Science Gillis Style

By Eva Hall, Gillis Supporter

In the Gillis art room students are crowded around microscopes, eagerly taking turns peering into the viewers and passing between them microscope slides like rare trading cards. Under the lenses they are studying cross sections of plant stems and insects, above them on a projector screen tiny organisms swim in a water droplet; a swirl of eating, dividing, and growing. Yesterday they looked at the intricacies within a drop of blood.

By the microscopes lay sketch pads and pencils for the students to use to capture shapes and patterns they like. Drawing pages lay everywhere covered in circles and squiggly lines. As other students draw a girl sits on a back stool staring intensely at the projector as a protozoa snakes around clusters of algae. Later these students will present paintings inspired by what they saw with a written paragraph on their experience and observations. This is the kind of ambitious and exciting programming that a kind donation from Opus and Time Warner Cable have made possible at Gillis.

Beyond this project students have explored weather, energy, and astrology while making plans for a huge expansion of the Gillis outdoor learning center Growth Grove. This expansion consists of a series of learning stations devoted to the earth sciences. Outdoor learning stations like the soon to be finished Ecology Station.

The Ecology Station is especially exciting to Outdoor Education Manager, Theo Bunch. “It wasn’t that long ago that 40% of Kansas City was prairie with hundreds of varieties of grasses, wild flowers, and prairie specific insects and birds. We thought what better way to bring ecology alive then to involve our students in the creating of a mesic prairie: the now most at-risk of the three main prairie ecosystems.” Create they did, planting Indian Grass, Marshmallow flower and dozens of other varieties of plants along a pathway that has become the entrance to the Gillis Growth Grove.

The Growth Grove Ecology Station starts the journey through a total of 8 currently planned and under construction spaces covering everything from dendrology to entomology.  “I think where art, science, and play begin to meet is where things get interesting. We have to help our students fall in love with the subjects we are asking them to learn, not just have them memorize data for tests. With the help of our supporters we are building a space for students to become inspired learners.” The image of the Gillis art room, where students viewed and drew their world on a microscopic level comes to mind. Theo gestures to the developing and established learning stations and rows of plants swaying in front of a back drop of brick school buildings and orchard trees. “That is what this is all about.”

Score One for the Underdogs!

Artwork created by students in the Gillis Day Treatment School.

Imagine what it feels like to be written off as a lost cause.

No matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to catch a break. One mistake leads to another, or you’re never in the right place at the right time – whatever the circumstances, it feels like nothing ever works out in your favor.

If life were a game, it would feel like you were on a losing streak.

And, yet, something inside you tells you never to give up, to face whatever life throws at you and knock it out of the park. If you can just keep your head down and stay focused, you know that you’ll hit a homerun one of these days.  

Being a child at Gillis can feel a lot like that – like you’re always the underdog waiting for a chance to hit it big.

Most of the kids in our treatment programs have experienced intense distress and rejection in their short lives. Many have suffered personal trauma that is hard for us to imagine. They’ve grappled with debilitating emotional and behavioral impairments.

But all of these adversities have helped our kids forge an indispensable character trait in the process, something we work hard to reinforce and grow . . . Resilience.  

 

Gillis kids are the epitome of resilience, thanks in part to the tireless efforts of our staff. Like coaches, our caregivers help the youth develop problem-solving, coping and social skills so they’re able to overcome personal challenges and build relationships. Individual and group therapies help them recover from trauma, while our psychiatric and nursing teams ensure that a winning medical strategy is in place to help the youth come out on top.

We were reminded of just how important resilience is when the Kansas City Royals won this year’s World Series. After 30 years as baseball’s perennial underdogs, the Royals rallied to victory and earned the respect and adoration of baseball fans everywhere, including several of the boys and girls here at Gillis.

Through grit, determination and a tenacious short game, the Boys in Blue – many of whom grew up with their own childhood adversities – showed the world what it means come back when you’re down.

