.

June 2011

Afghan Culture Camp

Children’s Culture Connection is hosting an Afghan culture camp for Northfield 5th and 6th graders to learn about Afghan culture from students participating in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Children’s Culture Connection hopes to help American youth dispel myths and fears about Afghan people.  They hope all campers will see the value of their roles as global citizens and discover that there are things they can do to actually make a difference in the world.

13, the Musical - performance and reception

The Northfield Arts Guild will invite the students involved in the Latino Short Play Festival and other interested ESL (English as a Second Language) students at Northfield Middle and High Schools to a performance of 13 – The Musical.  13 is a play about a teenage boy who works to fit in with kids at his new school.  The Northfield Arts Guild will host a reception following the performance where the students can mingle with the cast, musicians and production team from the show.

Community Youth Fairs

Northfield Public Schools, Community Services Division is planning its Community Youth Fairs which are held each August, just before the start of school. Last year, approximately 400 students and their families attended the Youth Fairs, which are targeted at elementary and middle school-aged students.  The goal of the event is to attract more Northfield students to participate in organized activities during non-school hours.  Local organizations are invited to set up booths free of charge.  Each participating organization will then have access to these students and their families to inform them about the extracurricular opportunities available, as well as to share information about scholarships that might be available to the families.  Additional attractions to the Fairs include games, ice cream treats, and the opportunity to meet school principals and administrators.

Sibley Summer Readers

Becky Gainey and other teachers at Sibley Elementary School will provide books for children who don’t have access to books in the summer.  Studies show that children of low socioeconomic status lose two months of reading growth over the summer when they do not have books or spend time reading.  Books will be distributed to at least 60 students.

 

May 2011

Midnight Madness

The students in Mr. Ensrud’s Leadership Class at the Northfield High School have planned an event for the whole high school student body.  This event is an outdoor evening to include food, a bonfire, and night games.  They hope that through these evening events, students will better connect with one another and possibly make new friends.  Funds granted will be used to purchase food, beverages, utensils, and art supplies for the event.

GPS Check-Out

Nicholas Gonnerman would like to have individual GPS units available to the community to check-out in order to explore Northfield in a fun way.  Nicholas was introduced to geocaching in his 8th grade geography class at Northfield Middle School and wants other kids to enjoy the activity.  His teacher, Mr. Sawyer is helping him with this project.  They are working with Community Services to handle the “check-out” system for the GPS units.  It will work in the same manner that Community Services checks out snowshoes to community members during the winter.  Community Services plans to offer a geogaching class in the fall to promote this opportunity.  Funds granted will be used to purchase four GPS units which will be housed at Community Services.

SUPER Kids, Dresden Hills Park

Offered through Northfield Public Schools, Community Services Division, SUPER Kids is a summer park playground program where participants Successfully Use Positive Experience in Recreation (SUPER) in a wide array of activities like arts and crafts, large group games, organized play with peers, and free play.  The SUPER Kids program is designed so that participants can attend their neighborhood park.  For the Dresden Hills Park, organizers are planning to offer this program at no cost to the participants, with the target audience being youth involved in the Summer PLUS program and those who live in Viking Terrace.

Writers’ Workshop Literary Journal

Katrina Wilson and other students from ARTech school are compiling prose and poetry they have authored throughout the school year and are putting it all into one publication called, “Writers’ Workshop Literary Journal.”  A copy of this journal will be given to the Key and other area businesses who have hosted the writers during writing sessions this year.

April 2011

Japan Relief

 

Ashleigh Cimino and other sophomores at Northfield High School – with help from Sarah Swan-McDonald (high school teacher) – are working to raise money to aid victims of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  With cooperation from the graphics department at the high school, they are creating T-shirts (“HOPE for JAPAN”) that they will sell to students at the high school and possibly at the middle school. Money raised is going to the Red Cross and/or to a school in Tokyo that is distributing school and health supplies to the hardest hit region of Japan.  Funds requested will be used to purchase white T-shirts in bulk.

Girls on the Run 5K

Girls on the Run is an after-school program that uses the power of running to help prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.  Through interactive activities such as running, playing games and discussing important issues, participants learn how to celebrate being girls.  The program focuses on building self-esteem and improving emotional and physical health.  During the 12-week program offered through Northfield Public Schools Community Services Division, coaches teach specific life lessons such as dealing with body image and the media, resisting peer-pressure, making healthy decisions and contributing to the community.  Along the way, the girls train together to walk or run in a 5K (3.1 mile) event together.  This year, the culminating 5K takes place in Red Wing, Minnesota.  Youth go to the 5K with their Running Buddy, who is an adult who has helped them in training and/or supported their effort to be in the program.

