Communities In Schools of Lexington/Davidson County

When Paula, a freshman at South Davidson High School, walked into the school’s designated Communities In Schools meeting room one recent Thursday morning, she looked positively defeated.

“I froze up on my science test,” she told Rebecca Hoppensteadt, her mentor of nearly four years, who had immediately gotten to her feet to greet Paula and find out what was wrong.

While Paula explained how she had studied for hours the night before but to no avail when she discovered the questions on the test weren’t phrased in a way that made sense to her, Hoppensteadt listened carefully and offered kind words of encouragement.

“I have always had a heart for volunteering, especially with young people. I hope that I am able to help them be more successful in school and to make good decisions in life. If nothing else, I hope to just let them know they are special and that someone cares about them,” Hoppensteadt later said.

She and her husband, Alan, have dedicated a combined 15 years to serving children in need as mentors with Communities In Schools of Lexington/Davidson County. In that time, they’ve touched the lives of more than a few children, including the two boys and two girls they are each currently working with at SDHS.

“Many of these children do not have role models that have been somewhat successful. They often come from homes that do not place a high value on education,” said Alan Hoppensteadt, who added that he enjoys starting out with middle school students so that he has the opportunity to stay with them all the way through high school. “It’s all about the kids. For the most part the kids who want to get involved in CIS are looking for help so it’s a good opportunity to have a positive impact on a young person. I think your influence grows over the years as they hopefully see that what you tell them really works.”

Billy, a junior at SDHS, who started working with Hoppensteadt as an eighth grader, said he enjoys having someone to talk to who can help out with homework.

Alex, a sophomore who’s been with Hoppensteadt since the seventh grade, said his favorite part about having a mentor is hearing about all the things Hoppensteadt has done and seen in his life.

“I think all schools should have a CIS program because some kids don’t have a good support system and need a little extra push,” said Ali, a junior who has been with Rebecca Hoppensteadt for four years. “She keeps on to me about my grades and she helps me with my stress level too.”

A member of the allied health program at SDHS, Ali plans to enter a neonatal care program after graduating next year, but she hasn’t yet decided whether she’ll attend Western Carolina University or Liberty University.

“This is a great way to help a young person,” said Rebecca Hoppensteadt. “It does not have to take a lot of time but it does mean a lot to the kids to know that someone cares about them and wants them to do well.”

When Michael Brooks, a junior at South Davidson High School, was accepted into the National Technical Honor Society, he was ecstatic.

Membership in the society is limited to those students who achieve a GPA or 3.5 or higher in all their computer and technology classes and provides good networking opportunities for students like Michael, who aspires to a career as a computer engineer.

But in order to confirm his membership, Michael needed to pay dues of $25.

Though the amount might not seem like much, Michael’s family experienced some recent setbacks that made it impossible for them to spend money on anything not deemed a necessity.

“My dad just got fired and we’ve been going through a hard time,” said Micheal, who is also a member of the wrestling team.

His mentor, Kevin Firquin (also the Site Coordinator for South Davidson Middle/High School), suggested he contact the CIS office to ask for help.

“This will help me. It will teach me more things and get me used to working with people out in the community,” said Micheal explaining his desire to be a part of the National Technical Honor Society. He’s thankful for the help CIS was able to give him.

Though we spend much of our energy working to match students in need with caring adults from the community, CIS helps thousands of students just like Michael, who need a little extra help to reach their full potential. In addition to supplementing funds to pay for membership dues in clubs and honor societies, we purchase things like school-appropriate clothing, school supplies, sports equipment, and more.

Despite threats from hurricane Irene, the morning of Aug. 27 brought nothing more than gusty winds and temperatures in the mid-80s to the Davidson County Airport– perfect for Big Toy Day  2011!

Ryan Farmer restored an old pickup truck to look like Tow Mater from the movie Cars.

Unofficially, more than 1,500 children and their families came out to enjoy around 50 “big toys,” including antique cars, fire trucks, police cars, heavy equipment and race cars. There was even a surprise visit from Tow Mater, the lovable tow truck from the movie Cars!