The kids at Gillis may never receive a fraction of the recognition the Royals receive, but they will forever share the same spirit of resilience. Life can continue to throw everything it’s got at them – curveballs, sliders, you name it – but they’re not going to strike out.

Each and every one is going to make it home one of these days, and we’ll be right there to cheer them on every step of the way.

Words from the President & CEO: Growth and Change Ahead for 2015

With the new year in full swing, I’m reminded of all the great strides made and challenges overcome in 2014 that have brought us to this point.  Over the past 12 months, Gillis has experienced significant shifts and changes.  Yet as we have done for over 140 years – and with your help, our Gillis family of supporters – we have again answered the call to innovate and adjust so we can better serve the changing needs of the children and families in our community. 

In 2014, Gillis expanded our key services out in the community.  We renewed our outpatient efforts, bringing therapy programs to our clients where they live, work and play throughout the Greater KC area.  Gillis also increased focus on our Treatment Foster Care Program, where we license and train specialized foster homes and better equip parents to provide a home for a child who may typically require an institutional level of care.  This often results in less trauma because we can limit repeated foster care placements, and I am proud to announce that Gillis is currently serving 37 children on this program

In October, Gillis opened the doors to its new Intake and Assessment Center (GIAC), which helps stabilize children and families in short-term care.  Our GIAC team of therapists and clinicians then work to identify what the next best step for long-term success might be and provide every child or family with a comprehensive assessment and list of recommendations to support that success.  Our hope is that we can shorten residential stays and quickly help children and families find or create the long-term home that is right for them.  We’ve already seen our efforts pay off for many children, including John*.  John overcame significant trauma and successfully transitioned back into a supportive foster home after both he and his foster parents received support, education and the tools necessary to thrive together from the GIAC program. 

We are positioned for a successful 2015. Through our many programs, and in partnership with our Cornerstones of Care Family of Agencies, we will continue to find new and innovative ways to improve the quality of community for our children and families.

I invite you to take a tour of our Agency to see the great work you help support each day.  I welcome an opportunity to connect with you directly at 816-508-3501 or Stephen.O’neill@gillis.org.  I wish you the best this 2015 and thank you for all you have done and will do for Gillis.

Profound Regards,

Stephen O’Neill

Give Joy to Gillis Families

Every day in our community, more children and families find themselves in crisis and in need of assistance.  That need is often magnified during the holidays when the cold and lack of resources can dampen their holiday spirits.

 

But with your help and support in stocking our Gillis Gift Gallery, together we can bring extra joy and light to these needy children and families on our programs.  

 

The Gillis Gift Gallery provides donations such as toys, clothes, household items and more from generous community supporters like you to our families, offering something for everyone to make the holidays a little brighter.  This event gives our families an opportunity to ensure all their loved ones have something special to open during this most joyous season.  

We hope you will consider donating to the Gillis Gift Gallery. Your donation of any item on our Wish List will truly bring joy and smiles to the children and families we serve.

GIFT GALLERY WISH LIST

 

Baby items - crib sheets, blankets, bottles, formula, baby towels, wash cloths, soap and shampoo, lotion, thermometers, diapers, wipes, sleepers, socks, bibs, clothes, infant toys, etc.

Children items - board games, UNO, puzzles, Legos, Silly Putty, Hot Wheels, books, remote control cars and helicopters, action figures, dolls, Playdough, Nerf Balls, creative arts and crafts, watches, gloves, hats, winter coats, backpacks, clock radios, clothing, etc.

Women's items - beauty products, perfume, household items, clothing, candles, etc.

Men's items - cologne, electric razors, tool sets, watches, grill accessories, dart boards, etc.

Family items - family board games, small appliances (popcorn maker, cake pop maker, toaster), family movies (G or PG), etc.

Gift cards - Target, Wal-Mart, Price Chopper, HyVee, QuikTrip, Restaurants, etc.

