TOPTeen Outreach Program Newsletter Spring 2014

McKay TOP students at the SOLVE beach cleanup

CONNECT. Students build trusting and positive relationships with their classroom facilitators, learn to work together with their peers as a team, and foster meaningful connections with their community through volunteer work.

“The best thing about working with all the TOP people is how close you become. It’s kind of like your family, a family working towards a common goal. It’s really nice.” – Chloe, Benson student

“TOP is a fun program where we get to interact with our class members and help out in our community.” – Fartun, Madison student

SERVE. Volunteering empowers teens to make positive changes in their communities. TOP students created, planned, and led 122 service projects this year, working with 37 organizations! These projects were creative, impactful, and benefitted many people. Read more about each school’s projects on the inside.

“The most important thing I learned from being in TOP is that we are all here for a reason, to help our commu-nity and make our world a better place. What I’ve experienced from volunteer-ing is that there are people in the world who have it worse than us and we shouldn’t take things for granted.” –Anonymous, Benson student

EMPOWER. From a combination of in-class lessons and community service learning projects (volunteering), teens practice life skills such as communication, goal setting, expressing and understanding values, empathy building, project planning, building healthy relationships, and increase self understanding. This helps better prepare and empower students to succeed in high school, college, and the workforce.

“I’ve changed a lot since the start of this year. Because of TOP, I attend class more often and I’m passing my classes.” – Johnny, North Salem student

TOP is a youth development program where students, schools and communities partner to increase students’ success in school

and reduce unintended teen pregnancy.

BENSON HIGH SCHOOL Each TOP group is planning their own Community Service Learning lunch hour and inviting other students to participate. The CSL lunches are focusing on creating gifts for senior citizens, making hygiene kits for homeless communities, and honoring educators during teacher appreciation week.

JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL While learning important sexual education lessons in their health class, students decided it was important that their school should know this information as well. They designed T-shirts with educational sexual health facts to raise awareness and educate their peers.

LEP HIGH SCHOOL Students made hygiene kits containing essential care products and handed them out to individuals living on the streets in downtown Portland. They also volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank and helped clean the grounds at the Oregon Zoo.

MADISON HIGH SCHOOL After learning about HIV/AIDS in their health class, TOP students decided to go to Cascade AIDS Project to learn more about testing and prevention. Later, students raised awareness in their school by creating different visual and interactive projects including videos, animations, games, and presentations.

MCKAY HIGH SCHOOL Students are helping their community through various projects including serving meals to senior citizens at Center 50+, volunteering at Marion Polk Food Share, cleaning up McKay Park with the City of Salem Parks and Recreation Department, and volunteering at the SOLVE beach cleanup.

NORTH SALEM HIGH SCHOOL Each TOP group got involved in several projects, including hosting a 50’s themed prom for senior citizens at Jason Lee Manor, picking up trash during the biannual SOLVE beach cleanup, and helping abused and neglected animals at Green Acres Farm Sanctuary.

ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL Students have been learning about and discussing domestic and sexual violence in class and then participated in the Rob Ingram Youth Against Violence Summit, a youth led event where teens advocate for safer communities. Students are now raising awareness about sexual assault in their school.

TRILLIUM HIGH SCHOOL This TOP group has participated in various service projects including hosting a canned food drive to benefit the Oregon Food Bank, making valentines for all of the elementary school kids in their school, and making fleece blankets to donate to kids at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

WILSON HIGH SCHOOL Students have been participating in a series of service learning lunches where they meet during their lunch hour to work on various projects including making valentines for the elderly, wooden toy blocks for kids, and listening to a guest speaker talk about serving the homeless community.

Community Service Learning Highlights!

Benson Trillium North Salem

North Salem

MadisonRoosevelt

“The most valuable thing I have done in TOP, for me, would be, being able to feed and give to the people in need at Clay Street. Interacting and meeting new people helped me learn a lot and see how important it is to help out. A lot of people are not as fortunate as us so we have to give and spread joy to everyone who had a rough life out there.”

