September 2009
A newsletter for mentees,
mentors and parents. Mentoring
Newsletter
Inside this issue:
Future Activities 1
Upcoming Sponsored Activities
November: December:
Things to Do 1
As we did last year; this No- The year before last was Can you
vember we will be painting the Nutcracker, last year guess...Person,
Can you Guess what I 1
am? blown light bulbs into was the Trans Siberian Or- Place or Thing?
Christmas ornaments. The chestra.
How do you feel about 2 1. I’m originally from
your future? painted ornaments will then Think about WHAT you England.
be attached to the food- would be interested in
Mad Lib & Puzzle 2 2. At first, I was a
baskets (which we will help doing for a cultural ac- teaching tool.
to pack) that Washington tivity for this year. You
Doodle page—Finish the 3 county donates to needy 3. Today, I am now for
can email your sugges-
drawing. fun.
families. tions to tjur-
sza@co.washington.ny.us 4. I once was made of
Save any blown light bulbs
wood.
Mentor/Parent Corner 4 from home or work **Please note that being able to get
to donate to this 5. Nowadays, I’m usually
funding for this activity will be depend-
cardboard.
Summer Crossword 4
project. ent on the program budget.
6. Little kids like less of
me; big kids & adults
Things to Do: Websites:
7.
like more.
Sometimes, I’m two-
Washington County Greenwich Harvest Channel One faced; occasionally I am
Cheese Tour Festival
http://www.channelone.com/f multi dimensional.
September 12-13, 2009. September 26th, downtown, un/summer-boredom-buster/ 8. I get my name from
Open from 10am to 4pm. Six main street. 10am—4pm
farms located with in a 20 Suite101.com the tool once used to
mile radius. Argyle/Salem/ http://www.suite101.com/ make me.
Granville areas. See website Downtown Balloon Festi-
BJ Pinchbeck’s Home- 9. If you drop me, I’ll go
for details and a map. val Block Party
www.washingtoncountycheese.org
work Helper to pieces.
Downtown Glens Falls,
Thursday, Sept. 24th from 5 http://www.bjpinchbeck 10. I can be quite puzzling.
-8:30pm. FREE .com/english.html
23rd Annual Autumn
Leaves Car Show Taste of the Science Education Gate-
way
9am to 3pm on September North Country
27th in Granville in the Sunday, Sept. 27th from http://cse.ssl.berkeley.e
Quaker Street Elementary 11am to 4pm. Adults $5, du/segway/public.html
School parking lot. Admis- kids free. Crayola
sion is $3, free for 15 & un-
der. http://www.crayola.com/
How do you feel about your FUTURE? Tips for Teens: Person, Place or
Thing Answer:
Personal Power: Jigsaw Puzzle
Goal: To feel that you have control over many things that happen to you in your life.
Personal power gives you confidence.
When something good happens, it is not just luck...but your actions.
Good grades don’t fall from the sky...hard work is needed...you EARN good grades.
Friends don’t just appear...you build friendships by the things you do.
If something bad happens, focus on what you CAN DO to help make the situation better. Never give in and say things like “I
deserve this”, “I am a bad person” or “It is fate.”
Concentrate on things you can control, like your attitude and behavior. Better attitude and behavior can lead to more respon-
sibility and control as you become older and SHOW you can be responsible.
Talk, don’t demand, to adults/parents to see about giving you some choices and control. Be prepared to lose that control if
you don’t follow through on the choice you made or if you become irresponsible with you new found control.
Don’t ask for ALL control at once. Parents want you safe and are afraid to give you control and let you go. But if you ask for
one thing and show you are responsible with that one control or responsibility...YOU WILL EARN MORE!
Positive View of Your Future:
Goal: To look forward to a positive future/life.
Envision your self achieving your goals
Talk to your parents/ mentor about your dreams for your future. Ask for help in how you can make it happen.
If you choose to work during the school year, try and get a job in a business that means something to you.
Talk with your friends and share your dreams and hopes for the future.
Answer these questions. In ten years…
1. The date will be______________________________
2. I will be living in ______________________________________
3. I will be working at or going to school at _________________________________________
4. I will be happiest with this accomplishment
________________________________________________________________________________
Mentoring Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3
What Kids Need to Succeed!
Mentors and Parents Corner
Help your child/youth to have a Positive View of their
Can Parents be Friends with their teenage children? Personal Future. Here are some suggestions:
No, most teens aren’t ready for anything close to a mature
Encourage them to tell you their dreams and help them make
friendship. According to current research, the brain continues
to develop into a person’s 20’s. Mothers often want to befriend plans or discuss how they could get those dreams.
their daughters; fathers, their sons. But this is not in anyone’s
Be optimistic of your future as a family by being hopeful and
best interest. Teenagers need to form identities distinct from
their parents. That means: lots of privacy, even some secrets. finding ways to enjoy everyday life and work together through
Teens have friends, as a parent we must guide, set examples, rough times. Try not to focus on the bad things.
and provide boundaries. As they age and mature boundaries
should change to match. If a boundary is broken, how can we Ask them for THEIR SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS
be the firm parent if we are considered a friend?
Don’t cheat!
Don’t peek!
Cover up the
answers below!
Free Museum Day! September 26, 2009
http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/
Check out this Smithsonian website for a full list of participating museums.
~Children’s Museum of Science & Technology ~USS Slater ~Schenectady Museum
Washington County Youth Bureau -
383 Broadway - Fort Edward, NY 12828 518-746-2317
Fax: 518-746-2331 TJursza@co.washington.ny.us Google us to checkout the website!!