           

Renovate a Room. Renovate a Life.

Over the last 86 years, the Gillis intensive residential program has provided a home to more than 4,000 boys. Throughout our history in serving these desperate children, these cottages have come to need some serious rehabbing. Several individual donors just like you have already stepped up to make that change.


We know that physical living space truly makes a significant difference in how the children receive their time in treatment, so we not only want to renovate these rooms we want these renovations to have a direct impact on these children’s lives. When they come to Gillis, they will see a beautiful room, complete with beautiful walls; new, comfortable, kid-friendly beds, posters and decorations along with a complete, matching bed set that will be theirs to take with them when they go.


When children come to Gillis we want them to find love and acceptance – for most the first time they’ve felt these emotions. We want them to have an experience that they’ve never had: Something that has been created for them. Just them.


We are still in need of help to ensure the completion of this project! Contact Jennifer Hurst,

at Jennifer.Hurst@gillis.org for information on how you can help.

GILLIS NAMES NEXT PRESIDENT AND CEO

The Gillis board of directors, Gillis staff and Cornerstones of Care are pleased to announce Stephen O’Neill as the President and CEO of Gillis. Stephen brings with him over 10 years of experience providing and managing a spectrum of social work services including: mental health, substance abuse, housing, case management and residential treatment.

Stephen is a mission driven leader who believes that the key to creating innovative and impactful services is to allow service participants, families, staff and the community, etc. to participate in the process of generating ideas and designing service delivery systems. He believes that the organizations who find success in the future will be those organizations that are able to think in terms of what isn’t or might be rather than what is.

"I am very pleased to welcome Stephen O'Neill to the Gillis team, and believe he will bring strong leadership, energy, and empathy to the children and families we serve in our community" said Cindy Mahoney, chairman of the Gillis board of directors.

 

O’Neill began his new role as President and CEO on May 20. Gillis supporters are cordially invited to tour the Gillis campus and meet our new President and CEO. If you would like to set up a tour, please contact Gillis at 816-508-3500.

Centurions Gift Gillis with a new Deck

Members of the Greater Kansas City Chamber Commerce’s Centurions leadership program are leaving a lasting impression on not only the children living at Gillis today but those who will live at Gillis in the future through their legacy program. The Centurions built a custom deck on the historic Gillis campus large enough to accommodate 20 children at once. The deck will be completed on April 26th with custom landscaping and a new barbeque grill.

Cody, a 14 year old boy living at Gillis, shared his excitement about learning how to grill a hot dog alongside a Centurion volunteer, "I always wanted to know how to do that!" Centurion volunteers are teaching Gillis children how to have fun outside and grill a hotdog while helping them to find new hope for their future. Gillis Volunteer Manager, Jennifer Hurst, shared that "the quality time and attention that the Centurion volunteers gave our kids was the biggest gift of all from the legacy project. The volunteers created great memories for our children.

Since 1976, the Centurions Leadership Program has earned a reputation as an unequaled training ground for future Kansas City leaders. The mission of Centurions is to prepare a representative cross-section of the community's emerging leaders for their role in shaping the future of greater Kansas City. The Legacy Project is a tradition Centurions began in 2007 to leave a lasting impact on the greater Kansas City community.

Gillis Home - My Home by Robert E. Winger

A past Gillis resident named Robert Winger recently sent us a letter about his time here at Gillis. Robert lived at Gillis from 1937-1946 and since leaving Gillis spent 7 years preparing for the Christian Ministries and 52 years as a Pastor. His story takes us back in time to a Gillis after the Great Depression. We are so happy to hear the years he spent at Gillis had such a positive impact on his life. Thanks Robert for sharing your story!

 

GILLIS HOME - MY HOME

AS I REMEMBER IT - 70 YEARS LATER!

