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Reflections from Rama Road Elementary
November 2011 - Reflections from Rama Road School: early Thanksgiving
The students in Bookendipity Book Club at Rama Road Elementary were well into the cutting and hole-punching of handmade Gratitude Journals when it dawned on the leader that maybe it was presumptuous or even callous to do this craft in a setting where more than 80% of the families live in poverty. But the children must not have gotten the memo saying that life was barren and bust, because they bubbled on about their blessings: an amazing-sounding grandma named Donna and a cool cousin who hands down her clothes, the teacher who 'reads all the time.' God and Jesus were on their lists, as were mamas, daddies, brothers, sisters and all manner of pets. As they packed up to leave, one little boy blurted out that he was thankful for his new foster family. His buddy said "Hey, I didn't know you were in foster care!" I don't like to talk about it, came the quiet answer.
October 2011 - Reflections from Rama Road: it all adds up
Poverty is when the math doesn't work. It's a spirit-breaking predicament shared by the majority of families at Rama Road Elementary. At its core, the Micah Initiative is a spirit-restoring endeavor, full of ways big and small to make a lasting, positive difference in the lives of others. Like Family Math Night last week, where nine Christ Church volunteers served a delicious pasta and salad dinner prior to classroom activities. If two are better than one, like Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, just think of what all of us together can do. That's Higher math.
September 2011- Reflections from Rama Road: pencils, papers & prayers
It took six carloads to get all of the back-to-school supplies donated by Christ Church over to Rama Road Elementary. It would have taken six semi-tractor trailers to carry all of the love and prayers behind the effort. Over 80% of the children at Rama Road live in poverty, a statistic inching ever higher. We have a priceless opportunity through The Micah Initiative to lighten their load and help them experience abundance in the form of a backpack bulging with shiny supplies. There are countless other ways to give, with tutors and lunch buddies especially needed. No matter how old you are, there's just nothing like the fresh page of a new school year. What will you write on yours?
Summer 2011 - Reflections from Rama Road Elementary: the End of the Beginning
The halls of Rama Road Elementary are quiet now that summer has begun. It's hard to quantify all that this place and its people have meant to Christ Church during the first full year of the Micah Initiative. In giving (friendship, time, talent, sweat equity, books, backpacks, teacher snacks), volunteers have received grace and blessings beyond measure. Relationships and endeavors have been forged that will continue next year, from tutoring and Lunch Buddies to the great Thanksgiving feast, Girls Scouts and Bookendipity Book Club. As we continue to blanket 'our school' with TLC come fall, maybe you have an idea, a dream, a special talent or a few extra hours to share. Many hearts make joyful work.
April 2011 - What do you want to be when you grow up?
For children living in poverty, the immediate answer is likely "not hungry, not scared, not sad." But on Career Day at Rama Road Elementary, 42 different possibilities for the future emerged. Interacting with all 600 students, from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, dozens of people let their own work pile up for several hours to do God's work instead. On hand were a meteorologist, massage therapist, hat designer, police captain, architect, judge, school superintendent. Also, our very own church rector, a garden designer, social worker, illustrator and many, many others. While they make a living in very different ways, each showed up in the role of role model. Career Day was a labor of love, as is every volunteer activity in the Micah Initiative. It was a happy and hope-filled event.
February/March 2011 - A is for abundance
Not many soft edges are built into a teacher’s routine. They’re up before dawn and often grading papers until bedtime, bookending a rigorous day of work and home responsibilities. Sometimes it’s that 10 am Diet Coke that literally keeps things humming. Enter three Christ Church grandmothers with a knack for nurturing and the gift of hospitality. They surveyed the list of Micah volunteer opportunities and signed up to stock the teacher’s lounge. Together they trekked to Costco and piled a huge cart with drinks and snacks - having their usual fun while at it - then delivered everything to Rama Road Elementary. As so often turns out, the real treat was not the soft drinks, Chex Mix, granola bars, crackers, nuts, fruit and bottled water. It was the ladies themselves. Showing up. Showing love. Their actions saying simply ‘you matter’ and ‘we care.’ The teachers are still talking about it.
