One Game Day, Four Games

Our game day last Friday was probably one of the windiest days I’ve ever experienced!  The goals were blowing all over the place, the balls weren’t staying in position, and there were even a few dirt devils swirling around the field.  Did that stop us?  Not even for a second!  It really turned out to be a great day.  We had a lot of people show up.  One special group of Starbucks volunteers showed up and made Gatorade for the kids and even set up a face-painting table.  We had paintings of cute little butterflies to stars painted on the cheeks, and even a few mustaches and unibrows on some of the girls.  The girls got into it more than the boys, but all in all, everyone had a great time.  Thank you Starbucks for making this game day one to always remember.  

- Crystal Schober

  Program Coordinator

Across town at Anson Jones Elementary School, the wind was blowing just as hard.  Luckily we had stakes to hold down the goals, but they still managed to flip over a few times from the forceful gusts of wind.  At times, I thought the tiny third graders would be blown away, but they all persevered and played as hard as they always do.  The new school, Lida Hooe, came out to Anson Jones and showed their new skills out on the soccer field while friends and families watched.  We may not have had face painting, but we still had lots of fun!


- Tessa Handa
  Americorps*VISTA

New Year, New Opportunities

Lida Hooe Elementary. This year, 2011, has opened many doors for America SCORES Dallas.  In February, we brought in a new school, Lida Hooe, to the program through our capacity building model and our partnership with Big Thought/Thriving Minds.  This will be the 5^th school the America SCORES Dallas program will serve this year! 

FC Dallas. In March, FC Dallas invited our poet-athletes, coaches, staff, and the Board of Directors to their opening game!  What a fun night.  Our partnership with FC Dallas has also captured the attention of a few of their star players.  This week, FC Dallas Stars, Brek Shea, Kevin Hartman, and Eric Avila volunteered at Steven’s Park Elementary to help our kids with some pro soccer tips during their soccer practice. 

Thank you Donors! On March 31st, we threw our first annual Donor Appreciation Reception at Café San Miguel.  The evening was spent honoring the commitment our donors have made to America SCORES Dallas.  We also showed them how they have impacted the lives of inner-city Dallas youth through the impromptu poetic performances of three poet-athletes.  We are SO very thankful for all our donors. 

STARBUCKS. This April we are partnering with Starbucks to help our schools and the community.  The Starbucks Foundation awarded a $15,500 grant to America SCORES Dallas for our Sprouts in Action for Greener Communities project.  Also, locally, Starbucks partners (Starbucks’ lingo for “employee”) have been challenged to donate their time helping our schools with community service projects, game days, and tutoring!  In addition to all the volunteering, the Lakewood Starbucks is hosting two Open Mic Nights for any poet under the age of 16 to share their original poetry. 

National Poetry SLAM ! Also in April, two of our students, Angel J. from Stevens Park and Dulce F. from Cesar Chavez, went to the National Poetry Slam in New York to read their poems and represent America SCORES Dallas!  What a great adventure for these kids! 

MAY.  May is going to be BUSY.  On May 13^th, we will be hosting our annual SHOUT at the AT&T Wyly Theatre.  The children of all our Dallas schools will come together to share their poetry that they have worked on all year.  Then, the following day, May 14^th, is our Jamboree at….get this…..Cowboys Stadium!!!  How cool is that?!  Our Dallas school soccer teams will take on our Fort Worth school soccer teams.  What a way to end the season. 

This is only the first half of this busy year.  Keep your eyes and ears open about what ASD will be up to for the second half!

-         Crystal Schober
Program Coordinator

April Fools' Day: Some Serious Soccer

April’s first game day fell on April Fool’s Day, a day historically wrought with chicanery and practical jokes. However, once the first whistle was blown out on Maple Lawn Elementary's field, there was no fooling around.  Both teams were focused on the task at hand: playing some soccer.  And that is exactly what they did.