ROBERT E. WINGER

 

 

 

Would you believe me if I told you I have about eighty brothers and sisters? Probably not. However, that’s what I often tell people. The truth is I only had one real brother. However, because my parents were not physically or financially able to care for me, I grew up at Gillis Home. I came to Gillis at the end of the Great Depression and lived there during all of World War II. When my brother came back from the war in 1946 he became by guardian. As a child at Gillis I was never without friends. I fondly remember the names of many, some with whom I still keep in touch.

 

When I arrived at Gillis Home, in 1937, the beautiful and spacious grounds were attractive and inviting. Gillis was operated by the Women’s Christian Association, and was located just outside the city limits of Kansas City, Missouri. The home began in 1870 and was originally located at 8^th and Troost, and was moved in 1927 to the present location at 8150 Wornall Road, South of Waldo. Transportation was convenient from anywhere in KC by way of the historic Country Club and Dodson street car lines.

 

On the grounds four beautiful and modern brick buildings were built to care for the growing number of needy children in the Kansas City area. The first building housed the administration offices and contained three stories with living quarters for the superintendent and staff, the infirmary and dental office and laundry room. This building also included a very large meeting room with a stage where all of the children would gather for special events which were held often throughout the year. They provided wonderful programs for our entertainment as well as religious services and a variety of other activities.

 

All of the children lived in three huge cottages on the circle drive. The outside appearance of these cottages was identical. They were two stories high and housed about 25 children in each one. The Central Cottage was reserved for the very young children. The older girls lived in the East Cottage and the older boys lived in the West Cottage. The main floor of each cottage had a foyer, kitchen and dining room, library with study tables, a family room with comfortable furniture and a very large general-purpose recreational room with a fireplace and an attached portico. There were two very large dormitory rooms on either end of the second floor, where we slept and kept our few personal possessions in a small locker. Our cottage housemother had her living quarters between the dormitories and was always available.

 

We were all well fed and clothed, had good health and dental care, lots of opportunities for play and exercise. We took trips to the zoo, art gallery, circus and had many other special activities. We attended the public schools and local churches in the area. Community organizations and philanthropic individuals shared with us. We were able to participate in far more activities than thousands of other children who were not blessed by living at Gillis Home.

I am and always will be grateful that MY HOME was GILLIS HOME!

Comfort Room

Some students struggle with sensory overload which leads to a state of severe agitation and anxiety and of course can impact academic success. Aware of this issue and its impact on classroom success, Gillis School Director, Pam Sanders, began to seek a solution. She discovered that research suggests that sensory activities such as rocking in a chair and drawing can combat this issue. Sensory activities help students better comprehend their environment, develop and engage new neural pathways in the brain, increase body awareness, and develop language. Thus, the Comfort Room was born in the Gillis School. To help students find school success, they are now offered a visit to the Comfort Room to help gain composure and to avoid any crisis behavior. Many have already found that this is the one thing that really helps them refocus and we can see this impact in their learning. The room includes an oversized soft chair that rocks, a CD player with head phones, bean bag chairs, journaling and art supplies, yoga mats, nature and relaxation CD’s, scenic posters on the walls, a large comfortable rug, an aromatherapy diffuser kit, and a sound machine. A special thank you to our donors who supplied the necessary items for the Comfort Room.

Transformation

Transformation

We see transformation at Gillis in many ways – through the new found hope of a child who has finally met someone who wants to become his adoptive parent, through the mother who has regained the love and respect of her daughter who she once abused, through the student who can finally finish a chapter book with the help of a caring volunteer and through the many children who leave Gillis after they’ve found the healing they desperately need and an improved path for their future.

Recently we provided our students the opportunity to be the ones providing transformation. The art room needed a fresh look and each student got to be a part of making it happen. They each got to paint a canvas in true artist style; messy! They wore a trash bag and flung paint against the canvas. There were two distinct results…the renewed art room and the unexpected impact on the students.

They walked away with inspiration to make their world look renewed and transformed the want they want…to design and create their own personal masterpiece. Each student has a renewed outlook on themselves and their surroundings. It’s sometimes the unintended outcomes that are the most bittersweet.

