JUNE

SPARK: Supporting Positive Attitudes and Resilience for Kids

Building Your Future: Jobs, Volunteering, and Beyond

Grades 9-12, June 9-13

High Schoolers Explore Their Future at SPARK!

This week, our 9th–12th-grade students gathered to explore the many opportunities that can shape their futures beyond high school and empower them to give back to their communities.

From learning job and volunteer basics to engaging in a powerful presentation on higher education by a Fox Valley Technical College representative, our students left feeling inspired and ready to take the next step. Many eagerly filled out volunteer and job applications, and several even signed up to volunteer with our MCO programs!

We ended the week with a Career Closet event, where students could choose professional clothing to begin building their own workplace wardrobe. Watching students walk away with confidence and a sense of possibility was a beautiful reminder of why we do this work.

Advancing Career Readiness and Community Engagement in Student Development

Cultivate Career and College Readiness: Expose students to various professions, industries, and educational institutions within our city and state. By connecting with professionals, visiting workplaces, and engaging in career exploration activities, students will gain insights into potential career paths and develop the necessary skills for future success.

Promote Community Engagement: Encourage active community participation and volunteerism among students. By collaborating with local organizations, charities, and community projects, students will develop a sense of empathy, social responsibility, and the ability to make a positive impact in their community.

Communicates effectively with others
Collaborates productively with others
Uses critical thinking/problem solving skills
Demonstrates effective team-building skills
Demonstrates cultural competence
Actively seeks out and participates in opportunities to learn or be trained

Food, Farming, and Community

Grades 2-3, June 18-20

Growing Connections Through Agriculture

This week, our 2nd and 3rd grade students explored the vital role agriculture plays in our lives and how it connects communities across cultures.

Through stories, hands-on activities, and a memorable field trip to Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center (click the link to see our full trip), students discovered how food, farming, and cultural traditions are beautifully intertwined. They learned how agriculture is not only the backbone of Wisconsin but also a global thread that links us all.

Together, we celebrated cultural diversity, shared experiences, and the many ways agriculture shapes our community — from the food on our tables to the values we pass on.

*Promote Cultural Appreciation: Encourage students to embrace the rich cultural diversity within our city and state. Through interactions with different communities, traditions, and heritage sites, they will gain a deeper appreciation for the multicultural fabric that shapes our society.

Mama Panya's Pancakes

As part of Week 2, students read Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary and Rich Chamberlin—a heartwarming story that introduces Kenyan culture, celebrates generosity, and shows how food can bring people together. The story sparked thoughtful discussions and laid the foundation for the week’s hands-on activities and our field trip to Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center. Through storytelling, students began to understand that food is more than nourishment — it is a way to share, connect, and build community across cultures.

Food Relays

Our 2nd and 3rd graders also teamed up for a lively food relay activity. With laughter and teamwork on full display, students celebrated the idea that everyone brings something unique to the table. The relay was not only fun but a meaningful reminder of the power of collaboration and community.

Food Quilts

Students also created food posters featuring their favorite dishes from home. When placed together, the posters formed a vibrant "food quilt" — a celebration of our diverse cultures and a beautiful way to share a piece of each student’s story.

Fostering Skills for Success and Environmental Stewardship

Nurture Environmental Consciousness: Instill a sense of environmental stewardship by immersing students in our city and state's natural beauty and ecological wonders. Through field trips to parks, conservation areas, and environmental initiatives, students will develop an understanding of the importance of sustainability and preservation.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Applies problem-solving skills in a changing environment
Demonstrates ability to make positive health decisions

Initiative and Self-Direction

Works towards goals with pride

Social and Cross-Cultural Skills

Interacts effectively with others
Uses attentive listening skills to build and maintain healthy relationships
Demonstrates the ability to influence and support others

Productivity and Accountability

Accountable for group or individual tasks in a timely manner

Leadership and Responsibility

Encourages others to contribute positively to school and community

Protectors of Water and Life

Grades 2-3, June 23-27

Students enjoyed reading We Are the Water Protectors a story that highlights the importance of caring for water and the environment. After connecting with the book’s message, they created their own mini aquarium jars, using their creativity to design colorful underwater scenes. To continue the theme, students also played fun water and marine life games, learning more about the ocean while working together and having fun. The activities gave them the chance to relate to the story, express themselves, and build a deeper appreciation for protecting nature.

Inventing with Izzy Gizmo

Students also read Izzy Gizmo, a story that celebrates creativity, perseverance, and problem-solving. Inspired by Izzy’s inventive spirit, they related the story to their own ideas and imaginations, then brought those ideas to life by designing and building their own unique robot creations. Using different materials, students explored how to combine pieces together in fun and inventive ways, showcasing their problem-solving skills and creativity. This activity encouraged them to think like inventors while expressing themselves through hands-on building and design.

*Cultivate Career and College Readiness: Expose students to various professions, industries, and educational institutions within our city and state. By connecting with professionals, visiting workplaces, and engaging in career exploration activities, students will gain insights into potential career paths and develop the necessary skills for future success.