whats the word feb 2010

8/14/2019 Whats the Word Feb 2010

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CHECK INSIDE FOR MORE COOL STUFF: Hey, wheres the junk food...Cafe Gone Healthy? Harlem Rockets vs. Boys & Girls Club All Stars...who won?

Dancin in the Club! Check out all the cool things we did last summer. Youth of the Year Nominees represent the Club. Who is your hero and why?

Who said homework cant be fun? Club members from the Dominican Republic nd a second home at the Club and MORE!

Walking into the Boys & Girls Club during the Halloween Carnivalwas like walking into a fairytale lled with monsters and princesses! All around are scary

faces, pretty dresses, and loud music. This is an exciting event, and the Witchcraft and

Hawthorne Licensed Child Care Program kids take the bus here to be part of the party!

The Torch Club, our leadership club for ages 8-12, was very helpful during this event.

They ran most of the games and prize table. There was apple bobbing and participants

were soaked head to toe. A lot of people participated in bowling. You got one ticket for

trying, and 10 tickets for a strike. Another event was Fishing for Tickets, with a kiddy pool

lled with paper squares that had different numbers on them. The number that you shed

out was the amount of tickets you won. Most of the little kids participated in face painting,

run by Erin and Kayla. You had a choice of many things painted on your face, such as

lions, cats, butteries, hearts and cheetahs.

There was a costume contest which the kids love.

It is a way for them to show off their newest garb,

and see everyone elses! Everyone marches around

the gym, and Jodi, the Program Director, has kids

sit down until only the top 10 costumes are still standing. The top 10 earn tickets and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place are chosen by a

round of applause.

The scariest event of all was- the Gypsy Fortune Teller, run by Lily. When children entered, all they could see was smoke

and fog and Lily got to jump out of closets and scare the children. After she would scare them, she would sit down and use

her magic ball to tell the children their fortunes.

Other fun activities included ring

toss, football toss, snake toss,

shufeboard, musical chairs, bingo

and marshmallow decorating. At all

of these games kids earned ticketsfor prizes, which included Halloween

theme bouncy balls, playdoh and

playing cards. One lucky person won Guess the Candy Corn, and instead of

earning tickets they got to take home the whole jar with hundreds of candy

corn.

One of my favorite events of the day is mummying the staff! Kids are very

creative with streamers, toilet paper, caution tape, masks and more! Every

kid gets involved and nds a way to make the staff member look as silly as

possible.

Nahaly, age 10, was a bride at the carnival this year because she liked how pretty the costume was. Her favorite candy is Kit Kats because it is chocolaty. Her

favorite activity was bobbing for apples. She loved the carnival because it was a lot of fun and it was her rst time. Her favorite prize that she won was blue cotton

candy. She also won vampire teeth and a kazoo. She estimates she eats almost 20 pieces of candy each day since Halloween!

Lisabel, age 9 was a trendy witch at the carnival because she is into fashion but wanted to be scary at the same time. Jolly Ranchers are her favorite candy, except

for the blueberry ones. One of her favorite activities was earning tickets for prizes, because she loves to get free stuff. She won

jelly bracelets, a jump rope and a glow stick. She had a dentist appointment the day after Halloween so she only ate three pieces

Halloween night.

BOO! Did I scare you? Well I should have! If you were with the Boos & Ghouls Club atthe Haunted Happenings Parade, you may have had some nightmares or good dreams! There

were monsters, ghosts and bumble bees everywhere! They were just costumes, of course.

Some were princesses and fairies while others were dead! Every school in Salem walks in this

parade. Even the marching bands showed up, and the loud

instruments sounded like surround sound of a car. Cape Cod

Chips, candy and plastic spiders were being thrown around at

this spooky spectacular! Some of the kids were holding the

banner, which thanks Salem Park & Recreation for all they do.

And that was how Salems most memorable parade

went to start off all of the festivities of Halloween!

FALL 2009/WINTER 2010

BOOS AND GHOULS CLUB MEMBERS

GET INTO THE HALLOWEEN SPIRITby Lily and Ally

Boys & Girls Club kids celebrate after winning mummying Christine.

Above: Bzzz Julianna, Yibelis, and Gabriely

Right: Scream for the Camera: Ryan!

Brothers Radhmee & Radhlen lineup for the parade.

Left: Scary or just

cute?: Jayla grrrs

for the camera.

Right: Isabella & Lily had amazing

matching costumes for the parade.

Far Right: Sisters Magdalana & Aguiel

look beautiful for the carnival.


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Community Partner Shout Outs!Special thanks to these community members who generously gave of

their time and resources to benet programs at the Club. We couldnt

do what we do without you!

Salem Five, for their networking meeting for the Club.

Eastern Bank employees, for painting on a Saturday.

Salem Plumbing of Beverly, hot water heater.

Plumber Al Bell, xing oven, stove, installing hot water heater.

Salem School Superintendent & Principals Dr William Cameron,

Mary Manning and David Angeramo for supporting Project Learn.

New England Kayak & Fishing, for their generous donation.

David Ives and Northshore International Insurance Services for a

yummy Thanksgiving feast.

Kenny Rothwell, for a great Christmas dinner.

Karen Brooks and Comcast, for supporting this newspaper program.

Yoga Satki, for a party with meal & presents for 11 families.

Carrie Post, Blue Ribbon Cakes for donating cakes.

Rob Lianni, Coffee Time Bake Shop for donating yumminess.

Cinema Salem, for their generous $1000 Grant.

Monetrics, for supplying school back packs with supplies.

St Johns Prep, for spring cleaning the Club and holiday toy drive.

Ward 2 Social Club, VFW, Lafayette Club, Polish-American Club,

for donating proceeds from fundraisers to the Club.

Essex National Heritage & National Parks Services, for camp

scholarships to Schooner Fame and First Bloom.North Shore Medical Center, for a grant for our new food program.