Harvesters BackSnack Program

On Friday mornings Gillis students and staff can be found sorting through boxes of food to organize and prepare for the distribution of Harvesters BackSnack program to Day Treatment Students.  Not only does this program allow for the distribution of over 100 meals a month to families in need, but it also provides a space for Gillis students to practice serving one another.

Each week, 25 Gillis students are sent home with a BackSnack backpack full of non-perishable foods to ensure they will have food available throughout the weekend.  Harvesters provides the food and the backpacks, and Gillis Day Treatment employees collect the backpacks, clean them out and pack them with food. Schools distribute the backpacks on Friday to students who bring them back on Monday to start the process again.  Studies by the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership have shown that as a result of participating in the program students’ absences and tardies decrease, discipline issues decrease, and both social skills and grades improve.

The BackSnack program is a way that the Day Treatment School is able to go above and beyond meeting our students’ and families’ needs in the community outside of the normal school day.  Not only does it help meet a huge need in our community, but it allows opportunities for the development of social responsibility in our students.  Knowing that we are able to assist our families beyond the walls of the school building is extremely important, and I feel this program does just that in a very tangible way.  Please feel free to contact me at 816-508-3590 if you are interested in receiving any more information about the program or would like to donate backpacks to help keep the program running efficiently.

Thanks everyone for all of your support!

Kelly Hughes

 

 

The Reading Buddies are Back!

Who is excited for school to start?  Well - Volunteer Reading Buddies are - because we have MISSED seeing the kiddos!  The highlight of my week is Wednesday mornings as I race to Gillis to spend time with the kiddos AND spend time with a great group of volunteers who have become dear friends.  We all started with the common interest of helping a Gillis kiddo work on their reading - and what we all experienced instead was a Gillis kiddo teaching us some of life's most valuable lessons- like friendship, true laughter, patience when reading is hard and courage to try.  If you have not had a chance to stop by the Reading Program on Wednesdays at 10am, we would highly encourage you come on by!  It is guaranteed to put a smile on your face because we get to see the kiddos at their best - as their effort with the Reading Program is simply put - AWESOME.  So glad for school to start soon! 

Rhonda Meyer, Gillis Volunteer

A Boy’s Pants Poem from 1974

Back in the 1970’s Gillis used to have house moms who cared for our boys in residence. This poem was written by house mom Frances Strong on May 24, 2974.

 

A Boy’s Pants

He has pockets in his pants;

Sometimes they may have ants.

Usually though, there’s string or screws

Or clay or paper or metal he many use.

There are sometimes plastic pieces,

Ot there may be notes or paper planes.

You may find rocks or sand or board scraps

And don’t leave out sticks and also taps.

Sometimes a bug, or maybe a work

Or a chewed up pencil, or an eraser that’s worn

Or a toy car or ball that’s torn

May be among the treasures that make on squirm

Who could this critter be that

With all these things have such joy?

None other than a little rascal

Called an ordinary boy

June 19, 2013 – A Snapshot of Gillis

As I walked through the parking lot from my car after a meeting off campus today I was surrounded by all the sound and movement going on around me. I could hear peals of joy from the children in the swimming pool and another group of older boys playing basketball.  I could see a group of children assisting our Art/Farm teacher carry mulch to the path that leads to the extensive urban garden the children and staff have created and which we are presenting this weekend as a site on the Urban Farm Tour, sponsored by Cultivate KC. There was another class of students having their lesson out under a big tree. And there was a group of volunteers painting the curbs with bright yellow point. It was truly a collage of enthusiasm and happiness.

I was struck by the feeling that all this activity and all our dedicated staff and volunteers were providing a multitude of normal, healthy and healing experiences for the children we serve here at Gillis every day. Children who, no matter how much trauma and pain they have experienced in their young lives, can still play and work and learn and heal and relate in a positive way to caring adults. I am grateful that we can offer these normalizing and happy experiences to our hurt children because these are the kind of experiences that build resilience and “plant seeds” for healthy growth and that is what we are all about here.

