Our 鲍奥驰痴听GHS Champion/颁丑补苍驳别尘补办别谤听罢丑耻测听Bui听has been volunteering听at theduring this time of social distancing. It is听Gardner听schoolteachers, like Thuy, that have been filling听many听of the volunteer spots. Thuy misses her students, and this is one way that she can see her students and fulfill a real community need.听听听听听
Before the school shutdown,听罢丑耻测听was听involved in the cultivation of UWYV Team听Gardner Grow’s听community garden.听This team had听a successful听garden last summer. You can read more about听it in听this听blog post听that I had written last fall.听听
In last week’s blog post, I talked about how Samoset Middle School UWYV students on Team Save Earth Today would like to implement composting at Samoset.听听听
Well……听
As it turns out, the听鲍奥驰痴听Gardner Grows听Team has听two small compost piles that they听started before the shutdown of schools.听The students filled these听piles听with food scraps that they brought in from home,听or with scraps from items grown in the听community听garden.听According to Thuy, the students want to create a compost bin where they can take听food scraps听from the school cafeteria and use it for their听garden. They would听also听like to听donate
excess scraps听to a听local听farm.听听听
Connecting GHS and Samoset UWYV Teams
Do you see where I am going with this?听It would be听cool听to connect these teams! Even if the听high school听students听on the Gardner team听simply听made a short video on composting,听and then shared it with the Samoset team,听they would听hopefully听be inspired听to implement composting at Samoset.听 听
Unfortunately, the plans for the garden and composting are on hold听now,听but hopefully not for long!听
Spotlight on Gardner High School鈥檚 UWYV Champion 罢丑耻测听Bui听
Now, on with听my latest Spotlight on听a Champion.听Like听all听our听Champions, Thuy is听busy听at home, and in the spirit of a true Changemaker,听makes听the time to volunteer as听well.听听听
How long have you been a Champion for UWYV? And what do you like best about having this role?听
I have been a Champion for UWYV since I started at GHS which was in 2015. I love my interactions with students and encouraging them to explore what they听can achieve when they put their minds to it.
How are you doing? What does a typical day-at-home look like for you?听
听I am听doing okay.听It’s a bit of a struggle sometimes, but then I hear from my students and it becomes a bit easier to deal with. A typical day-at-home is trying to plan lessons for my students, that would get them as engaged as possible. I am also听helping my听Mom care for my nieces and nephews, or I am听cooking with her. It is a weird balancing act right now.听
How has the stay-at-home/social听distancing听of COVID-19 affected you positively?听
听I feel like I can spend a bit more time with families, now that I am home most of the time. 听
Do you have a positive Changemaking story that has resulted from this?听听
I have been handing out food to the Gardner food program and it听definitely makes me feel more connected with my students. I deliver food once a week on Mondays, and听it is听always nice to see the students and their families.听
听听Are you able to connect with your students remotely? (Zoom? Google Classroom, or email?) How are they?听
听I use听Zoom and听Google听Classroom to connect with my students. Unfortunately, a good percentage of my听students听don’t听always make the听Zoom meetings. The ones that I do see seem to be doing well, and it’s听always nice to chat听and听catch up with them.听It’s a bonus, when they say they miss school!听
Are you in touch with any听鲍奥驰痴听teams?听听If so, what are they up to?听
听I’ve听been in touch with a few of the teams. They seem to be doing well and are trying to keep up with听schoolwork.听
If UWYV (Youth Venture) was听offered听to you as a young student, what would your cause be and why?听
听I think my cause would be to try and improve the literacy rates and love of reading for students and families. I know growing up, I听didn’t always love reading or have family members read to me (language barrier and all). Therefore, I would have loved to find a way to bring reading to families that might have been in the same situation as I was.听听
What was one听of your most memorable experiences (so far!) being Champion?听
听Going to the Spring Showcase – definitely!听It amazes me, the听amount of passions and听hard work听these students are showing! It has inspired me to be better.听
What message would you like to send听all听your students?听
听I’ve always loved the saying, “Impossible has the word possible in it.” I can’t听remember where I heard it听from,听but I want them to know that if they want something, then with a little bit of听hard work, it is possible!听
Is there anything else you would like to share?听
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share听our听youth’s passions and听to try听and听better our surroundings one听venture project at a time!听
Thank you for taking the time to fill us in Thuy! We will see you back in the classroom and the garden soon!
Other Champion Spotlights听
Sharyn Tomasso – Sky View Middle School
Sara Carnabucci – McKay Arts Academy
Francine Meigs – Samoset Middle School
Stay Connected听听
All of us at UWYV want to stay in touch with our students and champions. For the latest news from Youth Venture, please follow us and feel free to reach out via email, text or social media.