1. By parent request the Lefler CLC designated time during a fall SNAC meeting to a presentation on what to expect from young teens. An LPS social worker did a seminar with parents on good supervision practices to use with middle school aged teens. It was an open forum where parents could discuss and ask questions. Topics ranged from how to know when your student is being dishonest to knowing the parents of your student’s friends. Parents received information on setting realistic rules and guidelines for pre-teen students and signs to recognize risk associated behaviors. The presentation was very well received and feedback from families was positive.

2. A Lefler family with students in all three middle school grades regularly attend many of our after-school and evening programs. The family had recently moved to Lincoln from the east coast and the parents shared with us on many occasions that our programs had enabled their children to develop relationships with peers sooner as well as having a safe place to be in a city they were still unfamiliar with. Additionally, Saturday programming offered the parents a time to catch up at home knowing their students were engaged in positive activities.

The oldest of the three students is special needs and the program staff worked very closely with him helping him to develop a routine and keep up on his homework. The younger two students also took part in tutoring and homework help 2-3 times a week and both saw improvement in their grades during the year. More importantly they developed a better set of study skills as the year progressed. All three students are enrolled in our summer program again this year and in the past year have made great strides in adjusting to their new environment. They are more willing to try activities outside of their comfort zone and their attitudes have become more positive.

3. In cooperation with our school’s character committee the Lefler CLC hosted a family character night in the spring. Families had an opportunity to share a meal together and share things about each other’s character that they valued. A family picture was also taken and printed for each family. Parents then went to workshops on Bullying and Drugs and Alcohol. The themes for the workshops were identify it, deal with it and prevent it. Parents and grandparents were engaged in interactive workshops where they gained valuable information and skills for approaching bullying and drug and alcohol related situations with good character.

During the presentations students participated in various character related activities which included making Responsibility Boxes, (decorated boxes that can be put by the door to hold all of things students are responsible for bringing to school each day) cookie decorating, decorating a family photo frame for their new photos with word and symbols that express their family character and poster coloring and games.

At the end of the evening families received packets of information and books for each of the students. In addition there was a short ceremony celebrating the completion of the family character night. The feedback from families was very positive. One parent commented, “it was a nice way to spend an evening doing projects together that reflect positive character.”

4. A partnership with the American Red Cross allowed both the Elliott and Lefler CLC’s to offer free baby-sitting and CPR/First Aid classes to our families. The classes were very well attended. Students and parents received invaluable caretaking and life-saving skills. Feedback from participants was very positive and there is demand for more classes to take place in the future.

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