepherds of the Ozarks, a Christian conference and retreat center in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. During the trip, youth were able to explore an underground cavern, hike up to a cave, and participate in a service project.

Clark said she has seen many positive transformations in the youth when they return from summer trips.

“I have had the pleasure of seeing lives changed, lives given to Christ and baptisms,” she said. “I have witnessed our kids being kids, laughing, having fun, and trying new things. I have seen relationships formed and others mended. I have witnessed students come back and be the catalyst for change in their homes and our community.”

MCH charter school hosts “Fish Camp”

Incoming freshmen for the charter school at Methodist Children’s Home received an introduction to high school during “Fish Day” on July 19. The two-hour event at the school, located on the Waco campus, served as freshman orientation to prepare students before the school year begins and introduce them to MCH and school staff who will be working with them.

During the orientation, freshman students listened to several presentations and toured the high school areas of the school where they will attend classes. Jeff Creel, program administrator for school and transition services, talked to students about expectations for each year of high school. Executive Principal Michelle Arocha introduced changes for the next school year such as new teachers, new district theme, and dress code, schedule and policy adjustments. Students also participated in an activity with MCH recreation staff.

Freshmen were also introduced to Transition Services, a program serving MCH students as they transition to independence. TS coordinators begin working with MCH students during their junior year of high school in creating post high school graduation plans. They assist students in preparations such as college visits, applications for financial aid and scholarships, and life skills training. TS coordinators shared information with the students about their role and gave specific information regarding tests they will encounter such as the Texas Success Initiative Assessment college readiness exam and the SAT/ACT standardized tests used to determine college admission and scholarships.

Presentations emphasized the importance of academic performance during high school with the intention of getting them off to a positive start.

   

“We want to make sure they stay focused and maintain their GPA because that is important when looking at college,” said Dorothy Phillips, director of educational services at MCH.

The MCH charter school is operated in partnership with the University of Texas-University Charter School system. The 2018-19 school year will begin on August 15.

Bryan mother finds financial stability with help of MCH Family Outreach

Kerrianna worked with MCH Family Outreach to become financially stable
and recently received a vehicle thanks to a partnership with OnRamp. 

Kerrianna is a single mother of six children, ages 3-16, and was doing her best to make ends meet working as a substitute teacher. However, with limited financial means and transportation, she could only accept substitute jobs at schools close to her home. As a necessary solution, she accepted full-time employment at a local pizza chain near her apartment so she could walk her younger girls to child care before going to work.

Kerrianna learned about MCH Family Outreach in Bryan/College Station through a local childcare and educational program and hoped they could help her find a solution to her challenges. She began working with MCH case manager Susan Hays in February 2018 as part of the Family Solutions program.

Through the program, Hays was able to assist Kerrianna with identifying her goals and developing strategies to meet those goals. Kerrianna desired financial stability and also wanted to increase healthy experiences for her family. Hays provided her with support and encouragement through her journey and connected her with resources in the area to assist her in gaining financial stability.

“I think the program was very helpful,” Kerrianna said. “Since starting the program I have developed a ton of self-worth.”

Hays knew that a reliable vehicle would be a crucial part of Kerrianna’s goals. She nominated her to a local nonprofit called OnRamp that assists hardworking families in need with vehicles. She learned about the organization through friends and thought Kerrianna would be a great candidate for the opportunity.

Through this partnership, Kerrianna received a 2005 Dodge Caravan in June that is able to accommodate her six children. She is now searching for full-time employment at College Station ISD and will no longer have to worry about limiting her search to schools within walking distance. Kerrianna said she has also seen improvements in her relationships with her children.

“It has helped us become closer,” she said. “It’s given me the strength to listen to my kids more and we go and do a lot more now. I’m feeling happy and overjoyed that my family and I are closer and we can now travel more.”

Hays said she has enjoyed working with Kerrianna and is impressed by her ambition to do whatever it takes to support her family.

“Kerrianna has persevered through a lot of stress and hardship,” Hays said. “I don’t know many people who would walk their kids to child care and then walk to a job they don’t like every day in hopes of providing a better future for their children. She continues to move forward and do the ‘next right thing.’” 

MCH Family Outreach in Waco offers free parenting classes at McLennan Community College

Staff from MCH Family Outreach if Waco recently wrapped up its first parenting class as part of continuing education at McLennan Community College (MCC). The class, Connected Caregiver, was a success and will be followed up later this summer by a class covering Circle of Security® Parenting™ program.

“Working with MCC has been incredibly positive,” said Brooke Davilla, director of MCH Family Outreach in Waco. “In partnering with MCC we are able to reach the broader Waco community. MCC has been supportive and eager to share our mission with others. At MCH Family Outreach we are always looking for creative ways to serve and engage our local community.”

The parenting classes are appropriate for anyone who is a caregiver for children and youth including parents, teachers, or childcare professionals. Participants learn about trauma-informed and evidence-based practices that will help them better understand behaviors and connect with children.