5th Grade Kickball Tournament

The Northfield High School Student Council is hosting its fourth-annual 5th grade kickball tournament.  The student council will bring together 5th grade students from four of the local elementary schools for a morning of kickball fun at the Northfield High School.  The idea behind the event is to help develop healthy relationships among 5th graders as they prepare to enter 6th grade, where they will all attend the same school.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

A group of Northfield Middle School teachers are planning a Cinco de Mayo celebration in conjunction with the Tattered Pages Mother’s Day sale on Thursday, May 5.  They are hoping to encourage more families (especially Latino families) to come to the middle school.  In addition to the Mother’s Day sale, they plan to have stations for making crafts and Aztec dancers performing.  There is also a choir concert scheduled at the middle school that evening, which promises to increase traffic.  They are hoping to have 100 families attend this free Cinco de Mayo celebration event.  Funds requested will be used for piñata supplies, craft supplies, food, decorations, Spanish books (as prizes), and Aztec dancers.

Latino Short Play Festival

Students in Jennifer Lompart’s Latino Drama class at Northfield High School have written short plays (4-5 minutes).  Their themes range from teen pregnancy to drugs and alcohol to Facebook and cell phone “sexting.”  These plays focus on the negative consequences of some teens’ unhealthy decisions.  After completing their scripts, the students decided to try to produce their plays and perform on stage.  This group of ESL/Latino students has put much work into this project already, but they have never performed in a production of this nature and are seeking guidance.  The plays were written with the specific intent of performing for middle school students, who are invited to the high school for a day performance.

HCI partners with WINGS to

support ARTech middle school

service learning class

projects, Spring 2011

Spanish Fairytale Book Creation

This group of students has written and illustrated a book – a fairytale.  The writing is in Spanish.  For their project, they plan to take and read copies of their book to area elementary students.  They also plan to  donate a copy of their book to each area elementary school.

Random Acts of Kindness Society

The students comprising the Random Acts of Kindness Society plan to anonymously distribute a significant number of inspirational quotes and compliments (in paper form) at various locations around Northfield.  Their goal is to distribute enough compliments/quotes to brighten the mood of the community at large.  Every person who receives a quote or compliment will be encouraged to pass it on to another person.

Carwash Fundraiser for West Hills Lodge

These students are planning a car wash in the parking lot of Econofoods to benefit West Hills Lodge.  West Hills is a half-way home for women recovering from substance abuse issues and working to put the pieces of their lives back in place before returning to the community.  Car wash will take place on Saturday, May 16th, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Econofoods (601 Division St) in Northfield.

Healthy Smoothies Fund the Greenhouse

This group of middle school students is planning a fundraiser to benefit the operation of the ARTech greenhouse.  They will sell smoothies, made with healthy ingredients.  With this project, they hope not just to raise funds for the greenhouse, but they also hope to educate other students on the benefits of healthy foods.  The students further hope this project will generate more student interest in the greenhouse and result in student help to grow and tend strawberries or other fruits in the greenhouse.

Step-a-thon

Three students plan to raise funds for Prairie’s Edge Humane Society by collecting pledges and donations for a step-a-thon.  The three students will count every step they take on Friday, May 13th.  They hope to turn each step into a donation for the work of the Humane Society.

Donations for Animal Ark

This group of middle school students plans to raise funds for Animal Ark, Minnesota’s largest no kill animal welfare organization, located in Hastings.  The students  plan to create and sell hand-made greeting cards around Northfield.

Friday the 13th Dance

Some students are planning a dance and will offer concessions at the event with all admission and concession proceeds to go to the Ronald McDonald House and the Humane Society.  The dance is scheduled for Friday, May 13th, at ARTech, with a suggested donation of $7.00-10.00.

ARTech Movie Night

Another group of students is planning a movie night at ARTech, complete with popcorn.  They are asking that all participating students bring a food shelf donation with them to the movie.

Pet Project Rescue

These students are planning to make items for Pet Project Rescue, a Minneapolis based no kill rescue organization that places pets in foster homes until permanent placements can be made.  The students plan to make beds and toys out of fabric and rope.

March 2011

Spring Fling Week

The Student Activities Committee is a new organization at the Northfield Area Learning Center (ALC).  For their first event, they are planning a Spring Fling Week, modeled after the Spirit Week held at the Northfield High School.  They plan to have different themes, activities and food each day.  The Student Activities Committee hopes that Spring Fling Week will help foster school spirit, establish a sense of community amongst ALC students and faculty, and help students feel more engaged and connected to their school.  Funds from this grant will be used for food, advertising, participation prizes, etc.

