2nd Congregational Church Hosts Jam Session for Laraway Crisis Fund on 4/29/16

 
     A family's furnace hovers near empty as temperatures outside dip into the teens. A youth reaches out for help, needing a safe place to spend the night. A child needs winter clothing. A family faces a near-empty refrigerator.  A former student and his mother are stranded in a domestically violent relationship several states away and require emergency assistance to return to Vermont where they have family supports.  There is an immediacy to the need---to tide someone over until more concrete solutions can be enacted.
     This is not Norman Rockwell's America. These real-life circumstances are emblematic of life in America today for youth and families struggling under the weight of socioeconomic disparity, exacerbated by mental health, learning and/or behavioral issues.
     Laraway operates a small and carefully managed Crisis Fund which is parceled out to address the day-to-day emergencies our clients face---when they've exhausted resources and have no where else to turn.
     "Laraway's Crisis Fund is there to provide immediate assistance," said Jim Heath, Laraway's Finance Director.
     Members of the 2nd Congregational Church of Hyde Park are stepping up to help Laraway grow its Crisis Fund.  The church is hosting a Jam Session on Friday, April 29th at 7:00 p.m. at 28 Prospect Street, Hyde Park.   The family friendly event, hosted by Ted Lambert, features a slate of local performers including Jeremy Sicely; Shaun Booher; Nate, Madison & Ruby Perham; Joe Ciccolo; Mark Faith; Melissa Senesac; Liz Fox; Ann Marie Bahr & Gerry Falkenberg; Beth Carrier and Debbie Yacovone.  Refreshments will be served.  Suggested Donation: $10.
     We hope you can turn out for what promises to be a wonderful community event.  For more information, please contact John Clark at 888-4864 or Katherine Stamper at 635-2805 x 106.

A Proper Afternoon Tea

   

     The jam was strawberry.  The sugar was cubed.  The tea was Earl Grey with a Chamomile choice, too.  Authentic English teacups and saucers rested on fancy white tablecloths.  Homemade scones, baked by students in our kitchen, were complemented by shortbread and small savories.  There was even Marmite---for the initiated or simply curious.
     Laraway's conference room was transformed into a cozy tea salon.  Our resident Brits---Tim and Duncan---who serve on Laraway School's staff, provided real-time interpretation of the common British ritual.  Heather, a Laraway teacher, furnished the English China and led a lesson on tea with fun facts about the steaming elixir that fuels many a busy day.  Who would have known that tea was discovered by Shen Nung, Second Emperor of China, in 2737 B.C....and that it happened by accident?
     Members of this teaching team believe that students learn best when provided with both choice and hands on learning opportunities.  Integrating core academic content and life skills is an effective and positive way to support our students and their individual needs.
     "The coolest part is watching everyone work together, learn together and sit down to an elegant tea together," Heather said.

Note:  Thank you, Heather, for assistance with content.  Thank you, students, for the delicious scones.

Where's Roger Rabbit?

     Meet Roger.  The small, brown-eyed, baby bunny found his way to Darah Zurit's classroom at Laraway School on a recent Monday---just for a visit.  Students read.  Roger perked up his ears to listen.  Students learned math.  Roger twitched his whiskers rhythmically, as if counting..  Students returned from lunch.  Roger wiggled his nose, zeroing in on the aromas wafting in from the cafeteria.
     We are well aware of the benefits of animals in our lives.  People with pets are likely to experience lower stress levels.  Pets are like "forever toddlers"---there are always happy to see us when we arrive home after a long day at school or work.  Researchers have identified positive physiological responses to pet ownership, including enhanced cardiovascular activity.  The Mayo Clinic, in an online article, reported on the many benefits to animal assisted therapy.  These include significant reductions in pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue. For more information:   http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/pet-therapy/art-20046342
     Back to Roger, the presence of a warm and welcoming, super-fuzzy bunny in a classroom presented the students with a furry "friend" to gently hold, talk with and care for.  Rabbits do not criticize.  They do not judge.  They sniff our fingertips, wriggle in our arms and teach us to be gentle---like them.

