Carol Davis President/CEO

New Expansion Opportunities

Give Every Child A Chance Board of Directors

News and Views from the Mentor-Tutor World

Winter 2013

Achievements & EDVENTURES

Chairperson Charlie Goeken

Police Captain, City of Manteca

Chair Elect Kendall Darr

Deputy City Attorney/Family Law

Vice Chair Christos Arvanitis

Hospital Compliance Officer, Doctor’s Hospital

Chief Financial Officer

Mary Lou Kahl Retired Principal RUSD

Secretary

Dave Bricker Retired Police Chief

Give Every Child A Chance Executive Board

David Breitenbucher — Fire Captain, City of Manteca

Wendy Burth EVP-Retail Banking Group

Dwayne Dahlberg Management, Target

Amanda Dhaliwal– Assistant VP, BBVA Compass Bank

Kendra Helsley—Principal, Dent Elementary, Escalon

Jay Holmes — Past School Board Member, MUSD

Louise Johnson — Superintendent, RUSD

Evelyn Moore — Board Member, MUSD

Judy Wentworth — Retired, School Administrator

Dennis Williams General Manager, Casino Real

Happy New Year! Give Every Child A Chance (GECAC) once again has much to be proud of. We are half way through our fiscal year, and have already exceeded the anticipated number of students served this year. GECAC continues to grow, providing more and more students with free mentor tutoring as well as with a safe haven to go after school ends. Currently we are honored to have 51 GECAC sites that provide one-on-one mentor/tutoring to students academically at risk. In addition to that, we have thirteen sites that provide not only the one-on-one mentor/tutoring, but also have after school elementary programs; entitled After School Advantage Programs (ASAP), where the children attend five days a week for three hours and rotate through three educational components: homework, enrichment, and physical education. The California Department of Education released 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program funding opportunities to open after school programs at the elementary and middle school level. We are very excited to announce that we are currently applying for this funding to be able to add our ASAP to eight elementary schools in Manteca Unified School District (MUSD) and two additional schools in Ripon Unified School District (RUSD). If we are granted this funding, approximately 113 students at each school site will be eligible to attend the free ASAP offered at their schools. Additionally, the California Department of Education released grant funding opportunities for the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens Programs. GECAC met with the teachers, students, and principals at each of the MUSD high schools. We determined that an afterschool program would be beneficial for the students and something they would attend if they were the ones determining the activities we provided. We gave each of the schools surveys to fill out, asking what activities and clubs would interest them. It was exciting for us to see the similarities and differences of interests at each of the individual schools. The most exciting information we gleaned from the students was each independent schools genuine interest in our providing classes such as College Prep, SAT Prep, and Credit Recovery. These students (well over 1,500 surveys were returned) all care about their futures. Because of the positive reception we received to the possibility of providing the after school programs at each of the six high schools, we have also applied for grant funding for the high school level. We anticipate receiving letters of acceptance (or denial) of our grant requests sometime in early May. In the meantime, even though we do not know for sure whether we will or will not be funded, we will continue to prepare to initiate these new programs starting July 1, 2013. Wish us luck and keep your fingers crossed. What a wonderful opportunity this would be for the community; to provide fun, exciting activities that the students all enjoy and want to be a part of.

SAVE THE DATE:

14th Annual Bowl-A-Thon February 16, 2013

Bob Camden Essays Due

April 8, 2013 Volunteer Appreciation

April 27, 2013

Scholarship Applications Due May 1, 2013

Ropin’ on the River Rodeo

June 1-2, 2013

13th Annual Kings & Queens Casino Night Fundraiser September 28, 2013

Give Every Child A Chance

June 1-2, 2013 Dell ‘Osso Family Farm

501 Manthey Road Lathrop, CA 95330

General Store Vendor Booths

Concession Booths Petting Zoo Pony Rides Rodeo Queen And more...

Saddle Broc Riding Bull Riding

Barback Riding Tie Down Roping Steer Wrestling Barrel Racing And more...

For information on tickets or how to become a vendor, please contact Stephanie Hilson @at (209)823-6222.

Arena Events: Entertainment:

Hosted by Dell ‘Osso family Farm

ASAP Staff Strives To Be The Best!

