Duncan McDougall of Children's Literacy Foundation is Graduation Speaker

   
     Duncan McDougall left the business world 18 years ago to start a nonprofit organization that, most fundamentally, gets kids excited about reading and writing.  The Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF) has since provided inspiring literacy presentations by authors, illustrators, poets, and others, and delivered more than $4 million in new books into the hands of 180,000 children in over 400 towns.
     Laraway has been a beneficiary of a CLiF Year of the Book Grant during the past year.  Our youth have benefited greatly from guest author visits and readings as well as book giveaways which send them home with brand-new books to read...and keep.
     "Books can take you anywhere you want to go," McDougall said to an audience of Laraway students, staff, families and community friends gathered for graduation ceremonies.  As folks sat under the blue sky, McDougall recounted his own childhood adventures plowing through titles including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; and The Hobbit, among others.  He aptly pointed out to students---some of whom are challenged by reading---that listening to books on CD is also a great option.
     Reflecting on his childhood reading, McDougall said, "These friends got me through the hard times.  They opened me up to new worlds."
     Duncan's engaging speech was an appropriate precursor to youth awards and issuing of diplomas.
Awards included Independent Reader, Homework Taskmaster, Conversationalist and Most Improved in the Session.  One of our elementary students received the coveted Golden Pencil Award.
     Laraway Board Chair David Bergh assisted School Director Julie Landry and Laraway Executive Director Greg Stefanski in presenting diplomas to our four graduates.  The ceremony ended and all proceeded to the cafeteria for a wonderful meal of barbecued chicken, salad, corn on the cob and festive chocolate cupcakes.  Let summer begin!

Laraway Receives Youth Justice Award

     Laraway's therapeutic foster care program, Substitute Care, was recently recognized with the David Jacques' Memorial Award for Excellence in Youth Justice.  Jacques was a highly-regarded youth advocate who dedicated much of his career to helping at-risk youth.
     Erin Longchamp of the Morrisville Department for Children and Families, said this in her nomination:
     "I nominate the Laraway program, Substitute Care, in particular, for the Youth Justice Summit Award.  In my experience working with Laraway staff, they have gone above and beyond to support the youth in their programs and maintain a youth focused approach.  I have personally been involved in many re-entry meetings that focus on where the youth is at and how to support them in moving forward.  In one particular case, Case Manager Katrina Lawrence held a restorative circle where the youth listened to the impact her behavior had on her care provider and then the youth was able to reflect upon what she heard before decisions were made about what needed to happen to repair the relationship and hold the youth accountable (she had stolen a piece of expensive jewelry).  I felt that as a result of this process the victim was heard, the youth was held accountable, and charges were not filed.  The youth and care provider/victim were able to continue their relationship as well, which was something that was a challenge for this particular youth who had experienced many disrupted placements with caretakers.  Providing these types of interventions are a welcome change and are having success for youth as well as the adults in their lives, schools, communities, peers, etc."
     Thank you, Katrina!.  Thank you, Substitute Care staff!

Jam Session: Animal Crackers and Chopin, too

     The Second Congregational Church hosted a fun and musically diverse Jam Session on Friday evening, April 29th in Hyde Park. Ted Lambert served as Emcee, entertaining the audience with church bulletin missprints --- a unique and family friendly source of humor!

     The century-old structure with soaring ceilings and exquisite stained glass boasts fine acoustics in the small town church.  Church and community members played piano, organ, guitar, flute, harp, concertina and even ukelele.  Audience members were treated to spirited renditions of Shirley Temple's Animal Crackers, African American spirituals, and ditties from the Shetland Islands.  Bach made an appearance at the organ.  The music of Chopin and Debussy graced the keys of the grand piano, played by church choir director Melissa Senesac.  The range of music from blues to musicals to classical to ragtime was impressive.

     Thank you to members of Hyde Park's Second Congregationsal Church and all who turned out for the event.  Funds raised support Laraway's Crisis Fund.  For more information about Laraway's Crisis Fund, please contact Katherine Stamper at 802-635-2805 x 106 or Kstamper@Laraway.org

Laraway's Julie Landry and a community friend

Musicians tuning their instruments

Laraway's Greg Stefanski, Melissa Senesac and Laraway Board Member Kyle Senesac

Greenhouse Raising Event at Laraway!

   You might be familiar with the term "Barn Raising", which describes the collective action of a community coming together to help build a barn for a member of that community. After using grant funding to purchase a much needed greenhouse kit, Laraway's Land Stewardship team felt that embracing the idea of community gathering and teamwork would be a great way to kick off the spring and start construction of our own greenhouse. On April 21, over 25 community volunteers (which included Johnson State College SERVE students and Americorps members), staff, and youth came out on a balmy, sunny Thursday to help construct our new greenhouse and assist with beginning of the season garden projects. Volunteers worked from 10am to 4pm helping to construct the greenhouse base and side walls, prepping raised beds, planting greens, spreading mulch and flipping compost. During lunch, which featured brick oven pizza made by Laraway staff, a volunteer recognition took place to acknowledge all of our volunteers who had worked with us in the last six months (many were volunteering at the event!). New friends were made, laughs were shared, and even dirt high fives were exchanged. We were able to get quite a few big projects done with so many hands and are so grateful to our volunteers for their efforts. We hope to see them out in the garden again this season!

Land Stewardship will be hosting regular volunteer hours every Wednesday from 1:30-4pm at the Laraway Garden. Please email Ginny at gcooke@laraway.org if you are interested in volunteering!

Getting the Greenhouse base set up. Photo by Laura Biren.

Laraway's pizza oven, ready to roll [out pizza]. Photo by Laura Biren.

Volunteers moving raised beds. Photo by Laura Biren.

Photos by Emily Hutchinson and Laura Biren.

Even the wheelbarrow was happy to be working in such nice weather :) Photo by Laura Biren.

Article by Ginny Cooke, Land Stewardship Americorps VISTA.

Laraway Announces New Backpack Program Director

 Rich Smith, M.A., BCBA, has been hired as Director of the Backpack Program at Laraway Youth & Family Services in Johnson, Vermont. He brings extensive experience in educational and therapeutic settings.

Smith has, most recently, served as a Behavioral Consultant at Laraway. His professional background includes working for public school systems and mental health agencies. Smith spent over 22 years at Onion River Crossroads, a residential care program in Central Vermont, including 16 years as Executive Director.

“I am incredibly excited to assume the role of Backpack Director,” Smith said. “Our staff and community partners are a very dedicated and skilled group of people. I am extremely fortunate to be able to work with them to help the youth and families in our communities feel supported and successful.”

“Rich brings a wealth of compassion, experience and enthusiasm to the role of Backpack Director,” said Greg Stefanski, Laraway’s Executive Director. “We look forward to Rich leading and supporting the Backpack staff and working closely with our public school partners in helping our students and their families find success in school, at home and in the community.”

            Smith succeeds Shari Ryan who has returned to private clinical practice.    

Laraway’s Backpack Program provides comprehensive, strengths-based, individualized supports to children and youth, K-12, in the public school setting. For more information, please visit www.laraway.org.

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.