Jeremy Ranch Students Get a Real Life Lesson

The NHC, along with the Chier Foundation, sponsored an assembly at Jeremy Ranch Elementary on September 18th for the 5th grade students and their parents.
The students are currently studying American History and had participated in many activities involving immigration. Jeil Michael Yai, a "Lost Boy" from Sudan made an appearance to discuss his journey coming to the United States. He shared many of his experiences with the 10-11 year old children who were immediately in awe with his size (6 feet 7) and his kindness. He discussed the situation that led to a civil war in Sudan and how he fled his village, losing two brothers and his father to the continuing war and violence in his country. He continued his story taking his audience to Ethiopia and told of the many difficulties he faced during the 1,000 mile journey.
Jiel spoke to the children for a short time and opened up the conversation by answering the never ending questions the better part of the hour. The children were most interested in his family. They could not imagine that he has not seen his mother in almost 20 years. They were also curious what he ate and what he wore while he was on his journey throughout Africa.
Jiel's story is remarkable. He learned the alphabet by writing in the dirt with his fingers. He did not receive any formal school books until he was in the third grade. In the five years he has lived in Utah, he has nearly mastered the English language, he has become an United States citizen, and he has enrolled at the University of Utah currently a graduate student in economics. This is truly the lesson we were after and one we wanted to share with our children.
The Chier Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides funding for 26 "Lost Boys" while they attend college. There are currently 150 of these exceptional young men living in Utah.

Projects for the 2009-2010 School Year

Our first project for the school year. What a nice way to gently remind others to follow school rules! Thanks to Laurie for painting these lovely children!

NHC Community Garden - Update

Seedlings started in March....fruit on the vines for months. I finally ate my first ripe tomato on September 1st! Who said high altitude gardening could not be done.
We have bell peppers we will harvest soon, several varieties of squash in bloom just now and dozens of tomatoes on the vine waiting to ripen. I failed with my cucumbers, eggplant and green beans this year. Next year. It has been a fun learning experience. I think we should host a children's cooking class with our bounty!

2009-2010 School Year

Second week of school and already we have jumped right in on getting projects done! Our first activity was to create more "wooden kids" to display at school with signs to remind others: not to idle while waiting in line, keep the speed limit to 5 mph, and no talking on cell phones while driving in the parking lot. Photos to follow.
The Homework Club is partnering with the United Way to support their effort during the Day of Caring which is a drive to collect school supplies to donate to needy families in the Park City area. These families will be identified by the Holy Cross Ministries.
And last, the HW Club is sponsoring an assembly for the entire 5th grade at Jeremy Ranch. The 5th graders are studying American History with a focus on Ellis Island and immigration. Members of The Lost Boys of Sudan - college age men based out of Salt Lake City supported by the Chier Foundation - will come speak to the children about their experiences coming to a new country. We are very excited to supplement the curriculum with real life stories and hope this will make a lasting impression on both the children and their parents.
Tune in to see what else we are up to!

End of Summer Celebration - 4th Annual Friendship Fence

Summer has gone by so quickly! Where did time go?
The children have had lots of fun this summer playing together on the water slide, riding scooters together, making digital movies, fostering puppies for Furburbia and participating in my favorite activity which is our community art project we fondly call the "Friendship Fence". We have marked the end of summer this year by getting together and creating our fence the day before school. It is a fun way to share in the excitement of a new school year and a good way to reconnect as a group. We get so busy with the long days and summer vacations we tend not to check in with each other.
This year the fence has taken the next step in creativity! The children have shown their individualism in creating their "wooden selves". Check it out!