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March 20, 2008- The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County (BGC) will host National Boys & Girls Club Week from Monday, March 31-Friday, April 4.
Special events have been planned for each day, including an Open House on Monday, a proclamation by Mayor Hatcher on Tuesday, Teacher’s Day on Wednesday, Family Day on Thursday and an Ice Cream Social on Friday.
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“This should be an exciting celebration,” said Mike Jones, Executive Director of the BGC. “We plan to show the community the rich diversity of programs and benefits the Club provides our young people.”
The BGC has been an integral part of the Statesboro community for more than six years. Each day, its three units provide services to youth ages 6-18 in the areas of character and leadership, education and career, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation.
For more information about Boys & Girls Club Week, please contact Mike Backus, Resource Development Director, at (912) 515-4051 or at mbackus@bgcbulloch.org.
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EVENT SCHEDULE
Monday, March 31
Theme: Open House
Time: 4-6 p.m.
-Boys & Girls Club members/staff will conduct tours for visitors
-Portal Unit Proclamation Day 4:30-5:30 pm (Light Refreshments will be served)
Tuesday, April 1
Theme: Proclamation Day/Open House
Time: 4-6 p.m.
-Mayor Hatcher’s Proclamation at 4 p.m. in Denmark Unit Gym
-Denmark Unit Members (k-2nd graders) will perform Boys & Girls Clubs Theme Song in Denmark Gym after proclamation
-Portal Unit Tie-Dye Shirt Day-Portal members and parents will make tie-dye shirts to commemorate BGC Week from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 2
Theme: Teacher’s Day/Open House
Time: 4-6 p.m.
-Teachers of the Year will be invited to the Club to receive gifts
-Club staff will visit schools and take coupons from the Teaching Tree to teachers
-Portal Unit Teacher Appreciation/Talent Show from 5-6 p.m.
Thursday, April 3
Theme: Family Day/Open House
Time: 4-6 p.m.
-Bingo/Gym Activities at Denmark Unit beginning at 4pm
-Portal Unit Family Night from 4-6 p.m.
-Ice Breaker activity for parents/members/staff at Teen Center at 4:15 p.m.
-Student visitor eight ball tournament at Teen Center at 4:30 p.m.
-Student vs. Parents/Staff Volleyball Game at Teen Center at 5 p.m.
-Group Pictures at Teen Center at 5:50 p.m.
Friday, April 4
Theme: Ice Cream Social/Open House
Time: 4-6 p.m.
-Portal Unit Ice Cream Social from 4-5 p.m.
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March 19, 2008-Members of the Statesboro Service League visited female members of the Club’s Elvera Mays Teen Center on Monday, March 17, to talk to the teens about the importance of recycling.
Service League members began their visit by dividing the girls into groups of four and asking them to discuss items they had recycled in the past month. The Service League then asked the different groups to share their answers. Club members talked about recycling various items, including paper and plastic bottles. Before leaving, the Service League served refreshments and passed out reusable water bottles.
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Special thanks to the Statesboro Service League for spending time with our members!
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MARCH 14 - The Rotary Club of Statesboro recently donated $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County (BGC).
“This generous contribution will be used to enhance our educational programs,” said Mike Jones, Executive Director of the BGC.
The BGC offers a variety of educational programs to its members, including Power Hour and Money Matters: Make it Count. |
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Power Hour, a comprehensive homework help and tutoring program designed to raise the academic proficiency of students, is offered to Club members ages 6-12.
Money Matters is a financial literacy program designed to help teens ages 13-18 expand their knowledge of money management and learn the skills that lead to financial independence.
In September 2007, a research study was conducted that proved the Club’s educational programs have a positive impact on its members. The study found that youth who attended the BGC had higher grade point averages (GPA’s) than youth from the same socio-economic background who did not attend the Club. Club members had better grades in a variety of subjects, including math, science and social studies. The study also found that Club members who attended the Club more days during the school year had better grades than those who attended the Club fewer days during the school year.
Rotary International is a volunteer organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. The Rotary Club of Statesboro has been established for over 70 years and participates in a number of community projects, including Pittman Rotary Scholarship Fund, Care-Ring Program, Georgia Rotary Student Program, Boy Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County and Habitat for Humanity.
