Dec 2012 - Jasper County Mentor Program

Mentoring Matters
Jasper County Mentor
Program, Inc.
Volume 8, Issue 3
December 26, 2012
International People, Food & Puppets
A Memorable Christmas Dinner & Hands-On Puppetry!
Arts interCan
you
national
name five differpuppetry
ent types of puppresentapets? On Montion.
day, December
10, the Jasper
T r i County Mentor
C o u n t y
Program held its
EMC Founannual holiday
dation was
dinner and celeinstrumenbration and partal in supticipants learned
porting the
about
hand/ Audience views an example of event
by
finger,
string,
a body puppet
providing
stick,
shadow
books
and body puppets during for the kids, the pupa Center for Puppetry
pet show and
Rudolph the
Red-Nosed
Reindeer puppet-making kits.
Exhibitors
were on hand to
share
pictures,
artifacts and information about
countries around
CPA Educator, Jeff Domke, demonstrating
the world (see
international puppet with students
page 4 for more information). Kids were given
scavenger hunt cards
(see below) that required
them to acquire information about the various
c o u n t r i e s .
Jasper County school
cafeteria staff served an
international dinner, including tandoori chicken,
curried cauliflower, pita
c h i p s and hummus,
saffron rice
and Moroccan
oranges with
mango
sorbet.
The
evening
concluded with distribution of door prizes, books
and
p up pet - m ak i n g
kits.
Door prizes included several items
from other countries, including a Korean tea set
and a Vietnamese fan.
Announcements
 An iPad is available at
the primary and elementary school media centers for mentors to use
with the kids.
 Six kids need mentors
 January is National
Mentoring Month
 Mentor Appreciation
Lunch, Thursday, January 17, 2013
 New mentor trainings
are Tuesday, January 8
and January 22 at 5
p.m.
Inside this issue:
Youth Literacy Success
Feedback on Celebration
2
JCMP Thanks Donors
Fundraising Goal
3
Scenes of Holiday Events
4-5
Success Stories
6
Important Dates
7
Board of Directors
Mentor Hall of Fame
8
The Joy of Reading: Dollar General Youth Literacy Program
Thirty-nine
students in the mentor
program are receiving a book every two
weeks thanks to a
grant from Dollar
General.
Harold Harley, pictured above
and far right, is mentored by
United States Forest Service
ranger Liz Caldwell. He loves
receiving his books. Harold, along
with other primary school students
in the program, have received
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That
Type and Spot Loves School. Elementary school students received
Mouse and the Motorcycle and
Black Pearl and many others.
Mentors also work on literacy
through the use of an iPad. Kindle
eReaders are available as is a V- Mandie Behling (left), media paraprofessional, holds one of the books as Amy
Tech reader at the primary school. Wade (right), media specialist at both primary and elementary schools, holds
an iPad with a flash card app as well as the sign-in folder for the kids’ books.
Feedback on Christmas Dinner and Program by Jehan El-Jourbagy
Well, this baby sure liked the
food at the mentor program Christmas dinner. Survey data is still
preliminary, but most people
(89%) thought the entire event met
or exceeded their expectations.
About half of the respondents liked
the food and half did not. I’m not
Page 2
sure if my kids are unusual (okay,
maybe they are), but they loved
the food. I especially liked the saffron rice and peas and had to fight
my kids for scraps. Next year, we
will shoot for more familiar fare —
though we do want to continue to
take “culinary field trips” and encourage kids to try new things and
eat healthy foods.
Thank you so much to Hannah
Pope and Susan Haynes for
manning the registration table, to
all the wonderful people who had
tables at our international fair (see
page 4), to Jeff Domke with the
Center for Puppetry Arts, to board
member Shannon Usry for helping with books, to board member
Johnny Smith for coordinating
clean-up, to board member Elvis
Singleton for coordinating the
program, to board member Rindy
Trouteaud for help with dinner
Mentoring Matters
preparations, to Kasey Reid and
board member Sage Edwards for
help with beverages, and board
member Shawne Holder for the
decorations, donation of the poinsettias and facility use.
Mentors Lauree and James
Belcher and Liz Caldwell also
helped out.
Johnny Smith was kind
enough to offer an invocation.
Thanks also to superintendent
Mike Newton for his support.
I am also so thankful for mentor Kelly Schlein, director of the
Jasper County Schools Nutrition Department and Felicia
Holman, Mildred Lawrence and
Kathy Dukes with the cafeteria
staff. They were admirably adventurous and did a good job with
preparing a meal not in their usual
repertoire.
The JCMP 2012-2013 Giving Tree: THANK YOU!
