Service Op: Seed Packing at Willow Creek

This opportunity was brought to us by Uprising, a Christian group at our school"

It’s that time of year again! Time for Willow Creek’s Celebration of Hope annual seed packing event! This year we are issuing a challenge to you, our student impact community. We have committed to a two hour Impact only time slot!!! THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE! During this time you will be assembling seed packs that will be used to grow kitchen gardens for families in Zimbabwe. They will provide valuable nourishment and a sustainable income. We need 650 of you to step up to the challenge! Impact’s night is Thursday May 3rd from 7-9pm in the activity center at Willow.

Saints, Roughnecks and Drugs

Watching the Freaks and Geeks episode about the students using drugs reminds me of a more recent episode at our school that illustrates the same idea. Many students were upset about the investigation this semester that lead to the suspension of many students. But it might surprise students to learn that this was actually a relatively tame investigation. Here is a podcast from This American Life about a real drug investigation in a high school in Florida. Click on the link below and click on Act Two and play.

Act Two. 21 Chump Street.
Last year at three high schools in Palm Beach County, Florida, several young police officers were sent undercover to pose as students, tasked with making drug arrests. And this, this is the setting for a love story, reported by Robbie Brown. Robbie works for The New York Times in Atlanta. (13 minutes)
After listening can you see how our school handled the investigation the way the Saints were treated in the Chambliss reading instead of how the Florida school handled it (like the roughnecks)?

Strength to Resist

Here is a list of links that will support you in this quest.In the video called The Strength To Resist; The Media's Impact on Girls, the film makes the case that young girls grow up happy and excited about life and then sometime around middle school, these girls learn to become critical of them selves and their bodies. They develop an unhealthy obsession with trying to fit in to an ideal that is not real but still has been shaped by our families, friends and the media. Do you see how this image has been created and validated by US culture?

One of the girls in the film raises an important sociological question, one that we have been touching on throughout our course. She said,

It is hard to be sure I am being true to myself all the time. I think sometimes, 'Do I try to look nice because I want to? Or is it because I feel I have to?' I don't know how I make the decision about what looking nice is, or whether I do look good or not...

How do you know whether you are dressing or acting a certain way because you want to and you are being true to yourself, or whether you are reacting to all of the messages that are socializing you? What advice would you give to young girls that are wrestling with this issue?

One of the criticisms of the video was the focus on athletics as a way to get to know your own body as something more than a reflection. The idea that the film meant to impart was that your body is your own and it is more than an object. Your body is useful, strong and powerful. What are some other ways for you to accept your own body and see it's strengths and powers that go beyond athletics?

Hopefully, you can separate having a healthy body from having an obsession. Ultimately, the point is that you can have a healthy and beautiful body and healthy self-esteem even if you don't have a body that falls into the mainstream culture's definition of beauty.

Service Op: Habitat for Humanity changed from march 3rd to March 17th 7:30-4

Sorry about the change, but the Habitat For Humanity Service opportunity has been changed from March 3rd to March 17th. The plan is to start work on the house in Elgin at 8am and work until 2 or 3, so please be sure that you can leave your house around 7:15 to drive to Elgin and allow yourself until 4pm which gives you time to drive home. Please dress appropriately for this work: you will probably get dirty. Wear clothes that you don't mind ruining. I would cover your arms (long sleeves) and legs (no shorts). I would also dress for outside but then be ready to take off layers if you get warm from working. Please bring enthusiasm and courtesy to the job! I think it will be meaningful and worthwhile. If you are interested, please email our contact at Spring of Life Habitat for Humanity: Laureen Reidelberger at lreidelb@comcast.net and please let me know too.

Service Op: Habitat for Humanity March 3rd 7:30-4

If you are interested in helping with this renovation, we could use 6-10 students on March 3rd. Work begins at 8 am and usually goes till about 3-4 pm. If you are interested, please check your availability and dates and times and let me know. I will add you to the list. As of right now, you should expect to have to provide your own transportation there.

Here is a message from our friends at Spring of Life Habitat for Humanity:

In the past, we have had the please of working with students from Stevenson HS and it has always been such a pleasure. We have found the students to be hard-working, polite and fun! We look forward to another year of Stevenson HS student cooperation and have actually schedule time into our renovation plan for it. This home will again be in Elgin and is a renovation rather than a ground up build. With a renovation we face the challenge of accomplishing the goal yet ensuring that all have a positive volunteer experience. With limited space we have to employ fewer volunteers mainly for safety reasons but also so that we don't run out of work. We do not want people tripping over each other but rather working a full day knowing that they really made a difference.

Service Op: Misericordia Candy Days April 27 & 28

Misericordia Candy Days

Friday & Saturday April 27 & 28, 2012

This is not your typical "tag day", this is
Misericordia Candy Days. Be part of the more
than 12,000 people who proudly walk the streets
and stand at the store fronts supporting Misericordia.
Volunteers are needed to work the streets, sidewalks
and store fronts of Chicago and the suburbs. Anyone can do this
you simply pass out candy and informational tags in exchange for
donations. Please Volunteer two hours of your time to
make a difference for more than 600 children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities.

When I was in high school I was lucky enough to have a job at a basketball gym connected to Misericordia. I only took the job for the basketball, but what a blessing to get to know Misericordia and all it does for the residents there. I also was able to do tag days for a number of years and it was a cool experience and at the very least eye opening.

Click here for more info or to volunteer.

Service Op: Special Olympics Bocce on April 22

This is a call for volunteers for the Special Olympics event on April 22. If you expressed interest, please be sure to leave this day free and plan on 7:30 - 3:30. Also there will be a short training session the week before - maybe wednesday 4/13 after school, but I'll let you know. Lastly, if you have friends who would like to do this, you can let them know - it will be open to everyone.

Volunteer Op: Habitat for Humanity

Spring of Life Habitat for Humanity is beginning another project in Elgin. Volunteers will begin the early demolition for this renovation

1499 Erie Street,
Elgin IL

Sat 2/18

work begins at 8am

Get your sledge hammers ready.

This is a job for any skill level.

We are also in need of a lunch volunteer.

To sign up please contact: lreidelb@comcast.net

Service Opportunity: Special Olympics Polar Plunge Feb 26th

Sunday, February 26th from (roughly 11-2) is the Special Olympics Polar Plunge. This is the biggest and most important fundraiser for the Special Olympics. To participate in this you simply need to logon to the webpage for the Fox Lake Polar Plunge. Then click on the snowflake (or click here) Then click on "Start Fundraising." Scroll down and select "Fox Lake" for the event. Then follow the instructions and when you get to "team" select "Stevenson High School Patriot Plungers". When you are finished registering, you will have your own unique webpage that you can email to family and friends. They can donate directly to you through that page. They can use a credit card and you won't even have to collect money. All you have to do is collect $75 or more and you get to participate in the polar plunge and you get a free hoodie! We are participating in this as a school too! Help bring the Lake County trophy home to SHS! Here is a flyer for the Fox Lake Plunge. Watch this video to get excited about being a part of this experience.

Income around the world

Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are because the media is saturated with stories of the super wealthy. Here is a website that will rank you among the WORLD's population. That should provide some perspective as to how lucky we are.

If you are interested in how your community's income looks, click on the American Factfinder and search by zipcode. Then scroll down to "Economic Characteristics" and look next to median family income. It is in 1999 dollars in most cases, but that is still an accurate portrayal for comparison's sake.