Blog – Page 80 – Act Locally Waco

Act Locally Waco New Year’s Resolution ideas for 2019

By Ashley Bean Thornton

I’m a big believer in New Year’s Resolutions. I come up with one or two every year and probably every other year or so, I stick with one. Sometimes they are quite dramatic. One year I decided to make walking my default form of transportation; that was life-changing. Most years they are small and concrete, e.g. floss every night. Some years they are personal – spend one hour a week on cleaning the house. (Don’t judge!) Some years they have more of a community focus – pick up a bag of trash once a week.

My resolutions aren’t earth shattering, but they help me remember that even a little effort applied consistently toward a goal can make a difference, and having a goal makes it more likely I will make the effort. The smallest thing I actually do has more impact than the biggest dream with no action behind it.

Here’s a handful of ideas for resolutions with an “Act Locally Waco” twist. Maybe one of these will spark your imagination and inspire you to make a resolution or two of your own. Whether it inspires action, or a yawn and a nap, I hope you have a terrific 2019! Happy New Year! – ABT

Read one article from the newspaper every day (or once a week, or whatever…) – We are lucky to have devoted and talented journalists at the Waco Trib who keep us up to date and informed about local issues. At least once a week, and often many times more than that, I am impressed with well-written coverage of issues I care about or a thought provoking editorial (whether I agree with it or not). The first step to getting involved is getting informed.

Walk in your neighborhood once a week. – I have heard it said that air conditioning and TV killed neighborhoods. Since those two things were invented, people stay locked up in their homes when we used to sit on the front porch and visit with each other. I’m not willing to give up air conditioning and TV, but I’ll confess I don’t know my neighbors very well…and that is bad. Every speck of research I have ever read on this subject says that when neighbors are strangers, the community suffers. Crime increases, people are not as happy, we have less empathy and care for one another. I am a little bit too much of an introvert to be the one who organizes block parties and neighborhood socials, but I have found that by walking in the neighborhood regularly, I strike up casual conversations and have at least a waving acquaintance with more of my neighbors and that is – literally – a step in the right direction.

Pick up one bag of trash a week. – One year I combined my neighborhood walks with picking up a bag of trash a week. I’ll admit it was a little depressing to see how quickly I could fill up a bag of trash in my own neighborhood, but I loved the feeling of concrete accomplishment as I dropped the full bag into my gray bin with a satisfying “thunk.” This is a great resolution for a family to do together. I even know some folks who combine litter picking with jogging. If your neighborhood is not trashy enough, “adopt” a local park or another spot in town where you have noticed litter collecting. Check out the Group W Bench Litter Patrol or Keep Waco Beautiful for opportunities to participate in community clean-ups.

Find a regular volunteer gig. – A couple of places in town that do terrific work and ALWAYS need volunteers are Meals & Wheels (Contact Rachel Salazar at [email protected] ) and Caritas (Contact Andrew Bryngelson at [email protected]). The United Way is also working on setting up a long-needed volunteer portal (https://unitedwaywaco.galaxydigital.com/ ) to make it easier for all of us to find a place to plug in.

Give consistently, even if it’s just a little. – The other day I heard someone say dismissively, “Well, some people think they can just write a check, when really what they should do is get out and get involved.” I am a big proponent of getting out and getting involved, but I also want to emphasize that giving is a BIG deal. Our local non-profits depend on giving from individuals. Money they get from grants or the government often comes with many, many strings attached. That is all fine and good, but our local non-profits need money to pay the light bill and fix the washing machine when it breaks. Most grants don’t pay for those kind of every day operational expenses. We may not all have millions or thousands to give, but if a whole bunch of us would get in the habit of giving ten or twenty bucks a month to support our local organizations, it would make a huge difference in our community. Click here for a list of local non-profits who have appeared in The WHOLE Enchilada in the last year, with handy links to their donation pages. Pick one and sign up to give a little each month. By this time next year, your small gifts each month can add up to a nice sum. You might even pay the electricity bill for one month!

