Blog 9/19 and 9/26

 

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.

First-Year Students:

Director Notes:

Some upcoming events to put on your schedule.  We have Family Weekend coming up from September 30 - October 2nd.  There are lots of activities on campus that weekend which include Volleyball (Friday night), Family Movie Night (Friday Night), Football game Mules vs Northeastern State (Saturday), Volleyball (Saturday night), and we’ll have a couple of THRIVE events.  We have a family Meet N Greet scheduled for Saturday Morning from 9:30-11.  Then we would love to have the families help decorate our float.  We’ll have the THRIVE classroom open from 10-noon with mentors to help you.  

Then we’ll have Homecoming the weekend of October 14-15th.  There is Volleyball on Friday night, a Football game on Saturday and then another Volleyball game on Saturday night.  We will also be in the Homecoming Parade, Saturday morning, so we hope to see everyone there.

Spring Semester notes:

First-Year Students:

Our first-year students will be asked in the next few weeks to give 5 classes that they might like to take in the Spring Semester.  Then staff will look over their choices to help narrow it down to the class that fits in their schedule and gets back with the students on the final class options.

Second-Year Students:

The second-year students will be asked over the next few weeks to give 5 classes that they might like to take in the Spring Semester.  Then staff will look over their choices to help narrow it down to the class that fits in their schedule and gets back with the students on the final class options.  They will also be asked what internships they would like to have in the Spring.  We change their internships each semester so that they will have more experience and gain more skills.  In some instances, if students are in a paid position, we give the students a chance to stay at that internship as long as they can continue to learn new skills to help them in the future.

Spring Roommate Changes…. Maybe maybe not… First- & Second-Year students…

Also, in Late October the first-year students and second-year students are asked about spring roommates.  The students can stay with the same roommate or if they want to switch roommates they can let us know their top 5 roommates and a couple of other questions.  This helps staff look at what roommates want to move and which students don’t.  The staff look over their choices and make the best decision we can.  Any student moves are then done the week after Thanksgiving break.  This helps the students be ready for the Spring semester.  No families are asked to come back to help move.  THRIVE staff helps the students swap rooms and help get with Housing on any paperwork.

Third-Year Students: 

The third-year students will be asked over the next few weeks to give 5 classes that they might like to take in the Spring Semester.  Then staff will look over their choices to help narrow it down to the class that fits in their schedule and gets back with the students on the final class options.  They will also be asked what internships they would like to have in the Spring.  We change their internships each semester so that they will have more experience and gain more skills.  In some instances, if students are in a paid position, we give the students a chance to stay at that internship as long as they can continue to learn new skills to help them in their future.

University Foundations: Debra Southard  

This week's topic is time management. One day's discussion centered around the number 86400. First, we talked about what they would do with all of that money. Then someone googled it and discovered that's how much time each of us has in the day. The conversation went to Are you spending your time wisely? Students were shown this week how to fill out a form for the health center in case of illness. Monday we went to the learning commons to find out how to ask for help on homework. Tuesday students had their first online test.  Every Thursday point sheets are due. About half the students completed the sheets.

Individual Relationships and Health:  Joni Shelton

This past week we started talking about dating. We discussed stages of dating from casual group dates to exclusive dating, low-cost/free date options, healthy dating behaviors, and warning signs of abusive behaviors in dating relationships. This coming week we will discuss the best ways to handle break ups and begin discussing sexuality.

Technology Literacy:  Victoria O’Reilly

This week we worked hard learning to use the design site called Canva. Students designed many different templates ranging from a personalized menu to a newsletter sharing their highlights from the UCM THRIVE Program. Each student also designed an invitation for the family weekend coming up. Please ask them about their designs! We had so many creative and wonderful creations. 

Career Exploration: Gary Manning

This week we discussed the student's talents and how those talents may go along with what the student may be interested in doing for a career.  We also discussed the four-time quadrants and how each person spends time in certain time quadrants.  

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A bit of lunch…

Second-Year Students:

Transition Planning I: Gary Manning

This week we discussed RBAs and PBAs from the 7 habits book.  Within that discussion, we talked about withdrawals and deposits into a relationship.  The withdrawals and deposits can take place in a relationship bank account and in a personal bank account.  At first, the students think we are talking about an actual bank account you have at the bank.  However, as I explain the concepts to them and we discuss these accounts in further detail the students start to realize this has nothing to do with money but on how you treat yourself and other individuals around you.  

Internship I: Gary Manning

In class, we have been discussing when you have a job on how organized you will need to be.  Further, we talk about time management and have a plan for the day, week, and month.  We discuss having a planner on how to use the planner to be organized and to make sure you do not overlap meetings, classes, work, and doing school work. 

Alec at his internship, he looks like he is really concentrating…

Personal Finance I: Lisa Garnier

This week we’ve continued our unit on banking with students working in groups to research different types of savings accounts. They are learning about traditional savings accounts, online savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. We’re talking about interest rates, fees, and accessibility of funds in the different types of accounts. Students have initiated some great discussions on money management this week!

Third-Year Students:

Transition Planning III: Lisa Garnier

Students have been looking at where they are right now in their lives, so they can figure out where they want to go and, in turn, how they plan to get there. To that end, we have begun to develop a workview and a lifeview. I am excited to see what they come up with. This week Mrs. Southard and I visited each 3rd year student’s apartment to see how well they are managing a “real” living space. We were pleased with the overall tidiness and cleanliness. Again, there were some areas with room for improvement, but for the most part, they are taking good care of their homes away from home.

Internship III: Lisa Garnier

Quarterly internship evaluations are in and our 3rd-year students are receiving very good reviews. As always, there are areas that could be improved, but supervisors are, overall, very pleased with their interns. We have some off-campus internships this semester and those are going very well as the students are learning to navigate public transportation to get to and from their employment.

Foods and Nutrition: Debra Southard

This week we made funnel cakes. Monday we watched a video of the process and discussed the steps. Wednesday we met at the BSU and made them. Students did a good job measuring and completing the steps. Friday we spent over at the BSU washing the electric skillets. We discussed how to tell if you can submerge an appliance or not in the water. And what does submerge mean? We also talked about other small appliances. This week I went with Mrs. Garnier to visit each student's apartments. I talked to each student about how their stove top and oven works. Of course, a topic that is repeated often is the procedure for a burn! 

Austin also had fun with Ax Throwing…  Great job!

Plato: Debra Southard

Students are working hard on plato. Most are beginning to get the hang of it. Monday is the day I run the report on the previous week. 

THRIVE Activities:

THRIVE Softball pictures.  Don’t forget there are more pictures on our Facebook page (UCM - THRIVE)...

We also love our cheerleaders…

Mentor Activities: Cooking with Katelyn- Mexican Quesadillas…

It looks like the students had some great times cooking…

There will be more on Facebook, soon.

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

Important upcoming dates: 

Next Mentor Activity:  Siarah has a great event planned for the students…

UCM Athletics:

UCM Soccer and Volleyball are starting soon.

The THRIVE Softball team had their second game Monday night.  It looks like the next two Mondays we will play at 7 pm.  If there is weather in the area I’ll try to update on Facebook for those families that are trying to join us.  If you live far away, please email me and I’ll try to get with you if there are concerns.  The students had their first practice on Sunday.

Some students have signed up for Ping Pong, we’ll try to have pictures up for that in the coming weeks.

There are lots more pictures on our Facebook page.  

There are also three other activities that students said they’d be interested in that are on the back counter.  Badminton, 3-on-3 Basketball, and Pickleball Tournament.  I’ll update you as they get closer to time.

"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."