Identity Photo – Essays

Sandi Miller hopes to work with interested Northfield Middle School students to help them create a Photo Essay.  This is a collection of photos that when displayed/assembled, will describe or represent the identity of each student.  Photos will portray each student’s feelings, ambitions, and personalities.  Sandi plans for the students to share their essays with one another.  She also making plans for the photo essays to be displayed at the Northfield Arts Guild and/or the Key, and possibly at the Northfield Middle School, too.  Funds requested would be used for purchasing disposable cameras, for film developing/CD printing, for food/snacks at meetings, etc.

NRC Youth Volunteer Event

The Northfield Retirement Community (NRC) is planning an intergenerational event scheduled for April 16th.  The NRC is inviting area youth groups – including church groups, scouts, and 4H clubs – to come for an afternoon of interaction with the senior residents.  Planned activities include planting/gardening and painting projects to beautify the outdoor commons areas at the NRC.  Youth will also be invited to find a resident and pair up for a game inside on the Wii.  The NRC hopes this event will help establish healthy relationships between youth and older adults— assisting them to learn more about each other and allowing them to develop an appreciation of one another.  Funds from this grant will be used to purchase plants and treats/food for every participant and for project supplies.

T-Shirts for Comadres Prevention Program

The Comadres Program is a program for Latino youth that focuses on pregnancy prevention, the prevention of sexually-transmitted illnesses, and helping youth make healthy decisions regarding peer pressure and sexual health.  Its after-school programming is addressed to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade middle school students in 6-8 week sessions.  Andres and Leslie  (students at Northfield Middle School) want to mentor and encourage younger students in the program.  They plan to speak to the younger students at an upcoming Comadres session.  They also plan to distribute T-shirts they have designed.  The T-shirts will reinforce the messages of prevention of adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs) and the messages regarding healthy decisions so that Latino students stay in school and graduate.

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February 2011

Senior Portrait Photography

 

Madison Van Wylen, a student at Northfield High School, has her own camera, and wants to take senior photos for students who cannot afford professional photos.  This is a service project of her own design, not affiliated with any class she is taking.  Last year, Madison took senior pictures for a few students.  This year, she wishes to help more students and is seeking a HCI mini-grant to help cover the costs of printing photos.   She believes this mini-grant will help her take and print photos for up to 15 students, at no cost to each student.  The funds from this grant would be applied to photo printing expenses.

Evening of the Arts

Evening of the Arts is an event that celebrates each student’s accomplishments in a variety of art forms (visual, musical and/or performing arts).  This is an event for the entire student body at Greenvale Park Elementary School and their families.  All students will have artwork on display.  Older students will be performing musical pieces, and other students will recite poetry or a dramatic reading in the Bistro Café.  Students and family members will also be encouraged to create art projects/artwork that evening, which they may take home.  This is the second year for this event at Greenvale.  Last year, over 700 people attended.   Funds requested will be used for food and art supplies for the event.

Kids Play Area Update at HOPE Center

Katherine Hirdler and Girl Scout Troop 22642 have a long-term relationship with the HOPE Center (a place for women and children receiving services for relief from domestic violence).    The HOPE Center serves all of Rice County.  Katherine’s troop has collected and donated care packages to children at the center.  During visits to HOPE Center, Katherine noticed their play area was in need of cleaning and updating.  She has worked with her troop and HOPE Center to develop a plan for updating the play area, based on their use of the space.  Katherine and her troop plan to paint walls, frame and hang bulletin boards, acquire/assemble storage furniture, and organize all toys and crafts supplies.  Funds from this grant will be used for paint, painting supplies, storage/shelving units, and children’s books and craft supplies.

Science Explorers

The Northfield High School Science Department, in collaboration with Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges, is hosting an elementary science day.  Science teachers, along with high school and college students, will set up stations and experiments where elementary students can explore science in a fun and interactive way.  Event planners hope this and other events like this will promote high expectations and interest levels in middle school and high school science classes, which may lead to potential careers in science/technology-related fields.  This event is planned for Saturday, February 26 at the Northfield High School.   All of the funds requested will go to purchasing consumable supplies for event experiments and activities.

PRIMEtime Birdhouse Visibility Campaign

Clare Dudzinksi (Promise Fellow at the Northfield Middle School/Middle School Youth Center) is working with PRIMEtime to increase its visibility within the Northfield community.  As a part of this effort, students at The Key and the Middle School Youth Center plan to build and paint birdhouses.  These school/birdhouses will be given (as a token of thanks) to community members who contribute to PRIMEtime.  The birdhouses will also be sold at various school and community events to build awareness of the PRIMEtime collaborative and to fundraise for out-of-school time programming.  Through this project, PRIMEtime coordinators hope to create a youth-generated symbol of PRIMEtime that will increase its visibility in the community.  Funds requested will be used for birdhouse construction supplies, such as wood, wood glue, nails, and paint.