Do something regularly and intentionally to support Waco ISD. – I could write a whole column about how our school district is the heart of our community, and how our kids are our most important natural resource, and how we will not be able to maintain our current Magnolia- fueled “sugar rush” of economic development unless we educate our work force etc. etc. and all those things are incredibly important. But, I will confess that the main reason I try to keep connected to Waco ISD is because it’s fun. Even though there are some serious challenges — maybe because there are serious challenges — it makes me proud and happy to be a part of it. “Support” can range anywhere from volunteering regularly in the lunchtime reading club program being organized by local churches (Contact [email protected] to volunteer), to making the effort to attend the annual (AMAZING!) high school musicals or other fine arts events, to talking to your employer about becoming an adopt-a-school partner.

Do something downtown once a month/Be a local tourist once a month/shop local. – People are coming from all over the world to visit Waco and sometimes those of us who live here are the ones who don’t take advantage of all our town has to offer. The Waco Convention and Visitor’s Bureau maintains a terrific events calendar and their app is easy to use and even offers coupons! (There’s no rule that says people from Waco can’t use the coupons!) The DowntownWacoTX website and Facebook page are always full of great information about enjoying downtown and The First Friday Facebook page is another good downtown resource. Follow Cultivate 7Twelve to keep up with art happenings downtown. The Towny app can help you identify local businesses and they also offer deals and coupons. Make it a goal to shop local as much as possible, to regularly attend First Friday, or to enjoy one Waco “attraction” a month. Why should the visitors be having all the fun?

This Act Locally Waco blog post is by Ashley Bean Thornton, she has lived in Waco almost 20 years now. Far longer than she ever lived anywhere else. She likes to walk. If you see her out walking, honk and wave and say, “Hi!”

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

There’s a new girls’ club forming in Waco. . . and it’s the Boy Scouts?

by Melody Terrell

Growth, change, and choices are on the horizon for the Boy Scouts of America, and for some Waco-area girls and their families. We hear about The BSA in national news sometimes, but the quality and fit of our programs comes down to a more personal level. Local churches and civic groups, who sponsor the troops, and the men and women who lead them have the most influence over these youth organizations. Scout leaders in Waco choose where they will serve. Families have choices about their time and interests and the youth who join organizations get to choose the right fit for them. Those who join BSA troops will have many choices within the scouting program. I’m excited about the opportunity to serve as one of the adult leaders of Family Scouts BSA Troop 308 for Girls that officially launches in February of 2019.

The best things about Boy Scouts are not going away. The aims and methods remain the same. The requirements for the prestigious Eagle Scout award remain rigorous, identical for male and female youth. The values, camping, and opportunity for boys-to-be-boys remains. Girls will not be invading guy territory and feminizing it; they will form new all-female groups. The values I love about scouting remain: duty to God and country, outdoor adventure, youth-led with adult support. I want that for girls too. A safe environment to plan, try, fail, and figure it out is probably the best reason to join a BSA scouting group. Families looking at BSA for their daughters are generally aware of the BSA experiences. Some girls have been participating informally for years.

Local churches and civic groups sponsor all BSA troops, and they select leaders according to their standards and values. These organizations also decide if they will sponsor a separate troop for girls. Locally, several Boy Scout troops explored the idea. The First United Methodist Church of Waco decided to take the plunge and sponsor a Scouts BSA girl troop. They already sponsor Boy Scout Troop 308, and Cub Scout Pack 308, which welcomed girls in September of 2018. When a group of parents approached First Methodist, the church leaders asked a few questions, then agreed. Boy Scout Troop 308 is a large troop with consistent leadership and plenty of trained adult support. For family convenience, all groups will meet on Tuesday evenings in different parts of the church. The committee includes families with a history of scouting and a few who are new to BSA scouting. We have been meeting monthly since August.

Adult volunteers, after appropriate training, get to choose how they will serve. Every adult must take the BSA Youth Protection training before they may join. There are extensive trainings provided online and in person to adult leaders serving youth. Every scout deserves a trained leader. Adults who enjoy the outdoors may join as assistant scoutmasters and help with campouts and scouting skills. Those who yearn for high adventure, may organize a trip for older youth to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Northern Tier Canoe Base at the U.S./Canadian Boundary Waters, or Florida Sea Base. Others may plan a regional summer camp experience. They may serve on the troop committee, supporting the unit and its leadership. Adults who have a special skill may serve as merit badge counselors. All BSA merit badges give youth an opportunity to learn about a career, life skill, or hobby.