Maybe a one-time volunteer experience at Rama Road Elementary fits your schedule best, too, from serving refreshments on Curriculum Night or discussing your occupation on Career Day to helping with the upcoming Yard Sale or donating a wish list item. Please consider making this a part of your Lenten observation.
December 2010
There isn't a badge for huddling in a freezing house where the gas has been turned off for nonpayment, for seeing your father cry because he's lost his job, or going to bed hungry one more night without complaining. But there is this great new Girl Scout troop to join at Rama Road Elementary, with weekly meetings, snacks, crafts and badges for things like 'Being My Best,' 'Pet Care' and 'Weather Watching.' Forty-one girls signed up and an anonymous Christ Church donor bought them all a vest. Someone else volunteered to sew on badges, which could be quite time-consuming because these scouts are all about being the very best they can be. Julie Stedman and Anita Griffin started the troop and manage with the help of other Micah volunteers. "These girls are thrilled with the simplest things," she says "One day we brought cut-up oranges for a snack and they devoured them, overjoyed. They don't get much fresh fruit." After the first meeting, one little girl put her head down and began to cry. "I don't want it to end," she sobbed. Neither do we.
The Things They Carry - November 2010
The children who attend Rama Road Elementary carry many things to school each day. For nearly all, this includes the worry and stigma of poverty. This fall, thanks to a child of Christ Church and the generosity of others that she harnessed, they will also carry new backpacks stuffed with supplies and love. Jane Harrell, age 8, took her third annual school supply drive parish-wide this summer and what she collected could fill an aisle of a Target store. It stocks the shelves and classrooms of Rama Road Elementary now, an avalanche of abundance in a place that often goes without. Like their Rama Road peers, the youngest of Christ Church carry things as well, including worry about the world and a heart for helping. This September, our goal is that all of them carry hope in their backpacks, too.
Fences - October 2010
A main goal of The Micah Initiative is to tear down the fences that separate us from people in need. It is a sweet irony, then, that the biggest project thus far at Rama Road Elementary has been to build a fence. This is a very important fence because it protects the children from wandering dangerously near Rama Road as they play outside. Spearheaded by Burch Mixon who negotiated with CMS for months, and by the grace of an insightful and anonymous Christ Church donor, a 250-ft. perimeter fence now encloses the playground area. The only thing it separates anyone from is worry.
We Gather Together - September 2010
Throughout summer and fall, relationships have been sown at Rama Road Elementary. More simply put, we’ve made friends there. And friendship doesn’t take a holiday. Which is why feasts are being lovingly prepared this Thanksgiving for 50 Rama Road families who could use some extra blessings. Turkey and trimmings galore, from a big roasted bird to homemade pie and fixings enough for10 with leftovers. Christ Church youth will label and decorate delivery boxes next week. Help has turned out in great abundance to make it happen and make it special. Our gratitude for Rama Road runneth over.
Summer 2010
On Service Day, I went to Grounds Day at Rama Road and tried to help out as much as I could with my two young boys running around. We started working side by side spreading pine straw with a family that also had young boys. The rakes were flying and trees were being climbed but the boys were having a great time. We loved being at the school with all the different groups that were involved that day.
The following Saturday we took breakfast and visited with the families in the Family Promise program. I walked into the common area to see if anyone was awake and one of the moms was feeding her little girl. I introduced myself and realized that she looked very familiar. Our paths had definitely crossed in the past few weeks. She named a couple of possibilities and then mentioned Rama Road. She was the mom with the young boys that had played with my boys on Service Day. The children remembered each other and had a great few hours again being wild in the hallways of the church.
At the beginning of the next week, I went to Rama Road Elementary (our school!) to meet with Deanna Chillemi and get a tour. I told her about my experience of the previous Saturdays so she took me to the little boy’s first grade class and had the teacher call him into the hall. You would have thought he was seeing Santa Claus! He embraced me, beamed from ear to ear and asked about my children by name. It was a very special moment and really impressed upon me how we are all neighbors and friends.
- Christ Church Parishoner
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