Earth Day Celebration:  Cows, Colleges and Compost

Helen Forsythe, student at Northfield High School and member of YES! (the team of area youth belonging to Northfield Transition)  The Northfield Transition YES! team works to: educate the community on relationships between energy and waste; raise awareness about environmental issues; and establish collaborative relationships with others in the community, creating fun together while building a resilient, sustainable community.  YES! plans to hold an Earth Day celebration along the river walk area in downtown Northfield on Saturday, April 30th.  They will have information tables set up and the community will be invited to participate in activities that will teach about recycling, farming, transition town, and other related topics.  There will also be crafting activities and games for youth.  YES! hopes to increase awareness on environmental issues and help to give youth an appreciation for nature.  Funds from this grant will be used to purchase environmentally sound materials for Earth Day crafts and activities and for stipends for bands/entertainers.

Cedar Strip Canoe Building with the Key

Arlo Critofaro-Hark, student at ARTech School  Three area youth are embarking on a canoe-building project.  They have identified adults to help guide their efforts and a storage place for their finished canoe.  They have also gained agreement from the Key to showcase the canoe when finished.  The Key has also agreed to help with financing needs that might exceed any HCI funds they receive.  The students plan to recruit other high school students to work on the project with them.  They hope to take a canoe trip this summer.  Funds requested will be used to purchase canoe construction materials such as lumber, fiberglass, and epoxy.

Northfield Police Explorers, Post #6400

HCI has awarded the Northfield Police Department a mini-grant in support of “Open Enrollment Night” for the Northfield Police Explorers, Post #6400.  Explorers are young adults, ages 15 through 21, who share an interest in law enforcement.  Explorers participate as volunteers working with Northfield Police staff in many functions.  They wear a distinctive uniform and assist with traffic control, crowd control, security and communications at area events.  The Northfield Police Department invites interested young adults to Open Enrollment Night, which is scheduled for May.  At Open Enrollment Night, the potential Explorers learn about the program and are given a chance to join the post.

Welch Ski Trip

William Magdaleno Marroquin-Haslett and fellow ARTech Charter School students have been working for months to organize an all-school outing to Welch Village Ski area.  This student-led initiative was decided upon as an opportunity to build school community and enjoy physical activity at the same time.  Mini-grant funds will help with scholarships for students needing financial assistance in order to participate.

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January 2011

 

Beyond Words:  A Celebration of Art and Literacy

Beyond Words is an annual event at Sibley Elementary School.  In 2010, more than 400 students and their families participated in Beyond Words, which has become a highlight of the school year.  This event brings students and their families together to view artwork and create art.  Families will be reading together, making books and bookmarks, and listening to students read poetry.  The planned activities are designed to inspire parents, grandparents and children to make reading, writing and the arts important parts of their lives.  Beyond Words: A Celebration of Art and Literacy is scheduled for the evening of April 7th at Sibley Elementary School.  The funds from this grant will be used to purchase art supplies for the event.

Cabin Fever Library Mini-Golf

Teens active at the Northfield Public Library will create and host a 9-hole mini-golf experience (with “driving range”) set up throughout the public library.  This has become a popular annual event for the library, and the Northfield Library Teen Advisory Board has received recognition from SELCO/SELS (the Southeastern Libraries Cooperating/Southeast Libraries) for this event.  The Teen Advisory Board hopes to host a fun event, while also raising money for teen/young adult library materials and for creating new programs.  Funds requested will be used to cover the cost of materials to create the literature-based golf holes, for event prizes, and for printing services related to this event.

10th Grade Career Fair

The Northfield High School will host its annual career fair in late February for all 10th grade students at Northfield High School (approximately 300 students).  This career fair will give students an opportunity to explore career interests and make connections with adult community members.  Each student will be attending five sessions.  In each session, a community member will speak to students about his/her career and answer any questions that the students may have.  Some juniors and seniors from the high school will be involved with the planning and implementation of the career fair.  The event follows a “Career Opportunities” lesson taught in all 10th grade classrooms.  Funds form this grant will be used for food and presentation materials and for presenter thank-you recognitions.

