Happy New Year! Kiwanis New Year that is. As you are probably aware our club operates on a 10/1-9/30 Fiscal Year.

What and exciting time to be a Kiwanian. We had a great meeting this week. Our own member and newly installed Lt. Governor, Colean Bailey, installed our new officers and shared and interesting presentation on a new initiative that our club will be involved with this year- K-Kids.K-Kids is the youngest and fastest growing service organization for elementary students worldwide. These clubs are ideally suited for students in grades 1 through 5 (ages 6 to 12).

K-Kids is a “student-led” community-service organization, which operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body. We have a wonderful opportunity to sponsor a K-Kids club at Our Lady of Fatima School, which is a K-8 inner-city Catholic School that serves minority children. The school is located in the Titusville community and is located off of Sixth Avenue South.

Brian Rodgers and Colean Bailey met this summer with the schools Principal, Nathan Wright and discussed opportunities for getting a club established at their school. He was very open to the idea and is always looking for community partners.

Two of the “Service in a Box” programs that we will implement this year are the BUG (Bringing Up Grades) and Terrific Kids Programs.

Terrific Kids is a student recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem, and perseverance. Students work with their classroom teacher and establish goals to improve behavior, peer relationships, attendance, or schoolwork. Students then work toward achieving the goal during a specific time period. The teachers and principal determine the best schedule for recognition. Some schools recognize Terrific Kids during each grading period; others recognize students more often.

At the end of the designated time period all students who achieved their goals are recognized as Terrific Kids. Recognition includes being pinned as a Terrific Kid; a pizza, ice cream, or other food-themed party; and presentation of certificates, and other giveaways.

A sponsoring club helps support the Terrific Kids program at the school. The club plans Terrific Kids parties, provides recognition, and establishes partnerships with local community businesses to secure support for the program. Sponsoring businesses have the option of providing coupons, giveaways, or food for Terrific Kids parties.

The Terrific Kids program provides teachers with a tool to reward students for special achievements that may otherwise go unnoticed.

TERRIFIC is an acronym meaning:

Thoughtful Enthusiastic Respectful Responsible Inclusive Friendly Inquisitive Capable

Though the Terrific Kids program was designed as a school program, it also can be adapted for use in community centers or other organizations that support youth. When used in this setting, a staff member steps in to serve in the teacher’s role. The staff member then works with participants to set goals and monitors achievement.

Bring Up Grades, or BUG is a program designed to provide recognition to students who raise their grades to an acceptable range, and maintain or continue to raise them from one grading period to the next. Recognition includes being placed on the school’s BUG Honor Roll; a pizza, ice cream, or other food-themed party; and presentation of certificates, pins, and other giveaways.

A sponsoring club helps support the BUG program at the school. The club plans BUG recognition events, provides awards, and establishes partnerships with local community businesses to secure support for the program. Sponsoring businesses have the option of providing coupons, giveaways, or food for BUG parties.

The teacher establishes a base line grade for each student during the first grading period. Students are honored each grading period thereafter if they maintain their grades and raise one grade.

A SUPER BUG also is honored as part of this program. A SUPER BUG is a student who served as a mentor assisting others in achieving their goals of bringing up one grade.

Though this program was created for the traditional A, B, C grading system, it can be adapted to work with any type of grading system. Example: Increasing a mark from U-Unsatisfactory, to N-Needs Improvement, or raising a mark from N-Needs Improvement, to S-Satisfactory would qualify a student for recognition.

The program was created for use in a school setting, but a community center or agency supporting youth could use this program to encourage academic achievement. The designated program coordinator would recognize participants when report card grades are shared and it is noted that a grade has been raised.

These two programs will be a natural fit in this school and challenge us to demonstrate leadership through service- a longstanding strength that has made our club an example of living out the Kiwanis values.