Though the Young Eagles were forced to cancel their free airplane rides due to high winds, there were plenty of other exciting happenings such as video games, laser tag and rides in a giant hamster ball by Games2U, cotton candy, sno-cones, balloon animals and toy tractor displays.

When all was said and done, nearly $6,000 had been raised. The money will be used to fund Communities In Schools programs at 24 schools in Lexington and Davidson County.

Visit our Facebook page to see more photos of Big Toy Day!

Check out the media coverage of Big Toy Day:

CIS to host Big Toy Day for all ages – The Dispatch

Judy Butler and Cailee Calabrese at Big Toy Day 2011! — Hometown TV Today

Bigger is better: Giant toys bring out the kid in all ages — High Point Enterprise

Attendees of First and Second Reformed United Church of Christ's Vacation Bible School earlier this month collected school supplies to donate to the students of CIS.

Communities In Schools of Lexington/Davidson County is thankful this morning for the young people of First and Second Reformed United Church of Christ. They used their Vacation Bible School as a platform to collect hundreds of school supplies, which they donated to CIS.

The supplies have been added to others donated by Walmart shoppers through the Build A Backpack campaign and by attendees of the NewBridge Bank Football and Cheerleading Jamboree. We’re also expecting to receive supplies from Walgreens stores in Lexington, Thomasville and High Point.

All of the supplies CIS collects, whether they come from generous young people or from corporate retailers, will go directly into the hands of the students who need them most. We receive calls daily from parents struggling to outfit their children with the necessary supplies and it is only with the help of our amazing community that we are able to accommodate all the requests.

Thank you First and Second Reformed UCC. And thank you to all others who have made it possible for our students to have the same chance as everyone else to succeed in the classroom.

First and Second Reformed United Church of Christ collected school supplies at their joint Vacation Bible School earlier this month. The supplies will be distributed to local students in need.

City Electric Supply (CES) for their help hauling and storing the supplies donated to Communities In Schools through the CISNC Build A Backpack campaign.

The school supply drive, which lasts through Aug. 21, is a shared statewide effort between Walmart stores and CIS to collect school supplies for local children in need. The next time you make a trip to your local Walmart, consider making a donation — even a pack of pencils can make a HUGE difference.

To learn more about Build A Backpack, visit CISNC.org

By now, Back-to-School deals and promotions have cropped up at every major retailer in the region; living rooms across Lexington and Davidson County feature piles of fliers advertising everything from jeans and sneakers to pencils and notebooks; families are plotting N.C. Tax Free Weekend (Aug. 5 – 7) shopping trips.

In the excitement of Back-to-School time, it’s easy to forget that not every family has the funds to stock up on supplies, which can be a huge expense, especially as kids enter middle and high school.  That’s why Communities In Schools has partnered with several local businesses to hold school supply drives. Look for chances to give generously at each of these locations so that our students have the same opportunity as everyone else to succeed in school and achieve in life:

CISNC’s Build A Backpack Campaign — Now through Aug. 21, Walmart stores across the state will collect school supplies to be distributed to local students in need. Look for the bins at each entrance, or ask your cashier to put your donation in the bin behind the register. The cost of admission to two carnivals to be held at the Lexington and Thomasville Walmart stores on Aug. 13 and 20, respectively, will be a donation of school supplies or cash.

Walgreens of Lexington and Thomasville — Bins will be available for donations through the end of August. Proceeds from a community cookout to be held at the Lexington store on Aug. 20 will also benefit CIS of Lexington/Davidson County students.

NewBridge Bank Football & Cheerleading Jamboree — On Aug. 12, NewBridge Bank will collect school supplies at its annual Football and Cheerleading Jamboree, to be held at West Davidson High School and Tyro Middle School from 5 – 9 p.m.

Be sure to pick up your copy of The Dispatch this Saturday so you don’t miss out on one of the most exciting, and inspiring, coupon campaigns P&G has ever sponsored!

For every GIVE Education brandSAVER coupon you redeem on products including Puffs®, Bounty®, Crest®, Pantene®, Duracell®, Olay® and Tide®, P&G will donate two cents to Communities In Schools.

