Friday, September 21, 2012
U.S. Congressman Andre Carson Visits Christel House Academy
It was our privilege to welcome U.S Congressman Andre’
Carson to Christel House Academy this afternoon.
Congressman Carson met our assistant principal, Sarah
Weimer, at an event in D.C. honoring Christel House Academy’s School to
Watch Award. The Congressman was so impressed with the work we are doing
here in Indianapolis, he had to come and see for himself.
The Congressman toured the entire school and took an
in-depth look at our structure and programs. Mr. Carson stopped by many of the
classrooms to speak and engage with students of all ages. He even popped into
one of our music classes and practiced his piano skills alongside our students.
The Congressman expressed his appreciation and support. He
was impressed by the Christel House model and our results.
We’d like to thank Congressman Andre’ Carson for taking the
time to visit Christel House Academy and his concern for the education of
Indianapolis youth.
Labels: Andre Carson, Carey Dahncke, Christel House Academy, Congressman, Indiana, Indianapolis, students
Monday, February 20, 2012
An(other) American in India
Laura Dodson is our grantwriter and all around jane-of-all-trades
in the Christel House International office in Indianapolis. She recently returned
from her first visit to Christel House India. She shared the following
observations on Facebook and with us
Wednesday, February 1
Humbling....it's the best word to describe my overwhelming
emotion so far. Our team visited Christel House India on Tuesday. The children
were absolutely precious, most welcoming and full of love and joy. Their smiles
are etched in my memory.
Later that day, we
visited "neighborhoods" where the safety and nurturing environment of
Christel House was juxtaposed against the cruel reality of our children's lives
away from the learning center. One or two-room cinder block dwellings with one
light, if any. No running water, except the trickle found at public spigots.
Public toilet facilities housed in shacks. Stray dogs on every street, trash piles
everywhere and the smell of wood smoke as most of the cooking takes place over
small fires right outside their front doors.
One neighborhood is
located just feet from a railroad track, where, we were told children have been
struck. Another was located near a larger trash pile, frequented by stray cows
and dogs.
Many parents spoke,
through a translator, of how grateful they are that their children are learning
English and having the opportunity for a better life.
Friday, February 10
I'm home!
What an amazingly rich and humbling time in India. I've
begun the work of processing the many sights, smells, sounds and overwhelming
emotions I experienced. All of these are becoming a beautiful tapestry that I'm
looking forward to sharing just as soon as the jetlag wears off and I've gone
through the hundreds of photos I took.
Memories of our
children's precious faces, their sweet and innocent hugs and kisses have found
a special place in my heart, and have renewed my passion and determination to
make my work matter.....for their benefit.
I'm grateful and humbled to have had the opportunity to see
one example of Christel House's efforts on the international scope, knowing
that we're providing the same life-changing programs and services to children
in Mexico and South Africa, and supplying work-study support to students in
Venezuela.
In my own city, Christel House Academy is improving the
futures of nearly 600 at-risk students in grades K-10 (adding grades in 11 and
12 in 2012 and 2013, respectively) with the same fervor. We are now poised to
impact even more young people this August when we launch DORS (Dropout Recovery
School) for those who, for whatever reason, had to abandon their high school educations
and now wish to obtain their high school diploma, pursue dual college credit or
certification to make their lives better.
No matter how you slice it, no matter where you are in the
world, poverty is a thief, robbing children and families of their potential.
It's an honor to work for an organization committed to stopping poverty in its
tracks by providing education, nutrition,comprehensive health care services,
parent and community outreach and career counseling, college preparation,
internship/apprenticeship assistance to open the doors to a promising future.
Labels: India, Indiana, Indianapolis
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Anything But “Typical”—a Teacher’s Reflection
Sarah McVey, originally from Indiana, has moved for a
year to Bangalore to teach Special Education at Christel House India. Here are
some highlights from her most recent email to Christel House International:
December and January have brought new thoughts into just how
profoundly different my life is from "typical." In the beginning of
2011, I was looking forward to finally being finished with my bachelor's degree
and being "on my own”.
But here I am in Bangalore India and I cannot think of a
place where I would get more satisfaction out of my job.
The relationships I've built at Christel House (and other
schools) are something I value more than anything else. For many, home is not
always a great place to be, and the toll it takes on some is truly
heartbreaking. It is, however, amazing to see the children acting like any
other kid. There are certainly cultural differences, but in many ways,
"kids are kids," and they have proven the extreme resilience of the
human spirit.
I worry about them everyday. My stomach twists and turns at
the thought of something happening to one of them, but they don't and cannot
live with fear, they go on. Generally, they are happy. They revel in getting a
rise out of their teachers and coming up with clever ways to play tricks on
each other. (I'd argue Indian kids are much more creative in their antics than
American kids). I absolutely cannot get through a day without some student
putting a HUGE smile on my face. Be it a tiny little kindergartener skipping
happily through the corridors, or some cheeky 9th grader trying to write a
poem. I revel in their joys and also in their sorrows. These kids are exactly
why I'm here.
