Pieces of Peace POP

Meeting Our Goal!

2009-11-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

Build us a school!

JHMS Pop Club's goal is to raise $40,000 to build kids like these a school in Sierra Leone. You can donate directly to JHMS or go to the Schools for Salone website (click here) and add JHMS in the comment box. Thank you for your support!!

Updates on our Progress:

December: We've had 2 students donate bags of spare change that equalled $200!! Our bake sales produced $72! And...wait until you hear how many calendars and notecards we've sold!!

November 17, 2009: During our ELL parent night, people donated $24 more! Only $39280.10 to go!

November 5, 2009: During the book fair, we raised $105.90 in spare change.
We also sold 12 sets of note cards, making $210.00.
We are $315.90 closer to our goal!
Only $39,304.10 to go!

August, 2009: Our Ropes Course event raised $380.00. (We have a gracious donor who sponsored the event for $450.) Only $39,620 left!

Getting ready to build!

A day at school!

Our foundation!

The school's almost ready!

And even a well...clean drinking water!

Ropes Course Opportunity

2009-07-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

Our Ropes Course Fundraiser for Ishmael Beah (author of A Long Way Gone A Memoir of a Child Soldier) & Schools for Salone was an amazing experience! The theme was transition and we explored how to handle our transitions effectively. Each student was transitioning into a new grade level, many adults were transitioning into new positions, and we all considered transitions in our personal lives. We also considered Ishmael Beah's transitions in his live. His new phase of life includes building schools in Sierra Leone, through Schools for Salone, so education can thrive where war once did.

(Note: Students were asked to pay $30. This event was sponsored, so all of the money went to support Schools for Salone. That morning we sent $390 to help!)

And...it was really fun!

We relaxed in the sun...

And explored challenges and how they work to overcome them. We shared with one another using Restorative Justice practices. Why Restorative Justice? Because in Sierra Leone and many other African countries, Restoriative Justice practices are being use to forward peace. Restorative Justice is being used around the world.

Martha from Restorative Justice in Jackson Hole.

Students participated in Team Building activities that showed how communication and trust helps to solve problems. We realized that the answer to every problem is TEAMWORK.

Students experienced a solo and group ropes experience.

Tenzing goes for it!

Schuyler is focused!

Sawyer lets go and reaches for the next trapeze...parts of this reading served as our guiding theme for the day.

I soar across the dark void
of "the past is gone;
the future is not yet here."

"Sometimes with new opportunities, you have to let them hang in the air." ~Fuller

Some of us conquered our fear of heights!

And...we made sure we all felt supported and safe!

The executive director of Schools for Salone participated in the day and shared stories of her challenges and how she has overcome.

Cindy, Executive Director from Schools for Salone

We were also lucky enough to have Doug Walker's parents, the people who created the ropes course in honor of their son for whom the course is named, join us. The day was more powerful because they got a glimpse at the depth of thought and interaction the ropes course, their son's vision, creates.

So...what did we learn?

Togetherness.
Leadership skills are essential AND
Followership skills are a necessity.
Coming together, working together as one...
Oneness.
You need effective communication.
Teamwork solves all problems.
But equally important is being there, being aware, and listening to others.
Total participation is a must.
One must always have a strategy...
and be persistent.
Don't give up half way through.
All it takes is a plan, focus, and rhythm...
It's all about the pattern.
Have Fun.
It's easy.
Trust is essential.
Don't worry about speed, because what's important is,
"I feel safe with you guys."

And...we set our new JHMS POP goal. We will raise $40,000, enough to build a school in Sierra Leone sponsored entirely by JHMS!!! Watch for ways to help.

Dinner with Ishmael

2009-07-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

Dinner with Ishmael:
Have you ever wondered what a meal is in Sierra Leone tastes like? We found out!
Sunday, August 2, POP Club members learned to cook an authentic African meal. (See recipes below.) We cooked from 3:30 - 5:00. Mary Woolens and her daughter Jamison taught us how to cook.
Ishmael authenticates our meal:

Meraldi and her sister:
Alex working hard...
Annabelle learns to use a knife.

Annette and Valeria don't need to use a knife!

Yolanda and Yesenia peel mango:

Sarah, Annabelle's guest from CA:

In the kitchen:

While dinner was cooking, we painted still life pictures of the ingredients we used.

Finally, we ate with Ishmael. During dinner, Ishmael shared stories of his past life and passions of his current life.

This event was sponsored, so all of the money paid by students went to support Schools for Salone.

RECIPES:

West African Peanut Soup with Chicken
Ingredients:
3/4 cup roasted and shelled peanuts
2 T peanut or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn
1 med red or white onion, chopped
1 T minced fresh ginger
1 T minced garlic
1/2 pound skinless, boneless chicken (2 thighs or breasts) cut into chunks
Pinch of cayenne
Salt and Pepper
6 Cups stock or water
2 sweet potatoes or yams (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into thick slices
8 plum tomatoes, cored and halved (canned are fine, drain and reserve liquid for a different use)
1/2 pound collards or kale, washed and cut into wide ribbons
1/4 - 1/2 cup peanut butter, chunky or smooth

Directions:
1. Chop peanuts, or crush them with the side of a knife, or pulse them in a food processor to chop roughly.
2. Put oil in a deep skillet or medium saucepan over med heat; a minute later, add onion, ginger and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, 3-5 minutes. Add chicken and continue cooking for another 3-4 mintes, until just coloring. Add 1/2 cup peanuts and the cayenne and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Stir in the stock and the sweet potatoes, bring to a boil, and turn heat down to med-low so the soup bubbled gently. Stir in tomatoes and collards, then cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
4. Stir in 1/4 cup peanut butter. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve, garnishing with remaining peanuts.

