Thanks to the Auxiliary Board for organizing a fantastic field trip for a group of our kids last Saturday! Our director, Owen Duncan, provided this update:
“The kids had a great time and were very enthusiastic on the way home. Several said they hoped we’d make this an annual tradition. Lots of pizza was eaten, lots of great bowling went on (some of the kids even cracked 100!)
Most importantly, the kids got to experience a different environment from their usual one, and interact in a friendly way with well-educated and professional people. It may have been ‘only bowling’ but the skill of being comfortably social outside their accustomed cultural context is crucial to future success.”
When Adam, 13, found out he won the prestigious Daniel Murphy Scholarship, he was shocked. “A couple thousand applied and only a couple hundred got it,” he said. The scholarship will provide four years of tuition support for high school, something Adam looks forward to next school year as he sets his sights on Wayland Academy, a private boarding school in Wisconsin. Read more…
The Chicago Wolves, a community partner of the Center, created this video that documents the Center’s mission and visits to the Center by Wolves hockey player Jamie Hunt and former player Steve Martins.
The Code of Ethics Tree illustrates the values the Center has adopted. The idea for the drawing was suggested by the children. Drawing by Melina Kolb.
Respect, Education, Independence and Determination are the four core values the Center has adopted as part of its new Code of Ethics. The Code was developed by children and adults alike during group time over the past few months, where everyone was encouraged to contribute thoughts on how people should behave and think at the Center.
Among the Center’s values outlined in the Code are:
Using peaceful language and behavior, and de-escalating conflict
Being courteous in both my speech and behavior
Being eager both to learn and to teach
Never asking others to do for me what I can do myself
“The kids had a great time and were very enthusiastic on the way home. Several said they hoped we’d make this an annual tradition. Lots of pizza was eaten, lots of great bowling went on (some of the kids even cracked 100!)