Teen Program Volunteers Jay Simon, Sharon Hunt, Zina Gerolimatos

and Charles Von Bruns.

Administrative Volunteer, Chris Coleman

Wicked Running Club members who donated holiday gifts.

Salem State College Bertolon School of Business, for working with

the Club this school year.

Suffolk University alternative spring break students, who spent a

weekend assisting the Club and donated $1000.

The Ladies in the Cellar, for their holiday gift basket donations.

99 Restaurant, for hosting our Youth of the Year dinner.

Carters Diamonds & Fine Jewelry for their recent rafe $ donation.

Salem Waterfront Hotel for providing rooms for the Harlem Rockets.

Are YOU inspired to help some GREAT kids?Contact Executive Director Joanne Scott at

(978)744-0915 or email [email protected].

A WORD WITH BOARD MEMBER JOSEPH GIBBONSBy Ryan & Gabriely

Joseph Gibbons is the President of Salem Five Bank, and has been onthe Club Board of Directors for just over a year. He expects great things

for the Club. The Club creates a nice environment to go to after school

and its very safe for the kids. Joseph joined the board after watching the

organization and the other members of the Board, and seeing it as a great

cause. He volunteers at the Club because he thinks it has an important

mission, and believes its helpful for the community to support the Club.

We asked him why he volunteers at the Club and he said I feel that its part

of my responsibility, and important to give back. If he could have joined

a program at the Club, he would join the Keystone leadership program but

also said If I was a member when I was a kid, I would have joined the

basketball team. One of his goals for the Club is for the nances to get

better. We asked him what he would change about the Club, and he said

he doesnt know yet as he needs to be here longer to see what needs to

be done. Be Great is the slogan for the Boys & Girls Club of America,

and we asked him what Be Great means to him. Be Great is being a good

person, having integrity and being responsible. For the nal and most

important question, we asked him his favorite color and he said blue with

a great smile on his face. Growing up, he wanted to be a doctor but instead

went to Bentley University for Accounting, and to Suffolk University for

Business.

Fun facts about Joseph Gibbons:

He grew up in Saugus, but has since traveled to

Europe, Canada, Mexico and the USA.

His birthday is September 25 and he is a Libra.

His favorite part of Salem is the history, and he

thinks downtown is a great place to wander.|

Thank you for helping the Boys & Girls Club!

A Club ThanksgivingBy Yibelis & Coral

On Tuesday, November 24, 2009 the kids and staff at the Club

enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner thanks to North Shore International

Insurance Service who sponsored this memorable event. They served

us steamy pieces of turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, delicious

stufng, and a delightful vanilla cake for dessert.

Throughout the dinner, many

activities were held. Mary

Ellens Dance Girls performed

to Stomp It to My Beat and

Jai Ho. It was a lot of fun

since parents also attended to

watch the performances.

For many girls, this was their

rst time on stage performing

for an audience. They wore

colorful skirts with leggings,

patterned tops, and fun bright

blue gloves.

Thanksgiving at the Club was a huge reunion since all the sites come

together for this event. Awards were announced for Torch of theMonth and Youth of the Month for Salem and the Higgins School in

Peabody.

One member had a blast at her Grandmothers house for

Thanksgiving, where she played all night with her cousins. For

dinner, everyone pitched in and brought something. They had

delicious turkey slices with mashed potatoes, accompanied by the

best corn ever as she claimed. Her mom made the mashed potatoes.

She was stuffed after eating at both of her Grandmothers houses.

During dinner they sat around the table and each of them gave thanks

to God for something they were grateful for. She was grateful for

being able to spend time with her family and the delicious food.

Derek & Jackson content after a

delicious meal and seeing their friends

perform.

Caf Gone Healthy! (?)By AllyGood Afternoon. This is the moment you have all been waiting for.

The Caf is now open! Kids rush up the stairs and line up like a herd of wildanimals. Like hungry gorillas, they order and pay for their food at the rst counter

and pick it up at the second counter. Working at the Caf is a fun experience

and only those who are older, more responsible and behave can help. It helps my

math skills because you need to quickly gure out what the change is when they

pay. Setting up is fun because it is like getting ready for an attack! Get into your

position, and be ready for madness. We set up all of the food so kids can see their

choices, then after the Caf and organized chaos subsides, we clean up and spray

down all the counters and tables. It is like a miniature restaurant and you even get

paid with one free snack after you have completed your assigned duties

The Boys & Girls Clubs Caf has taken a new direction. The food they sell is

healthy and delicious. There are bagels, fruits, vegetables and cereal - all for undera dollar! Heres what some customers have to say about it:

Allison said she really, really misses the old Caf a lot, especially the chocolate

goodness. She doesnt really like it now because she has to eat healthy foods at

home and sometimes she just needs a break, but she says she does like the bagels.

I asked Caroline if she likes the new and improved Caf, and she answered,

YES! She loves the new Caf because they sell her favorite foods such as apples,

oranges and French toast bagels. She doesnt miss the old Caf because she hated

most of the food.

Derek said the new Caf is OK because he only liked a few things like the

bagels, fruit snacks and yogurt.

He misses the old Caf but at least

they still sell food!

The last person that I interviewed

was Mary-Ellen, our Performing

Arts & Education Director. She

said she likes the new Caf better

because a lot of the food is healthy,

and sometimes half of her lunch

comes from the new Caf. Her

favorite items are apples, oranges,

string cheese and yogurt.


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Cheerleading for the Salem Witches

By Ashley E.

