Before I begin, I want to appreciate last year’s Merrydale Elementary School team for leaving a strong legacy that we were able to grow from. Not only did they build great relationships with the teachers and staff and set an example of what City Year is, but they started programs and projects that we were able to use as springboards for our own ideas.

As Kate and I have blogged about in the past, our team and our students love recess. It’s a much needed break in the middle of the day to relax, hang out with friends, and just be kids. When I first arrived at Merrydale, I was appalled by its lack of playground equipment, and wondered how the students were supposed to play without a jungle gym or a slide. Now, I see that nothing can stop our students from playing during recess. They play basketball, foursquare, hopscotch, tag, hand-clapping games, dance, and learn how to do cartwheels and flips.

As the year progressed, we recognized that our kids are at their best when they are outside and moving, and we learned to adapt many of our lesson plans for the outdoors. Last year’s team observed the same thing, and painted a United States map, as well as a hopscotch board on the concrete. We watch students use and adore both of their designs every single day. As our final service project at Merrydale, our team added some features that are both fun and educational, and are sure to add some flair to next year’s tutoring sessions! We added another hopscotch (with geometric shapes), a compass, and a life-sized chutes and ladders board.

Despite the unrelenting sun and the million-degree concrete, I found this project to be the perfect final service project at Merrydale this year. I love my team to pieces, and enjoyed spending time with them talking, laughing, and literally leaving our mark on the same concrete on which we spent so many of our beloved recess hours. Sadly, most of us won’t have an opportunity to see our students enjoy the new games. That wasn’t the way it was initially supposed to happen, but I actually think it worked out better this way. Completing this project at the very end of the year is a great reminder that we do not serve for ourselves. We serve for our students, next year’s team, and next year’s students. I hope they like it!

We also want to appreciate those corps members who are completing their second year of service with City Year Baton Rouge on May 23. This is a special group of 7 individuals who set out to deepen their impact in their schools and lead other corps members through the service experience. They have truly left their mark on City Year Baton Rouge and we are proud of all the work they have done to build our site. We are sad to see them go, but excited about the new journeys they have ahead of them.

With joy and gratitude to the 2012-2013 City Year Baton Rouge Senior Corps: Cherie Cancio, Laine Halfacre, Molly Herlihy, Dacie Marshall, Jo Reddick, Sara Ross, and Lauren Treacy.

As our corps member service nears its end in Baton Rouge, we wanted to share a few of the joys our corps members let us witness the past few weeks.

Check out corps members stories from across the country by searching #makebetterhappen on Twitter. When someone uses the hashtag #makebetterhappen, it categorizes the Tweet into a feed where all other Tweets that have that same hashtag go – so everyone can see the stories in a single place.This hashtag is all about the victories we experience, our ripples and joys, and the good that happens every day from the work that City Year does our schools.

So much goes into a year of service – and #makebetterhappen allows you to see how great the impact can be, even from some of the smallest victories on a day to day basis.

Follow us on Twitter, @CityYearBR for your own daily dose of inspiration and joy!

Thursday, May 23, 2013
Ceremony 5:00PM-6:00PM
North Boulevard Town Square
200 North Boulevard | Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Reception to Follow

To RSVP or for more information contact Carolyn Armgardt at 225.663.4229 or carmgardt@cityyear.org

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I wanted to take a moment to give a shout out to the teacher I have had the pleasure of working alongside for the past ten months: Ms. Cassandra Carter. Ms. Carter received her bachelors in elementary education from Southern University at New Orleans. She also has her masters in Education Leadership from Southeastern University. She’s been teaching for 12 years throughout Louisiana and Texas. This is her second year teaching at Merrydale Elementary.

Let me be honest for a minute—when I first entered Merrydale, I was nervous about the teacher I would be paired up with. I was afraid our personalities would not mesh, or that I would not be incorporated into the classroom. As City Year corps members, we provide whole class support, which means we work alongside our teacher to make sure our class is engaged, paying attention and completing their course work.

My initial fears proved not to be a problem. Ms. Carter and I started the school year strong and continue to work well together each and every day. She does a wonderful job using me in the classroom whether it’s to have me echo read for the class or keep score during vocabulary jeopardy. We also do a great job of keeping each other updated on our students’ academic and behavior progress. Even beyond work, Ms. Carter has done a great job of taking me under her wing. When I had my doubts about what to do next year, she called me and helped me talk through my options. She also wrote me a great letter of recommendation when I was re-applying for City Year Baton Rouge.