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March 13, 2008-Shoney’s of Statesboro hosted “Kid’s Night” on Wednesday, March 12, to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County (BGC).
A portion of the proceeds made during the hours of 5-8 p.m. were donated to the Club. Members of the BGC’s Torch Club, an organization promoting leadership development, greeted customers as they entered the restaurant and showed them to their seats. The Club also had a display table stationed near the front doors of the restaurant, which featured volunteer information, Club newsletters, BGC book bags and abstinence information.
The BGC extends a special thank you to Shoney’s and members of the Statesboro community for their support of the Club.
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March 12, 2008-Weldon T. Watts was recently named the 2007 Youth of the Year at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County (BGC). Watts, a senior at Statesboro High School (SHS), has been a member of the BGC for the past six years.
“The Club is a safe place where I can have fun and learn new things,” he said.
During his time at the Club, Weldon has participated in athletics and been involved in the BGC’s Torch Club and Keystone Club.
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Weldon has also been active in the Club’s abstinence education program, and in May 2007, was selected to participate in a trip to Washington, D.C., to speak to Congressional leaders about the importance of abstinence education to the youth of America.
At SHS, Watts has been active in basketball, JROTC and his passion—football. According to Steve Pennington, Head Football Coach at SHS, Watts was a great team player, always eager to encourage both his teammates and his opponents.
“It was not uncommon to see Weldon help other team’s players off the ground or pat them on the back when they performed well. His disposition is what we would like for all our players to possess,” he said.
In addition to his Club and school responsibilities, Watts has also worked for several organizations, including Statesboro Floor Covering, Badcock Home Furnishings, Ogeechee Technical College and a local daycare.
In February, Watts signed a scholarship to play football with Georgia Military College beginning this fall. Although he looks forward to being on the football team, he has another passion—art—that he plans to pursue during his time in college.
“If I can go to college, I can do anything,” he said. “Once I get to Georgia Military, I plan to get my degree by staying focused and choosing the right paths.”
The National Youth of the Year Program is designed to promote and recognize service to Club and community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life.
Each Boys & Girls Club organization selects a Youth of the Year who receives a certificate and a medallion. The Youth of the Year at each respective Club then enters a state competition, where the winner receives a plaque and enters a regional competition. Regional winners receive a $5000 scholarship and enter the national competition, which is held in Washington, D.C. The National Youth
of the Year receives an additional $10,000 scholarship and is installed by the President of the United States.
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| March 12, 2008-Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County (BGC) recently got a lesson in fencing. Stewart Johnson, Coach of Georgia Southern University’s (GSU) Fencing Club, and three student fencers visited the BGC on Tuesday, March 11, to introduce Club members to the basics of the sport.
Johnson discussed the history of fencing and the importance of safety while the student fencers donned jackets and helmets and demonstrated various fencing moves.
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Afterward, Club members were allowed to judge competitions between the student fencers, and several members were chosen to participate in fencing matches against the GSU students.
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March 3, 2008-Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County (BGC) are learning the art of ballet thanks to the generosity of the Statesboro School of Dance.
Shay Morgan, Director for the Statesboro School of Dance, has wanted to start a community service project for the past several years, but, until recently, wasn’t sure what that project should be.
“I felt lead to the Boys & Girls Clubs,” she said.
Morgan, along with several of her dance students, will be visiting the Club on Fridays for the next few months to conduct ballet lessons for members of the Club’s Denmark Unit.
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“I wanted my students to be able to take their love of dance and what they have learned in their classes and share that gift with other children,” she said.
The series of lessons, which have been dubbed “Faith in Motion,” began on February 15 and will run through May 2.
“The lessons will give Club members an excellent introduction into the world of ballet,” said Morgan.
“The classes should help them develop coordination, flexibility, muscle strength and an appreciation for the art of ballet,” she said.
On Friday, May 9, Club members will show off what they have learned in a “Student Demonstration,” which will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Averitt Center for the Arts.
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March 3, 2008-Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County’s Elvera Mays Teen Center got a lesson in economics on Thursday, Feb. 28.
Georgia Southern University economics professor Dr. Greg Brock talked to the teens about interest rates, the stock market and the importance of money to the global economy.
He also introduced the teens to the website www.handsonbanking.org, which offers free, age-appropriate tutorials on such topics as budgeting, bank accounts and services, borrowing money and establishing credit, and investing. |
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