I have been a Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem member for ve

years, and cheer for the Salem Witches, which is part of the North East

Conference Youth Football League. We practice at Witchcraft Heights

Elementary School 3-4 days a week. We have games each Sunday and

cheer for the Salem football team. We also compete in competitions. At

practice, we work on our routine for competition and practice cheers

for games, like my favorite called SALEM which goes like this:

GIVE ME AN S (S!), GIVE ME AN A (A!),GIVE ME A L (L!), GIVE ME A E (E!),

GIVE ME AN M (M!). WHATS THAT SPELL? (SALEM!)WHO ARE WE? (SALEM!) WHOS GONNA WIN?

(SALEM!) LOUDER! SALEMS-A-L-E-M GO GO GO S-A-L-E-M GO GO

GO S-A-L-E-M GO GO GO!

At cheerleading, I met some close friends. Some I knew before

cheerleading and I convinced them to join, and others I met for the rst

time. We got new uniforms this year and instead of being all black with

some red and white they are all red with some black and white.

The NBA basketball skills event is an exciting event at the Boys & GirlsClub. On our rst half day of the year, everyone went to the gym to sign up

for a skills test that was put on by the NBA. The rules of the game- they have

to make a lay-up, go for two shots, dribble, then pass it to a staff and go in for

another lay-up. Everybody did really well.

Andrew, from the Witchcraft program, was fast and did really great. Justice,

from the licensed program at Hawthorne, was awesome and fast and he is only

eight years old! Michael had speed and was also great at shooting. Zachary was

nervous, and made a few mistakes; but had fun while he was doing it. Kyle was

amazing! He made every single shot and had a good chance of winning. When

it was my turn to go I was so excited. I think I did really well, especially with

my passing. I dont think I won, but I had a lot of fun as did most of the kids I

talked to.

The winners of the competition got to see the Boston Celtics practice and won

2 tickets to a Celtics game. They also got to move on to compete in another

competition, and maybe compete in Texas after that. Some of the winners were

Caroline, Kyle and Alexis. They had a blast with the Celtics, earned cool shirts

and are excited to go to a Celtics game. This was a really fun event and we

are lucky to get the chance to participate in these tests with the chance to win

amazing prizes. I hope that all of the winners of the Salem Boys & Girls Club

do really well in their next competition and can move on to the nals!

Do You Have Mad NBA Skills?By Jamyel

Harlem Rockets vs. BGC All StarsBy Randy

The charity basketball game between the Harlem Rockets from NYC and the Boys

& Girls Club was a great success. The day started with the Rockets coming to the

Club and spending time with the kids. There was an assembly in the gym to talk to

the kids about how to be respectful to themselves, the staff, their friends

and their parents. They also spoke about what it means to be a role model,

how important a good education is, and how dangerous drugs and alcohol

can be. Instead of leaving right after the assembly, the Rockets chose to

spend their day getting to know the kids and playing everything from poolto connect four with us.

Tip off was at 7:00 pm at the Salem State OKeefe Center. The Harlem

Rockets played against the Salem Boys & Girls Club All Stars which

was a combination of alumni, staff and our very own 18 & Under Travel Team. The score was close

at times, but it seemed the Rockets were just too much for the Club. I have never seen Matt, our

Athletic Director, run so much, but he was the leading scorer for the All Stars. It was great to see

some high ying fun, and it wasnt all on the Rockets side. Eric Downie, one of our staff at Higgins

and Terrance Williams, the teen study mentor and coach of the 12 & Under Travel Team both had

some dunks! Although the Clubs All Stars lost, it was a great experience for the kids and staff.

Connor spins a ball on his

nger, who knew he was

such a pro?

Above:Athletic Director Matt is used to running

games in the gym not so used to running on the court.

Below: Ariel, a starter on the 18 & Under basketball

team had fun showing his skills.

At the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem youcan do a lot of different things; that is why I like it here.

In the teen center you can hang out with your friends,

play guitar hero, ping pong, foosball and board games.

My favorite thing to do is play pool. It is nice to have

a separate area from all of the little kids, with our own

spaces. We never had a teen room just for homework

with our own computers, until now. The teen study has

really nice furniture, looking more like a real ofce and

allows us to do our work and have our own homework

room staff, Terrance who was just hired. Any teen on

a basketball team must do 4 hours of homework each

week to participate. This is a new rule at the Club,

which has been a shock to many team members but

overall is working out. Michael, age 14, loves coming to the Club and never misses a day. He getshelp with his homework here, but his favorite thing to do is play basketball on the 15 and Under

Travel Team.

When the teen study rst opened, we had an event with a few different speakers about career

exploration. I learned a lot when Orlando Pacheco, Tony Vargas and Krazy Kulo spoke about the

future and making good choices. Orlando Pacheco is the Town Administrator of Lancaster, MA, Tony

Vargas is a barber with his own barber shop in Peabody called Exclusive Hair Design, and Krazy

Kulo is the producer of the morning show on JAMN 94.5. Before they got to where they were today,

they were kids who grew up in circumstances like most of the teens here, some even from Salems

Point neighborhood. They did not have it easy growing up, but they worked hard to make the best

of it, becoming successful men. They told us we need to work hard and make smart decisions today

which will affect our future. The speakers inspired us all to work harder to better ourselves.

Teens Have a Place to Call Their OwnBy Eric & Lindsay

Terrance, the newest addition to the Club

staff helps Marc & Jonny with homework.

New rule for the travel teams: all teens must

complete 4 hours of homework to participate

in games and practice of following week.

A CLUB HOLIDAYBy Yibelis & Coral

December 23 was a huge day for the kids here at the

Club- the day the Club celebrated the holiday season. St.

Johns Prep does a toy drive throughout the whole month

of December to earn a dress down day. It was a great

opportunity for them and an honor that they choose us for

their donation. Not only do the St. Johns Prep students

collect toys, many came to our dinner to help out.