One class participant, Lori Colunga, decided to attend the Connected Caregiver class after hearing about it through her church. A former teacher, Colunga volunteers for a reading mentorship program where she works with children in Waco schools. She said she has learned a lot about how relationships can factor into children’s ability to interact and learn.

“We’re hearing about how important those connections are,” Colunga said. “If you don’t have those personal connections, the brain is not turned on for anything.”

Connected Caregiver classes ran through June, and Circle of Security classes will be Aug. 6 through Sept. 10 on Monday evenings. Circle of Security is a program that helps parents and caregivers better understand their child’s needs. Facilitators will work with parents and caregivers to better understand a child’s emotions, support their ability to manage those emotions, enhance their self-esteem, and honor the innate wisdom and desire for the child to be secure. 

To sign up for the free class, click here to visit the McLennan Community College website.

Ana Chatham, case manager for MCH Family Outreach in Waco,
facilitates a Connected Caregiver class at MCC.

MCH youth receive awards for academics, activities

Congratulations to students at the Methodist Children’s Home charter school who were recognized for achievements during the 2017-18 school year! Students were celebrated with certificates, letter jackets, patches, and other items during a school awards ceremony on May 18 and an Activities Banquet on May 22. Below is a list of recipients:

Charter School Awards
Bulldog Pride: Middle school – Lacey-Ann, Lucas, Dathan, Blake, Christina, Brittney; High school – Nikkie, Julianna, Emily, Josh, Faith, Kameron, Charles, Madison, Jaelyne, Marisa, Galen, Dina, Dominic, Synia, Alexis, Soleana, Jasmine, Daniel, Nebiyat, Arianna, Deborah

Academic Honor Roll:  Middle school – Alin; High school - Noah, Chandler, Rainn, Jaelyne, Marisa, Galen, Duane, Dina, Selam, Julio, Alexis, Soleana, Jasmine, Daniel, Nebiyat, Arianna, Deborah

Safe School Ambassadors:  Noah, Dan’tavion, Jaelyne, Marisa, Galen, Tremya, Amashia, Julio, Alexis, Adrianna, Damonte

Art Awards: Kelsey, Soleana, Tremya, Daniel, Lacey, Faith, Alayah, Jasmine, Deborah, Selam, Emone, Alexis N., Abigail, Charles, Alyssa

English Awards:  English 3 – Deborah, Nebiyat, Arianna; English 4 – Rainn, Dan’tavion, Soleana

FFA Awards:
Ag Mechanics Design and Fabrication – Noah; Diversified Livestock – KK; Ag Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Galen; Vegetable Production – Jaelyne; Wildlife Production – Ladarius; Star Green Hand – Duane; Chapter Star Farmer – Galen; Chapter Star in Agriscience – Galen; Ag Education and Placement – Julio; Chapter Discovery (best 8th grader) – Sam

Crew Champions: Beef production – Marisa; Swine production – Roger; Sheep production – Layla; Goat production – Dustin

Athletics Awards
Football:  Co-MVPs – Julio, Damonte; Most Improved – Kendrick
Volleyball:  MVP – Amashia; Most Improved – Armani
Boys Basketball: MVP - Sir Dautrel; Most Improved – Xaivier
Girls Basketball: MVP – Emone; Most Improved - Ari
Boys Track & Field: MVP - Sir Dautrel; Most Improved – Dremon
Girls Track & Field: MVP – Justine; Most Improved - Rainn
Boys Golf:  MVP – Angel; Most Improved - Daniel
Girls Golf:  MVP - Dina
Bobby Gilliam Leadership Through Athletics Award – Tayshawn, Soleana

Fine Arts Awards
Theatre: Most Valuable – Lacey; Most Improved – Juliana
Cheer/Dance:  Most Valuable – Jaelyne; Most Improved - Christina
Choir:  Most Outstanding – Layla; Most Improved - Faith
Photography:  Most Outstanding – Alexis T.; Most Improved – Lauren

The charter school, located on the MCH Waco campus, is operated in partnership with the University of Texas – University Charter School system. Thank you to all our supporters and staff who contributed to another successful year for our students!

Students think like entrepreneurs for school project

The team for "The Beez Kneez Sweets" won first prize
in the food truck contest. 

Students at the Methodist Children’s Home (MCH) charter school were recently challenged to show their creativity and mind for business during a recent class project. Angie Hammond’s food science classes participated in the project which involved groups of juniors and seniors developing their own food truck businesses.

The charter school, located on the Waco campus of MCH, is operated in partnership with the University of Texas-University Charter School system. Hammond, a teacher at the charter school for 13 years, came up with the idea for the project after watching a show on The Food Channel. 

“I wanted them to learn what was involved in starting a food truck business and how to put together a proposal to present to a committee in the city where they want to set up your business,” Hammond said. “They also had to come up with a menu that would work for their truck, along with marketing slogans, jingles and models.”

