Working together 2 make a difference

Educators working collaboratively

Welcome to Our Online Service Community!

Welcome! Are you a new visitor? Please scroll down a bit to learn more about this space and how you, your family, or your students can benefit from participating here!
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Working Together 2 Make a Difference is a community for educators, parents, and students who are involved in volunteerism and service learning. Our goal is to create and nurture connections that will provide all of us inspiration and support as we strive to give back to our local and global communities. Please join us in that mission by registering as a participant, sharing what you are up to, and engaging others in conversation here. We're looking forward to getting to know you!

Jenny Luca
Head of Information Services
Toorak College, Mt.Eliza
Melbourne, Australia.
http://jennylu.wordpress.com

Angela Stockman
Director
WNY Young Writers' Studio and WNY Education Associates
Buffalo, New York
United States of America
http://www.angelastockman.com/blog

Mike Poluk
Elementary Teacher (K-8)
Algoma District School Board
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
http://www.mikepoluk.com

Blog Posts

Erin B. Tryka

Three Cups of Tea

Right now Kristin Smith and I are reading Three Cups of Tea with our 8th graders. They are truly enjoying it and learning to break down their sterotypes and prejudices towards Muslims. It is wonderful! We'll keep you posted. Our plan is to have students raise awareness and funds for Pennies for Peace and to do a letter writing campaign as well!

Posted by Erin B. Tryka on November 2, 2009 at 11:00pm — 8 Comments

Angela

Building Community

Establishing a new online community is an exciting venture. We've been happy and comfortable watching activity begin to bubble up in small but meaningful ways here and eager for this to evolve as a true community that isn't really led by any one person. This is a learning experience for all of us. Discovering how to engage purposefully with one another is a big part of that learning.

Sometimes, when we are new to engaging in online spaces, we aren't sure what the expectations are or how to part… Continue

Posted by Angela on November 1, 2009 at 2:30am — 2 Comments

Amanda Ritter

Students choose their outfits


Students volunteered to be models and then they went through the racks and racks of donated clothes to find their perfect outfit for the fashion parade:

… Continue

Posted by Amanda Ritter on October 29, 2009 at 9:38am

Amanda Ritter

Thankyou Letter from Fitted for Work

How nice it is to get a written 'thankyou' and this one certainly goes above and beyond! The writer linked her thanks to our school values - that's a project in itself!! This letter was to our Principal:

On behalf of Fitted for Work Mornington Peninsula I would like to extend my thanks to the Toorak College community for its work in supporting the launch of the FFW service in Frankston. Fitted for Work assists disadvantaged women by providing them with free clothing to attend job interviews,… Continue

Posted by Amanda Ritter on October 29, 2009 at 9:30am

Amanda Ritter

Fitted For Work

Fitted for work raises funds and collects second hand clothing to train women in work and interview skills and fit them out in work attire so they can attend a job interview. It is a fantastic cause and my students got behind it in a big way. This is the script from the launch night for their new Frankston store:

Fitted for Work Toorak College Fashion Parade Script

The Year 11 Business management class ran some small business ventures at half year for one of their major proje… Continue

Posted by Amanda Ritter on October 29, 2009 at 9:00am — 2 Comments

Angela

The Global Poetry Project Evolves

When Rob Currin contacted me a few weeks back eager to begin connecting himself and his students to a global community of writers, my first thought was to send him this way. I first met Rob in a workshop that I was leading around establishing personal learning networks almost a year ago. I was inspired by his enthusiasm and his energy, and it's been an honor to support him as he's begun this work in various ways. We've been collaborating around how he might align the work of his Global Poetry Pr… Continue

Posted by Angela on October 26, 2009 at 3:46am

Zachery Walters

Openyoureyes

Why is it
that when you’re up
the last thought you have
is knowing you'll be down
Why is it
that when your down
the only thought you have
is wishing you were up.
Why is it
When everything seems to be perfect
something has to come
making sure it doesn't stay
Why is it
whenever you're in love
what seems to finally be real
ends up being plastic in a landfill
Why is it
that today’s world overwhelms itself with problems
forcing them on you, making sure you’re not happy
you take care of one problem
yo… Continue

Posted by Zachery Walters on October 23, 2009 at 10:00am

John Evans

Service Work in the Comics

This morning I came across this great mention of service work in the comics pages.



It points out two things that I think are important about students and service work:

1. They can be super enthusiastic about the idea.
2. Over commitment can put a stop to real action taking place.

Have a super day folks!