Before dinner, we had a huge game of dodgeball, the

Club vs. St. Johns Prep. The Club won of course. A lot

of Club members got to know students at St Johns Prep

playing pool, connect four and other games. During the

dinner, they helped serve food and even cleaned up after

the event-WOW!! Thanks to St. Johns Prep, Santa was

able to give every kid two presents, including the kids

from our child care programs at Witchcraft, Hawthorneand Higgins in Peabody. We were also able to give

presents to many other organizations including Pathways

for Children in Gloucester, Salem Community Child

Care, the Food Pantry, and provide 15 Club families with

gifts for the their children. All of our teens received gift

cards to go shopping- what could be better? At the party,

we gave over 250 kids gifts! We also received supplies

for our programs for arts, athletics, games and prizes.

Guy Robinson, who works in our after school program,

was the DJ and Mary-Ellens dance group gave another

outstanding performance.


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Here are the faces behind the stories, each with their own story...

Saira, Age 12: Loves to

dance. Favorite food: pizza.

Has 2 sisters at the Club.

Gabriely, Age 14: Loves

to dance. Favorite food:

chinese. Her sister also

attends the Club.

Coral, Age 14: Loves to dance

and hang with friends. Enjoys

teen cooking & helping at Club.

Lily, Age 11: Loves theatre

& dance at the Club. Favorite

food: seafood.

Michelle, Age 12: Loves

art. Every program at the

Club is her favorite!

MEET THE STAFF OF

WHATS THE WORD

Additional

Contributors:

Ashley C, Ashley E,

Bridget, Chaterine, Eric,

Jamyel, Lindsay

Randy and Ryan.

Ally, Age 12: Favorite food:

chinese. Favorite book:

Twilight. Loves video games.

After School Program Fun for All!By Lily

The Boys & Girls Club offers many after school programs. Matt, thebus driver who is also the Athletic Director, drives around every school to pick up the

kids for an after school adventure. Each site offers the same home-like feeling, but are

unique in their own way.

The rst site is at the main Club at 13 Hawthorne Boulevard. Downstairs is for kids

8 and older. We provide a gym with many in-house and traveling teams, a joyful

game room with loads of tournaments, a creative art room, a computer room, and an

educational homework room. Upstairs is the Hawthorne site for ages 5 to 8 where

they can express themselves in ways theyve never done before. The little kids getsnacks, and have crazy and fun staff such as Ashley, Guy and Kathy.

Ashley says Its fun working with the little kids because they make my day! Im

always extremely nice to them. I run a program called Club Read for Kindergarten

students that dont have any homework. I bring them into a quiet room during power

hour and read them a story, and every other day I do an activity with them. Ashley

also runs a dance program for the little kids.

Guys choices of words were Kids Club is made from the best stuff on earth.

Kathy is a great down to earth staff member who runs Junior Achievement with

activities such as basketball, football and art projects to keep the kids entertained

all day. They have two rooms, full of excited, loud, friendly children. Many of the

kids in this program have brothers and sisters in the downstairs program. Many will

graduate to go downstairs in a year or two.

Our 3rd site is the Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, another fun, exciting

learning experience. At both programs the kids get a snack each day, usually healthybut yummy! The kids also get to visit Peabody Essex Museum and do interesting

projects there.

Well thats the scoop on the after school programs at the

Boys & Girls Club. Sign Up!

Left, Hailey, age 5: I love being

upstairs so much because we get

to do girls dance. I like the staff

because we do lots of activities.

Guy is just so funny!

Right,Justice, age 7: I like

when we do cool activities and

sometimes basketball games. I also

love my staff because they are nice

and they help us do our homeworkand sometimes they play with us!

The Insiders is a group of girls who go out to eat at restaurants with Boys &Girls Club Program Director, Jodi. We go to the 99 Restaurant and other places that many

of us havent tried in Salem. While we are together, we talk about programs, school,

issues going between friends, boys and other things that are on our mind. On another fun

night we stayed at the Club and had dinner with one of the Board members, Beth, and a

few of her friends. It was exciting to be able to have two different girls groups come

together.

The group was formed because the girls thought it would be a safe and comfortable

place to talk without being judged. Since there was already a younger girls group called

Smart Girls for 6-8 and 9-11 year olds, Jodi thought it would be a good idea to have onefor older girls ages 12-15. We chose the name The Insiders because everything stays

between us. Even though we may not all be best friends outside of the program, once the

program starts we are all encouraging and kind to one another.

I interviewed one member of the girls group, Monique, who

said that she liked being in the group because all the girls get

to go out to eat and have fun while having girl talk. Some of

the stuff that we talk about is girl stuff, and whatever we say

never leaves the table. It is a helpful and fun group to be a part

of. Some issues we have talked about include self-esteem,

short and long term goals, role models and family problems.

I agree with Monique that the group is fun, because we get to

go out to eat which is always fun. This program is benecial,

because it helps us bond with other girls, get things off our

minds, and solve our problems together. You not only discover

new things about yourself but also about other Club members.

Inside the Insiders Program By Gabriely

WITCH CITY DANCIN!By Ashley C. & Coral

Witch City Dance is a programstarted by the Kids Club staff

Guy and Ashley. Ashley is the

choreographer and Pretty Boy

Robinson (Guy) is the DJ. This dance

group was made for kids in the drop-

in program at the Club at that in

between age- not ready to be a teen

but not wanting to stay downstairs

with the little kids. The staff saw

a need because these kids werent

participating in other programs, andthey wanted to give them some fun

and excitement!

26 kids joined the program when it started, and everyone was interested in the types of

music we were going to dance to, and where and when we were performing. Many of

the kids are Hispanic, and grew up in a Spanish speaking neighborhood, so most of them

had things in common. Much

of the music was reggaeton

and Spanish Hip Hop. The

girls have become really close,

even if they are different ages

and races and hadnt hung out

in the Club before.

The rst day of the program,

the kids brainstormed about

the songs they wanted to

dance to then they got into

a big circle and free danced.

