Communities in Schools of Brunswick County - CIS

The Brunswick County Senior basketball players are teaching basketball skills to the after school program at Supply Elementary School children. There are about 50 third thru fifth grade students in the 21^st Century Scholars Program.

The Brunswick County Seniors use the Supply gym twice per week. Caroline O’Brein, the Scholars Program Manager, approached the senior players and asked if they would be willing to participate in the after school program by teaching basketball one day per week. The senior players agreed to volunteer to do this job. Eleven of the players stepped up to the task. Two instructors are assigned to each class and the students are divided into two groups.

Each Tuesday from about 3:15 to 6:00 p.m. the three classes enjoy learning basketball skills. After learning fundamentals the plan is to schedule some games. O’Brien said, “this program has the opportunity to make a difference in the youngsters lives.”

Snow White, Cinderella, and a procession of princesses from across the county attended the Little Princess Ball with the special men in their lives. A joint venture by Brunswick County Parks and Recreation and Communities In Schools, the Ball attracted over one hundred girls from kindergarten to fifth grade escorted by fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other male role models. The 2nd Annual Ball will be held February 13, 2010. - call 457-2916 for details. Net proceeds from the event went to support the programs and services of Brunswick County Parks and Recreation and CIS. Click here for more pictures.

CIS "Dream Seekers" is a rich cross curriculum of visual arts & literacy focusing on the environment & utilizing local resources. Over the last few months, the program embraced 40 under-represented youth & their families of diverse ethnic, racial & socio-economic backgrounds. Students' perspective expanded as they discovered a wider world and learned to be champions of their delicate ecosystem & to voice their concern & knowledge via the printed word & various art medium. Funding for this project was made possible through the Grass Roots grant provided by Brunswick Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council.

Bolivia, NC (December 15, 2008) – Foxes and Beavers and Bears – Oh My! That’s what students at Virginia Williamson Elementary School said when Conservation Officer Bill Lester from the NC Wildlife Resource Commission visited their After School program last month. A grant from the Brunswick Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council is being used for a seven-week environmental education through art project. Known as “Dream Seekers,” students in the Communities In Schools (CIS) After School Program

are learning to identify the ecosystems in Brunswick County, including the plants and animals which live here. “By including natural world components in their studies, the students are encouraged to investigate wildlife and nature as an inspiration for art,” says Environmental Educator Jennifer Fuller. Other activities include making a collage from litter collected around the school, a presentation by the Bald Head Island Conservancy, and a visit to an art gallery to learn how artists are inspired by nature.

* Positive Results * Plato "Achieve Now" Belville, Lincoln & Supply Elementary Schools. 2006-2007 30+ Days Attendance Overall: + 20.3% Reading Overall: + 30.1 % Math Highlights Belville 4th Grade: + 34.5% Math Lincoln 4th Grade: + 44.1% Math Supply 3rd Grade: + 31.3% Reading 2005-2006 30+ Days Attendance Overall: + 12.4% Reading Overall: + 20.2% Math Highlights Belville 4th Grade: + 18.6% Math Lincoln 3rd Grade: + 20.6% Reading Supply 4th Grade: + 33.8% Math End of Year Ceremony - May 2006-2007 *Congratulations 2005-2006 "Graduates"*

21st Century Community Learning Centers at Supply, Belville and Lincoln Elementary Schools held festivities on May 25, 2006 to celebrate a fun and successful school year in After School!
Graduation 2004-2005

One hundred ninety-nine students from Supply, Belville and Lincoln Elementary Schools 21st Community Learning Centers wrapped up the 2004-2005 school year with a celebration. Students Raise Funds to Help Hurricane Victims Logan Shipman, a seventh-grade student at Leland Middle School and mentor to Communities In Schools' After School students, delivered a check to the Cape Fear Chapter of the American Red Cross on Nov. 7 to wrap up the CIS After School fund drive to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. As he did for the earlier Tsunami Relief effort, Logan jumped in to help the After School children get organized and learn more about natural disasters. "The children really enjoy working with Logan," said Kathy Smith, director of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. "He is a great role model." With Logan's help, students learned about these massive storms, how to be prepared, and how to run a relief project. Katrina Relief Coin Toss "Being able to actually feel that they were helping others gives the children a wonderful sense of involvement," said Janet Baldree, operations coordinator for the CIS after-school program and grandmother of Logan. "They are concerned about the stories they hear in the news." The fund drive included all elementary After School students in Brunswick County. Donations were counted with the help of Coastal Federal. May 2006 CIS Nominee Selected as Kohl's "Kids Who Care" Regional Winner Logan presenting check to Red Cross Logan's nomination will now be entered in the Regional and National Kohl's Kids Who Care program which offer scholarships toward post-secondary education. Logan's demonstration of giving for the good of others and sacrificing personal time for a higher ideal certainly sets an example that individuals volunteering and making outstanding efforts can and do transform communities and lives. Logan Shipman's thought was that everyone could give a penny and he would provide them with that opportunity. He contacted the local Red Cross and arranged a partnership, made presentations to Brunswick County after school programs, the County Commissioners and the communities In Schools Board of Directors and led the county-wide fundraising drive. Logan worked with other students to create painted "5-gallon penny jugs" and distributed them to area businesses. Thanks to Logan's tireless dedication to the project over $2000.00 in pennies was collected and 100% of that total was donated to Tsunami victims through the Red Cross. Logan's nomination will now be entered in the Regional and National Kohl's Kids Who Care program which offer scholarships toward post-secondary education. Logan's demonstration of giving for the good of others and sacrificing personal time for a higher ideal certainly sets an example that individuals volunteering and making outstanding efforts can and do transform communities and lives. The Kohl's Kids Who Care Awards are presented annually to children who show great heart. This year's store winner, Logan Shipman, a seventh grade student at Leland Middle School, exemplifies that standard. Logan was nominated by Kathy Smith, Communities In Schools Director of the 21^st Century Learning Center, because of his creativity, leadership and dedication to raising funds for Tsunami relief in Southeast Asia.