Submitted by Mary Ellen Schaid, Gillis CEO/President

Baby Supply Drive

The North Kansas City Kiwanis group and the Hy-Vee at Englewood and North Oak generously offered to help out the Gillis little ones by offering to do a Baby Supply Drive at Hy-Vee. All Gillis had to do was provide a few volunteers and we were the proud recipients of 145 brand new baby items.

Gillis employee Dusty A. Scheiter, volunteered at the event and had this memorable experience with a generous donor:

“My favorite encounter of the day was a father who came into Hyvee with his 9 year old son and his 2 year old son (age approximations!). He listened to me talk about the baby item drive, took a flyer, and said he would help out. Shortly, his older son ran back out to where I was standing and asked if I had a certain size of diapers I wanted to which I replied that any size will help our babies in need. I was pleasantly surprised when this generous soul had two big boxes of pampers diapers that he had his boys hand to me as they were exiting the store. As I thanked him and his boys for this amazing gift, he looked at me and said "I have been there before and someone was kind enough to help me when I needed it."  I got teary eyed. I don't know this family's story but I was able to see a father pay it forward and show his son's what it means to give to others and to repay kindness that was once shown to them. AMAZING!!” 

Gillis would like to give a special thanks to NKC Kiwanis and Hy-Vee for all you have done for the Gillis children.

KCI Relays 2013

“First call 50 meter dash, first call boys softball throw, second call girls frisbee.” These are the sounds of the 2013 KCI Relays that occurred on May 11^th, at Center High School. KCI Relays is a track and field contest for boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18. The meet was organized with the intention of providing youngsters in residential centers a chance to test their physical and social abilities. Agencies are invited from the greater Kansas City area. Ribbons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th place finishers are presented to the winners. Team trophies are awarded to the top three finishers in each division. An Outstanding Male and Female Track Performers are also awarded individual trophies for their achievement.

Because of the nature of the children involved, a special effort is made to create numerous opportunities for individual success. For this reason, activities with varying degrees of competitiveness are included. An emphasis on the value of sportsmanship should prevail over that of winning and losing.  This emphasis should be part of the educational process which begins before the actual day of the meet,

The KCI Relays serve a special population and has been carefully and uniquely designed to enhance the potential for socialization experiences.

Staff from the participating agencies plays a significant role in the process as they provide individual support and guidance to help the youngsters deal with the realities of competition. The message conveyed is that the important factor is not winning, but taking part and giving one’s best effort. The boys and girls involved seem to accept this idea, as demonstrated by the absence of behavioral difficulties and the spirit of camaraderie.

The 2013 event was a huge success in many ways. Not only did kids who didn’t have tennis shoes to run in get those through a generous donor, but the Gillis youth fully participated, had a ton of fun and came out as winners!

Submitted by Pam Sanders, Gillis School Director

Graduation

Gillis school staff love this time of year and it's not because they are counting down the remaining days of the school year! It's because of the many high school graduation announcements arriving in the mail. Some include written notes from the graduate reminiscing about their days at Gillis and some include current pictures of young men and women proving that the days really do fly by.

These announcements provide proof that the seeds planted years ago through Gillis programming helped these young men and women find success in public school and ultimately reach graduation. The goal for each child from their very first day in the Gillis Therapeutic Day school is graduation. Teachers and support staff work alongside students to help each one achieve their academic goals, successfully manage their emotions and ultimately continue finding success and making academic progress through graduation.

Gillis is very proud of each student's success while at Gillis and for the years that follow. A few of our long term teaching staff posed for the picture below so we can return it with a congratulations card to each one of our students who is achieving graduation this May.

Congratulations graduates!