This allowed the kids to

express themselves and have

their fun. This program helped

many Club members to nd

their niche, and its also a good workout!

Many of the kids took learning the choreography seriously, practicing in and out of

the Club. The kids who were the strongest stuck with the program and performed on

many occasions. The girls went through rough patches but they didnt let their team

down. They help each other to better themselves instead of giving each other negative

comments when mistakes are made. They are constructive and teach one another. The

girls dont move on until everyone understands the dance moves.

Early 2009, the girls preformed at Salem State College at half time of the Boys &

Girls Clubs basketball team

home games, and in the

auditorium at the Club at the

Champions Dinner where all

of the programs around the

Club are celebrated, and at the

Dance Spectacular, where many

different groups performed.

The girls wore graphic sweat

pants and t-shirts that had tiger

scratches on it (home made of

course) and put their hair up in

color coordinated ribbons.

Yibelis, Age 17: OnBGC

staff. Loves R & B & hip hop.

Favorite food: pizza.

Thank you to Comcast

for making this program

possible.


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Summer Fun At The Boys & Girls ClubFirst BloomProgram Grows At

Club By Michelle

The First Bloom Programis run by the National Parks

Service and Mary-Ellen Hickey.

This Branch in the tree of First

Bloom is held at the Boys & Girls

Club of Greater Salem. There are

14 kids ages 8-12 in the program.

This group has gone on eld

trips to learn about plants and

animals. One of these trips

was to Green Meadows Farm,

where the group enjoyed

learning about the plants and

animals there. Another trip

was to Topseld Fairgrounds,

where the animals fascinated

us! Some of the larger bunnies

looked like cats, and the

chickens were loud! We even

got to watch baby chicks being

born. The trip to the Salem

Maritime was exciting. First

Bloomers helped plant herbs, decorated miniature boats, participated in ship buildingactivities and even got their faces painted! During Summer Camp at the Boys & Girls

Club, campers went to a national park each week, including: Saugus Iron Works, the

U.S.S. Constitution Ship and Minute Man National Park. The National Park Service has

become an exciting partner of the Club. Other great activities included making a journal

out of cereal boxes and recycled paper, collecting cans and bottles to create artwork and

going to the Farmers Market to talk with local farmers about the foods and plants they

grow.

MJ, age 10, says First Bloom is one of his

favorite programs at the Club. The more eld

trips, the better because you can see the plants

and animals instead of just learning about

them on paper. His favorite eld trip was the

farm, because he liked the animals.

Lilah, age 9, enjoys the eld trips because

you talk and learn about nature and otheroutdoor activities. Her favorite part is

learning about helping the environment. The

types of seeds she collected were poppy,

hitchhiker and iris. Her favorite eld trip was

the farm. I liked the baby chickens and baby ducks.

You can see excerpts from our blog at www.rst-bloom.org.

Schooner Camp Sets Sail By MichelleThrough a grant

with the National

Parks Service, theBoys & Girls Club

awarded 20 scholarships

for kids to attend the

Schooner Fame Camp for

free. The Schooner Fame

was a schooner boat in

1812, and a replica is in

Salem Harbor. Each day

during the summer, a

group of kids would go

sailing. There is a gold

watch and a blue watch.

The blue watch is for the

younger kids (8-10), and the gold watch is for the older kids (11-13). On the boat, you

learn how to tie the basic knots: square knot, gure eight knot, and the bowlin knot.

We learned how to steer the boat and navigate through the water. One day, boaters went

to Misery Island and walked around looking at the ancient ruins. Others went around

the island studying the shape of the island. By the end of the week, these groups were

expert navigators and even made maps of the island with a key. Each day they would

keep a log of everything going on, and about 3 times a

day, they would write the winds direction, the direction

they were heading, and the weather. Each day on the

boat we would switch watches every few hours. First

blue watch would steer, trim the sail, and be on bow

watch, and then the gold watch would switch with them.

To steer, you would use the tiller, which is at the end of

the boat, also the compass. To trim the sails you would

need many people because one sail was way too heavy.

On bow watch, two people would sit at the bow and

watch out for lobster traps. Captain Mike runs the camp

and helped build the boat about seven years ago. The

staff was nice. They played games with the campers and

taught us how to make bracelets. Although everybody

was sad they had to leave, they all had a boating

experience to remember forever.

Alexandra, age 10, liked camp because it was the only camp she went to this summer.

She enjoyed jumping off the boat and hanging out with friends from the Club, many

of which she doesnt see all summer. She learned a lot about the boat and how to sail.She loved Misery Island, even though it was freezing when she swam. She also liked

walking in the woods and meeting other groups on the beach.

Isabella, age 11, liked Schooner Camp because of the nice staff and because it was

a lot of fun. Her favorite thing was learning to tie different knots with rope and then

jumping rope after tying them all together. She enjoyed learning about Misery Island,

and going in the dingy boat.

Dear Mom: We Loved Summer Camp at theClub! By Saira & Yibelis

Have you ever been to the Boys &

Girls Club Summer Camp? If not,you should denitely consider coming nextyear!

Each week has its own theme. During

Holiday Week the kids were able to

bring back the theme of Christmas

and Hanukkah. They could even wear

their Halloween costumes to the Club and have an Easter Egg Hunt -isnt that cool?

Adventure Week, the kids went to the movies to see The Tale of Desperaux and checked

out Castle Island. Sports Week, kids showed their team pride by wearing team jerseys

and hats and having relays and other games. Entertainment Week, kids got a chance to

show off their singing and dance moves in a talent show and go to Water Country. Kids

went all out on two of my favorite days: Rockstar Day and Greek Gods & Goddesses

Day. Safari Week, the kids saw some wild animals at Stone Zoo. Olympic Week, the

kids researched their country and went the Summer Expo at Nashua NH to meet other

Boys & Girls Clubs. History Week, we visited Devereux Beach and dressed like Greek

Goddesses. Back to the Future Week, kids visited Wingaersheek Beach where the sandwas snowy white and the water was clear as can be. Wacky Water Week, members made

their annual Canobie Lake eld trip.