John

Posted by John Evans on October 21, 2009 at 10:11pm — 8 Comments

Angela

Need Help Organizing Fundraiser

Hi all--quick question for you: has anyone here ever led or participated in a fundraiser to provide relief to a family in need due to natural disaster or unexpected tragedy? One of our closest friends suffered the loss of both of her parents last week. They were killed during a home invasion. The family is now facing a mountain of unexpected expenses and a long legal battle. I would like to establish a fund and a donations process that can help them out, but I want to make sure I do this effecti… Continue

Posted by Angela on October 19, 2009 at 2:26am — 5 Comments

Heath McCabe

Get Global

As a part of our personal development programme, this term we will be using aspects of the UK developed resource Get Global. This provides teachers with ideas for lessons and activities which promote global citizenship in the classroom. It begins by having the students explore the question of what it means to be a global citizen: thinking about their future and how they can make a difference as individuals. Students then choose an issue… Continue

Posted by Heath McCabe on October 15, 2009 at 2:40am

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Forum

Angela

Welcoming and Connecting With the Members of the Global Poetry Project Group

Started by Angela Nov 4.

Laura

When We Were

Started by Laura Oct 25.

Kon Bouzikos

student representatiive councils 2 Replies

Started by Kon Bouzikos. Last reply by Kon Bouzikos Oct 1.

 
 

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Latest Activity

Jenny Luca left a comment for kathryn
10 hours ago
kathryn added a discussion to the group The Global Poetry Project
the grass is soaked with every color
Grass is soaked with every color Each blade saturated in another hue Technicolor fields for the kaleidoscope yields chromatic ecstasy for far and few see the world through a puddle of oil become into the gallantry of art there is a great evil, it...
18 hours ago
kathryn joined Rob Currin's group
The Global Poetry Project
The Global Poetry Project aims to provide a space for members to expand upon their cultural views through the writing and reading of poetry.
18 hours ago
kathryn is now a member of Working together 2 make a difference
Welcome Them!
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Angela left a comment for Lee Ann Spillane
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NinaD replied to Amber's discussion 'Unexplained' in the group The Global Poetry Project
Gosh, Amber you have real talent. I really enjoyed reading your poem because I had to 'think' about the message and the writer's intention. I think I get it. Keep writing, as there really does need to be more poets in the world. And... I agree the...
yesterday
NinaD and Rob Currin are now friends
yesterday
Glenys Lowden commented on Erin B. Tryka's blog post 'Three Cups of Tea'
Thanks Kristen for that idea. I haven't read the book although I have it in the Library. I will now read it and add it to either my Book Club or my Year 7 reading program. Linking the text into action on issues of social justice is a great idea.
on Friday
Rob Currin replied to Amber's discussion 'To Write' in the group The Global Poetry Project
Amber-you are the Global Poetry Project's Australian Pioneer! Your work is wonderful! Please continue to contribute and urge some of your school mates to do the same.
on Friday
Ashley Pagano replied to Ashley Pagano's discussion 'Music' in the group The Global Poetry Project
Thank you so much!
on Thursday
Erin B. Tryka replied to Kevin Rosier's discussion 'Life' in the group The Global Poetry Project
I enjoyed reading your poem, Kevin. One comment from your former ELA teacher: Capitalize your "I". Unless you are going for an e.e. cummings thing; in which case all of your "I"s should be uniformly lowercased!!!! ;o) Great work! I love reading th...
on Thursday
Erin B. Tryka replied to Ashley Pagano's discussion 'Music' in the group The Global Poetry Project
Wow! I love this Ashley! Keep writing... I am very proud of you ;o)
on Thursday
Erin B. Tryka joined Rob Currin's group
The Global Poetry Project
The Global Poetry Project aims to provide a space for members to expand upon their cultural views through the writing and reading of poetry.
on Thursday
Erin B. Tryka commented on Erin B. Tryka's blog post 'Three Cups of Tea'
I think it is also important to note that this book sparks an interest in current events as well. Our students are compelled to look at the Buffalo News, CNN, or Fox News and check out what is going on right now in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Kristi...
on Thursday
Kristin Marie Smith commented on Erin B. Tryka's blog post 'Three Cups of Tea'
Can I borrow it when we meet either in Dec or if we meet up for a studio fellows novel writing extravaganza???? This topic has me fascinated and I can't learn enough about it!!!!!
on Thursday
Jenny Luca replied to Kristin Marie Smith's discussion 'Three Cups of Tea ...Making a Difference' in the group Use Your Words
The students at my school this year were inspired by Daraja Academy (see Mark Lukach's page on this ning and my entries about our Sleepout for School's initiative). I'm about to send a cheque for over $900.00 to Mark that he will pass onto the fou...
on Thursday
Angela left a comment for Jillian W.
on Thursday
 

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