I look forward to sharing more of their story with you as we honor their work at the Students for World Peace Day and a separate night for them to share their experiences, challenges, rewards and transformations with you.  Also keep an eye out for their article in the Sunday Sun Sentinel paper in April.
 

If their MMUN trip wasn’t enough, when they arrived back at school the next day, the Lower Elementary classes honored them with a beautiful “Welcome Home” banner and a delicious lunch, complete with homemade chocolate chip cookies.  Thanks to Ms. Angela and all of the Lower Elementary staff and students, who made their return so special.
 

We had the distinct pleasure of a visit by Judith Cunningham and her husband just this past week.  Judith is the creator and Executive Director of the MMUN and her husband Michael, who works closely with the UN and recently organized an awards ceremony to honor those organizations working towards completing the Millennium Developmental Goals, complete with a stunning segment by Desmond Tutu.  Our wonderful Upper Elementary class performed a Japanese Tea Ceremony to honor Judith, Michael and myself.  It was the most respectful and peaceful honoring that I had ever experienced.  Judith and Michael were blown away by the children’s attention to detail, their integrity and their peacefulness.  We are so blessed by this class and they are great role models for us all.  There is a renewed sense of hope when you experience the reality of our students- hope that the future will be brighter and the world will find peace and social justice with each passing day.
 

Gratefully yours,
Dr. Susan

p.s. See our Sun-Sentinel article on the front page of the Community Sunday section.

Next came the Dance Party with our Hip Hop and Tap/Jazz teacher Ms. Wesa, and sports and games with Coach Roudy and Dr. Mike. To conclude the party, Dr. Susan and some Summit students, including Madison Reger, Cristina Neely, Daniel Luptak and Ryan Enriquez and others welcomed the YAC children into our library to choose a new book for themselves and gently used books for their siblings or friends from the collection of books donated by the Summit families. Special thanks to Kelle Enriquez, our PTA Service chair and Nicole Smith, from the Summit Fundraising Committee, for their extraordinary efforts in coordinating and assisting with this event. Heart-felt thanks also to the Keane Family for donating the Balloon Guy entertainment and to all the staff and parents who participated and donated books and food. The children had such a great time together and with the various gatherings we have had together, they are forming friendships that bring our community together.

The Elementary students at Summit Private School will be serving Thanksgiving dinner to the children served by the Youth Activity Center (YAC) of Boca Raton as one of many service projects that these children well be engaged in this year.  Every year Summit families, with the help of its PTA and devoted parent Evelyn Swid, create a Thanksgiving Feast for the entire student body, families and staff and the leftovers are taken to Boca Helping Hands.  This year, during a staff meeting, there was the idea to invite the students from the YAC to serve them a Thanksgiving feast as well.  Dr. Susan Mike, Vice Head of School and Kelle Enriquez, Service Chairman for the PTA, were thrilled with the idea and were determined to make it happen.  The feast takes place, Wednesday, November 19^th from 3:30-5pm.  A full Thanksgiving dinner will be served by the Summit Elementary volunteers and parents followed by sports and games and a dance party.  We are thrilled to have this opportunity to serve the community in this way- child to child, heart to heart. 

The students at Summit, grades 1^st-6^th have been serving the Youth Activity Center students since last Valentine’s Day, when the students, parents and staff came together to provide new books, snacks, crafts, games and dancing in a “Heart-to-Heart Giving Party”.  Each student of the YAC program, approximately 95 children, received a new book and they even took home a gently used book for their siblings.  

From this act of service, Kelle Enriquez, a Summit parent and active philanthropist, saw a need to provide these children additional snacks or a meal and shared the idea with Summit Administration to set up a monthly Peanut Butter and Jelly Jam, with the assistance of the Children’s Aid Club, to make sandwiches for the students of the YAC program.  Since then the PB& J Jam has grown and we now have joined with Grandview to increase our sandwich-making capacity.  Our first event was in October and we collectively made 600 sandwiches.  We plan to make a variety of sandwiches monthly to serve these children.  So how fitting to provide these children with a festive meal as we give thanks for the service we can provide and the lessons of gratitude our children can experience and share. 

