Looking ahead to NOLA

In April of this year I visited New Orleans for the first time. On a walk one evening near the fabulous Jacque Imo's, I saw a young girl riding her bike down the sidewalk and I noticed that she was wearing a KIPP t-shirt. I asked her as she rolled by if she liked her school. She stopped her bike long enough to say that it was fun and that they did, indeed, make her work very hard. She gave us a wave and rode off, presumably home, and in a short time, she will be starting a new year of school at KIPP. Little did I know that some few weeks after this chance meeting, I would be given the chance to travel to NOLA and do more than just encourage one student to keep working hard at school. I am so excited to revisit a most unique city and do what I can to help out at these schools that are gracious enough to host us.

AND I absolutely want to visit the Backyard Museum. Anyone else?

KIPP received $50 million grant!

From EdWeek:

"With its grant, the San Francisco-based Knowledge Is Power Program, or KIPP, Foundation will train 1,000 new school leaders so it can open additional schools and more than double the number of students it serves—from 29,000 to 55,000—in five years. It asked for $50 million.

In addition, the KIPP Foundation will seek to share lessons learned on leadership with school administrators outside the KIPP network through efforts such as symposiums and websites."

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/08/04/37i3.h29.html?tkn=MYMFPyTXbHLAQGyCijb5yUMaJmvptJcTdkcO&cmp=clp-edweek

Smiles, giggles, and tricycles!!

This trip has been an amazing growing experience for me to work together as a group to assist a community which needed our help.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the school we arrived at was in a condition where learning could take place without any distractions for the students. Before my arrival, I had envisioned myself doing hands on work such as painting walls, putting together doors, and building desks and chairs. Although I wouldn't have minded doing such work, I was happy to see that the school seemed to have a lot of resources in hand to promote a positive learning atmosphere.

I enjoyed working with teachers to set the classroom up for the new school year which was to start in a couple weeks time. And when I saw the looks on the kids faces walking across the hall or playfully hanging out in the courtyard, I knew that I wanted to do everything I could to keep them smiling for a long period of time. My only wish would have been to be able to interact with the kids a little more to hear their stories, and share some laughters but I know all the teachers are there to support them every step of the way which makes me feel at peace.

The tricycle race was a little fun we had as a group and I'm glad everyone was able to share a little laughs :)

I hope to be back at KIPP sometime in the near future if not next year and keep in touch with everyone from this trip!! Thanks Guys.


KoKE-a-KoLA

Back in Chicago

Well, the 2010 July NOLA Service Learning Trip has come and gone. It was quite an adventure and I am still catching up on sleep from the experience. I had a wonderful time and find myself missing New Orleans already. Everyone worked really hard at Kipp Central City and we were able to accomplish a lot in 5 short days. The experience of being a trip leader was one I will not soon forget. It had its share of challenges, but was really rewarding in the end. I hope to see most of the group back next summer for some new adventures.

Please check out our Facebook page for pictures and comments. Add it to your groups to keep in touch with everyone from this year's trip and feel free to share photos and video. The group page is called,

"NOLA Service Learning Trip"

Reflecting

What an amazing trip!

My expectations of the trip were of hard labour, lots of sweating, and ensuring that the school is inhabitable for teachers and youngsters as the school year starts.
I was wrong.
Instead it was lots of hard laminate cutting, lots of sweating, and ensuring that the school is pretty for teachers and youngsters as the school year starts.  :)  Worth every minute!

Kipp appears to be an amazing school to work at and attend.  The staff is more upbeat, kind, fun-loving, and enthusiastic than I have ever seen out of a school and the students I passed in the halls did not hesitate with smiles and welcoming hellos.  I got the chance to sit down with a few of the teachers and I was surprised to find out that many of them are transplants from the likes of San Diego, New York, Chicago,  and St. Louis.  Many of them were apparently "just looking for something new" when they made their move to New Orleans.  (Sounds familiar, as I plan on moving as well after I graduate.)

More than anything else on this trip, the appreciation that the staff showed us will follow me.  Their kindness hit a deep well in my heart and brightly restored its red flush.  I have been humbled and reassured of my new career choice.

...and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Weather in NOLA

To those of you going next week - check the weather, but it was HOT outside and on the cable cars! Most places had a/c, and then, especially if you were working in one of the school offices, it was often cold so bring a lightweight jacket or sweater to the school just in case. Also, keep in mind that even though school may not be in session, there are lots of kids around so dress appropriately - shorts and tshirts should be modest and while the staff was always quite dressed up, the casual clothing for volunteers seemed to be acceptable at KIPP.

August Trip

I am anxious to get going on the August trip, and I am not sure what to expect in terms of the weather. I am looking forward to helping out at the school and doing what I can in the short time I will be there.

Hopefully I will be able to walk through the city without any problems from the heat. I was lame a week ago, after two shots of cortisone, I regained my ability to walk. I feel great. Going to New Orleans with a cane or a wheelchair was not my idea of a good time.