August 27th Weekly Post


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. To keep updated on what’s coming up, please refer to 
the THRIVE activity calendar (Coming Soon), UCM activity calendar, and UCM Athletics Calendars.

First-Year Students:

University Foundations:

This week we have continued our discussion on the differences between College and High School.  We
discussed what kind of things motivate each of us to do well. We watched a motivational speaker Alvin 
Law talk about his disabilities and how he has overcome them. Students wrote a paragraph about his 
speech. Student’s had as homework this week to write a paragraph about their goals for the future. We 
are working on daily point sheets and practicing making weekly deposits for when students have bank 
accounts. Students are learning to maneuver around Blackboard for what they need.

Daily & Independent Living Skills:

Students researched a career of future interest. They researched the criteria for the job, salary, expec-
tations of the job, job availability, and one interesting fact about the job. They were to compile the 
information in a paragraph and present to the class.

Technology Literacy:

This week in Tech Literacy we worked on uploading pictures to Gmail and Blackboard. We also put the 
Campus Eye app on phones as well as an app called Campus Map to help students better navigate our
campus.

Relationships 101:

Students turned in homework that was assigned last week. This weeks lesson was about listening. 
What are people really saying to you? Nonverbal communication was discussed. We played a game to 
illustrate how difficult it is to listen at times.

Second-Year Students:

Transition Planning I:

The students and I have been talking about different items that may cause us stress throughout the day
 and in our lives.  Each student wrote about 7 items that cause them stress and how they may cope 
with that stress. For example Stress items - Classes, school work, and internships; Coping Skills - 
Time management, being proactive, not procrastinating and using time wisely.

Internship I:

We have been working on using professional communication skills and how that may be different when 
someone may be talking to a friend.  Further, using those professional communication skills in emails, 
social media, and texting.

PLATO:

All students are working hard on PLATO- Each student is working at their own level on questions related
Math, reading and writing. It is not important how many questions each student answers as much as it 
is how much they study and try their best. Students can use calculators, take notes and even google 
answers. Plato is about raising their individual grade level.  

Counseling:

I held counseling sessions with the first and second-year students.  There was more discovery for both 
the student and I. Progress is being made on goals and successes. Students are expanding their 
horizon and learning to enjoy the college life.

THRIVE Activities:


This weekend the students were invited to our first cooking session, by one of our mentors, for the 
semester.  We had most of our students in the cooking session. We look to have a cooking session 
every 3-4 weeks. The other sessions will be related to different activities on campus.

Important upcoming dates:

This year THRIVE is a sponsor for the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City’s Step up 
for Down Syndrome.  We will be putting together a team of 10 students that will go to Arrowhead 
Stadium to walk for this event, held on October 20th from 10 am to 2 pm.  We are excited that we are 
able to do this and see our students show support. A Google Form was sent out last Friday morning for
students that want to sign up for the team.  We have 10 students that have filled out the form and are 
now checking their schedules to make sure they don’t have something else on their calendar. I’ll be 
emailing parents this week to let them be aware of this event.  We’ll be providing transportation to the 
event.

Special Olympics Bowling-Special Olympics is sponsoring a Bowling event on UCM”s campus on September 12th.  Last Friday I 
announced this and the students have been asked to email me if they are interested in attending this 
event.  We have already had eight students show interest. Thank you to one of our parents for relaying 
this information to us. We are glad we are able to add this activity to their list.

Slow-Pitch Softball is due in early September -if your student hasn't talked to you, please suggest they 
get with staff or mentors.  We are starting to get student’s responses and have about 12 students that 
have said they want to be on the team. We will still be looking for a few more to make a team.

Labor Day-September 3rd-No Classes.  This means no Sunday (September 2nd) Study Hall-There will 
be study hall on Monday night.

Family Weekend-September 14-16- Here is a link with more information.

Athletics to watch: Women's Volleyball, Cross-Country, and Mules Football start up later this month.

First Mules Football home game is Thursday, September 6th--GET THE RED OUT!

Homecoming Weekend is October 27th.  Put it on your calendars.


"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 merely 
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."

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