I truly appreciate my relationship with Ms. Carter. My experience this year with City Year Baton Rouge would not have been as wonderful had I not been paired with such an amazing, inspiring and reliable teacher. Thanks for everything this year, Ms. Carter. You’re the best!

To me, City Year is all about finding that student that isn’t used to getting that positive attention, giving it to them, and watching them progress.

Let me tell you about one of my favorite students, Mr. Timothy Johnson.

Tim is the “cool” guy, and he often avoided asking for help because in high school, well, that’s not the cool thing to do. Pride and his 3 F’s became four of his worst enemies. He didn’t understand math but had two math classes. He didn’t know how to write an essay, but had one due in English and biology. Most important to him, basketball season was coming up and he couldn’t even try out for the team.

I saw what this did to Tim, and even though he didn’t want to admit it, it was wearing on him. We had a lot of work to get done. After a little persuasion, Tim started to come to me for help. For weeks he came to tutoring every Tuesday and Thursday, sometimes until pm. We worked to make sure everything was done, and done the right way.

Weeks turned to months, and first semester came to an end. By this time his grades were drastically improved, and I can proudly say that his 3 F’s turned into 2 Cs, and an A, AND we’re not done yet.

And as exciting to Tim:

His grades made him eligible for the basketball team  I’ve seen what Tim has the potential to do, and I’m not going to let him forget it!

He improved in his behavior and his attitude. My baby, my student, became a leader on the court AND in the classroom.

My red jacket allows me to interact with dozens of students like Tim everyday. Together we strive for excellence, and together we make a difference.

With May approaching and school coming to an end, this last month of service is bittersweet for everyone. Trying to find closure with our students is imperative and heartfelt.  Reflecting on our impact is empowering and sentimental. Thinking about our life after City Year is both anxious and hopeful. It’s an emotional final stage, and everyday we push to end things on a lasting idealistic note for our students, the Baton Rouge community, and the City Year organization as a whole.

Thankfully, I will not have to say goodbye just yet. Instead, it will be see you later. Inspired by my enthusiasm for City Year and desire to better myself as a leader, starting in July, I will commit to a second year of service as a Senior Corps Member here at CYBR!

Why am I coming back? I have a few reasons…

I know my second year of service as a Team Leader will look very different from my first. I will still be in the schools, but my direct focus will not be on the students. Cultivating a team culture, supporting first-year Corps Members, and maintaining school relations will be my priorities. Although I will miss working in the classroom first hand, writing lesson plans, and running interventions with my Focus List students, I’ve accepted this challenge because I believe in City Year and I want to help next year’s corps discover this belief. I’m returning for a second year because I want to see CYBR deepen it’s impact, continuing to improve student achievement  in the public schools in which we serve.

The Team Leader role defined:

“Team Leaders are school based Senior Corps Members who lead team initiatives such as school related projects and community engagement. In addition they support their Program Manager in maintaining sustainable school house relationships and service delivery. Throughout the service year they work with their teams to provide peer coaching in increasing their service delivery and navigating their corps experience.”

PITW # 54 Build the site. Build the organization. Build national service. 

This PITW perfectly represents why I’m coming back. I’m coming back because I want to ensure that next year, the BR site will develop powerful and dedicated Corps Members who will improve the academic and personal lives of our students.  I’m coming back because  I understand that next year’s corps of young leaders can elevate and strengthen the impact of this year’s corps. I’m also coming back because I am confident that the path of national service can fight the drop out crisis in this country.

Now for a more individualized reason…

Being a young adult who has chosen the path of national service after college, I understand how volunteerism can benefit both the receiver and giver of good will. As you give so much of your time and self in service, you gain tremendous leaderships skills (and develop a greater conscious knowledge of your own character) in return. I know that serving a second year with City Year will further transform me into a more effective leader, capable of achieving my long-term goal of becoming an effective future teacher.

Teaching children, both in academic or athletic settings, has always been my passion. In the past, I was a volunteer youth sports coach, worked summer recreation camps, and directed nursery school enrichment programs. My love for children and education flourished when I contributed to the work of Syracuse University Literacy Corps as a tutor and mentor. I served in an urban elementary school for two years, and my work there prompted me to apply to City Year. As a prospective educator, I know I am in the right place with CYBR.

