A Voice for the Youth August-September  2010

Orange Youth Services is recognized as the central agency for the development, implementation and coordination of programs and services for the youth of the Town of Orange.

Pictured are some Art Colony artists displaying their Recognition certificates at year-end event with their families.

3^rd Annual Art Colony Students Displayed Their Work on HPCC Walls

The Youth Services Third Annual Art Colony was an opportunity for Orange youth, grades K-12, to offer a work of art from various media: drawings, paintings, prints, and photography. The art work had been displayed on the walls of High Plains Community Center over three months and had been viewed by hundreds of visitors to the Center. Collection of art work was assisted through school resources. The work of all youth was accepted for display. Twenty works were submitted this year.  An artist/parent-sibling, event was held in May to celebrate the artists. Subway and Reno’s Pizza donated the food for the event

The premise of the Art Colony is to encourage all students to appreciate their respective artistic gifts and to have the chance to be afforded a place

to be exhibited and enjoyed by the community. Special thanks to AMS Art teacher Rebecca Casey for her assistance.

Youth Services AMS Students of the Month

DYLAN MATURO 14 is the son of proud parents Jay and Kathy Maturo.  He is an eighth grader at Amity Middle School.  Dylan is a fine young man who is kind, caring, well-mannered and respectful.  He is a first honors student.  His favorite subjects are computer technology and English.  Dylan’s teachers report that he is conscientious, patient with others, compassionate, and has a good work ethic.     Dylan is the role model of a good friend.  He has an innate ability to see situations from many perspectives and show empathy.  He has great character and insight.  Dylan is always willing to help out and is well received and liked by his peers, teachers and administrators.

Dylan would light up the floor at the nursing home when he went to visit his grandmother.  He took extra time with many of the elderly residents complimenting them and making them feel special.   Dylan volunteers at the Beth El Shelter Sunday meals supported by Holy Infant Church. He enjoys karate, swimming, movie making, the outdoors, reading, comedy, and video games.  Dylan will be attending Notre Dame High School in the fall.

CHRISTOPHER AMADEO is a wonderful and happy young man with a big heart.  He recently graduated Amity Middle School in Orange where he was a member of “Miss Lynn’s” (Edwards) class.  He really enjoyed working in the school snack store run by his class, as well as math and gym class.  He also loved participating in unified sports (especially basketball), Fabulous Friends and the student council. Outside of school Chris is a member of the Oxford Special Olympics.  He trains in all the events and through hard work and perseverance, he has won several gold and silver medals in the standing long jump and 50 meter dash.

At home in Bethany Chris likes to wrestle with his brother Peter, play with his 2 miniature dachshunds (Truman and Octavius) and play basketball and soccer on his wii.  He is so great on wii that he even beats his 26-year old cousin!  He also likes tubing and fishing on dad’s boat.  Chris loves being with his many cousins, playing volleyball and just goofing around, but most of all he loves beating Grandma Amadeo in poker every weekend!

Some of the Intergenerational Tutoring program teachers

and students posed during graduation ceremony.

Intergenerational Tutors Make the Difference Teaching Students

Orange Youth Services and Senior Services offered students, grades 1-12, and tutorial/homework help this year. Senior citizen tutors assisted students succeed in their studies each week at the Case Library. Subjects tutored were the following: Language Arts, Reading/comp., Writing skills, Science, Math, History, and Study Skills. Tutors work in 45 minute sessions one-to-one with their students. The program has been a great success over the years, with many students raising one grade level.

Anti-bullying posters were made and displayed at the school

by AMS students.

Youth Services/SDE Provided 7^th Grade Students School Bullying Project

Through a grant from the State Department of Education-Youth Services Bureau funding, Youth Services provided 200 AMS seventh grade students with the Surviving Bullies School Climate Project offering a significant project in regard school bullying. The initiative ran from October 2009 through June 2010. Surveys had been administered to the students in regard bullying issues through project personnel and Amity staff. The project involved student questionnaires, a video book, online resources, and utilization of school advisors and staff offering students, who may have concerns about bullying, as an on-site resource. Results of the survey were very positive in AMS students’ feeling safe at the school and their confidence in the intervention of staff. The AMS personnel, in conjunction with the School Climate Project staff, will involve students in projects that create a component of unification among fellow classmates which would be an effective counterpoint to school bullying. Students made anti-bullying posters which are displayed in the school as well. Youth Services would be attending relevant training, personnel sessions, student activities/groups and school functions next semester. Special thanks to AMS teacher Vicki Fielosh for her assistance.

Pictured above are some of the super volunteers at the

recent K-6 Art Exhibit event at Case Library.

AHS Student Volunteers Offer Their Valuable Assistance

Youth Services events have been assisted by Amity High School volunteers who have offered to help at various events such as the K-6 Case Library Art Exhibit, Youth Services dances, Art Colony Recognition event, Teen Talent Contest, Community Services administrative assistance, and more. They have shown themselves to be reliable, courteous, and friendly to all. Youth Services expresses its sincerest thank you for their volunteerism.

Come, Share, and Maybe Be Famous!!!

The Youth Services newsletter “Youth Informer” is seeking submissions from students! Photos, drawings, poems, essays, favorite book or movie review, jokes, favorite hobbies info …All newsletter submissions should be emailed to julatowski@orange-ct.gov for our future editions.

Subject email: newsletter. Thanks!

Photographs of Recent Dances  

(Please Note: Parents of 2010 Incoming 7^th graders need to complete a Youth Services Activity Guidelines permission slip if the student plans to attend the coming Youth Services dances. The information is used for dance rosters. Parents can email John at julatowski@orange-ct.gov for copy of slip. Subject the email: dance slip)