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From the Executive Director
Donnie E. Wheatley
Prospectors are a colorful part of American history. They would search and
search, not
getting discouraged. Instead, they
would rejoice in any hint that precious
metals might be close by. Then, when they
struck pay dirt, they would celebrate for
days.
Now why would I even be thinking of
prospecting? One of our mid-term graduates
told the staff that he really appreciated
folks at Boys’ Home sticking with him when
it would have been easy to give up. He
recognized that even though
at times he made things difficult,
there were indications of “success” showing
through. The staff and teachers working with
him saw these signs and kept searching for
that elusive “precious metal.”
The teachers
and staff at the Boys’ Home on-campus school
are always searching for ways to bring out
the potential of each and every student.
They don’t get locked into doing things “one
way”, but keep trying to find a way to get
past the difficulties and bring out the
potential.
The table below shows the results of their
prospecting. When they strike pay dirt, they
celebrate as they did at the reception for
the mid-term graduates.
**The Gains Shown
are Grade Levels Attained**
|
Year
|
Reading
Gain
|
Math
Gain
|
Language Arts Gain
|
|
2001-2002
|
2.76
|
3.29
|
4.27
|
|
2002-2003
|
2.67
|
3.28
|
4.96
|
|
2003-2004
|
2.85
|
3.87
|
4.52
|
|
2004-2005
|
3.37
|
4.52
|
5.50
|
|
2005-2006
|
3.81
|
4.52
|
5.43
|
|
2006-2007
|
3.96
|
4.99
|
7.61
|
|
2007-2008
|
3.58
|
4.13
|
7.55
|
While we are feeling the impact of the recent economic issues, we know that
the supporters of the ministry will keep
providing the “grub stake” that makes it
possible to continue searching for the
potential of each and every boy here.
Thanks from all of them for your
generosity and continued support.
Take care and God bless.
Donnie E. Wheatley
: : TOP : :
1st Semester Honor
Roll (2008-2009)
Top
Grade Point Averages: Public School
Six
young men made the top category for Public
schools
Top
Grade Point Averages: Boys’ Home School
Six
young men made the top category for the
Boys’ Home
School.
Top
Grade Point Averages: Boys’ Home High School
Six
young men made the top category for the
Boys’ Home
High School
Good
School
Citizens
Twenty-five young men made the Good School
Citizens.
: : TOP : :
Connie Jackson: Two Roles, One Mission
The Rev. Connie W. Jackson has been the
Boys’ Home Chaplain for 7 years. Watching
her move comfortably at lunch from one
cottage table of boys and staff to another,
gives the impression she has always been a
spiritual person. But
actually, when growing up in
Portsmouth, Virginia, her background did not
place particular value on spirituality.
Through the help of her church and its
community, she came to realize how important
spirituality is in a person’s life.
Now she uses those lessons she learned
as a child with the young men at Boys’ Home.
Connie explained, “We must give to each of
our young people a deep, spiritual
foundation because they will need those
roots to endure the storms of life.”
In addition to her duties as Boys’ Home
Chaplain, she has also added the title
and responsibilities of Acting Assistant
Director, Program. These two jobs intertwine
as she holds up the Holy in the midst of the
unholy, intercedes in life, and seeks out
justice and righteousness for the boys and
staff. Some days she counsels more Boys’
Home staff members than residents.
Residents also have houseparents or other
staff members to guide and help them.
She often leads nightly devotions. The
younger group takes part in a Bible story
before bed or storytelling. The older
group shares a Psalms, scripture, or movie
and applies it to aspects of their everyday
lives. In
between seeking and giving counsel, Connie
may also be seen on campus conversing with a
new resident at the Wheatley Intake and
Evaluation Center or visiting with priests
from churches all over the area.
She believes that the religious life
program at Boys’ Home is not just about
going to the chapel. “Any setting involving
food and hospitality can be a part of
religious life. The mere act of sitting
together at a table and sharing with persons
from different ages, cultures, localities,
and experiences is a learning experience.”
Hospitality
ties in very well to the mission at Boys’
Home. To
Connie, when others are invited to join in a
meal at the dining hall with the boys and
staff, that’s when the Boys’ Home mission
shines.
: : TOP : :
School Is a Sticking Situation
Sometimes at Boys’ Home we might get into
some sticky situations, but this year our
high school seniors got into a sticking
situation. Deron, Medhi and T.J., seniors in
the class of 2009, decided to stick with
school and completed their necessary
requirements for graduation by the end of
the first semester. Deron was at
Boys’ Home for 1 year. One of his favorite
things to do on campus was to play
basketball. He enjoyed it so much that he
played on the Boys’ Home basketball team. He
also liked to play chess and was a star
member of the Chess Club. Even when
Deron finished his high school work, he
stayed on at Boys’ Home before returning to
his hometown of Alexandria. The delay meant
he could finish the basketball season with
the Boys’ Home Hilltoppers.
T.J. stayed at Boys’ Home for just over
3 years. He was involved as a scout with BSA
Troop 66 and the Boys’ Home basketball team.
T.J. liked to work outdoors. In his free
time he could spend hours throwing a
football. He was also one of the most
reliable and hardest working members of the
crew at the Boys’ Home Christmas Tree Farm
in West Augusta. Once he completed
the requirements for his GED, T.J. headed to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to prepare for
classes at Universal Technical Institute. He
is studying automotives and is particularly
interested in working on high end
automobiles.
Medhi was a resident for 2 1/2 years. He
enjoyed hanging out with friends,
rappelling, and swimming in the creek.
Sometimes he also dabbled with computers -
much to Mr. Lemmer's chagrin at times. His
fondest memory was teaching Boys’ Home
alumnus Andrew Kiwanuka ‘08 how to
shave. Medhi enlisted in the U.S.
Navy and will begin Basic Training in July.
Right now, he hopes to make the Navy his
career. Medhi says that Boys’ Home
is a good place that made him into a better
person. He even wishes he could be here a
little longer. But most of all, Medhi
thanked the Boys’ Home staff for sticking
with him and by him, even during the rough
times. Sticking with school was a
very good idea! “Dictionary
is the only place that success comes before
work. Hard work is the price we must pay for
success. I think you can accomplish anything
if you're willing to pay the price.”
Vincent
T. Lombardi, legendary coach of
the Packers.
: : TOP : :
Notes and Quotes
·
Thank you
to all of those dedicated folks who have
sent in labels for our
Labels for Education project.
The Boys’ Home School has purchased many
educational items such as computers,
overhead projector, globes, microscopes,
scanners, playground equipment and computer
software.
The school currently plans on
“purchasing” digital cameras for the art
classroom with some of the points earned
this year. Over 100,000 points have been
collected and are eligible for the Boys’
Home School to use.
Remember, all you need to save
now is the UPC
Code on the label. By clipping and
mailing only the
UPC
Codes you can save on postage and it helps
us out to already have the labels clipped.
More information about the Campbell’s labels
for education is on
www.labelsforeducation.com.
·
We also save Box Tops and receive 10 cents
for each coupon! Check out the website
www.boxtops4education.com for those products eligible or call us at 540/965-7714 and we will be happy
to send you a poster.
·
If you like the idea of earning money while
you browse the Internet, consider using the
search engine GoodSearch. Boys’ Home
participates in this program and also
GoodShop which donates a percentage of
qualifying purchases to the charity
selected.
·
June 30, 2009 is the last date to qualify for NAP
(Neighborhood Assistance Program.) Please
contact Sandra for information at
540/965-7714.
: : TOP : :
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