Fun for Juniors Night

This event, planned by Northfield High School junior, Cassidy Hanzlik and fellow11th grade students of Northfield High School, is meant to provide the junior class with a time to interact with other juniors and to build connections.  Students are planning an evening of games and activities they hope will engage all participants and encourage students to better know fellow classmates.  Planners are estimating approximately 150 juniors will attend the event.  This event is scheduled mid February at the Northfield High School.  Funds will be used to purchase pizza and soda/water for the event.

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December 2010

 

Voice of Northfield Students

Northfield High School students Dana O’Donnell and Grayce McGregor are working to create Voice of Northfield Students, a student-published newsletter written by Northfield students, for Northfield students.  Dana and Grayce are working to form an organization of middle and high school students interested in journalism, graphic design, photojournalism, and/or advertising.  This group will meet weekly to prepare a monthly or bimonthly newsletter, with reports about school-related events (such as extracurricular activities, interesting classes, and outstanding individuals) and possibly opinion pieces.  Dana and Grayce also plan for this group to host workshops with local journalists and educators where students can learn new techniques.  Funds requested would be used to purchase materials for creating advertising pieces and for hosting publishing-related workshops for students.

Kindness Retreat

Sibley Elementary School plans to hold a Kindness Retreat for all Sibley 5th graders during the fall of 2011.  This Kindness Retreat, presented by Youth Frontiers, Inc., will provide students with preventative measures to reduce the occurrence of bullying.  Sibley’s goal is to reduce acts of bullying by instilling the value of kindness to others.  In the past, this program has served as a departure point for the 5th grade teachers to continually guide, teach and promote respectful behavior, teaching the same messages throughout the school year.  Funds from this grant will be used to offset the cost of hiring Youth Frontiers professionals to facilitate this workshop.

Hip-Hop Days at the Key

Northfield High School student Cliff Martin is spearheading efforts at the Key for specific hip-hop events.  Hip-Hop Days will include a series of workshops, held before scheduled hip-hop concerts at the Key, 109 6th Street in Northfield.  Workshop activities will include learning about and/or practicing different skills such as breakdancing, song-writing, poetry, freestyle songs, or disc jockeying.  The workshops will be led by the hip-hop artists who will perform that night at the Key.  The first Hip-Hop Day at the Key concert will be held in January, when Kanser is scheduled to perform.

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HCI partners with WINGS to

support Northfield High School

service learning class

projects, Fall 2010

In a cooperative initiative, the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, with financial support from WINGS (Women In Northfield Giving Support), agreed to fund 10 mini-grants to aid service projects developed by students at Northfield High School.  All students are enrolled in Sarah Swan-McDonald’s Service Learning Class, which concludes its semester with a service project designed by the students.  Funded projects included:

Kids’ Connection

•Katie Bull, Annie DeSutter, Kirsten Lyons, and Nicole Smetana for the Kids’ Connection project.  This group of Service Learning students plans to pair two Bridgewater Elementary School 4th grade classes with a 4th grade class on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, located in south-central South Dakota.  With help from the participating Northfield 4th grade classes, the Service Learning students are raising resources to help with the construction of a playground on the reservation.  This project will continue throughout the remainder of this school year, with the two Northfield 4th grade classes communicating as pen-pals with the students of the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

Heifer International

•Jenna Muhlenbruck for the Heifer International project.  Jenna’s group is selling candy canes, Hershey Kisses, and singing telegrams to raise money for Heifer International.  They are also trying  to educate Northfield students on how far each dollar can go to help Third World citizens who live in poverty.  Jenna’s group hopes to raise enough money to buy a camel for an underprivileged community or family.

Vow of Silence

•Toree Sims and Olivia Larson for the Vow of Silence project.  This project benefits the Free the Children organization, which works to dismantle the idea of simple aid by empowering Third World communities and making them equal partners in a development process.  In their research, the Service Learning students discovered there is a national event called, “The Day of Silence.”  They decided to hold one in Northfield and to have a fundraiser to support the Free the Children organization.  This project includes a day of silence and a lunch hour concert at the Northfield High School, as well as fundraising efforts.

Accepting Difference

•Rachel Hughitt for the Accepting Difference workshop.  Rachel’s group would like to hold a workshop for elementary school-aged students.  The workshop will focus on human differences and why it is important to accept those who are different and to respect all people.  The workshop will include playing games and involving the students in various activities.  The workshop will be led by high school and middle school students on a non-school day.

R.A.D.D. (Rice County Against Drunk Driving)

•Kaityln Bicek for the creation of  R.A.D.D. (Rice County Against Drunk Driving). Kaitlyn and her group are working to establish a sister organization to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) organization.  Through RADD, the students hope to promote safe driving habits in our local area.  They plan to sell magnets and window stickers of the RADD logo.  All proceeds will go back into the purchase of additional magnets and window stickers and to educational pamphlets and cards for distribution throughout the community.  They also plan to produce a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video that will include local statistics and information about drunk driving in our local area, as well as interviews with victims and law enforcement.

