A Day in a Life

Produced by Jonathan Kirsch, 20 years old, from Bedford, NH serving on the Parker-Varney Team co-sponsored by Dartmouth-Hitchcock and TJX Companies.

13th Annual Graduation Ceremony – I Learned

“This year, I learned that leadership often means inspiring others to work hard by working hard myself.”

-Christopher Potter, 22, from Arlington, MA, serving at
Beech Street Elementary School

“This year, I learned that when words like ‘realistic’, ‘doubt’ and ‘why’ are transformed into words like ‘idealistic’, ‘believe’ and ‘why not’, incredible change is possible.”

-Grace Slobodzian, 22, from Flemington, NJ, serving at
Parker-Varney Elementary School

“This year, I learned everyone has something significant to offer to the big picture no matter how seemingly small it may be.”

- Byron Horne, 23, from Raymore, MO, serving as a
Project Leader

“This year, I learned that I am broken. But by building others who are also broken, I become whole.”

- Andy Jordan, 23, from Milford, MA, serving at
Parker-Varney Elementary School

“This year, I learned how strong the power of young people truly is.”

- Harvey Vincent, 23, from Hockessin, DE, serving at
Bakersville Elementary School

“This year I learned a higher level of professionalism.”

- Dustin A. Rivard, 20, from Manchester, NH, serving at
Henry Wilson Elementary School

“This year, I learned that I can make a difference.”

- Nicholas Richard Tracey, 18. from Merrimack, NH, serving at
Beech Street Elementary School

“This year, I learned the world doesn’t need “I”, the world needs “we”. That is the way we go from individuals to communities, from progress to success, and from strangers to family.”
- Neal Hunter, 20, from Eden, NY, serving at
Parker-Varney Elementary School

“This year I learned that the whole school, whole child theory truly works when put into practice. Role modeling for students is a way of life.“
- Yulissa Hidalgo, 22, from New York City, NY, serving at
Beech Street Elementary School

To view our extensive collection of photos from our ceremony, click here.

A Stream of Thought

Written by Brandi Worley, 22 years old from Fayetteville, NC, serving on The Heinemann Team at Henry Wilson Elementary School.

“Reflect on these moments as they are coming to a close,” said Molly Smith, a corps member at Beech Street Elementary School.

Words from one corps member to another that have resonated with me.  The end is near and I can feel the pressure rising in my tear ducts.  The bittersweet feeling of ending an intense learning experience as well as saying a farewell to children who demanded I care for them.  As my days go from double digits to single, I cannot help but reflect. Reflection on laughs with teammates in our car rides to and from school, tense moments with students who now hug me tighter as each day passes, or rewarding hardships that I won’t ever regret.  Yes, at times I grow excited about my upcoming endeavors, but then moments of brief sadness take over where I realize I have to say good-bye.  Bittersweet moments are all I have as of now, and I must say these moments were worth the travel.

In the end, small things that mattered for short time periods don’t even grace my knowledge as I look in the faces of my kids, peers, and surrounding community members. New experiences like climbing my first mountain, snow that covered my feet completely, and friendships that helped me survive severe homesickness, all contribute to the new me, Brandi Worley.

Big Citizenship

Written by Jonathan Kirsch, 20 years old, from Bedford, NH serving at Parker-Varney Elementary School co-sponsored by Dartmouth-Hitchcock and TJX Companies.

Big Citizenship is a central tenet of City Year, and we craft citizens in ingenious ways. The Founding Fathers believed that an educated population was essential to a participatory democracy, and they placed great value on education. By working with students to keep them on track to graduate, City Year does its part to keep America’s future generations educated.

But at the same time, City Year utilizes young people to accomplish this goal, knowing that the youth have the potential to start a movement. By engaging us in this way, we not only get the chance to participate in service, but we also demonstrate to our students that service is something they can participate in as well. We engage two generations at once — the college-aged, and the children.

AMERICORPS PLEDGE
I will get things done for America — to make our people safer, smarter and healthier.
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

One of City Year’s primary objectives is to not only build a site or an organization, but to build a community, and a culture of national service.  If you ever see us working on a service project, feel free to drop by and say hello! We’re always eager to meet the people of our communities, and we look forward to inspiring others to join the cause of community service.

Throwback Thursday: Reflection

Written by Dianne Guerrier, 24 years old from Orlando, FL serving on The Timberland Team serving at McDonough Elementary School.

As we bring the year to a close, I think its imperative to take a look back from where we came. On May 31^st, we had our last service day as a corps and it reminded me of the very first time that we came together to serve. Here at City Year, we emphasize the phrase: Students First, Collaboration Always. On that first service day, I didn’t realize the depth of this saying, however, after a year of service to the community as well as our schools, I can honestly say that I believe our collaboration throughout this corps year has greatly impacted both aspects of our service. Here’s a quick look back at that very first day of collaboration.

Bakersville Strong!

Written by Jesula Charles, 23 years old from Miami, FL serving on The Comcast NBCUniversal Team at Bakersville Elementary School.

As my corps year at City Year New Hampshire comes to a close, I can’t help but reflect on how truly blessed and lucky I am to have been able to work with an awesome team at an incredible school. We were all diverse in working styles, personalities and had a variety of experiences but we came together to make a memorable year of service through humor and support. I couldn’t ask for a better team. Thank you guys!