The students were graded on the different aspects of their food truck project including their ideas for business structure, miniature truck models, menu items, design, and marketing ideas. They were also asked to make an item from their menu and bring to class. Students could work as part of a group or individually.

“I was very impressed with the thought and creativity that went into each individual or group project,” Hammond said. “The groups worked together very well and the individuals also did an excellent job. They all said that they liked the project.”  

Staff and students voted on the projects and winners were announced during the school awards ceremony on May 18. Winners were: 1^st Place: The Beez Kneez Sweets; 2^nd Place: Koi Lantern; 3^rd Place: Mobile Munchies.

“I found this project to be an inspiration and it brought our group closer together,” said Nikki, 18, a member of The Beez Kneez group. “It was a really fun project that brought out our creativity.”

Hammond said as part of her food science class, students also learned about taste test panels where the class conducted their own panel. She said they also compared fat-free foods to regular foods, and gluten free with regular foods. Hammond said she plans to include the food truck project in her curriculum next year and hopes to also add a field trip to local food trucks as part of the lesson.

2nd Place - Koi Lantern

3rd Place - Mobile Munchies

Students visit Boys Ranch for Wildlife Expo

Methodist Children’s Home charter school students gathered at the MCH Boys Ranch on April 18 to get a lesson on the great outdoors. Ag teachers Steve Kruse and Kevin Gibbs organized the Wildlife Expo with the help of Boys Ranch and charter school staff.  This is the second time they have hosted this event.

“I wanted the students to learn something about outdoor education and nature, and also see how special the Ranch is,” Kruse said.

During the event, students were divided into groups and rotated around stations. There were a total of eight stations including:

• Fishing at Slator Pond with MCH staff member Jason Bartlett
• Horsemanship led by MCH staff member and equine coordinator Tim Price
• The Falls County Game Warden teaching about his work
• Beekeeping by Trig Bees
• The Urban Interface, a wildlife organization that brought in several birds to show students
• A BB-gun marksmanship station sponsored by Cabela’s Waco with Cabela representative Jeffrey Haslam
• Archery sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife, led by Travis Glick
• Taste of the Wild allowed students to eat venison that was shot by Ranch boys during their hunting trip and cooked by Kruse and Ranch staff member Tyrone Robinson.

Kruse and Gibbs also worked with the art teacher at the charter school to hold a student art contest with prizes awarded to the top artist. Students and staff voted on the art throughout the afternoon.

“This was a good way for the school staff and all the MCH staff to come together to work for the good of our students,” Kruse said. “Like the old saying goes, ‘it takes an entire community to raise a child’ and we are raising about 135 of them.”

MCH Family Outreach joins efforts for Child Abuse Prevention month

Corpus Christi Outreach office staff partnered with local agencies to plant a
pinwheel garden to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The month of April marked Child Abuse Prevention Month and several MCH Family Outreach offices took part in efforts to raise awareness in their communities.

MCH Family Outreach in Corpus Christi and El Paso partnered with local agencies in planting pinwheel gardens. The gardens are part of an initiative called Pinwheels for Prevention led by Prevent Child Abuse America, a national organization who works to prevent abuse and neglect of the nation’s children. The gardens are meant to serve as a reminder to the community to take a stand against child abuse and show support to local agencies serving children.

MCH Family Outreach in Corpus Christi planted a pinwheel garden for the third year. With 1,176 pinwheels this year, the garden was nearly four times the size from the first year when the office planted 300 pinwheels. They partnered with CASA of the Coastal Bend, BCFS Health and Human Services, Education Service Center Region 2 Home Visiting Program, and Arms Wide to plant pinwheels to represent the children in foster care for Nueces, San Patricio and Aransas counties in 2017. They also participated in a “Ringing of the Bells” ceremony on April 5 with the Chamber of Commerce, mayor and city council members to “ring in the month” of April to bring awareness to child abuse prevention.

Staff of MCH Family Outreach in El Paso collaborated with Child Protective Services and Girl Scout Troop #52104 for its first pinwheel project. The Girl Scouts and parents learned the meaning behind the pinwheel gardens and helped plant 500 pinwheels. They were also invited to attend Go Blue Day celebration on April 6 which included a balloon release to build awareness in the community for child abuse prevention.    

MCH Family Outreach in Houston also participated in a balloon release for Go Blue Day to honor children affected by abuse and neglect. Staff from MCH Family Outreach in Waco wore blue to show their support for the cause as well.

In Dallas, Outreach staff handed out blue bracelets that said, “Be a Hero – Foster a Child” to foster parents, clients, friends, families, and other employers in their office building to recognize Child Abuse Prevention month. They also wore shirts that said, “There is no excuse for Child Abuse” every Thursday in April to raise awareness.

Thank you to our MCH Family Outreach offices for their efforts during Child Abuse Prevention Month!

Dallas Outreach office staff

El Paso Outreach office staff

Houston Outreach office staff

Waco Outreach office staff