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The Peace Team

•The Peace Team project developed by Sonja Huehn, Maria Martinez, Jessica Flynn, Maryclare DuRocher, and Brenda Kell.  This group of Service Learning students are painting a mural at the Northfield High School.  By doing so, they hope to attract a variety of students to work on the project, giving students the chance to make connections with students they may not often talk or work with at high school.  The mural’s theme incorporates different cultures and promotes peace.  The group hopes it will add beauty to the school while helping students feel connected to the school and to one another.

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Pure Performance Pledge

•Amanda Thompson and Brooke Finger for the Pure Performance Pledge project.  Amanda and Brooke’s group is promoting both early involvement in activities during high school and chemical-free lifestyles.  They are speaking to 8th grade classes about these issues and are inviting all 8th graders to sign a pledge to remain chemically-free throughout high school.

Student-Friendly Election Guide

•Student-Friendly Election Guide, developed by Cyrette Saunier and Rachel Lepinski.  Cyrette and Rachel plan to construct a website to inform area youth about current issues and our representatives’ perspectives and actions towards various issues.  This nonpartisan website is meant to be an informational tool for use by area youth, something to help all young adults make educated votes when they reach voting age.  The students are planning for the long-term maintenance of the website to be taken over by a social studies class at the high school.

Retreat for GSA

•Casey Dallavalle for the  Retreat for GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance).  Casey, with help from the GSA, plans to hold a retreat to inform students about the meaning of same-sex orientation and related current events happening in our community, nation, and world.  This retreat will include a brainstorming session on how students can make our community and school environments safer for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) students and community members.

Students Redefining Beauty

•Annika Hanson, Gabby Krenzel, Hailey Askeland, Bella Chapman, and Becca Schultz for the Students Redefining Beauty project.  These Service Learning students are giving presentations to 8th grade students about beauty and self-confidence.  The presentations are about how society defines beauty and how everyone can play a part in modifying that definition.   In addition to the presentations to Northfield Middle School students, this group plans to start “No Make-up Tuesdays” at the Northfield High School.  “No Make-up Tuesdays” is a promotion urging high school girls not to wear make-up for the day and to showcase their natural beauty.   Students who agree to participate will be given a “No Make-up Tuesday” t-shirt to wear on Tuesdays.

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November 2010

 

YES (Youth Enrichment Seminars)

This student-led program offers other middle school-aged students at ARTech Charter School a variety of enrichment opportunities.  Kindra Hurlbert and Abbey Dennis,the student applicants, plan to offer a different class each Wednesday after school for at least two months.  Planned offerings include a cooking class, a beading seminar, a fabric arts class, a team-building class and more.  The goal is to provide other students with the opportunity to learn a new hobby or skill and to get to know their classmates and other people in the community (volunteers).  Funds requested are for class supplies (beads, food, paint, etc.) and snacks.

 

NMS (Northfield Middle School) Job Jar

The Northfield Middle School has a “Job Jar” that teachers and staff fill with requests for help or odd jobs that could be done around the school.  When a student does one of the jobs from the Job Jar, that student receives coupons towards book purchases at the Tattered Pages Bookstore.  6th grader, Brady Miller,  is a staunch proponent of the Job Jar.  His vision is to have supplies dedicated solely for users of the Job Jar.  Many students use the Job Jar over the course of each school year, and Brady believes that having dedicated supplies would make the process far more efficient (not having to wait for custodial staff or spend time tracking them down, etc.).  The Job Jar does currently have some supplies of its own, but they are few and dwindling.  Funds requested would be used to purchase Job Jar supplies including a broom/dust pan, a carrying caddy, gum scrapers, towels (rags), a vacuum, and other miscellaneous supplies.

Lyme Disease Awareness Seminar(s)

This is a student-initiated public health campaign.  Karsten Singh has a sister who was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease.  Karsten’s family was shocked to learn how dangerous and serious this disease can be.  Now Karsten would plans to share what he has learned with other students at his school (and their families).  He plans to show the movie, Under Our Skin, which informs about Lyme disease and its symptoms.  His plan includes a discussion time after the movie and possibly follow-up discussions with local health care providers.   Funds from this grant would be used to purchase the movie Under our Skin and accompanying discussion booklets.  Funds would also be used for printing flyers/advertising.

