SEPTEMBER 15, 2005
Education Issue 5
Let's Dance Grand Ronde's Youth Prevention program hosted its 3rd Annual Wellness Day in April. SingerSongwriter Happy Frejo (PawneeSeminole)
instructed a group of youth to dance (shown above), and performed for them as well. Youth from many Tribes across Oregon were invited.
The mission of the Youth Educa
tion program is to promote edu
cational achievement, awareness
and cultural identity to the future
leaders of our Tribe.
The Youth Education program
provides culture-based education,
recreation, culture enrichment and
summer employment programming
for Tribal youth, grades 6-12. The fol
lowing are specific services offered:
After school programming
that includes tutoring, culture
based educationalrecreational
enrichment and culture activi
ties. (Monday-Thursday, 3:
00pm-5:00pm). Transporta
tion is provided for students
from Willamina Middle School
to after school programming.
In school tutoring for those
Tribal youth that are referred
by a teacher, parent or self
referred.
Assistance with student en
rollment, IEP or disciplinary
meetings with school person
nel. Referrals to other Tribal
programs so that individual
student needs are met.
Youth Leadership develop
ment activities and an oppor
tunity to participate in Youth
Leadership conferences.
Summer youth employment
for youth 14-17 years old.
Students (16 years old) have
an option to work at Spirit
Mountain Casino.
Summer cultural-based edu
cational camps in reading, sci
ence, math, finance and study
skills.
Opportunities to participate
in multi-media projects.
Summer Culture Camp.
Summer field trips, Saturday
and evening activities.
Assistance with college prepa
ration and an opportunity to
participate in college tours.
Monthly Family Night activities
Monthly Native American
Club meetings in local school
districts.
School supply distribution
during the week of pow-wow.
Youth Sponsorship Awards for
extra curricular activities.
Achievement & Recognition
dinner at the completion of
the academic year.
f r s 1 :. UsL
Youth Education Staff (Left to Right) Travis Mercier, Cristina Lara,
Marie Heimburg, Brittny Linton, Janel Lara, Chris Bailey
Youth Education Program 2004-2005 Accomplishments
B 88 students received in school
tutoring, three or more times
in core subjects.
39 students actively partici
pated in after school program
ming. B 40 cultural activities were
conducted for students
families.
B 26 Native Club Meetings were
conducted in the Willamina
Sheridan School Districts and
479 students attended.
H 16 students attended the
OIEA Youth Conference.
II 46 students are participating
in the Summer Youth Em
ployment program at CTGR.
Job placement continues at
Spirit Mt. Casino.
B 120 hours of Cultural-based
Education classes were offered.
B 160 students and staff partici
pated in the three-day Youth
Leadership Invitational Con
ference. B Seven Youth Leadership plan
ning meetings were conducted
with Chemawa students.
fl 30 students participated in a
Spring Break camping trip.
fl 12 students participated with
85 other Tribal students in
a Native Wellness Cultural
Leadership Camp for three
days at CTGR.
B 12 students participated in
the Native Wellness Leader
ship Academy in Olympia
WA.
fl Nine field trips were conduct
ed throughout the year.
Keys to Developing Good Learning Skills
by Chris Bailey
Youth Education Tutor
This year, Youth Education
was proud to see four of our
student's graduate high school
and prepare for their future in
the adult world. Seeing students
achieve their goals and enter life
ready for its challenges is one of
the greatest things any educator
can experience. Two of our gradu
ates won the prestigious Gates
Scholarship, which will pay for
their next stage of education in
a university.
Like their future plans, all
of our graduates took differ
ent paths in their quest to earn
their diplomas. One thing that is
common to most if not all gradu
ates, however, is perseverance.
They knew what they needed to
get done in order to reach their
goals, and did it. This attitude
of achievement is important not
just in high school but in life. The
Youth Education Program offers
many opportunities for students
to receive assistance in setting
and reaching their goals. Staff
provides homework assistance,
leadership opportunities, and
cultural education to youth who
access our program. We also pro
vide help and advocate for our
youth in the local school districts.
Finally, when our youth are ready
to move on into their next stage of
life, we help them transition into
adult education programs.
In our program, the staff is
often questioned about how to
help students achieve in school.
Though there are exceptions, the
answer to that question is that the
student needs to want to succeed.
Some students also need to be
KEYS
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