Blog Week 11/15-Thanksgiving Break is here...

 

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 or UCM activity calendar.

Cold and Flu Season Is Just Around the corner…

We talked to the students last week about the colds and flu season.  We discussed hand-washing and the use of hand sanitizer to help keep healthy.  We will also be discussing the cleanliness of the dorm rooms and keeping their areas clean.  Last year we seemed to have a healthier bunch of students, which I believe is from us continually keeping our offices sanitized and the students doing a good job of keeping their areas clean, also.  The teachers discussed what it looks like to self-quarantine and what it means.  It doesn’t mean that the student has COVID.  We typically will ask students that are feeling sick or have a cough to stay in their dorm room.  They are still responsible for attending class but virtually through Google Meet.  This has helped keep our students from getting sick.  Then we also talk to their roommate and suitemates about cleaning rooms and not using their roommate or suitemates items.  If a student is sick, the dining halls have an online system for them to use to get their meals brought to them.  We also have and will continue to talk to students that aren’t dressing for the weather… 

Possible Roommate Changes: This will happen the week after Thanksgiving break, for those wanting to change roommates.

Hello Families, This past week staff looked at the students' requests for changes.  Some students didn’t want to change, and this is ok.  At the end of the semester, all students on campus have the ability to change roommates.  So we have done the same for the last few years.  If students don’t want to change they don’t have to, they’ll tell us in this form.  If they do, we ask that they let us know their top 5 choices of roommates, then who they don’t want to roommate with.  Then the staff works hard to make all students happy, unfortunately, sometimes this doesn’t work out but we do our best.  We do tell them that many times it’s not the best decision to room with your best friend.  We’ve had students, over the years, try this and end up not being the best of friends.  We encourage you to discuss this.  We will let students know the week prior to Thanksgiving Break who they are rooming with if there is a change.  Then the week they get back from break THRIVE staff and other students will help make the moves so everyone is moved before they leave for Winter Break.

Thanksgiving Break (November 20- 28).  

We hope that you are enjoying your time with family and friends during this time of thanksgiving.  Have safe travels and we’ll see you all next week.

First-Year Students:

FIrst-Year Students Finals Week is November 29-3rd, the first-year students leave a week early during this first semester.  They will need to be out of the dorms by 6 pm on Friday the 3rd of December...  During this week the first-year students will have their finals for this semester and they will be able to leave after their last final.  There will also be a check-off sheet that the students will need to make sure of and do before they leave for Winter Break.  We ask that families discuss when they will be picking up their students so staff will know when students are planning on leaving.

University Foundations: Debra Southard  This week we are finishing up assignments. Mrs. Southard wrote on the board daily what they needed to get done. Each student is working on the Life Story. They can write about whatever they choose about their life. The last few weeks we have been creating short papers (stories) students can use as resources to create this bigger paper. The finished paper will be between 4 to 5 pages. I know they can do it!

Individual & Family Health and Relationships:  Debra Southard & Lisa Garnier 

This week was about communicable vs. non-communicable diseases, whole health management, and the negative consequences of alcohol use. The students were especially involved in the alcohol awareness lecture asking really insightful questions and participating in a great discussion on how it’s okay to not drink at all and that the choice to drink should be done with much forethought and consideration. 

Technology Literacy:  Lisa Garnier

iMovie book trailers are finished! We will be viewing them when we get back from Thanksgiving break. The students have worked very hard and are looking forward to seeing their classmate’s final products.

Some last-minute studying and work being done before they leave for break.

Career Exploration: Michael Brunkhorst

This week the students had a workday to get support on their resumes to help them get finished up and ready for the families to look at and review over Thanksgiving break.  Then others will have time to continue to work on their final paper for this class, My Life Choice.

Second-Year Students:

2nd-Year Students Finals Week:

For second-year students you’ll want to ask them about their finals and when they are done.  THRIVE finals are Tuesday the 7th in the morning.  The students have their elective finals at different times.  Dr. Manning has worked with the students to make sure they know where they are at and suggested using the Office of Accessibility for accommodations.  Some may also have internship working hours during this week, so please get with your student to see when they can leave.  We do suggest if they don’t have an internship after their finals that they leave soon after their final exams.  This creates a quiet place in the dorms for those that still have finals.  

Transition Planning I: Gary Manning

This week the students received a study guide for their final in this class.  We went over the study guide in class.  The students are supposed to study this over the break and until their final on Dec. 7th.  The final will be over the 7 Habits of Highly Effective book that we have been using in class.  

Internship I: Gary Manning

We discussed interview skills in class to get ready for their mock interviews. We talked about what they should wear to their mock interview.  The students need to wear nice clothes (dress pants, dress shirt/polo shirt, nice shoes).  I told the students they do not need to go spend money on their dress clothes.  I am sure they have nice clothes at home that they can wear.  

They are supposed to practice their interviewing skills over the break with their families.  They have the questions for the interview so they can practice their answers.  

Some internship pictures:

PLATO: Debra Southard

Plato is going better this half of the semester. Students will NOT have Plato to work on during Christmas break. If they don't get it all completed the week of November 15 to 21 I will be emailing the student along with the parent while home on Thanksgiving break to get it caught up. It is my hope everyone will get it done. 

THRIVE Activities:

A picture of the orchestra that Austin is in this semester.

Mentor Activities: This past weekend Katie had the students making beef enchiladas and rice.

This will be the last cooking activity of the semester.  Great Job Everyone!!  For more pictures please join our THRIVE Facebook and/or Instagram pages.

Important upcoming dates: 

Next Mentor Activity:  

We won’t have any more mentor activities this semester. 

Winter Break: 

First-Year students-Leave Friday, December 3rd by 6 pm.

Second-Year students-Leave Friday, December 10th by 6 pm.

For winter break the students will have to check out and will have a bit more to do before they leave the THRIVE staff and mentors will help them get ready.  Please make sure your student checks the sheet off on their door before leaving.  If not, and things aren’t completed there can be a $50 fee charged to both roommate's accounts.

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."