That means that while you’re saving money on the products you buy anyway, you’re also helping increase awareness of the student dropout crisis in Lexington and Davidson County and raising the funds that will help keep students in school. Basically, the more you save, the more you give.

Help us spread the word! Visit www.facebook.com/pgmygive, where you can share content and encourage your friends and family to learn more about the dropout crisis and inspire others to get involved.

A list of other newspapers carrying the P&G brandSAVER can be found by visiting www.pgeverydaysolutions.com.

(from left) Linda Engstrom, Kathy Hinkle, Betty Jane Honeycut and Kelley Groce display fabric that will soon be made into nap blankets for Pre-K and Kindergarten children in Lexington and Davidson County.

Some of us hated them to be sure, but most of us looked forward (even if secretly) to that after-lunch nap required of all Kindergartners; that 20 or 30 minutes when the lights were turned down, soft music played and the teacher walked quietly back and forth across the classroom readying afternoon activities.

As peaceful as it can be, nap time is also a part of the day that reminds some of the children in our community of what they don’t have.

Most of us remember the tiny, Haribo-brand creatures from childhood. They come in green, yellow, white, orange and red and have flavors like strawberry, raspberry and pineapple.

Kids and their parents buying gummi bears at Shady Grove United Methodist Church's vacation bible school this week will be supporting hungry children through the Backpack Program.

But who knew gummi bears could serve a purpose beyond satisfying the occasional sweet tooth?

Leigh Bartoli, an associate pastor at Shady Grove United Methodist Church, decided to package the bite-sized candy and sell it as a fundraiser to benefit the hungry children she kept reading about in the local news.

“There was a great need in the Lexington area that was not being addressed,” she said. “We saw the statistics of the kids living in poverty there and we felt like it was what we were called to do to address the need in our area through the Backpack Program.”

Bartoli said she chose gummi bears because of their low cost and potential attraction for kids coming to Shady Grove for vacation bible school this week. At $1 a pack, the candy is within reach for most of the congregation and their guests.  Another thing, she added, is that the gluten-free, peanut-free bears can be enjoyed by anyone – even kids with food allergies.

Bartoli estimates the church will make more than $800 selling the gummi bears, all of which will be donated to the Backpack Program’s general fund. Any candy left unsold at the end of this week will be offered to the public on July 9 at Holt Moffit Field during the church’s kickoff event for their Lexington-area bible school and mission work.

“We’ll be staying at Wesley Heights United Methodist Church and leading a bible school for three churches,” said Bartoli. “During the day we’ll be doing some home repairs for two elderly women, we’ll be going to the Salvation Army to serve lunch and we will also be working at churches that need repairs.”

To learn more about Shady Grove’s gummi bear fundraiser or their mission work, call 769-2942.

When Chazz White found out he would become a father while still a student at Lexington Sr. High School, he decided he needed to make some changes in his life.

“I used to get in trouble all the time. When I had my daughter it stopped me from making bad decisions. I thought about her first,” he said, admitting that it was hard sometimes to juggle the responsibilities of fatherhood while remaining a full-time student.

Now officially a high school graduate, White has plans to attend

Chazz White, a participant in the Achieve More Program at LSHS, holds up his graduation stole. White, who became a father as a sophomore, graduated on June 11.

Forsyth Technical Community College before transferring to Winston-Salem State University to pursue a business degree.  He credits the constant support and encouragement he received from Arthur Johnson, graduation coach at LSHS, and several others along the way, for his drive to stay focused in school while enduring many sleepless nights with a baby.

“As a first-generation college student, Chazz had no family resources to draw on,” said Johnson, who helped White navigate the complicated college application process. “Whenever Chazz received something in the mail, he would bring it to our office and we would review it with him.”

Johnson said he feels like giving White a support system helped keep him from getting discouraged by the whole process.

“I didn’t think I was ever going to be at this stage,” said White. “I’m just excited that I’m here and I made it. It feels good to have a diploma in your hand.”

Keep checking for more inspiring stories from our CIS graduates!