   
   

Granting Wishes: Your donations in action

     "Skateboarding is in my heart. Skateboarding helps me act better while at school.  Skateboarding helps me learn tricks, which is like learning math or whatever."
     These are the words of a Laraway youth applying for a Laraway Youth Grant.  After learning the skill at school, he wanted to purchase his own skateboard. Learning to skateboard enhanced his self-confidence and provided opportunities to develop social skills while interacting with peers.
     The Laraway Youth Grant Program is supported by donations to our Annual Appeal.  Youth may apply for a grant once a year to fund an item or experience that helps them grow as a person.  There's a one-page application that youth must complete.  Learning to ask for what we want is an important life skill.  Being willing to put in effort to get what we want is also an important life skill.
     It is through the generosity of donors that our youth have tapped into the grant to fund everything from ski equipment to music lessons to funds towards a camping trip at Disney World.
     In making the case for a grant towards the trip to Disney, the youth said, "It will give me an experience that I have never had before...and to see different parts of the (United) States I have never seen."
     Granting wishes and helping kids to learn and grow..these are the outcomes of your donations in action.  Thank you.

Gallery Space: A Breath of Beauty in Winter

     American artist Georgia O'Keefe (1887-1986) said,"I found I could say things with colors and shapes that I couldn't say any other way---things I had no words for."

     Art is an often-used medium at Laraway, providing opportunities for the children and youth we serve to "say things" with art, to express emotions and creativity.  From the Art Room at our school to craft activities in our foster care and behavioral intervention programs, Laraway is ablaze in color.

     A new exhibit in Laraway's Gallery Space is the work of our of our youth whose inclination to paint large, colorful flowers, reminds one of O'Keefe's work.  This young person was first introduced to art when she was very young, by a family member who is an artist. 

     The exhibit is up until the end of February.  For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact Katherine at Kstamper@Laraway.org or (802) 635-2805 x 106. 

Plan 'Til You're Planted

This month, the Laraway Art Gallery is featuring a slightly different form of art- garden plans! The garden plans were made by students during a Farmer on Site lesson in January and their feedback was integrated into the 2016 garden design. Please stop by and check out the creative ideas students have for this upcoming growing season. 

Plan ‘Til You’re Planted

On a cold January day, huddled inside a cozy, heated yurt, Laraway students directed their attention away from the snow on the ground outside and thought of sunshine, flowers, and tasty produce. During the first Farmer on Site of the year, the Land Stewardship team facilitated a garden planning workshop with school groups. Surrounded by pictures of creative garden designs, piles of books, and lots of colored pencils, crayons, and plenty of magazines to make collages, students got to work drawing a vision of what they would like to see in the Laraway gardens this upcoming year. Ideas big and small were crafted, including a hot pepper patch to be turned into tasty hot sauce, flowers of all kinds spread throughout the garden, and a dragon sculpture bench. Staff feedback also suggested a quiet space, pumpkin patch, and outdoor classroom. Students reminisced about produce they enjoyed last season and would like to continue to grow such as green beans, tomatoes, and carrots. As they flipped through seed catalogues, new types of plants caught their eyes such as sunchokes, wild roses, and rhubarb. From that planning session, a garden plan has been crafted and preparations are starting to be made for projects. Students will be starting seeds at the end of February, building projects will start up in March, and plants will be in the ground by April. We look forward to a creative, educational, and bountiful 2016 garden season!

If you have any ideas or would like to be more involved feel free to email Ginny (gcooke@laraway.org) or Cornelius (cornelius@laraway.org).    

A Dragon Sculpture Bench to sit on during outdoor classes.

An Earth Bed to relax and rejuvenate in the garden.

A collage of flowers- one group of students expressed in interest in planting "flowers everywhere"!

2016 Laraway Garden Plan

You're Invited: Open House at Laraway's Morrisville Office

   

     Did you know that Laraway opened an office in Morrisville?  Our Backpack Program, providers of public-school-based behavioral intervention supports and consultations, now has its own office at 30 Mountain View Plaza, Units 3 & 4 in Morrisville.  Space needs and a desire to locate program staff closer to where clients reside precipitated the move.

     Join us for an Open House at Backpack's NEW office in Morrisville on Thursday, February 18th, 2016 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Meet our staff, sample light refreshments and learn about the program.

     Please RSVP by Thursday, February 11th to Jena at 802-635-2805 x 226 or JGouldHopkins@Laraway.org,  We hope to see you there!