“100 Best Communities” Celebration

The Mayor’s Youth Council is very honored and excited to have won the prestigious “100 Best Communities for Young People Award.”  The Mayor’s Youth Council plans to celebrate this success as a community, and highlight the youth-serving organizations and all that they do.  Celebration plans include handing out cider and cookies at Winter Walk and organizing an art drawing competition for elementary and middle school students.  The Mayor’s Youth Council would also like to distribute wristbands (to elementary and middle school students) that indicate Northfield is a special community for young people.  The funds from this grant would be applied to the cost of wristbands, cookies and cider.

BWCAW Experience

A group of students at the Northfield Area Learning Center is planning a trip (a team-building experience) to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  They are working hard to raise the money needed to outfit themselves and two chaperons for the experience, which is planned for mid-June.  The trip offers outdoor experiences for youth who have never had them before and provides a place to talk about the life choices and challenges each student faces.   Funds requested would go toward the cost of permits and food, etc.

“Tea at the Key” Intergenerational Events

The Northfield Union of Youth would like to invite various organizations and adult members of the community to the Key on Saturday mornings.  By hosting a tea on Saturday mornings, the Northfield Union of Youth hopes to share information about the Key, including its history, goals, programs, mission, recent move, and current capital campaign.  They hope to gain community support for and understanding of the Key and the Key’s benefit to the Northfield community.  Funds requested would be used to purchase plates, napkins, cups, supplies to make food, posters, and brochures.

Silver Award Project – CAC Camping Kits

To fulfill her Silver Award project requirements, Sandy Carson has decided to put together camping kits for youth in the community.  These are kits that local youth can take with them to summer camps and/or on any camping trips.  Kits would include a sleeping bag, flashlight, rain poncho, towel, toothbrush kits, and other miscellaneous items.  Sandy’s goal is to assemble and donate at least 30 camping kits to the Community Action Center for distribution to local youth.  Funds requested would be applied toward the purchase of any kit supplies that donations do not cover.

Cyber Bullying Presentation for Grades 6-8

The Northfield Middle School plans to offer a specific Cyber Bullying presentation to each of the Middle School grades, 6th, 7th, and 8th.  The goal is to have a specialist in this field speak to each grade about appropriate internet, Facebook, and cell phone texting use.  The Middle School would also like to make students aware of the types of bullying techniques used in the cyber world and the potential consequences of cyber bullying.   Funds from this grant would be applied toward the cost of the presentation.

Eagle Project

To fulfill his Eagle Scout Award requirements, Matt Detjen plans to build wooden benches for use at the Spring Creek Soccer Fields.  Matt has noticed the existing benches at the soccer fields have peeling paint and are dented.  He plans to replace the current benches in disrepair with new benches.  Funds requested would be used to purchase wood and other materials needed for the construction of new benches.

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October 2010

 

Haunted Library II

The Teen Advisory Board of the Northfield Public Library plans to create a haunted house in the library for an event on October 30th.  In an effort to attract pre-teens and teens to the library, this event will not be for young children, but will include things that make the library appear to be a haunted (i.e. “scary”) place.  The goal is to show teens how fun the library can be and to promote reading for fun.  The Northfield Library strives to be a welcoming place for all ages.  This event is geared toward middle and high school-aged students.  Funds requested are for event publicity (flyers, posters, etc.), costumes, make-up, food and beverages for the event.

Tattered Pages Bookstore

The Tattered Pages Bookstore at the Northfield Middle School serves all students and their families.  The bookstore receives donated books from students and the community.  The donated books are then “sold” to students for a certain coupon value.  Coupons are earned by students in a number of ways, including helping do odd jobs around school or in the Media Center, exhibiting good citizenship, or donating books to the bookstore.  Each December, Tattered Pages invites families to its Winter Holiday Shopping Extravaganza.  Last year, Tattered Pages “sold” and gift wrapped (free) roughly 1500 books at Christmas time.  The bookstore has relatively few Spanish titles to offer.
Funds requested would be used to purchase additional books in Spanish so that these can be “sold” at the holiday time for students to give as gifts.

7th Grade Courage Retreat

Through this Courage Retreat, the Northfield Middle School hopes to teach students about courage and bravery when facing bullying and peer pressure.  It is also a program that promotes acceptance of all students, regardless of race, academic ability, etc.  Approximately 300 seventh graders will participate in this event, which is facilitated by Youth Frontiers leaders.  There will be close to 50 High School students helping at this event, which will take place during a school day at two local churches.  Middle School staff will also be in attendance to provide supervision.  This will be the 2nd year for the Northfield Middle School to hold the Courage Retreat.  It was highly successful last time and proved to be a great event for positive interaction between 7th graders and High School students.  Funds from this grant would be applied to the cost of the retreat.  The Middle School has also secured a grant the WINGS Foundation for this event.