Yield: 4-6 servings.

Spicy Okra and Turnip Greens
Ingredients:
6 1/2 cups turnip or collard greens
12 okra
1 med onion, chopped
3-4 T pine nuts, toasted
2 T vegetable oil
3 red scotch bonnet chilies, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
1. Remove the stems from the greens and cut into approximately 2" slices.
2. Remove the ends from the okra and cut crosswise into halves.
3. In a large metal casserole, cook the onions and pine nuts in oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
4. Add the greens and okra along with all the remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer until the greens are tender (about 15 minutes). Squeeze some fresh lemon juice on prior to serving if desired.

Banana Pancakes ~ **** very good!
Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 1/3 cup rice flour
2 T sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp groundnut oil
1 med egg, beaten with water

Directions:
1. Mix the banana with all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
3. Add enough water to make a thick batter.
4. Add a little butter to a hot frying pan and add a ladle of the batter. Tip the pan to cover the pancake mix and fry until the pancake sets on on side.
5. Turn over and cook on the other side. Set aside in a warm oven and continue until al lthe batter has been cooked. Then, serve. Powdered sugar and fresh fruit (mango) are nice accompaniments.

Our Logo

2009-07-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

Check out the logo you voted on:

Statistics to make you think....

2009-06-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

"It's very easy for us to remain aloof and untouched by the suffering that defines the existence of the vast majority of people on this planet. I have read tht if you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the people in this world! If you have any money in the bank and some in your wallet and some spare change in dish somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy; 92% have less to live on than you do! If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million other people in the world. If you can attend worship services at church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.

I don't tell you this to make you feel guilty - but I do hope you feel uncomfortable. I hope these statistics disturb you. God in his sovereignty decided where you would be born and allowed you to live in a place that has almost everything anyone could ever desire, so there is no guilt that he has ordered our lives in such a way. The only guilt we bear is the guilt of ignoring the men, women, and children of this world who do not have what we have - the guilt of spending the majority of our time, money, and resources exclusively on ourselves and our families. That is legitimate guilt."

~ Kay Warren in Dangerous Surrender

100 People:

Video: Miniture Earth

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Poster Project

PoP Leader Application Due 3/3

2009-02-28T07:10:00.001-08:00

Hello!

I am running for the position of “Officer” in the Global Connections Club. We are a group of concerned kids who are trying to do our part to meet the United Nations millennium goals in the areas of poverty, education, health, and sustainable development. Our club mentors have expressed to us that strong leaders should possess the following qualities:

Honesty: good leaders have to be honest. If those under your charge trust you, then they will follow you.

Patience and Compassion: good leaders take the time to help their group members so that they can perform their assigned tasks as the leader intended. They are also sensitive to their group member’s concerns, and support them when they need it.

Respect: good leaders respect other people’s opinions and treat them as they would want to be treated.

Responsibility: good leaders take responsibility for the decisions they make. Good leaders don’t blame other people – they deal with situations that arise and take responsibility for the results.

Reliability And Determination: good leaders follow through on their responsibilities. They set a good example by being diligent and conscientious.

Confidence: good leaders believe in themselves.

Enthusiasm: good leaders get psyched about the task they are assigning. They emphasize its importance, and roll up their sleeves and demonstrate. Enthusiasm is contagious!

Decisiveness: good leaders gather relevant information, gather input from their group members, and make a safe and reasonable decision based on the information that you have available. Often, leaders have to make important decisions very quickly and are psychologically prepared to do this

Courage: good leaders have the ability to speak the truth, even when it is difficult
Most importantly, they are not afraid to admit when they make a mistake.

By signing below, you acknowledge that I possess these qualities, and feel that I would be a good candidate for the position of “Officer” in the Global Connections Club. If you feel that I might need improvement in one or more of these areas, but would still be a strong candidate for “Officer,” please sign below and explain your reasoning in the box provided.

_______________________________ _______________
Recommender’s Signature Date

_______________________________ _______________
Recommender’s Signature Date

_______________________________ _______________
Recommender’s Signature Date

Please provide a written explanation about why you think you would be a strong candidate for the position of “Officer” In the global Connections Club. Take the above qualities of a good leader into consideration in your writing.

POP Meeting 2/27

2009-02-28T07:09:00.001-08:00

Weekly Leadership Team:

Quotes:

It's amazing how many cares disappear when you decide not to be something, but to be someone.
- Coco Chanel

I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers
- Ralph Nader

Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a job. That takes all of the good characteristics, like integrity, dedication of purpose, selflessness, knowledge, skill, implacability, as well as determination not to accept failure.
- Admiral Arleigh A. Burke

Lead and inspire people. Don't try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed but people must be lead.
- Ross Perot

We must become the change we want to see.
- Mahatma Gandhi

1. Application to become TEAM LEADERS
2. Application due Tuesday, 3/3
3. TEAM LEADERS are welcome to Thursday, after school meetings
4. TEAM LEADERS will be responsible for announcements.
5. TEAM LEADERS will nominate 3 officers: President, Vice President, Secretary/Blogger; all POP members will vote
6. TEAM LEADERS will run POP meeting on Friday. There will be 10 groups that POP members will be a part of.

SleepIn/Lock Down: Still waiting for approval.
But consider if we are RAISING $$$ for Children Around the World, wouldn't we want to most people to attend?

As Above ~ So Below:
If we want to spread world peace, we have to first create it here.

Reflection: How do I spread world peace beginning at home? How do I get in its way?

100 People:

Video: Miniture Earth

Statistics
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Poster Project