Maple Lawn v Steven's Park: A Volunteer's Perspective

The most recent game day for America SCORES was between Maple Lawn and Stevens Park elementary schools. As a new volunteer for America SCORES I was excited to see the fruits of everyone’s labor (the students, the coaches, and the people behind the scenes who keep this organization humming) culminate into a fun and beautiful afternoon of soccer.

We showed up early to paint the lines for the field and assemble the goals. Before we could even get the equipment ready a group of the America SCORES students had already gathered around the field eager to start practice and kick the ball around. You could tell the students were genuinely excited about the game, and almost annoyed with the fact that they weren’t already playing. We recruited them to help assemble the goals, which ended up being a great exercise in teamwork, because I don’t think any of us were exactly positive on how to put them together. Once the initial setup was complete the boys and the girls were separated to start drills and get warmed up. It was obvious to me at this point that the competitive spirit wasn’t a necessary element of game day; it was mostly about running around and having fun. The kids really just wanted to hang out with their friends.

As it got closer to game time the field started to fill up with friends, parents, siblings, and teachers. It was great to see that this was actually a community event. Everyone wanted to come out and support the players, and in a way, support the organization. The game was 40 minutes of organized chaos, but that’s okay because everyone was yelling and shouting and cheering them on, and you could tell it really made them feel good.

The game was an overall success (as I am sure every game is) because, while score is not taken into consideration, everyone wins. The kids were able to have fun, get exercise, practice teamwork and gain confidence through the support of their friends and family. The parents were able to see their kids have healthy interactions with others and work towards a common goal. And the teachers, coaches and volunteers were visibly able to see that they were helping to build and strengthen communities. It is a great representation of how America SCORES is able to fulfill its mission, and I am very glad to be a part of it.



Katie Jackson
America SCORES Dallas Volunteer

National Spotlight on Nutrition Education

Many things happen in March. Spring Break. March Madness. Spring Equinox. St. Patrick’s Day. It is also the month of the American Diabetes Association’s annual campaign, National Nutrition Month©.  For 2011, the theme is “Eat Right with Color” and focuses on how the nutritional value of food can be indicated by their naturally bright pigments.  Green broccoli, red bell pepper, purple egg plant, yellow banana, just to name a few!

Here at America SCORES Dallas, we celebrate healthy lifestyles everyday in the classroom and out on the soccer field.  We educate, lead by example, and make fun games around eating healthy and participating in physical activities.  Last week at Maple Lawn Elementary, the girls’ soccer team played “Red Light, Green Light,” a game based on identifying healthy foods (a green light to dribble forward) and unhealthy foods (a red light to stop dribbling). This type of health education is pivotal for the children we serve, who all live in low-income and minority neighborhoods. These children face a number of barriers to eating healthy, participating in physical activities, and gaining knowledge of healthy habits, yet they consistently have deficient education and support from the school district.

 

As the nation observes nutrition education awareness this month, America SCORES Dallas celebrates our students' progress toward healthier lives every day.

Check out the campaign's nutrition education games and quizzes!

First Game Day of the Year: Cesar Chavez v Maple Lawn

Last Friday, the orange of Cesar Chavez and the purple of Maple Lawn united on the winter-browned field of Cesar Chavez Learning Center.  The goal nets billowed in the wind, the on-lookers shielded their eyes from the February sun, and the kids happily chased the flying soccer ball.  As the first game day of 2011, Friday saw an overwhelming turn out of parents, teachers, and other students on the side lines cheering on their teams.  Even the Cesar Chavez Thunderbirds cheerleaders were out jumping, flipping, and cheering.

The two games were a great start to a spring full of soccer games and fun.  Stay posted for more updates on the upcoming games and events!

Wells Fargo Advisors Visit Cesar Chavez Learning Center

Earlier this month, Wells Fargo Advisors presented America SCORES Dallas with a check for $8,500.  The boys and girls of Cesar Chavez Learning Center were able to help accept the check on behalf of America SCORES Dallas and learn about the bigger picture surrounding their daily afterschool program.  Wells Fargo Advisors help us empower our at-risk youth to be more engaged students, supportive teammates, and leaders of healthy lifestyles and community change.  Thank you Wells Fargo Advisors!