Starfish Corps at Beech Street Elementary

Five Things Friday: Henry Wilson Afterschool Clubs

Written by Brandi Worley, 22 years old, from Fayetteville, NC serving on The Henry Wilson Elementary School Team co-sponsored by Heinemann.

LATIN DANCING!
The Latin Dance club is targeted for our first and second graders. Rhythmic moves and drum inflicted music, course through the room as these youngsters learn about another culture.  This club is a great way for students to showcase their creativity of dance as well as lead and follow others for instruction.

STEP IT UP!

Have you ever seen people make music without using instruments? If not you should definitely look into a form of dance called stepping.  In this after-school club,  students in grades 4th and 5th band together to complete a routine sure to wow any audience.

STARFISH CORPS!
The Starfish Corps is like a mini-City Year. These young students, ranging from 3rd to 5th grade, come together to do physical training, promote healthy habits and learn about serving their communities.  The upcoming sessions will showcase a student run field day and an amazing graduation for all to see.  This after-school program is run by each CY team serving in Manchester. 

C.A.T.C.H KIDS!

In C.A.T.C.H. Kids, students have a chance to be actively engaged for an hour and fifteen minutes. Students participate in group activities such as Dragon tails or playing with the HUGE parachute. A fun time will occur indeed!

VIDEOGRAPHY!

Videography is a cool way for students to come together and create videos and animations with the computer. In this day and age, technology is at the forefront of our generation.  These skills students are obtaining are sure to make life more animated.

5th Annual Harvard Pilgrim Service Day

On Friday, May 31st, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care employees joined City Year New Hampshire and employees of several local businesses, including the Manchester Monarchs, Centrix Bank, and McLean Communications, Inc. to make improvements to the Beech Street Elementary School during Harvard Pilgrim’s Let’s Get Moving Employee Service Day.

This was the fifth year in a row that volunteers from Harvard Pilgrim gathered for a day of community service to benefit a Manchester public school. Employee volunteers spent the day building and painting cubbies for the school’s library and classrooms, painting a US Map on the playground blacktop, painting a welcome sign on the jersey barriers at the front entrance of the school, spreading mulch and woodchips on the playground to make a safer play space for students, and organizing a donation closet.

In addition to the improvements made to the playground, Harvard Pilgrim donated new playground equipment for students to use before school and at recess. To get the kids moving, the Monarchs hosted a hockey clinic for the students at the school, teaching them how to hold a hockey stick and pass the puck, followed by a hockey game.

Following the service day, Harvard Pilgrim hosted a Community Celebration at Sheridan-Emmet Park across from the Beech Street Elementary School. The Celebration included a bounce house, popcorn machine, face painting, relay races, a creation station, and more! More than 90 students from the Beech Street School and surrounding community participated in the Celebration.

A great day was had by all!

Kids Say the Darndest Things pt.2

Written by Dianne Guerrier, 24 years old from Orlando, FL serving on The Timberland Team at McDonough Elementary School.

If you read part one, then you know that the children at McDonough Elementary School continue to fill my days with random hilarity and countless memories. I have taken the liberty of writing some of the more memorable sayings of our students down because as I said before, Bill Cosby said it best: Kids Say the Darndest Things!

This blog will be dedicated to a few more of the most interesting things that have been heard at McDonough Elementary School so far and have made it into my yearlong journal of this year’s service. Also, if you haven’t read part one, while you’re scrolling through the other blogs on our site, go ahead and take a look!

Student: (at lunch) “I love eggs! …but I can’t eat them because they make me sick. Its so frustrating!

Teacher: “Okay, let’s turn our brains on!”
Student: “You can touch your brain?!” *sticks finger in ear* “I can’t feel it..”

Student: “Ms. G., I’m excited for gym today!”
Me: “Really? And why is that?”
Student: “Because I got some new sneakers and I’m as fast as a roadrunner with these!”
[an hour later, he’s slowly walking up the stairs]
Me: “Hey, are you okay?”
Student: “Yeah. The sneakers only make me run fast. They don’t make me walk fast.”

Student 1: “I’ve been using a lot of tissues the past two days because of my allergies.”
Student 2: “Yeah, me too… I’m allergic to life.”

Student: “I think Christopher Columbus should be from Columbia.”
Me: “But you know he’s from Spain, right?”
Student: “Yeah, well I think he should be from Columbia. His name’s Columbus.”

Student: *holds up football* “This football right here represents the sport of New Hampshire.”
Me: “Oh, really?”
Student: “Yupp. This football represents the sport of the United States.”
Me: “Wait. Is it the sport of New Hampshire or the United States?”
Student: Oh. Both, I guess.”

Class: “Do we have homework tonight?”
Teacher: “We went on the field trip today so no homework tonight.”
Student 1: *whisper yells* “YES!! NO HOMEWORK!”
Student 2: “Shhhh! You’ll ruin it!”

Student: “This place should have cafeteria rights!”
Me: “Cafeteria rights? What do you mean?”
Student: “I mean, we should all be allowed to sit where we want! Oh and eat what we want too!”

Student: “You know what would be really sad? If you had a hundred dollar bill and the wind blew and took it and it ended up in the wood chipper. That would be really sad.”