The Give Every Child A Chance (GECAC) After School Advantage Program (ASAP) is always looking for new ways to improve its program, to ensure that both our students and school sites are academically motivated. In order to maximize the experience for students, and be sure that they get the most from the ASAP, the ASAP staff has adopted each school’s learning philosophy while creating their own team goals. GECAC ASAP Sites all have the same goal: to provide our students with the best after school program! This year, to expand on that, individual sites have adopted their own school’s learning philosophy. For example, Great Valley Elementary School ASAP has a learning philosophy geared toward helping its students meet their school’s STAR test goals. They are trying to improve their Annual Performance Index (API) score by 50 points. To ensure that they are successful in meeting their goal this school year, the ASAP is planning on incorporating more supplementation by working cooperatively with teachers and school support staff. The ASAP also plans on making Language Arts and Math a main focal point to better prepare for this April’s STAR exam. The ASAP goal is to support each student, so that they may reach their goal while challenging them to do their personal best. This year, ASAP program staff also created a team site goal for themselves, as a way of motivating each other and working toward a common goal. We believe that if our staff has a common goal to strive for, they will operate a more successful and engaging program. The Lathrop Elementary ASAP Team Goal is to “Be a Warrior!” This means that Lathrop ASAP staff vows to build a stronger community by ensuring student safety, understanding their student’s aspirations, nurturing respect for one another and their differences, and to give every child a chance to succeed. Since the implementation of the site team goals and learning philosophies, our students have shown a greater interest in school and are excited to continue the quest to ignite their passion. learning. GECAC prides itself in providing a program that

offers excellent curriculum and supplemental instruction. We, as

Benefits to Businesses Involved in Employment Mentoring

It seems obvious that Employment Mentoring programs help students decide on a career path while giving them an inside look at a particular job/career. But what about the business or organization that does the mentoring? How does being involved with the Employment Mentoring Program help them? Here are just a few of those benefits :

Employee Satisfaction - Studies have shown that employees that participate in mentoring programs have a higher job satisfaction. Higher job satisfaction leads to increased productivity and reduced turnover.

Employee Retention - Studies have also shown that employees that are mentored stay on the job longer than those that are left to sink or swim. A high percentage of turnover is directly caused by employees not knowing how to do their job. Give employees the ability to do their job correctly and effectively and they will stay longer and give better results.

Employee Productivity - Employees participating in mentoring programs have an effective mechanism for getting answers quickly, allowing them to move. Employees that have to rediscover or re-invent solutions to common problems not only waste time that could be better spent, but may also introduce new and costly problems into the organization when they solve problems incorrectly. What makes this worse is when the new 'solution' is left in place and then taught to other employees.

Career Growth / Succession Planning - Mentoring programs provide an effective way to provide a career growth path to employees. Employees that are given the opportunity to advance within the company effectively reduces hiring and turnover costs while motivating employees to be the best that they can be.

Reduce Frustration - Employees that don't understand their job and don't know where to go for help often become frustrated. Frustration leads to morale problems beyond the individual employee and lead to a higher turnover rate. Mentoring provides an avenue for employees to find resources and answers to problems and empowers them to resolve their problems on their own. So, why not mentor a student? You will not only be helping the youth

in your community, but you will also be helping yourself and your

business. Today’s Youth are tomorrow’s leaders. For more

information on being a mentor or being a mentee, please

contact Carrie Sanchez at

(209) 823-6532 or Carrie Sanchez

Director of Employment Mentoring

Oscar Munguia ASAP Program Director

Academic Manager: Eloisa Rodriguez, 5th Grade Teacher: Ms. Rodriguez & ASAP Student: Jorge Caballero

Chuck Cruthfield Director of Community Outreach

Give Every Child a Chance (GECAC) is once again offering the $1,000 Service Challenge Scholarship that is available to one graduating senior selected from each high school. Overall $9,000 will be awarded to those selected from Sierra, Calla, Manteca, East Union, Lathrop, Weston Ranch, New Vision, Escalon and Ripon High Schools. The scholarship is open to:

All graduating seniors who have volunteered for Give Every Child A Chance within the past 4 years. Volunteer service hours with Give Every Child a Chance can be in any capacity such as tutoring, program aide, office assistant, working a fundraiser or special event. Number of volunteer hours with GECAC is not a factor to apply.

Must have contributed at least 100 hours of community service within the past four years of high school with various organizations. (Not all hours must be served at Give Every Child A Chance). Letters of proof are required from the organizations) that you completed the community service.

No minimum grade point average is required.

Only one scholarship entry per student.

All entries must be typed. Applications are now available at each high school counseling office, by visiting www.gecac.net or at our Community Outreach Office located at 610 Commerce Court in Manteca. Applications are due by May 1st with no late or incomplete applications being accepted. For more information, please contact Chuck Crutchfield at 823-6532 or ccrutchfield@gecac.net. A list of past recipients is located on the GECAC website Until next time remember: “The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves” – Helen Keller

Going to College? Need Help? Scholarships Available!!

are active together. Whether it’s a game of one-on-one touch football in the park or a family walk, healthy families make physical activity a family affair. On average, healthy families are active in 20-minute periods, two or three times a day. An hour seems like an impossible amount of time to be active together, but walking to school, walking the dog, and taking a 20-minute bike ride together can be a part of every family’s typical day.

