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Kiwanis Club of Palmetto, Florida
Meets: 7:00 a.m. - Fridays, Popi's IV Inn Restaurant, 3911 U.S. Hwy. 301, Ellenton, FL

Contact: webmaster@palmetto-kiwanis.org

 

HOMELESS KIDS

 

OK, OK, so they are not really homeless! We were entertained with some folksongs with – er – “interesting” themes and lyrics, presented by our worthy Secretary’s children, Sean and Erin McNulty. Expect to see them headlining soon!

 

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2008 FISHING TOURNAMENT WINNERS

 

 

    Senior Division (In Shore) Winners:  Team Andros:  Mathew Brian, Ryan Taylor, Andy Losada (Captian), T.J. Stewart, Kyle Taylor - $5000

 

 

 

Junior Division: Team Action Yamaha: Jimmy Campbell (Captain), Tylor Orban - $500

 

 

 

Experienced Division: Team Mary: No More Lonesome Poker Nights

 

 

 

 

STACKING

Best action this club has seen in a long time!  Jessie P. Miller Elementary students treated us to an invigorating half hour of, "Stacking", an activity for all ages that has become popular, world-wide.  Dexterity and concentration seem to be the keys to success.  There are numerous variations, including multiple individuals working on the same stack, and stacking to rhythms (like, "Flight of the Bumble Bee"?)  The activity seems to have a lot of things going for it - sort of like marching band competition without the noise. Heather Johnson, Coach at Jessie P. Miller, has worked in some interesting wrinkles, such as stacking combined with push ups and crunches.  100-yard-dash stacking - now, that would be interesting.  Our Kiwanis team is forming up.  Kevin is going to do the push-up event, and John W., the crunches.  All other positions are open.

Shown are Lew Files, program procurer, Heather Johnson, Coach, and stackers: Megan, T.J., Vance and Brandon.

READING/WRITING VOLUNTEER TUTORS NEEDED

Lori Johnson, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Manatee County, and Roger Boos, Tutor, and member of the Literacy Council Board of Directors, told us about the enormous need for volunteers to help adults in our community learn how to communicate using the English language.  According to the Literacy Council, 1 out of every 4 adults in Bradenton is functionally illiterate (of course, things are much better north of the River).  That means that almost 70,000 adults in the area are stuck in minimum wage jobs, are often dependent on public assistance for the basics of life, and have no hope of climbing out of the hole they are in until they can read and write the language!

We can help.  Become a volunteer tutor and help put a willing person on the road to a new life.  You have to be able to read and write to qualify (the entire job qualification), undergo a brief orientation period, and be willing to spend two hours/week tutoring.  Call the Literacy Council of Manatee County (www.manateeliteracy.org) at 941-746-8197 and get on board.

PALMETTO ELEMENTARY ROCKS!

Eddie Hundley, Principal, Palmetto Elementary School, told us what is going on in Tiger-Cub Land.  It is a very busy place, with many extra-curricular activities designed to help the students flourish and become good citizens.  Mr. Hundley touched on several of these activities.  Two notable ones: 

21st Century Tigers Plus Clubs:  This activity meets after school until 5:30pm, M,T,W,T.  Students are given time to complete homework assignments with staff on hand to help with any home work questions, snack time, and then the real fun begins! There are many different clubs, hobbies, and interests to chose from, such as Latin/French Club (Culture Club), News Makers, Podcasting, Gymnastics & Tumbling, Cooking Club, Home Economics, Japanese Calligraphy, Drama, Sports, and much more.   Nothing but good can come from this!

Renaissance Recognition and Awards:  The school holds a big event, once each quarter, to recognize outstanding students for their academics, for scholarly improvements and for positive citizenship.  There is a party for these students, with awards of merchandise and patches they can wear on their school uniforms.  There are seven categories a student may be recognize in Renaissance. Three eXtreme principal awards, and four citizenship awards. They are:

  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Bronze
  • High Five
  • Super Citizen
  • Quality Worker
  • Awesome Attendance

Mr. Hundley's enthusiasm for the school and the programs to make the students "all they can be" is plainly evident - and infectious.  The students are a broad mix of various races and social strata.  Certainly, this diversity must be a challenge to the teachers.  One imagines that the "cookie-cutter" approach just won't cut it.  The minority percentage of the student body is 64% - mostly Latino, and 69% qualify for free, or reduced cost, lunches.  Mr. Hundley views such diversity as a blessing for the students.  The school has adopted a requirement that all students wear the same uniform to eliminate the appearance of social class.

The Manatee County School Board graded the school as a, "C", in 2007 (ditto, Blackburn and Palm View); Percent achieving high standards: Reading (69%), Math (59%), Writing (70%), Science (33%) [comparable to, if not somewhat better, than its peers in the region - although the need for improvement in science and math is apparent (What else is new in American elementary education?)].  The school had climbed up to a grade of, "A", in 2006.  However, Mills Elementary came on line and there was a wholesale bail out of staff lured by the new digs and the affluence of that setting.  So, they were operating for a period with a serious staffing problem.  Palmetto Elementary has re-staffed.  Look for the ratings to climb in 2008/09.

There are a number of ways our club can be of assistance to the school.  For one - Mr. Hundley could use some relief from cooking 400, or so, hamburgers every quarter.  We can assist as proctors for testing, or in providing financial support for the Renaissance awards.  With a student population  >50% Latino, proficiency in the English language certainly must be a huge problem.  Perhaps we can provide some incentives to help this situation.   

Check out their Web site:  http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmetto/

 

SNIFFIN' GLUE

Ginger Talerco, LMHC, a therapist at Manatee Glens' Children's Outpatient Mental Health Services, gave us the low-down on what kids were sniffing and ingesting these days - just about everything, it seems - glue, aerosols from whatever, aroma de paint, cold medicines and just about anything parents have in their medicine chests.  Her best advice to parents - "listen to your kids and love 'em - don't read the riot act".  To dig deeper (parents): www.TheAntiDrug.com, (teens): www.freevibe.com, www.AbovetheInfluence.com, www.thecoolspot.com.  You can reach Ginger at (941) 782-4109, talericg@manateeglens.com

President Mary showed her better side by presenting Ginger with a check from our club to help the cause.

MANATEE COUNTY FAIR

Dan West, County Fair Manager, told us that the fair was growing year by year.  It looks like he has a great lineup for this year.  Dates: January 17 thru January 27.  To see "What's Cookin' at the Manatee County Fair", check out:  http://www.manateecountyfair.com/

 

 

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Hunter Brown serves up snowmen.  For a snow job, see the guy behind him.

Ongoing ---- webmaster@palmetto-kiwanis.org) Last Update: May 15, 2008

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