Families make choices for their time and values. There is only so much time in our daily lives. Some families seem to manage youth activities several times a week. It’s tricky when you have both mom and dad sharing this task, but for the single parent or grandparent it can be too much. Having all the children at one place for an hour each week might be helpful. I’m thinking coffee with adult conversation or a quick Target run. If BSA is not the right fit for your family, there are other organizations. There are groups for learning about agriculture, organizations specifically for empowering girls, sports teams, and church youth groups. These organizations enable youth to develop their potential for leadership, make friends, and have fun. Adult volunteers are the backbone of community groups. Consider not only enrolling your child, but volunteering. The community of volunteers serving beside you will enrich your life as well your child’s.

Youth have many choices. Learning to make choices is an important part of growing up. I hope all youth join an organization that appeals to them. BSA scouts meet once or twice per year for long-range planning in this youth-led organization. An adult committee has to approve or recommend changes to the plan based on safety and other considerations. At weekly meetings the youth make choices about merit badge study and service projects. Before campouts, small patrol groups plan their meals. One person is chosen as grub-master and must purchase the food, divide the cost, and collect from individuals. If the meal is not great, there is always peanut butter and jelly, and an opportunity to tweak the recipe and try again the next month. The girls will choose what they want to learn and do. There are currently 135 merit badges. 12 specific badges are required to earn the Eagle Scout rank, but the others are elective. Within each merit badge, there are additional choices. There are summer camps nearby and far away. There are gatherings of thousands of scouts or small backpacking trips. There are even opportunities to travel to other countries and meet scouts from all over the world. There is a world of opportunity for adventure.

I am grateful that BSA scouting is still a choice for me. I continued in scouting after my son earned his Eagle rank and started college. Now, I get to work with girls as we form this new group. Our troop won’t look like the boys’ troops. It will be a girl troop, for sure. I can’t wait to see where this adventure will take us. #scoutmein

Scouts BSA Program Information: https://www.scouting.org/scoutsbsa/

Find out more information about the Waco-area Scouts BSA Troop for girls that is forming!

Website: www.bsawacogirltroop.org
Email: [email protected]
FaceBook: @ScoutsBSAWacoGirlTroop
Instagram: @wacogirltroopsbsa

Rally Day for Families and Girls to learn about our troop: 1/22/19
4901 Cobbs Dr. Waco, TX 76710 (First United Methodist Church of Waco)
7:00 PM

Melody Terrell is Licensed Dyslexia Therapist and retired public school teacher. She enjoys outdoor adventures with family and friends. She volunteered at The Boy Scout National Jamborees in 2013 and 2017 and serves on the Waco-Area BSA District Committee. She will staff the World Jamboree in July of 2019 and will be the scoutmaster for Family Scout Troop 308 for Girls. She was a Girl Scout and a BSA Explorer Scout in her youth, and has been a leader for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Campfire USA programs.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Window is open for Waco ISD Magnet School Enrollment Lottery

The enrollment window is now open for Lake Air Montessori Magnet School and Hillcrest Professional Development School. Both campuses use a random lottery system for enrollment instead of specific attendance boundaries.

To enter the lottery, parents and guardians complete the application form found online at wacoisd.org/magnetapp. A separate application is required for each campus for each prospective student, and the deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Jan. 25.

“From outstanding neighborhood schools to exceptional magnet programs, we are committed to creating a Waco ISD where every child receives a world-class education,” Dr. A. Marcus Nelson, superintendent, said. “Not every child learns in the same way. That’s why enhancing special programs is one of the bold changes fueling the transformation underway in Waco ISD. It’s also why we have great magnet schools like Lake Air and Hillcrest. We encourage parents to take a look at these campuses and see if one of them is the right choice for their child.”

Lake Air is one of the largest public Montessori schools in the nation serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. To enroll in pre-kindergarten at Lake Air, a child must be 3 years old by Sept. 1, 2019.

The Montessori model groups students in multiage classrooms. At Lake Air, 3 and 4-year-old pre-kindergarteners learn with kindergarteners. First through third graders are in the same classroom as are fourth through sixth graders and seventh through eighth graders.

Lake Air merges the Montessori philosophy, which emphasizes development of the whole child, with public education curriculum standards. Among the school’s many unique enrichment experiences, students of all ages have extensive opportunities for hands-on learning in environmental science.

