ACES November Program Highlights . . .
E-Mentoring Kick-Off with Kids Against Hunger
On Thursday, November 17, ACES middle school students from Monroe Arts Plus School, Farnsworth Aerospace School, and Green Central School came together with their E-Mentors for a field trip to Kids Against Hunger. The field trip marked the beginning of E-Mentoring, a program pairing middle school students with business leaders in their community. Students and E-Mentors get to know each other in-person, correspond weekly by email, and experience a job shadow at the E-Mentors workplace at the end of the school year.
This year marked the first year that the E-Mentors and E-Mentees met and did a service project at the kick-off event; a change made to further tie in the service-learning aspect of the middle school curriculum. One returning E-Mentor commented, “This was the best meet-and-greet thus far!”
The students and adults learned about the issue of hunger in Haiti and how stomachs can't process food when they haven't eaten in a long time. Kids Against Hunger staff members explained that scientists created the fortified rice-soy casserole that we packaged, so that it is easier to digest than other food. Overall, teams filled 36 boxes of the casserole, which translates to 7,800 meals! One Farnsworth student said, "It felt good to help kids my age and younger than me who don't have the same things that I have."
Feeding the Neighborhood
Green Central middle school students worked with the Northern Clay Center again this year to make bowls at the annual Powderhorn Park Empty Bowls Event. “Working with clay is cool,” one seventh-grade boy observed. “I’ve never done this before!”
In addition to current ACES students, several ACES Student Alumni and current ACES Staff volunteered their time. They helped community members pick out their bowls, and also served soup and greeted people as they arrived. “It’s neat to see so many people here for a good cause,” a former ACES student who had volunteered at the event before remarked. After a busy fun-filled morning, everyone left feeling proud of their contribution to their neighborhood!
“One Bowl at a Time” is both the slogan and the mission of the Powderhorn Park Empty Bowls Event. Held annually, this get-together reaches out to the neighborhood by inviting community members to come and choose a ceramic bowl made by local potters. In exchange for a donation, they are served soup and bread and dine with other neighborhood residents. They leave with an empty bowl as a reminder that there are many people whose bowls need to be filled. All the money raised is donated to local hunger-related organizations. This year on November 7, over 1,730 people streamed through the park building. In addition to that attendance record, they also set a record for money raised with over $27,000 in donations.
Macalester All-Sports Extravaganza!
On Saturday, November 12, ACES students from all four ACES school sites traveled to Macalester College to participate in an afternoon of sports led by college athletes.
After they arrived at the Leonard Athletic Center, the students were broken into groups that rotated through four different stations: dodge ball, soccer, kickball, and basketball. The students enjoyed the energetic afternoon, which was filled with physical activity and fun! “That was awesome! I got so much exercise and didn’t even notice,” said fifth-grade ACES student Sean.
When the activities ended, the students gathered in their groups for an award ceremony and pizza. All of the students received a prize for participation, and the students who displayed good sportsmanship and tried their best left the extravaganza with a shirt or hat, compliments of the Macalester Athletic Department. “I think this field trip was really successful! It was fun to see students from different schools becoming friends and working together!” said Green Central Site Leader Annie Hanrahan.
Thanks Macalester!
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