Blog 2/23

 

THRIVE Director Notes

Posts on this Blog will be directed to help families see what is going on in our THRIVE Program.  Items discussed on the Blog have already occurred.  Please refer to the THRIVE activity calendar or UCM activity calendar to keep updated on what's coming up.  Also, if you want to learn more about assistance with your son/daughter learning how to drive please contact Mr. Brunkhorst.  

Director Notes: 

Update on Graduation for this year’s 2nd-year graduation/celebration:

In the coming months, I’ll have emails to the families of 2nd-year students, but I did want to share the times of graduation and our THRIVE Celebration.  The students will graduate in the College of Education’s program in the afternoon at 2 pm, on May 9th.  Since the students will walk in the afternoon, we’ll have their celebration in the morning.  The THRIVE celebration is where we’ll give the students a Certificate of Success.  This will be from 10 -11. This should give families time to grab a bite, then be at the Multi-Purpose building around 1:30 pm.  Again, I’ll have more information to share with the families in the coming month.

Update on Scholarships:

We have worked with the students’ MyCentral accounts to ensure they have “Opted In” to scholarships.  This should automatically enroll them in our THRIVE scholarships.  However, to increase their chances of receiving one of our needs-based scholarships, please make sure you work with them to complete the new essay component that explains how they are financing their education.  We will use this information to determine who needs the scholarship and how much.  We have experienced a drop in one of our main donors, so in the following years, we may not have as much money to send our students.  You will also notice that some scholarships are for 1st-2nd year students, and others are for 3rd/4th year students.  We did this to even out the number of available scholarships across groups.  Please make sure your son/daughter works with you on the essay component to ensure all information is there.  Plus, there is a word count on the essay, so please make sure it has enough information…  Thank you and good luck to everyone.

Job Shadow coming up for First-Year students:

First-year students will also be getting ready for their first job shadows this week.  This will give them some ideas about what the job is like and help them find out about internship possibilities.  

Rec Center Activities:

We have the sign-up sheets for the Rec Center activities in the THRIVE Lobby…  Basketball started last week, we’ll hope to have pictures…We have a few new ones that are up, Softball, Badminton Doubles, Ping Pong, 6 on 6 Volleyball, and Disc Golf.  See if your son/daughter has signed up…

Last Basketball Game for Rec…  Great job…

First-Year Students:

Foods & Nutrition I: Joni Shelton  

It was Monkey Bread this week… Looks yummy.  Students reviewed measuring techniques and learned about the functions of the ingredients in baked goods. Some got the surprise of the pop in opening a can of biscuits. They are doing great

Workplace & Community Skills: Gary Manning & Mrs. Shetton

This week, we covered a couple of different topics.  The students needed to update their resumes and submit them.  We are hoping all students will apply for summer jobs.  

Another item we started to discuss is monthly budgets.  We discussed wants and needs.  The students had to find out how much their families spend on them each month.  (For example - cell phone, food, monthly subscriptions, prescriptions, transportation, etc.)

Daily & Independent Living Skills (DILS):  Mrs. Swainston

Real-world budgeting activities this week! Has been an eye-opener. Students are learning how much things really cost and what many jobs pay. They are realizing, "adulting is hard!" 

Second-Year Students:

Transition Planning II: Gary Manning

We continue to discuss working with Vocational Rehab and other agencies to help find jobs/summer jobs.  Further, we continue to discuss the next process/challenge in their lives with graduation coming up in May.  We continue to discuss budgets.  Comparing their revenue to their expenses.   

Internship I: Gary Manning

The students started doing their workshops with the UCM Career Service Office. The students have to update their resumes.  The students also have to write about their internships.  They have to write about what they have learned and what is challenging during their internship.  

Personal Finance I:  Lisa Garnier

We spent the week learning about checking accounts, check registers, and bank statements. Students worked with Tara Williams’ Special Ed teacher's class, learning how to reconcile a bank statement. They all did a great job!

Third-Year Students:

Transition Planning IV: Lisa Garnier

We have been working on our first independent living project, which was creating a budget based on current living expenses. Students gathered information on specific budget items (groceries, dining out, rent, etc.) and put it on a budget worksheet to see if their income covers their expenses. 

Internship IV: Lisa Garnier

Internships are going very well. Students are preparing for their mid-term internship reports and evaluations.

Fourth-Year Students:

Senior Portfolio II: Lisa Garnier

We are currently revising their work philosophies and preparing to create job-specific cover letters and resumes.

Internship VI: Lisa Garnier

Going very well, Students are preparing for their mid-term internship reports and evaluations.

Plato: 

I guess I needed to knock on wood last week when I shared that students were getting their minutes done. 2nd-year students are doing great with this; however, some 1st-year students need extra time to complete the required 3 hours a week.

THRIVE Activities:

Coed Basketball league starting up.  Close game 55-57…  We’ll get them next time.

Mentor Activities: 

Here are the upcoming activities that the mentors will be doing…  

Movie with Cooper…

Great Job Everyone!!  For more pictures, please join our THRIVE Facebook and/or Instagram pages.

Important upcoming dates:   

Next year’s second round of Interviews are coming up in February- Students will have online or group work for their THRIVE classes so that the team can be involved in the interviews.

THRIVE Scholarships should be up and ready for you to apply for.  Please also don’t forget to update your FAFSA early this year.  There is a new setup for scholarships.  Staff will be helping the students get started, but parents are encouraged to help with the financial need essay.  This will help get scholarships out.

Next Mentor Activity:  

Here are the upcoming activities that the mentors will be doing…  Valentine craft day at 1, on Saturday the 28th.

UCM Athletics:

Basketball is in full swing with both Mules and Jennies playing games on Thursdays and Saturdays.  Both are #2 in the MIAA and will be in the tournament this year.

"This blog is a programming blog written by the director and staff of the THRIVE Program on the University of Central Missouri campus.  This blog doesn't accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. 

The views and ideas expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners.  This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.  We are simply telling you what we plan to do in our program and using the blog to help spread what we are doing on a weekly basis."