Teachers are leaders, and as a growing, self-aware leader, my year as a Corps Member has shown me my strengths and inadequacies. I still need to gain and develop leadership experiences and skills. I also still need to gain and develop more vocal confidence, assertiveness, and responsibility. To achieve all of this, I need to launch myself off of the perfect platform. A second year of service with City Year, as a Team Leader, is that perfect platform.

I know if I can lead a diverse group of 17-24 year olds through a year of service, then I can certainly command my own classroom of children one day and change their lives.

If you’re interested in making a positive impact on your world and life, apply today!

Visit cityyear.org to learn more.

By: Emma Sullivan, Corps Member Proudly Serving at Merrydale Elementary School

I love spelling. It was the only academic subject that I remember excelling at in Elementary School. When I was in eighth grade, my dad and I saw a documentary about the national spelling bee in theatres, and the summer after my freshman year of college, I had an alphabet-themed spelling bee viewing party. Big spelling bee fan, right here.

I attended a very good school system with an overwhelming number of resources. Yet somehow, I never had the opportunity to participate in a spelling bee. Needless to say, I enthusiastically accepted the task of co-planning a third-through-fifth-grade spelling bee at Merrydale Elementary. The event was a big hit! Many of our focus list students participated, and we had a great parent turnout. We ended the night with a winner in each grade level, and one overall champion.

My starfish – my student who has not only improved in academics and behavior, but who has motivated me to be the very best version of myself and serves as a constant reminder of why I am giving a year to serve – is now the third grade spelling bee champion. When I saw her standing in front of me with a trophy, I realized that City Year has given her an opportunity that I never had. I am honored to have been a part of it.

Thank you to all of our supporters and champions who joined us, including our City Year Baton Rouge Board of Advisors, our Lead Partners, East Baton Rouge Parish School System led by Dr. Bernard Taylor and Volunteer Louisiana, as well as our Team and Site Sponsors: Albemarle Foundation, The Boo Grigsby Foundation, The Capital Area United Way, Entergy Louisiana, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, New Schools for Baton Rouge, The Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation and the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation.

We are also grateful for the leadership of Superintendent John White and the Louisiana Department of Education and our school partners Belaire High School, Broadmoor Middle School, Capitol Middle School and Merrydale Elementary School.

This night would not have been possible without our dedicated Gala Host Committee led by Committee Chair Richard Preis:
Beth and Rudy Aguilar
Mary and Dane Andreeff
Dana and Jim Bernhard
Lori Bertman
Cathy and Dan Bevan
Trisha and John Carmouche
Donna and John Fraiche
Deane and Scott Frazier
Ann and John Paul Funes
Shawna and Dan Gardiner
Fran and Buck Gladden
Beth and Kirby Goidel
Gwen and Todd Graves
Gwen and Leo Hamilton
Suzanne and David Hamm
Barbara and Brian Haymon
Luisa and Ben Hu
Kathryn and Luke Kissam
Emily Landry
Jean Ann and Burton LeBlanc
Laura and Jared Loftus
Sherri and Matt McKay
Tracey and Ty McMains
Linda and Dennis Mitchell
Susan and Jim Nickel
Elizabeth and Jay Noland
Virginia and John Noland
Laura and Jay Poché
Victoria and Richard Preis
Jennifer and Sean Reilly
Winifred and Kevin Reilly, Jr.
Tricia and Chuck Sanchez
Whitney Vann and Robert Schneckenburger
Brenda and Tommy Teepell
Valerie and Stevie Toups
Councilmember Tara Wicker

And finally a big thank you to our Presenting Sponsor – Raising Cane’s and Gwen and Todd Graves. Our Champions Challenge Sponsors Dee Dee Reilly and Jennifer and Sean Reilly as well as our Top of the Class Sponsors: Andreeff Family Foundation, Suzanne and David Hamm, Barbara and Brian Haymon, Kathryn and Luke Kissam, Lamar Advertising Company, Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, Reserve Telecommunications and SGS Petroleum Service Corporation.

Gwen and Todd Graves with City Year Baton Rouge Corps Members

EBRPSS Superintendent Bernard Taylor with City Year Baton Rouge corps members

Corps member Jonathan Morris and Broadmoor Middle 8th Grader, Demond Brown

Louisiana State Superintendent John White and Honoree Lane Grigsby, Founder and Chariman, Cajun Industries, LLC