CHC In-Service in the Auburn-Gresham Community

post by CHC member, Lisa-Sun Gresham (how appropriate!)

Just another gorgeous day at Perspectives Charter in Auburn-Gresham

  

The day began briskly and early with a significant commute down to the Auburn-Gresham area of Chicago for our latest in-service day!  Sleepily riding the Red Line I embarked with fellow CHC member Savannah Jackson to the 79^th stop, narrowly missing other members standing on the train platform. Naturally (and foolishly) we banged on the train windows attempting to gain the attention of one CHC member we spotted through the glass. Our attempts were futile.

It is no joke when locals say the 79^th bus is the busiest and most jam-packed bus line in all of Chicago as we crammed sardine like into the front of the bus and slowly made our way to the back in preparation to arrive at Perspectives Charter School.  Again I saw a small entourage of CHC members scampering to make the bus stop, but to no avail- instead I pointed and giggled as the scenario played out one more time!

Finally at Perspectives we learned about the many facets of the ELEV8 program and all the activities it provides the students, including being given a wonderful tour of their garden and built in health clinic that is open to the public with a separate door.  We were all greeted kindly by clinic staff and pleasantly by students practicing the 26 Principals of a Disciplined Life. This model focuses on building a foundational culture of success for students to prepare them for their time in college, the workplace and in life.



Becca and James (class clowns) heading into the Access Health Center at Perspectives Middle.



We then had training on community mapping systems detailing how local teens canvassed their communities street by street, armed with cell phones and clipboards, and searched storefronts.  This was done with the intention of determining the resources available to them or updating businesses that were no longer in operation.

Mickey and Farmer Sydney talk about the school garden and compost area.

We got a tour of The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation and were able to take a peek at their proposed plan to create a new railway stop for 79^th street, to hopefully alleviate the congestion on the busiest bus line in all of Chicago.  A few of us even received free tickets for the showing of “It Shoudda Been Me” by Dr. Doriane C. Miller, a play made to explore issues of mental health.

It was a gorgeous fall day to be out and about on the Perspectives campus.

Afterward we had a delicious southern comfort meal as an entire CHC team, with entrees ranging from catfish to beef tips and world famous peach cobbler for dessert at BJ’s Market and Bakery! Full of good food we meandered back to Perspectives for a final training on Classroom Management.  We discussed the various tips, tricks, and methods to effectively work with different age groups as a leader, facilitator, and educator. By the end of the day we shared our personal experiences in classrooms or as presenters, and played a wild game of Catch Phrase as a team building activity.  Picture hot potato mixed with charades. Yep. That was us.

Checking out how school lunch is done at Perspectives.



This school is beautiful. We're so glad Mickey and the rest of Perspectives Middle School let us come for visit!