Bledsoe Creek State Park...

 

We had a great time at the park again this week!  We took a hike along the shoreline and learned the basics of hiking and how to safely explore!

 



 

In addition to learning about hiking, we identified several types of plants and animals.

I have honestly never seen a group of kids so excited to see (and hold) an earthworm! 

 



 

You would have thought they found gold under those rocks and logs!

The highlight had to be when they found a salamander and everyone got a good look at him before he scurried away! 

 

We are so looking forward to next weeks trip when we'll be fishing!!!

Our Alex...

Alex, PWMS Unity Assistant, is so creative and fun.  We can't even express how blessed we feel to have her at West!  She is an asset to our program and has been with us for almost 2 years.  One of her latest creative designs is our door decoration!  Don't you like it?  Thank you Alex for all the great things you do for our students and staff!  You rock!



Announcements:
We have found a bus driver, so our trips to Bledsoe Creek State Park will resume on Tuesday!  This Tuesday we should be hiking, so bring some shoes that will lace up and be comfortable for a hike!  Parents:  We should be leaving around 3:20 and get back around 5:40.  If you have needs that this schedule will not accommodate, please contact me to see if we can work something out.  I have already spoken with some of you who have students that go to sporting events, etc.

We are need of a few items!  I would love to get some donations of hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, or candy for rewards.  I will, of course, purchase these items from the Unity account if they are not donated.  However, I like to save on the budget in any way we can, so please help us out if you are able!

SPOTLIGHT on Anthony...

Meet Anthony.

Anthony is new to our program this year and we have enjoyed getting to know him so much!

 

Yesterday, Anthony's mom was so excited to show us a book she had just purchased.  She was excited because it was a book that contained a piece of art that Anthony had submitted!

That's right folks, our Anthony is now a published artist!

Check it out...

His is the painting with the red background!  Isn't that neat!

 

We are so proud of you Anthony!  We are lucky to have you in Unity!

Junior Rangers

Yesterday we had the opportunity to begin the Junior Ranger program at Bledsoe Creek State Park.  We are so excited to have this opportunity.  After a series of visits to the park as a group being led by a ranger on a variety of activities, our students will be sworn in as official Tennessee State Park Junior Rangers! 

 

Anyone can become a Junior Ranger.  For more information on how to complete the Junior Ranger program, click here!

 

PARENTS:  Please note the following time change:  The trek from Portland down to the park (in Gallatin) took a little longer in traffic than I originally calculated.  Therefore, we will be leaving school closer to 3:20 and returning between 5:30/40.  Thank you for understanding this adjustment.

Just a few photos...

Don't have a lot of time today, but I wanted to post a few pictures!

 

 

 

I had students put some of our favorite quotes on posters to put up in the chill out room.  Here are a few that I thought were really great!

Here are a couple of pictures of the kids making elephant toothpaste and doing some other experiments with yeast:

 



A visit from Miss Chattanooga!

Yesterday we had a guest speaker join us!  It was Miss Chattanooga herself, Jaclyn Torrento.  She was everything we had hoped for and more!  A senior at Belmont University and a Robertson County native, believe it or not, she competed in the Miss Chattanooga pageant to win the title that will allow her to compete in the Miss Tennessee pageant this summer.  

 

We didn't talk wardrobe and makeup while she was here.  It was community service that was the discussion and activity!  Her self-developed platform is "Hands to Larger Service" and as she walked our students through exactly what that meant, she helped them brainstorm ways to serve right here in Portland!  At the conclusion, our students were motivated to serve in our community and beyond and were loaded with community service project ideas!

 

Miss Chattanooga wasn't satisfied with just talking service.  Before she left, students made cards to be delivered to a nursing home.  Above you see Miss Torrento and the students that were remaining at the end of our day with some of their cards.  What a treat it was to have her come and speak!

 

To learn more about our speaker and her platform, visit:

www.handstolargerservice.com

SPOTLIGHT on Samantha

Better late than never!  I am finally posting our featured student art work!  I have had some technical difficulty with my computer and still can't get my images to turn the right direction.  Between the computer glitch and the snow days, I am just now getting this post up!

 

I first got to know Samantha last year and have admired her artwork since the first time I saw her drawing.  To say she is talented is an understatement!  She is an artist, musician, and all-around great gal!  We are so happy that she continues to be a part of our Unity program!

 

You can see for yourself what a great artist she is!



 

I saved my favorite picture for last!  My sister is a horse lover and used to draw horses.  The first time I saw Sam drawing a horse, I couldn't help but smile to myself.  So, of course, my personal favorite is...

 

...this horse!

 

Sam, thank you so much for sharing your talent with us!  You are a bright spot in my afternoon and I am so thankful that you are in the Unity program at West!