Thanks to Our
Thanks to Our
Thanks to Our
Community Donors:
Cedar Creek Baptist
Local Business Donors:
Bank of Monticello
Evening Light Church of God
Individual Donors:
Ray & Patty Lanier in memory of Clydie
Jordan, who loved children
Jasper County
Hal Lynch
Shannon Usry♦, Dixie’s Trophy & Sport
Board of Education
Larry* & Nancy* Lynch
Hamilton State Bank
Jasper County Sheriff’s Office
Thomas & Gretchen Lynch
Kelly & Kelly, LLP
Lakey Memorial CME Church
Sarah* & Robert McMichael
Anthony T. Lewis,
Monticello Baptist Church
Jane Meier
Lewis & Malone Htg. & Air Service
Monticello Presbyterian Church
Gunnar & Betsy Miller
The Monticello News
Red Hat Society
Lin* & Judith Moist
PolyTech Industries
Thanks to Our
Hal & Judy* Moody
Jackie Pate*, The Snap-n Turtle
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.
Individual Donors:
LeAnn* & Chris Airington
David & Nancy Pettigrew
Steve Currie, Inc.
Jimmy Rabitsch
in honor of Steve Currie
Patty Batchelor*
Kasey Reid*
Tricia Armistead, CPA
Mary* & Warren Camp
Chris & Kim Savage
Wildwood Forest Studios
Lisa Clemons
Bob* & Sheryl* Schwartz
Thanks to our
Foundation Donors:
Dollar General Youth Literacy
Dave* & Debby Dammann
David* & Margaret Sheppard
Skip* & Diane* Davis in honor of Skip &
Diane’s mentored kids
Rexford & Patricia Setzer in honor of
mentors Larry & Nancy Lynch
Shelia Dennis
Sneha Singh
Sage Edwards*♦
Elvis♦* & Priscilla Singleton
Lise Funderburg
Johnny*♦ & Susan* Smith
Jehan El-Jourbagy* & Tyson Harty
Elizabeth Strawn*
Morad* & Carla El-Jourbagy
Rachel Torrance
Jane & Bud Harty
Rindy Trouteaud♦*
Susan* & William Haynes
Vickie Vickers
Greg* & Shawne Holder♦
Ellen* & C.D. Watson
Betty Jean & Robert Jordan
James & Gail* Williams
Joanne Jordan*
Stone & Jean Workman
Mary Lou* & Jimmy Jordan
Steve & Lynne Jordan
Jerry Wyatt*
GoodSearch
Tri-County EMC Foundation
Funds Donated to Date: $14,702.49
Funds Needed by 06/30/13: $10,297.51
*JCMP Mentor or Former Mentor
♦ JCMP Board Member
Donations are 100% tax deductible and
are needed to support mentor
recruitment, retention and programs,
such as field trips and special events.
Back to School Celebration &
Holiday Celebration Donations
Fundraising Goal: $10,300 by Dec. 31
More community members
than ever have shown their support of the mentor program, and
their support is going a LONG way
to helping us meet our fundraising
goal of $25,000 by Dec. 31.
Many of you know we did not
receive an annual $5,000 grant
due to the economy. To make
sure we still provide the same dyVolume 8, Issue 3
namic programming, we need
everyone’s help to fill this gap.
I know we can do it — we
can recruit great volunteers and
provide supplemental educational activities kids need and
deserve. If you haven’t done so
already, help kids succeed and
make your gift today through
the mail or on our website.
Mentor Jackie Pate donating 10% of Small Business
Saturday sales to the mentor program!
Page 3
Scenes from the Holidays: Holiday International Fair
Mentors Hannah Pope and Susan Haynes
greet guests at the registration table. Poinsettias were later given as door prizes.
Mentor Morad El-Jourbagy with a
table about Egypt, where he was
born and grew up.
Carla El-Jourbagy, who was born and raised in The Netherlands,
brought memorabilia from her home country.
Ellen Watson has a family member who
is stationed in South Korea. He brought
several items from that country.
Page 4
Retired JCHS French teacher,
Mary Camp, provided a great
deal of information about France
JCHS Spanish teacher Suzanne Arena
with a table about Costa Rica, a country
she has visited.
School social worker Princess Clarke, originally
from Trinidad & Tobago, brought several items
courtesy of her home country’s embassy.
Mary Lou Jordan, whose daughter-in-law is
Vietnamese, had dress, maps and other information on Vietnam.
Mentoring Matters
Scenes from the Holiday Celebration Dinner & Program
Page 5
Mentoring Matters
Accomplishments of Mentored Children
wick (Adrienne Liveoak),
Machi Victrum (Dave Dammann), Daijah Manning
(Glenda Bentley), DeArione
Alexander (Lori Copeland
and Sara Burrell), Jamari
Wise (Tierra Jackson),
Christian Tripp (Susan
Haynes), Daniel Bailey (Phil
Smith), DeMarion Thomas
(Skip Davis), Seth Geirrein
(Skye Camp), Corderion
Tripp (pictured right with
his mentor James Belcher),
Kelis Hill (Vickie Noth) and Nina
Calkins (Jackie Pate).
Lori Copeland’s mentee Cody
Sands (pictured inset left) and
Skye Camp’s mentee Seth Geirrein (pictured inset right) were in
the paper for several scouting
events, including a camp out.
Judy Moody’s mentee Naia
Paschal (pictured right at the
Christmas dinner) was in the paper for seeing the Nutcracker Ballet in Covington with her girl scout
troup.