Kids would earn points by dressing up

on theme days such as Pajama Day, Twin

Day, Pirate Day, Cowboy/girl Day, and

Decade Day where everywhere you turned

you saw someone from the 60s and 70s. If

your team is in rst place, you would have

an Ice Cream Sundae party with ALL of

the toppings. The kids got really into the

themes, and a lot of friendly competition

was demonstrated throughout the whole

summer.

We also went to places such as

Salem Willows, Salem State, Dane

Street Beach and Lynch Park to

swim. The kids also went to Winter

Island almost every Wednesday

for Girl Scouts where girls made

lip gloss and fruit kabobs, andboys played capture the ag or

tag. Sometimes the kids would

go crab hunting for points, and I

was impressed by the number they

would nd lling many of our sand buckets.

Most of the kids favorite spot was Salem

Willows, because they had varieties of foods

to choose from and many games to play like

Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. While

some enjoyed playing, others sat at the beach

eating popcorn or fried dough. The kids also

enjoyed going to Roller World. Some were

able to face their fears without hesitation,

while others struggled to learn how to skate

(including the staff!).

This summer we had a new partner: The National Park Service. Every week National

Park Rangers would meet us somewhere, and the kids would learn more each week so

we wouldnt forget what we learned during

the school year, trying to keep our brains

sizzling with intelligence. We visited

Saugus Iron Works, the USS Constitution,

Salem Maritime, Gloucester Maritime and

Minute Man National Park.

Summer Camp continues to engage

children in fun and laughter but is also a

safe place to try many new things.


6/8

6

In most movies

about an

inspirational

storythe protagonistalways has a place

he goes to nd his

encouragement and

motivation. For

me, that place of

inspiration wouldbe the Boys & Girls

Club. This place has

become a lot more

than just a place where I go to hang out. This place

has taught me life lessons and inspired me to become

a good person. It has become a place in which

people believe in me. Other than my family, I never

found a place that gives me such support. It has

become a second home to me. The positive vibe I get

when I step through the doors can only be described

as amazing. More than anything, this Club has been

a place of opportunity, a place of learning, a positive

environment and most importantly; my outlet to any

of the problems in my life.

Most kids my age choose to do other things that

impact their lives in a negative way. Since coming

to this Club, I have only been affected in a positive

way. Before I came to the Club I had a negative

outlook on life because of all the things going on at

the time. I brought this negative attitude everywhere

I went, from school to my own home. I didnt feel

comfortable no matter where I went. After hearing

about a try-out for basketball at the Boys & Girls

Club, I decided to go. Midway through the season I

started noticing that this place was a good place for

me. It was keeping me off the streets and helping me

deal with my attitude. Just by walking in, I always

found myself smiling because I knew I would be

received here with a smile. I felt like whenever I

came to the Club, nothing else mattered- not mysituation at home, school or anywhere.

This year, I became one of the captains of the 18 and

under basketball team. Being so, I have learned the

importance of respect and loyalty. I also learned that

no one person can change the tide of a game- it takes

a group effort. Just like in life you cant always do

everything yourself, you need people you can rely

upon. Through the team, I become a harder worker

and want the best for my teammates and myself.

We share a bond that makes us as close as brothers.

Without this Club, I would have never been ableto connect with my team as I do now. If we didnt

all decide to show up to those try-outs none of us

would be in this brotherhood and learn what loyalty

and respect really are. But the most important thing

I have learned is that everything I learn from our

team doesnt just apply to basketball, it applies to

life. Youre always going to be around people and

by giving them respect you learn the proper way to

succeed. Through communication, we all learned

that success is possible even when the situation

appears to be dim. None of these changes that have

taken place in each of us would be possible without

the Club.

As I said, every protagonist has a place of inspiration

and this Club is mine. Most of it is due to the staff.They have such a positive vibe around them; I cant

help but take it in myself. They see my potential and

believe in me. They brought the best person out of

me, which is all I ever wanted for myself. One of

the people who contributed to this is my coach. His

words are all I needed to become inspired. He told

me that people arent scared of failure but are afraid

to succeed. He tells the team that we need to put

our best foot forward and seize every opportunity.

He also made me see the potential I had to be great.

Before I met him, I was unmotivated and never tried

my best. But one day he coached one of our games

and for the rst time in a long time I wanted to prove

myself to someone. The game was a blow out, the

opposing team was up twenty points; worst of all itwas 4th Quarter with 4 minutes to go and everyone

had a defeatist attitude. They started showing off

and he told me that I cannot believe youre letting

them do this to you, its just disrespectful. It was in

that moment something inside of me sparked and I

knew that if I didnt step up, nobody would. I ended

up inspiring the rest of my team to play as hard I did

and we brought the game to within seven points.

On the ride back, even after the loss, Coach told

me he was impressed with how I played and heunderestimated me. It felt good to prove myself to

him, and from then on I always wanted to work hard

to earn his praise. I saw the effect I had on people

when I worked my hardest and knew this is what I

wanted for myself. Without the Boys & Girls Club,

I would have never met Andre and probably never

would have been so inspired to be great. This Club

has shown me some of the good people of the world

and I am looking forward to meeting the rest of them

and bringing out the good in everyone else.

Without this Club I would have never had so many

amazing opportunities, like meeting so many good

people. I never had a good sense of direction, and I

never used to capitalize on every opportunity. But

since I have come to the Club those opportunitieshave been brought to me. Things like auditioning for

the Comcast Fancaster for the Celtics and winning.