Reason to Write Pen-Pal Program

This project involves second grade students at Sibley Elementary School in an intergenerational pen-pal program.  Senior citizen volunteers and students will share letters for eight weeks in the fall session (October & November) and for another eight weeks in the spring session (March & April).  At the conclusion of each session, RSVP will host a party giving students and senior volunteers an opportunity to meet their pen-pal.  Funds requested would be used to help offset the cost in transporting students to the party site at either the Northfield Retirement Community campus or the Three Links campus.  Funds from this grant would also be applied toward the cost of food for each event and for letter-writing supplies.

Kids Voting

This event is the culmination of the Kids Voting program – the counting of ballots cast by youth.  Kids Voting Minnesota is a non-partisan education program that provides hands-on curriculum about the basics of voting, democracy, and the foundational principles upon which democracy is built.  The purpose of Kids Voting is to promote an awareness and appreciation for the right to vote and to encourage voting by kids at their parents’ polling places.  After the polling places close, the youth ballots are counted and the results are prepared to be shared through the local news.  It is expected that approximately 2,000 area youth (ages 5 to 17) will participate; 20 or so youth will also work with adult volunteers to count the ballots.  The funds from this grant will be used for food and decorations for the event, etc.

Talent Show

The Northfield Middle School Talent Show will be held on Friday, November 12th at 7:00 pm.  There will be musical performances, dance routines, comedy acts, and many other talents performed by students and staff members, as both students and staff are encouraged to participate.  The Production Staff and Tech Crew will be made up of middle school students and staff advisors.  It is expected that the number of youth participants and spectators will total close to 100 students.

PTO Family Dance Night

The PTO Family Dance Night and pizza supper is to celebrate the end of a month-long dance-a-thon.  Greenvale students are learning different types of dances in their Physical Education classes this month, and the students will perform those dances for their families at the Family Dance Night.  Family members will also have the opportunity to learn the dances and dance with their children.  Greenvale Park Elementary School is a pilot site for the HCI Sparks Initiative, and they believe dancing would be a fun spark for the students and their families.  The PTO acknowledges the diversity of the school population and hopes to build connections between families and encourage positive feelings towards school through this event.  Funds from this grant would be used towards the cost of purchasing pizza for the event.

Freshman Fun Night

Freshman Fun Night is an event that will bring 200 to 250 ninth grade students together, along with 100 Link Leaders (upperclassmen/women).  The Link program is a freshman orientation program that strives to make ninth grade students feel welcome at the Northfield High School.  Much of the school will be used to accommodate the activities planned for this event.  There will be basketball and dodge ball in gym, the auditorium will have game shows, and there will be various games (ranging from Spoons to Pie Your Link Leader in the Face) in the cafeterias.  This fun event will give the new students an opportunity to create positive relationships with older students at the high school.

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September 2010

 

Art and Autism Club

Meg Ojala has formed the Art and Autism Club, which caters to area youth (ages 14 to 21) with autism.  The goal is to provide autistic youth with opportunities to develop art skills as well as interpersonal and life skills in a group setting.  And, they want to have fun making art together.  Project organizers plan to offer 5-week classes (two hours per class period, one class period per week) throughout the fall, winter, and spring.  This endeavor is supported, in part, by the Northfield Arts Guild, who has agreed to offer the Art and Autism Club space for the classes.  Funds requested will go towards art supplies, refreshments, and student scholarships where need is determined.

Grand Buddies

 

This program began in 2003.  Fourth grade students from Mrs. Haar’s Sibley Elementary School classroom regularly visit older adult residents of Northfield Care Center on the Northfield Retirement Community campus.  Students learn about the aging process through pre-visit instruction, conversation, and resident interviews.  Through interviews, students learn about individual life stories, how things are similar and different for the two generations, and the lesson that each individual is “the sum of their years.”  Program goals are to: dispel myths about aging; build self-esteem in young people; develop a comfort level within students in relating to the elderly; and provide an opportunity for students to give back to the community.  Monthly visits will begin in October and conclude in May 2011.

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HCI offers mini-grants to projects and activities that:

•provide the opportunity for young people to develop positive intergenerational relationships with caring adults and/or
•connect Northfield youth with their communities (ex. neighborhood, school, wider Northfield)
Applications are reviewed monthly and are due by the second Monday of the month.  Visit www.northfieldhci.org/mini-grants for more information and to access the easy-to-complete application.

Funding for the HCI mini-grants comes from the Northfield Area United Way, Carlson Capital Management, Women In Northfield Giving Support (WINGS), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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