C O L L E G E P A R K S C H O L A R S
Advocates for Children

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First-year Announcements
September 6, 2000

Hello 1st-year Advocates,

My name is Julie Mulhern and I will be working with you on the Service Learning
component of the Advocates program. Just so you know, this is my first year in the
program, as well, so we'll be doing a lot of learning together.

As you know (from Steve's e-mail, which is attached below), you will have to pick a
Service-Learning site (in class on Monday). We just found out that students
interested in The Caring Project are supposed to go to an orientation THIS FRIDAY at
2:00 pm at the tutoring site, which is Hope Lutheran Church and Student Center at
the corner of Guilford Rd. and Knox Rd. on the south end of campus past the south
parking lots. If you think you want to choose this site, I would strongly recommend
that you go to the orientation this Friday and to be sure that you will have
preference for this limited option. Call 301-405-8448 if you need more details.

> The Caring Project (LIMITED NUMBER)
> When: Friday afternoons from 2:30-5:00 (was last semester)
> Who: At-risk kids from the Langley Park area
> Description: Tutoring and fun activities designed to increase children's
> self-esteem and encourage them to continue their education. There are many
> opportunities for bilingual Spanish-English volunteers to use their
> language skills.

I look forward to meeting you on Monday.

~Julie

Steve wrote:
>
> Dear 1st-year Advocate,
>
> Welcome to campus! I hope you are enjoying your first week in college.
>
> Because we don't have class on Monday, there is one announcement that
> can't wait until Sept. 11, our first day of class (3:00 pm, CCC 1205), so
> please read the following now (and ask your new Advocates friends if they
> got this message!):
>
> After experimenting with a variety of ways of running the Advocates for
> Children colloquium, we have found that the best way to enable you to have
> a direct experience with children is through a placement in a
> service-learning setting outside the classroom. We have five sites at
> present (there may be additional ones added, but please don't plan on
> that). Three of these involve tutoring school-aged children, but are
> limited in the number of our students they can take; those three
> placements combined cannot accommodate half the freshmen. A fourth is St.
> Ann's Infant and Maternity Home, which, though a rewarding experience, has
> several drawbacks that make it appropriate for only the most motivated
> students. It is at the Washington, D.C. border, but no bus goes within 1/3
> mile of it, and it is not recommended to walk that 1/3 mile after dark
> (this means weekend bus, driving, or biking); you also need a police/FBI
> background check for this placement which costs $36.
>
> The fifth alternative, the Children's Developmental Clinic (CDC) is held
> on campus, right next door, in HHP (North Gym), but you have to be willing
> to get up early on Saturdays (starts at 8:30 am). They will train you, and
> it involves working with children who need help in motor skills and some
> with language/reading. A lot of it will just seem like playing with the
> kids, but it helps meet their specific needs. THIS PROGRAM BEGINS
> SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, a day just for training (kids arrive Sept.
> 23--don't worry, we've already talked with them about your not being there
> that day because of the campout, and they will work around it).
>
> Please read the descriptions below, and if you think there's a chance you
> might pick the CDC (taking into account that you might not get your first
> choice of tutoring), please GO TO THE FIRST SESSION in the downstairs gym
> in HHP, just north of Cumberland Hall at 8:30 am, Sept. 9.
>
> 1. Lakeland Stars Tutoring/Mentoring Program (LIMITED NUMBER)
> When: weekday afternoons, probably Tuesday or Thursday (was last semester)
> Who: Paint Branch Elementary School's Lakeland Stars
> Description: Second through sixth graders, mentoring/tutoring program,
> including working on homework.
>
> 2. The Caring Project (LIMITED NUMBER)
> When: Friday afternoons from 2:30-5:00 (was last semester)
> Who: At-risk kids from the Langley Park area
> Description: Tutoring and fun activities designed to increase children's
> self-esteem and encourage them to continue their education. There are many
> opportunities for bilingual Spanish-English volunteers to use their
> language skills.
>
> 3. Greenbelt Cares (LIMITED NUMBER)
> When: Tutors can choose the times and dates once they are assigned to a
> student-mentor team.
> Who: Neighborhood children
> Description: Free tutoring program for students from Prince George's
> county. The coordinator, Judye Hering, provides excellent training and
> support for the volunteers. Students are assigned to tutors (one-on-one)
> by geographic location and subject preference (math/science especially
> needed).
>
> 4. St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home
> When: as scheduled with Francina Turner
> Who: St. Ann's Residents (infants, toddlers, children up to age 9)
> Description: St. Ann's is a residential program for a variety of abused
> and other high-risk children (many of whom are wards of the court) &
> pregnant teens. Students may help provide care and attention to infants,
> toddlers, or young school-aged children in classrooms, nurseries, or
> living areas. There is also the possibility to tutor teen parents for
> their GED exams, 5-9 pm in the libraries or group lounges.
>
> 5. The Children's Developmental Clinic
> When: Saturday Mornings from 8:30-12:30. Clinic Starts: Saturday, January
> 29th.
> Who: Area children in need of developmental support
> Description: Clinicians are trained to work with children toward
> developing motor, speech, academic, social or other skills. This is a well
> seasoned, excellent opportunity for students to work one-on-one with
> children ages infant to 12 years old. Clinicians receive pre-clinic
> training. Pairs practice developmental skills including motor, academic,
> and creative skills. The clinic approach to working with children is in
> the area of motor development in a one-to-one individualized "fun with a
> friend" program.
> ...

1125 Cumberland Hall University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742-9331