Before, something like an audition for television

seemed far away, but the Club has brought the things

I thought were so far away closer to me. If I were to

give a teen advice on how to become a better person

or how to nd good opportunities, the rst place I

would tell them to go to the Boys & Girls Club. If

a place like this can change my life for the better, I

know that it can do it for others. I hope that anyone

who has a chance to come to the Club feels the same

way I do, and hope one day I can help the Boys &

Girls Club, the same way it has helped me turn my

life around.

Manny Cruz, 2009 Youth of the Year, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem

What is the Youth of the Year?by Yibelis

Youth of the Year is an opportunity to demonstrate your speaking, writingand leadership skills throughout the Boys & Girls Club. Candidates write two

essays, one about the Club and what it means to you, and one about why college

is important to you. You also get interviewed by six staf members on topics from

home and family to your life goals. Each of the four nominated youth go in front

of a panel of judges and one youth is chosen as Youth of the Year to represent

the Club. The winner competes against other Club winners across the state,

then maybe across the country. This competition is truly a way to realize the

signicance of the Club in our lives and to become a role model for other Club

members.

2009 Youth of the Year Candidates

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem

L to R: Ashley Colon, Yibelis Pena, Alex Moreta

and Manny Cruz, 2009 Youth of the Year

Excerpts from 2009 Youth of the Year

Candidate Essays

Ashley Colon:

Growing up at the Club, I always lookedforward to having fun each day and learning

something new. The Boys & Girls Club was my

second home and still is.

I want every child to boost their self-condence

as I did when I was younger, and meet new

friends around the Club. Together were one

Club, so together were one family.

Alex Moreta:

The Club means more to me than justfun. To me, the Club means responsibility to

my community and family to become a better

person. The Club helps me with socializing,

decision making, sportsmanship and more.

When Im at the Club I feel like Im at a safe

home. If there was no Boys & Girls Club, I

dont know what I would do.

Yibelis Pena:

The Boys & Girls Club is a great after

school activity. It is shown to keep lots ofkids off the streets.

In two years I plan to attend college and major

in Child Psychology. Working at the Club helps

me get a clearer view of how kids think and

act. I am positive that I want to work with kids.

Therefore, I am proud to wear my staff shirt.


7/8

7

Who said homework cant be fun? At the Boys & Girls Club, we get prizes for our efforts. Power Hour is the rst activity of the day and for many kids, theironly time to get their homework done with people there to guide and help them. A room is dedicated for quiet concentration on even the hardest subjects and staff

and volunteers help whenever you dont understand something

Christine is in charge of the room, keeping track of everyones points. Each sheet of paper earns you 5 points, but on Friday it is double! If a Club member is

committed to doing their homework each day, they can earn 100 points or more, putting them in rst place. Every other week the top 20 point earners take part

in an exciting event everyone wants to be a part of, and prizes from board games and stuffed animals to sports balls and magic kits are on display to choose

from. When Jodi announces your name and what place you came in, everyone cheers and you get to pick your reward. Hopefully your teacher gives you a lot of

homework, and you are motivated to do it all at the Club and earn lots of points!

Jordan, age 11, does Power Hour just for the fun of it! He has won Power Hour twice so far. He won a laptop case and a mini Tech

Deck skateboard. He admits, When you do your homework you get to win cool prizes! I like Power Hour because you get prizes

for doing something you dont like. He gets help on math, not his favorite subject.

Chrishae, age 9, just started at the Club but likes Power Hour because she gets help and understands her homework more. She likes

that her homework is always right, so she does well in class. She hopes to earn a prize someday, but for now she is just excited to be

someplace new where there are a lot more choices of what to do during the day.

Brad, age 8, screams I do Power Hour to win stuff! He has never won Power Hour but he keeps trying to win super coolio

prizes! Brad does not like doing homework because it is boring, but he thinks it is good because he gets a lot of help and can get it

all done before he goes home.

Lili, age 11, does Power Hour to get prizes for homework. She has won Power Hour once, and

won a beanie baby snake! EEK!! Power Hour teaches kids that if you do your homework and get

help you can get good grades and sometimes earn cool prizes like backpacks, shirts and stuffed

animals.

Christine Moulton has been working at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem since December 2008. She helps kids with

homework by sitting with them and working through each problem. She likes helping kids and remembers a lot from when

she was in school, although sometimes it can be a challenge. For her, the most difcult subjects are science and math. She

loves working here, and misses it when she isnt at the Club. She proudly tells us that almost 100 kids participate in the Power

Hour homework program. Although she didnt go to a Boys & Girls Club growing up, her dad did but then it was called The

Boys Club! Christine is from Northboro, MA and is now in her third year at Salem State College. She majors in Social Work.

Before the Boys & Girls Club, Christine worked as a lifeguard. Christine has a dog Bailey, a brother and a sister. She loves to

travel and some of her favorite trips have been Ireland, Aruba and Hawaii. We are happy to have such a fun and dedicated staff

at the Club.

Power Hour Helps Make Homework Fun!By Ally & Bridget

Brad has faith he will win Power

Hour someday!

New Club member

Chrishae puts the naltouch on her homework.

The Boys & Girls Club believes in providing a positive and safe environmentfor every child regardless of race, language, and income. We have kids from

all around the world, with a large number of emigrants from the Dominican

Republic. Although some staff have trouble understanding and communicating

with these kids, they learn more and more everyday.

When a new Spanish-speaking child comes to the Club, the rst instinct is to

introduce yourself and ask about them, which is difcult if you dont know

Spanish. Matt Carr, the Athletic Director, says his only concern is how fast they

speak. His favorite Spanish phrase is como estaba la escuela hoy? (How was

school today?) because it helps him learn a few new words and about their day

as well. Matt understands some Spanish but nds it extremely hard to explainthe rules of a game sometimes. That is where Ryan or Yibelis come to the rescue,

both native speaking junior staff members. When theres a problem around the

Club, or a parent needs questions answered, they take over. Ryan was born here

and learned Spanish from his parents, and likes being able to help. Having these

kids around has helped the staff learn not only the language but their culture.