I even get choked up now (still 8 months from finishing my contract)
thinking about when I will have to leave this place and these faces behind. My
experience has definitely changed my outlook on career goals. One major
priority will be finding ways to stay in contact with the amazing people here
and keeping tabs on my students--all of whom I want to succeed more than
anything! I wish I could show them how far they could go because it's difficult
for them to see sometimes, but I know that at the very least this generation
will be active members of society.
Namaskara & வணக்கம்,
xoxo
Sarah E. McVey
Labels: Christel House India, Indiana, teacher
Thursday, December 1, 2011
From Indiana to India: A Teacher's Perspective
by Sarah McVey
Sarah McVey, originally from Indiana, has moved to Bangalore to teach Special Education at Christel House
India. She recently sent us an e-mail update about her time there thus
far. Here are some highlights from that letter:
I've had a great month and have settled into some routines
here. My life here is so different than I could have imagined and only now am I
realizing just how profoundly this experience is going to change my life. Yes,
I'm aware that is a fairly cliché thing to say, but it’s beyond the truth. The
connections I've made here, plus the awareness of myself, the culture I come
from, and the culture I'm immersed in have all come together for me in the past
four weeks and it’s quite unbelievable, actually.
Being invited into the home of an Indian colleague or friend
is one of the most blessed and enjoyable experiences I've had and it's the same
for nearly every household. Rich or poor; Hindu, Christian, or Muslim…you WILL
be warmly welcomed and EXTREMELY well fed. The things I enjoy are the things
that can only be considered acceptable in India: eating on the floor with a large
banana leaf for a plate and not a single utensil except your HAND, or having an
open political/religious conversation which is rarely linked to emotions but
rather can be discussed openly without feeling the other party is making a
personal attack…
I'm feeling more and more (as "I Feel Home" by
O.A.R. comes onto my iPod) at home in India. Not that I'll want to stay forever
but that my life won't be the same if I get back stateside and never return to
my darling India…
Labels: Christel House India, India, Indiana, Volunteer
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Local Artist helps Christel House Academy students create a work of art
Joani Rothenberg is an Indianapolis artist who helped Christel House Academy students create a mural during art camp this summer. More about the artist and her work can be found at
http://www.artbyjoani.com/ Joani writes:
After spending two weeks with the art camp at Christel House, Yael and I were left with many wonderful memories and a rekindled passion for working with children. We came to the school with paints, brushes, panels and several lesson plans. We left the hard work of content and design of the painting to the kids.
They were told about being commissioned by the Indianapolis Art Center for a large mural, and we were told that it needed to be completed in two weeks. After sharing pictures of how the children from other Christel House schools operate, they decided not only to have the mural feature all of the schools but also to join them by roads, sky and --- most importantly --- a shared passion for education.
The project opened their minds to how the WPA projects during the Great Depression are relevant to our lives today. They wanted to create a mural that brought hope and connection to their school. Every day the kids learned more and more how to work together. The first day we applied a coat of primer onto the boards. The students were well aware of how much painting time they were given.
The last day of painting I noticed that the kids learned how to respect the painting as a whole and were much more thoughtful and patient with adding their images. We were not only privileged to work with the children of the art camp but we were also honored to share the space with the art teacher, Gessica Mathis and Courtney. They were incredibly supportive of the project and helped us move quickly past the stumbling blocks and into a supportive and safe space that fostered creativity and balance throughout the entire two weeks. It was a true partnership.
During the dedication ceremony we were able to Skype with one of the schools from India. This experience allowed the children to communicate their ideas behind the mural and also state how it helped them build community and hope within the school setting. This experience reinforced the power of art to the campers as well as how appreciative the community at large is of their contribution.
Labels: Academy, art, Christel House, Indiana, Indiana artist, Joani Rothenberg, mural, summer, summer camp
Monday, June 20, 2011
Hop, Skip and JumpStart at Christel House Academy
Christel House Academy’s incoming kindergarteners are getting a head start for a successful first year of school thanks to a grant from the Junior League of Indianapolis. During the four-week JumpStart program, early childhood educators prepare students for the expectations of full-day Kindergarten.
“Many of our incoming children lack the skills needed to do kindergarten work,” says Principal Carey Dahncke. “This JumpStart gives them a solid foundation for learning.”
Each day, students identify and practice the alphabet and numbers up to 10, learn to write their first name, become familiar with simple shapes and colors and learn to successfully separate from their family members. Students receive breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack and also participate in recess and special offerings including Spanish, PE, music and art.
The Junior League of Indianapolis recently chose to focus their grants and volunteer efforts on improving reading skills in pre-school through elementary-age children. This grant is a part of that effort. “Our League members chose to focus on reading because we felt it would have an immediate and lasting impact in the lives of the children served, as well as the Indianapolis community,” said outgoing JLI President, Cece Gerdenich. “The Christel House Academy’s JumpStart program was a great fit for our new focus.”
Labels: Academy, Carey Dahncke, Cece Gerdenich, Christel House, education, Indiana, Indianapolis, JumpStart, Junior League, kindergarten, students
Humbling....it's the best word to describe my overwhelming
emotion so far. Our team visited Christel House India on Tuesday. The children
were absolutely precious, most welcoming and full of love and joy. Their smiles
are etched in my memory.