Catch some ZZZ! Fit families know when to call it a day. Healthy families tend to have a regular bedtime routine, where the little ones get tucked in at the usual time, and the adults follow soon after. Sleep is often under-rated in terms of health. People who don’t get adequate amounts of sleep are at much higher risk for high blood pressure, obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes. Children who don’t sleep enough tend to suffer socially and academically. One of the best health goals you can set for your family is to aim for an extra hour or two of sleep at night!

For more tips on healthy eating, visit ChooseMyPlate.gov. For more tips on getting plenty of physical activity with your family, visit www.letsmove.gov/ get-active.

In those 30 minutes, a lot of extra calories can be consumed. Healthy families eat a sit-down meal together daily, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. This way, adults can model healthy portions and food choices to children. What healthy families eat is a matter of routine, too. They tend to limit the variety of foods they eat during the work week, and have more variety when they have more time. Snacks are limited to healthy choices, and are easily accessible. Try leaving fruit in a bowl on the counter, or cutting up fresh veggies and putting them in a zip-top bag in the fridge. Unhealthy choices are not readily available. A little bit of will power at the grocery store saves a lot more at the refrigerator or pantry door!

Play together daily! Fit families

Have you ever thought about setting healthy goals for the New Year?

Probably, as nearly one-third of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions concerning their health each year. Unfortunately, surveys show that less than 25% of all resolution-makers tend to be on track six months into the year. Have you ever thought about making healthy goals as a family? Researchers suggest that people who make goals with friends or family stick with them longer, and are more successful at achieving them. Who better to make common goals with than those you live with everyday? What better way to model healthy behavior for your children, than to create a healthy goal and stick with it? What follows is a list of the healthy habits shared by healthy families. Why not try to adopt some of these habits with your family?

Keep an eating routine! America’s fittest families eat regularly. They don’t skip meals, and mealtimes are kept on schedule as much as possible. Having routine meals and snack times ensures that no one goes hungry. Eating on an empty stomach fosters over-eating, as it takes 30 minutes for the hunger hormone, ghrelin, to return to normal levels once it is produced.

Healthy Habits, Healthy Families Jennifer Correia Healthy Lifestyles Coordinator

Students with Special Needs Benefit from the After School Program

An excess of 2.8 million families are raising at least one child with a disability between the ages of 5 and 17. Give Every Child A Chance’s After School Advantage Program (ASAP) takes pride in involving every student, making sure that they get the most out of our program. Give Every Child A Chance (GECAC) strives to meet the needs of absolutely every child in the program, including those with special needs and disabilities. Students involved in after school programs have higher academic success, improved behavior and confidence, as well as more positive associations with school. For students with special needs, the after school program can provide vital specialized attention that they may miss during the normal school day. A vast majority of students with special needs or disabilities (96%) are educated in regular school buildings. Over half of those students are placed in traditional classrooms. GECAC ASAP not only works closely with teachers, but uses supplemental services and assistive technology to accommodate students with special needs while ensuring a socially, mentally and emotionally engaging experience. Students with special needs in inclusive class environments have demonstrated improved academic success in the following areas: higher scores on standardized tests, better grades, improved behavior, improved social skills and competence, increased motivation to learn and mastery of individual goals. After School Programs can provide a meaningful experience, as well as, a feeling of authentic belonging for their students. They provide a haven where children can learn, play, grow and be successful. Give Every Child A Chance is proud to provide a safe and engaging environment for children of all abilities.

322 Sun West Place

Manteca, CA 95337

Your Time- Their Future!

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U. S. POSTAGE

P A I D

PERMIT #610

STOCKTON, CA

Marisol Munguia ASAP Program Director

Give Every Child A Chance

Antone E. Raymus

14th Annual Bowl-A-Thon

February 16, 2013

Bowl-A-Thon

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Where:

Time:

Entry Fee:

Event Includes:

2 games of bowling

t-shirt

Shoe rental

Soft drink

All ages welcome

Prizes for top bowling

team, school, and

individuals.

Bowling sponsorships

available!

Manteca Bowl & Family

Fun Center

1251 E. Yosemite Ave.

Manteca, CA 95336

Teams can bowl at

8:00AM, 10:15AM,

12:30PM, or 2:45PM

5 people per team must

raise a minimum of $50,

in pledges, to enter. (Total

team registration fee

$250)

Contact Stephanie Hilson

@ (209) 823-6222 for

more information