This semester Graffiti 2 has started our first ever Junior Intern program.  Fourth and Fifth grade students were given the opportunity to join the program.  Junior interns are expected to attend Monday training meetings in order to serve that week.  Monday meetings consist of team building activities, sharing high's and low's, reviewing G2 expectations, and learning strategies for working with students.  The second meeting was so much fun, these kids had so much to say! They were excited about helping the students they were partnered up with and also had a healthy venting session about the hardships of getting students to do their work, follow instructions, and be respectful.  It was a great moment! Several of these same students gave me more than a few frustrating moments as recently as last month.  This role has given them a new perspective!

My favorite story so far is about Adama.  After a difficult day with one of her students, she gave me a note and asked me to give it to him the next day.  As I read the note, I realized that I leave these types of notes for my kids all the time.  I love to use little notes to affirm them when they do well and to encourage them when they've had a hard day.  It made my heart sing to think that she may have appreciated receiving a note and decided to use the same method with her student.  

My Children's Church teacher, Maria Vizcaino, has made such an impact on my life.  Her love for the Lord and children's ministry is infectious.  She had a practice of writing scripture and encouraging words on post-it notes and surprising me with them on Sunday's.  It meant the world to me.  When I started teaching, it was a natural practice for me.  However, it was not until I saw Adama's note that I stopped to think about where I got it from.  Thank You, Ms. Mary! 

We are so close! Friends and family of Graffiti 2 Community Ministries have helped us to raise 71% of our goal! We can see the finish line! On any given day G2CM holds 30-40 students, 4-8 staff and volunteers, a handful of community visitors, and often a police officer or two coming in to use our bathroom facilities.  By bathroom facilities, I mean a closet sized space that holds 1 toilet and a sink.  Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful to have a working bathroom in our new, amazing home.  However, I am so excited about being so close to having 3 beautiful bathrooms! There is nothing like seeing a first grader doing the potty dance to make you wish for a second bathroom! In addition, G2 Works will be getting a new sewing room that will allow artisans to come in and work in a brand new, well lit sewing room! Please take a moment to consider helping us reach our goal! Every little bit helps.  

Meet my friend, Anthony.  This is Anthony's second year with me as a part of Graffiti 2 Kids.  He has grown so much in the past year.  As a fifth grader, he has shown a new level of maturity when it comes to leadership.  He is currently working with two second graders as a part of our Junior Intern program.  He takes his job very seriously! He is patient and encouraging.  It has been fun to see him think through the best way to help his students.  Today however, I saw a different light come on in his eyes.  He asked permission to work on his own homework as his students were both on track and did not require help at them moment.  I was happy to see him take initiative in using his time wisely.  He began to research and write an essay on Martin Luther King Jr.  He wrote four sentences then asked me to help him read over it and make corrections.  He said he needed at least four more sentences, but would like to aim for six more sentences.  We sat together and read through his article and discussed interesting facts he might be able to include in his essay.  He continued to work and we did a final edit.  The look of pride on his face made my heart soar.  He could not wait to show others his work.  I pulled up several scholarship essay contests and explained that he was an excellent writer and that if he continued to develop his writing skills, when the time came, his writing would be able to compete with the best of them!  He asked if we could have a writing contest for G2 kids.  Next week, we will have our very first G2 Kids essay writing contest!