– Brandon M.

“There are so many things about myself that

I never really knew. Being a part of TOP helped me learn

so much about myself!” – Zelin W.

“TOP has motivated me to keep trying when something seems hard. TOP helps me see the world in a whole new way.”

– Yossely V.

“It changes your view on life.” – Trystan S.

“ I think TOP should be in every

high school. It helps kids with communicating

and it helps you be more social.” – Cesar R.

“TOP is this fun class you get in once per week and they talk

to you about different skills you can develop. Also they offer you

opportunities to go volunteering to so many fun places! By the end of

the day you will feel good.” – Gloria G.

“I was nervous, but glad that TOP

encouraged and gave me opportunities to help. TOP is a great program that teaches individual

skills that are essential to our everyday lives.”

– Danny C.

“The résumé lessons were really helpful because

most of us are at the age when we need to start thinking about

jobs and college.” – Fiona B.

“TOP doesn’t mold or force the views

of others on you, but they allow the students to speak and express

their beliefs and ideas.” – Arturo G.

“TOP has helped me become a better person.”

– Haoxing Y.

TOPStudent Memories from the year!

Jefferson

Wilson

Madison

LEP

McKay

Administrative Contact503.775-4931 x 2346 education@ppcw.org

www.ppcw.org www.wymancenter.org

(top row) Jana Deiss, TOP Facilitator at Wilson; Megan Ackerman, Community Service Learning Coordinator; Olivia Jarratt, TOP Facilitator at LEP & Roosevelt;

(middle row) Camelia Hison, Vice President of Education; Ann Krier, TOP Facilitator at North Salem; Jennifer Melo, Education Programs Manager; Austin Lea, TOP Facilitator at Benson & Jefferson

(bottom row) Ngozi Olemgbe, TOP Co-Facilitator at Benson, Jefferson & Wilson; Aurora Rodriguez, TOP Co-Facilitator at McKay & North Salem; Ernesto Dominguez, TOP Facilitator at Madison & Trillium; Misha Mayers, TOP Facilitator at McKay

(not pictured) Cameron Baker, TOP Co-Facilitator and Health/PE Teacher at LEP; Erin McNulty, TOP Co-Facilitator and substitute teacher and coach from the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization at Madison; Kiyauna Williams, TOP Co-Facilitator and Advocate from Open Meadow Step Up Program at Roosevelt; MaryLiz Herron, TOP Co-Facilitator and Internship Coordinator at Trillium.

Thank you to the schools’ staff, parents, students, and community partners who have supported our program. TOP has been a huge success because of your hard work and partnership!

This school year, TOP students have volunteered more than 9,300 service hours, at a value of $84,630 to our communities!

TOP students volunteered with these community organizations: American Red Cross Oregon Trail ChapterAssumption Village Assisted Living FacilityCascade AIDS Project – CHATpdxCity of Salem - Parks & Recreation DepartmentClay Street TableCommunity + Homeless ConnectDoernbecher Children’s HospitalFour Corners Elementary SchoolGreen Acres Farm SanctuaryImpact NW – AKA Science ProgramJason Lee Manor Independent LivingLee Mission CemeteryMadison High School Food PantryMarch of DimesMarion Polk Food ShareMarquis Care Vermont HillsMeals on Wheels PeopleMultnomah Youth Commission – Youth Against Violence SummitOregon Food BankOregon Humane SocietyOregon ZooOur HousePlanned Parenthood Columbia WillamettePlayworks Pacific NorthwestRandall Children’s HospitalSalem HospitalSalvation ArmyScott Elementary SchoolSenior Center 50+SKEF Learning Gardens ProgramSOLVESt. Francis Dining HallThe Springs at SunnyviewUnion Gospel MissionVeterans of Foreign Wars Marion Post 661Willamette Humane SocietyYMCA of Marion and Polk Counties

TOP is facilitated by highly trained, certified and experienced educators

This project is supported by Grant Number TP1AH000075 from the Office of Adolescent Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Adolescent Health, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, or the Department of Health and Human Services.