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Defined

What is FFT? Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is an intervention designed to motivate family members to make positive change, learn new skills for communication, solve problems, and manage conflict and to understand the influence behaviors have on each member of the family. The intervention progresses through three phases: 1) engagement and motivation; 2) behavior change and 3) generalization. Each phase has defined rationales, goals and techniques designed to achieve positive outcomes.

Who is it for? This intervention targets youth aged 13-15 at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system or first time offenders with the goal to reduce and/or prevent these youth from either entering or progressing through the juvenile justice system living in Jackson County, Missouri. The youth often present with risk factors related to school problems (e.g. truancy, poor grades, and behavior problems), poor self-control, impulsivity, and inadequate social skill development. Within the family, risk factors include lack of parental supervision, significant patterns of family conflict and history of problem behaviors. When families begin their participation in FFT they often have a feeling of hopelessness and are overwhelmed with the challenges of daily living.

How does it help? Families are able to make positive change. For example, one young client was able to return to a traditional school setting after participating in Functional Family Therapy. She had been completing her education online at home as her level of anger made it impossible for her to be successful in the classroom. During the intervention, the mother and daughter learned effective communication skills making it possible to manage conflicts in a constructive manner, practice effective skills for listening and discussing difficult topics and identify coping skills to regulate and manage emotions. Those skills were generalized to the school setting making it possible for her to return to school.

Submitted by Alana Titus, Gillis Clinical Director

Chalk Truck

Gillis loves art. So much so that even an old Dodge Dakota can become a rolling piece of sculpture. This truck was transformed in collaboration with the Kansas City Art Institute to become a canvas for the kids of Gillis. How? By covering it with chalkboard paint and keeping a big case of colored chalk in the back. Now on sunny days when the kids of Gillis need a break they have chalking parties during art class.

They cover the sidewalks and the truck with drawings and writings, sometimes munching on cookies and drinking lemonade while sitting on the tailgate. The truck, which belongs to the art teacher, is then driven around Kansas City showing off the kid’s art to the whole of midtown. Adults are welcome to chalk to so if you ever feel like volunteering on a nice day come draw with the Gillis kids. We would love to have you.

Submitted by Theo Bunch, Gillis Art Teacher

HAPPENINGS at the GILLIS THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL

Gillis has been a very busy place this school year. We have started new programs and enhanced other existing programs.

The vocational program continues to give our students access to the latest in job research and training. In November students ran the Scholastic Book Fair. They sold more than $400.00 worth of books and came up with different ways to market the book fair for bigger profit next year. Students have gone to job fairs and will be hosting our 2^nd Annual Career Fair on February 22, 2013. The program will be run by our students. The students are also creating a cookbook of their favorite foods that they have made in cooking class. They will be selling this cookbook and marketing it during the year. There are many field trips planned for the spring and even more speakers coming to share their knowledge and careers.

The Theatre of the Imagination has joined Gillis this year to teach a class once a week and hold monthly performances. The first play was wonderful and the students thoroughly enjoyed performing it in front of the entire school. There were no shy students that day! I would say that our students were very ready to be the center of attention.

The Music Therapy Program will be running at full steam during the Holiday season…our band will be playing at Armour Oaks in December. They are also collaborating with Theatre of the Imagination to perform a rendition of “The Christmas Carol”. The staff bell choir will perform at the Holiday program on Wednesday, Dec. 19^th. In addition, we received a grant to purchase more instruments and sound equipment for music therapy…YEY!

Our teachers have been busy with creative ideas as well. There was a pirate day recently where the students learned all about pirates and then participated in a treasure hunt. Then there was the egg day where students learned about eggs and made different meals from eggs. Our creative teachers are doing so much that I could fill two more pages with creativity; however, I am out of room for this blog. I just want to say thank you to all of our teachers and staff who really take the time to help nurture our students. Our students always know that someone is on their side.

 Submitted By Maria Leeper-Vocational Coordinator at Gillis