Several students at Jasper
County Middle School were recognized for perfect attendance in
The Monticello News. Students
included seventh grader Annia
Thompkins (pictured above at the
mentor program dinner with mentor Sage Edwards) and De’Eric
Driskell and eighth graders
JaDrien Clark (mentored by Ross
Hays), Ellen Watson’s mentee
Maria Mitchell (below, eating ice
cream at last spring’s field trip)
and Walker Jordan’s mentee
Travaus Sims.
Some of the younger mentees
About four weeks ago, the media specialist at Washington Park told
wrote letters to Santa that were
mentor Karan Bumann about a party to be held on the last day of school
published in The Monticello
before Christmas for those who reached their AR goals. Karan discovered
News, including Cadacia Hardthat her mentee, third grader Randi Langford, had zero points.
Karan made it her mission to get her mentee to that party. No more
just talking, no more jewelry making, no more crafts. Randi read and took
her tests during their time together. On Dec. 7, Karan told her she needed
to read four more books and take the tests before she came back on Dec.
14. When Karan visited on Dec. 14, Randi had not completed one single
book. She read three books that day, took the tests and passed 100%.
Karan told her again that the deadline was Dec. 18 to reach her goal of
10 AR points. Karan told her that she would have to read and test on five
more books before the 18th if they were to attend the AR party.
When Karan walked in on Dec. 20 (the day and time of the party),
Randi had done it! All on her own. They danced to WII, made reindeer
cookies and ice skated in the library. Karan said, “I was so very proud of
her and praised her repeatedly.”
Karan visited her family recently and was bragging to her mom about
how well she had done and telling her about the party. Randi told her
mom and Karan’s husband, "I wanted her to be proud of me."
Page 6
Mentoring Matters
January 2013: Important Dates
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
10
11
12
17
18
19
25
26
New Years Day
6
7
13
14
8 First Day of 9
School and New
Mentor Training
@5
15
16
Youth Literacy
Book Distribution
20
21
Mentor Appreciation Lunch @ 12
22
Martin Luther
King Jr. Holiday
27
28
Youth Literacy
Book Distribution
23
24
30
31
New Mentor
Training @ 5
29
Academic Teams
Trivia Night @ 6
What Did You Like Most About the JCMP Holiday Celebration?
very interesting, and
“Spending
the puppet
p r o g r a m time with my
was great. mentee in a
The
gifts
different
and
door
setting.”
prizes were
a lot of fun
too.”
“The international scavenger
hunt involved the children. Puppetry also included them.”
Here are some responses to the above
question from the event
questionnaire:
“Seeing all those
smiles and happy faces of
all in attendance, especially the children.”
“I liked the tables about
other countries. I espeVolume 8, Issue 3
cially liked the
program. It was
very informational
but also fun and
really involved the
children.”
“Puppets!”
“The displays
of the different
countries
was
Page 7
Jasper County Mentor Program, Inc.
1401 College Street
Monticello, GA 31064
Phone: 706-816-0465
Fax: 706-468-0045
Website: www.jcmentorprogram.com
E-mail: jaspercountymentor@gmail.com
Facebook: Search “Jasper County Mentor Program”
Board of Directors
Sage Edwards
Shawne Holder, Ph.D., Chair
Elvis Singleton
Johnny Smith, Treasurer
Rindy Trouteaud
Shannon Usry, Vice Chair
Executive Director
Jehan El-Jourbagy
“We believe every child deserves at least one person unconditionally committed to his or her success.”
Mentor Hall of Fame: Thanks to Our Volunteers!
Rebecca Aaron
Janice Arnold
Patty Batchelor
Benjamin Battle
Lauree Belcher*
James Belcher*
Glenda Bentley
Tammy Boggs
John Brown
Karan Bumann
Sara Burrell
Liz Caldwell
Skye Camp
Mary Camp
Lori Copeland
David Dammann
Jim Daniel
Diane Davis*
Skip Davis
John DeGarmo
Sage Edwards
Morad El-Jourbagy
Jehan El-Jourbagy
Jan Evans
Sheri Guli
Susan Haynes
Ross Hays
Tiffani Hendrix
Debra Hendrix
Tierra Jackson
Stacy James
Gary Jenkins
Mary Lou Jordan
Walker Jordan
Joanne Jordan
Deborah Kelly
Marian Lawson
Adrienne Liveoak*
Larry Lynch
Nancy Lynch
Susan McKenzie
Sarah McMichael
Lin Moist
Judith Moody
Glenn Newsome
Richard Noth
Vickie Noth
Dianne Parr
Jackie Pate
Donnie Pope
Hannah Pope
Kasey Reid
Kelly Schlein
Sheryl Schwartz
David Sheppard
Sandra Shockley
Elvis Singleton
Patricia Slavens
Johnny Smith
Margaret Smith
Phil Smith
Jeanette Standifer
Elizabeth Strawn
Dorothy Tinsley
Gene Trammell
Jeanne Trammell
Rindy Trouteaud
Laura Waggoner
Angela Walsh
Ellen Watson
Rufus Whitlock
Gail Williams
Brittany Wood
Jerry Wyatt
*Helped stuff envelopes
and write personal
notes—THANKS!