Yan Carlos is 14 years old and emigrated 2 months ago from Santiago in the

Dominican Republic. His rst steps in the US were mixed, sad but happy. His

father brought him and his siblings here for a better future. Yan Carlos is in the

8th grade and claims his rst day wasnt scary at all because he was condent,

and met new friends right away. He prefers tropical weather over the weather

here. When asked if he had the chance to return to his home country, would he

take the chance? He replied Yes because he misses his friends, family and the

atmosphere. He nished by saying what he hoped to accomplish now that he

was here; Espero ayudar a mi familia economicamente en lo que yo pueda. (I

hope to be able and help my family economically in the future.)

Maria is 15 years old, and emigrated 4 months ago. She was brought here by

her dad who has lived here his whole life. Her mother stayed behind in DR but

she speaks to her everyday. Marie is proud to be here, because she was one of

the chosen few to have the privilege of coming to the US. She is excited about

her rst snowy Christmas, and dreams of becoming a Pediatrician. Marias

nal words were: El bien estar mio, es el de mi familia. (My success is my

familys well being.)

Dahiany is 13 years old and arrived in the US 3 months ago with her mom and

nds it hard to engage in new routines and atmospheres. Shes not a big fan of

the cold weather; and not looking forward to snow. In the future she plans to

explore the world. Dahianys last choices of words were: Vive la Vida Paso a

Paso! (Live life step by step!)

Chaterine is 13 years old, but has been here since she was 9. The day she arrived

she walked downtown with her cousins and got familiar with the place. Her

cousins helped by teaching her a few English words a day. Seven weeks later

she felt as if she were home again. When asked to describe her rst few days

here, she remembered being shy. The only word she knew was hi, and she

was teased by boys at her school. Her rst day of school was nerve wracking.

She spoke fondly about her native home, saying she misses her friends, family,

environment, the pools and most of all the beaches. When asked if she would

return if she could, she didnt hesitate to answer Yes! Because I have a lot

more fun. Chaterine understands it might take a while, so she is willing tomake something out of her life while being here. Here I wish to accomplish my

dreams of becoming a model and learning more English.

Cristin, is 8 years old and the sister of Yan Carlos. When introduced to her

family in Salem, she was in shock at how many relatives she didnt know she

had. She emigrated here to be with her dad. Her rst few days were strange.

She felt out of place as she was

spoken to in English and had no

method of responding. She was

made fun of by the girls at school,

but she never let that faze her. In

the future she plans to take ballet

classes. When asked of how she

felt today, she responded happy

she loves the new environment.

She claimed she denitely

prefers the cold weather over the

heat, because its a change. She

believes the most important words

she has learned have been I am

sorry because it can help her in

any given situation. Cristin has a

good head on her shoulders, and

said: Seguir para alante, y nunca

dejes que las palabras te afecten.

(Sticks and stones may break my

bones but words will never hurt

me.).

Dominican Republic Club Members Try to Make Themselves at Home at the ClubBy Chaterine & Yibelis

Club Member Chaterine: Llegando a este

pais, yo aprendimuchas cosas que me ayudan

conocer a mas sente. (Coming here has

taught me how to interact with people from

other environments.)


8/8

8

13 Hawthorne Blvd.

Salem, MA 01970

Whats The Word is made possible thanks

to the generous support of :

CLUB Q & A by By Saira & Yibelis

We asked Club members: Who is your hero and why?

NON-PROFIT ORG.

US POSTAGE

PAID

SALEM, MA

PERMIT NO. 70

Hailey, age 5:

Princess Presto,

because she has amagic wand and

she is my favorite

superhero with

cool shoes and a

pretty dress.

Adrian, age 8: Spiderman,

because he has really cool

superpowers.

Jesse, age 17: Superman, because

he is strong, fast, and a good leader.

Kama, age 8 : Brianna,because she is my best friend

and we always have fun.

Jan Carlos, age 13: Kobe Bryant,

because he is the man.

Jayla, age 5: My mom,

because she does my hair.

Jay, age 12: Manny (Summer

Camp JR Staff & Youth of the

Year 2009), because he teaches

me right from wrong.

Jane, age 9: My dad, because

he achieved his dream andbecame a graphic designer,

my inspiration.

Hector, age 12: Michael

Jordan, because he is good at

basketball.Caroline, age 8: My

brother, because he

always looks out for

me.

Eric, age 11: My dad, he raised

me and brought me up into thisworld

Kasey, age 8:Cameron,

my brother, because

even when I annoy him

sometimes I know he still

loves me.

Kolten, age 8: My cat,

because she had a kitten.

Lisabel, age

9: My mom,

because she

can tolerate

so much, like

4 children

including me.

Maryvette, age 6: My mom, because

she protects me.

Manny, age 17: Andre (Teen

Director), because he inspires

me and makes me believe in

myself.

Sindy, age 9: My mom,

because she is really smart and

helps me with everything.

Omar, age 7: My

dad, because he helps

me reach things.

William, age 6:

Pokemon,

because they

have a lot of

strategy and I wish

they had

real live Pokemon.

Yaffel, age 12: My mom

and dad, because they love

me and get me things I need.

Whats the Wordis a publication of theBoys & Girls Club of Greater Salem

made possible by a generous grant from Comcast. Stories & photos b y Whats the

Word Staff, Design & Layout: Beth OGrady,Printing: Gannett Offset,

Executive Director: Joanne Scott,Program Director: Jodi Sperling.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem, 13 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem, MA 01970

978-744-0915, www.bgcgs.org

whats the word feb 2010

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