News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Programs benefiting Sisters children received a financial boost last week as $39,382 in grant funds were distributed through the Community Action Team of Sisters (CATS).
Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation (SOAR) received $27,000 to continue programs for at-risk youth and outside-school supervision programs for elementary school-age children.
The Sisters Family Access Network (FAN) received $11,182 for mental health services and an audiometer to test children's hearing.
The Sisters Middle School science program received $1,200 to stage a "science show" for the community.
Applications for the grant funds were reviewed by TEAM Sisters (Think Education Assets and Mentoring), a subcommittee of CATS. The subcommittee was formed to be a neutral group to administer grant funds and then turned the administration of the grants over to CATS.
According to SOAR director Tom Coffield, $7,000 of SOAR's grant will be used to continue the "Keep Kids in School" program. That program focuses on at-risk youth of middle school age, who are released from class to study taekwondo under SOAR taekwondo master Tim Davis.
The martial arts study is designed to impart self-discipline and positive self-image, according to Coffield.
"The teachers involved in the program have seen a real difference," Coffield said.
The rest of the grant, $27,000, will be used to continue before-school and after-school programs for elementary school children, including art instruction, homework periods and field trips.
The Family Access Network will use $8,500 of the grant funds to hire a second mental health therapist to serve children in the Sisters School District. According to FAN family advocate Theresa Slavkovsky, the therapist will "work with students who might be dealing with anger, grief, loss, maybe just having a crisis at home."
According to Slavkovsky, there are some children in the district who are in serious need of help, which their families cannot afford or are otherwise unable to seek on their own.
"It's kids who can't learn, who can't function in the classroom because of the situation at home," Slavkovsky said.
FAN will use $1,500 to stage a series of parenting classes in Sisters. Another $882 was spent on an audiometer with which to test children's hearing at the annual kindergarten roundup and in other forums. A total of $300 will be spent for supplies for the various programs and activities.
The funds received by the Sisters Middle School will be used to purchase equipment and supplies to stage a year-end science show in the spring.
According to science teacher Rebecca Porter, the show will cover scientific topics ranging from "atoms to organisms."
"There's going to be lots of chemical
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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