         
23 elementary kids from Summit and 17 high school kids from Grandview joined together to make around 530 sandwiches in one hour!  It was great watching the kids from both schools interact.  The older kids were guiding the younger kids on the art of spreading peanut butter and jelly and explaining to them that they were making the sandwiches for kids that are hungry and don’t have as much as they do.  How cool is that?!

The 530 sandwiches, combined with 75 that Dr. Susan brought in from a mini PB&J Jam that she had over the weekend, made over 600 sandwiches that we delivered to the Youth Activity Center Monday evening.  The YAC was very appreciative and started handing them out right away.

Thank you to Dr. Mike, Dr. Susan and the parents who helped out with the kids. Everyone had a great time and Grandview is willing to host the PB&J Jam each month.

We are looking for families willing to sponsor or help cover the costs for the PB&J Jams going forward. It takes about $150 to make 600 sandwiches.  Not bad!

If anyone is interested in sponsoring the next PB&B Jam, or would like to share the costs, I look forward to hearing from you!

Please help us continue this great project where the kids on both sides benefit.

Kelle Enriquez, Honorary PTA Chair – Community Outreach Programs

(561) 702-4527 ~ kelle@juiceplusmakessense.com

“The needs of mankind are universal. Our means of meeting them create the richness and diversity of the planet. The Montessori child should come to relish the texture of that diversity.” ~ Maria Montessori

Every child at the YAC received a new book and they could take gently used books home to their younger siblings(95 children from Kindergarten to 6th grade).  Dr. Mike led a group of boys in games and relay races while Ms. Wesa, some of the moms and I engaged the girls in Hip Hop and crafts.  All of the children had the opportunity to enjoy playing together, doing crafts, sharing valentines and eating the snacks and cookie craft provided.  The parents were so helpful setting up, assisting the children with crafts, watching children on the playground, overseeing the books and valentines being distributed and cleaning up.  It was a tremendous group effort and the children had a great time making new friends.
 

I want to give a special thanks to Evelyn Swid who provided the information about the YAC, helped me to coordinate the entire event, and kept the food flowing.  Thanks to Kelle Enriquez who helped to transfer the supplies to the YAC and set up for the event; to Miss Rachel and the Kindergarten and Elementary students, Miss Jeanne and Miss Josephine’s class and Miss Crystal and Miss Elsa’s class for contributing the beautiful handmade Valentine’s that all children at the YAC received, and to all of the parents and students who donated their time, money, supplies and hearts to make this a wonderful success.
 

Our Summit Family has heart and I am extremely proud and honored to be a part of this community.
 

Gratefully yours,
Dr. Susan

The Orphan Generation

The UN states that in the next decade approximately 45% of all children in Zimbabwe will be orphaned by AIDS and about half of them will be HIV positive. In just one province, Masvingo, there are now more than 100,000 AIDS orphans. In Africa the extended family has always been strong and has provided for orphan children. Now however, due to the magnitude of the epidemic there are no surviving relatives so there is no one to provide care. Together we can make a difference – please help.

What is being done:

Currently one of our parents is an airline pilot and travels to Zimbabwe where he personally distributes much needed clothing, shoes, toys, etc.

How you can help/What is especially needed:

Please bring your donations of clothing, shoes, undergarments, & toys for newborns and children up to 12 years old to Barbara’s office by Monday October 15^h . She will collect them and give them to the Davy Family. If at all possible – if you can bring your items in a box – it will help us when we sort and prepare the items for transport. If not, any way that you can get them to us is much appreciated!

How it will be distributed:

Mr. Davy will personally bring the donated items to an orphanage in great need in Zimbabwe.

If you have any questions or would like further information please contact: sdavy@bellsouth.net
Thank you very much for your kind support.

on Halloween and get a FREE treat!

Bring in a canned or packaged food item

and get a FREE regular coffee or tea.

Come in a costume and get an

extra FREE treat.

Donations benefit Boca Helping Hands.

Wed., Oct. 31 – 8 p.m. ‘til midnight!

Or bring in your canned & packaged items to Barbara before October 30th and she will bring them to Cravings!