“The students and staff at Lake Air believe in lifelong learning, respect, independence, global citizenship and community,” Lake Air Principal Stephanie Tankersley said. “These values are at the core of everything that we do from building fundamental literacy skills to cultivating global citizens through our middle school trip to the United Nations.”

Hillcrest is a professional development school serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. To enroll in pre-kindergarten at Hillcrest, a child must be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2019.

Professional development schools are innovative partnerships between universities and school districts to further the professional preparation of teacher candidates and enhance student learning. At Hillcrest, Baylor students work alongside mentor teachers and clinical instructors in the classroom to hone their craft. Last year, the partnership between Waco ISD and Baylor University was recognized with the Exemplary Professional Development School Achievement Award from the National Association for Professional Development Schools.

In Hillcrest’s annual Showtime Company productions, students have the opportunity to bring learning to life through performances that they develop from concept to curtain call. The productions are one example of the school’s commitment to “everywhere learning.” Others have included an overnight experience at Cameron Park Zoo, a stay on the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, and a tour of Little Rock Central High School to study integration.

“I love school, and I want my students to love it too,” Hillcrest Principal Amy Mathews-Perez said. “With a focus on fine arts and experiential learning, Hillcrest is a place where students can discover their passions, hone their talents and embark on a journey as lifelong learners.”

Both schools offer evening showcases for prospective students and their families. The events are an opportunity to tour the campuses and visit with administrators and teachers. Lake Air will open its doors to prospective families at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, and Hillcrest will hold its showcase at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 17.

Tours of each campus are also available by appointment. Spaces and times are limited. To request a tour, prospective families should call Lake Air at 254-772-1910 or Hillcrest at 254-772-4286. To learn more about enrolling, click here: Waco ISD Magnet School Enrollment.

This information was provided by Waco Independent School District.

Prosper Waco: 2018 in Review

By Matthew Polk

2018 has given us lessons in the challenges and opportunities that come from working together to improve the lives of people in our community. The most obvious of these was the threat to five chronically underperforming Waco ISD campuses by a state law that requires such schools to be closed. One of the few options for Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Marcus Nelson was to partner with a community organization to create an in-district charter school zone to provide additional support for these schools.

Through Dr. Nelson’s dynamic leadership, Waco ISD navigated this challenge first by partnering with the Prosper Waco initiative and then creating a new entity—Transformation Waco—to carry the work of school transformation forward. Before the school year started in August, Texas Education Agency announced that improved performance under Dr. Nelson had lifted the threat of closure from four of the five schools. Still, all five campuses are now overseen by Transformation Waco under the leadership of Dr. Robin McDurham.

This has created an opportunity for the community to rally around children and families in our highest need schools to provide resources and support. Students have received free eyeglasses, new early childhood and parent education programs have been launched, every WISD second grader received a personalized book to promote reading skills, and more than 840 volunteers from 41 churches are mentoring 1,650 Waco ISD students through book clubs and similar programs. From crisis has come a truly transformational community effort to provide opportunity and support for our youngest community members.

Mental health is also a crisis for many communities because of inadequate funding resulting in too few services. Our community is actively working to address this challenge. Under the leadership of the County and City, the McLennan County Behavioral Health Leadership Team is expanding the mental health resources available in our community and creating a more effective system for providing care. 2018 saw additional mental health services added at McLennan County jail and the development of court programs to divert individuals toward treatment instead of jail. School-based mental health services expanded in numerous school districts, and grant funds were awarded to Family Health Center and Heart of Texas Region MHMR to provide maternal mental health services and expand mental health support in primary care.

Among the collaborative efforts to improve the financial security of people in our community is the Bank On Waco Coalition, a collaborative group of local and national banks who have partnered to offer low- or no-cost bank accounts to folks who aren’t currently able to access banking services. The Bank On Waco Coalition also works to align its financial literacy and community outreach efforts. If you know someone who needs the security of a bank account, send them to the Bank On Waco website. Organizations can partner with the Bank On Waco members to provide financial literacy to members or clients. The Heart of Texas Community Loan Center is continuing to expand its capacity to offer low-cost loans to folks who want to avoid the cycle of payday or title loans. The Waco Employer Resource Network (WERN) continues to expand its base of employer partners and the number of employees they are connecting with local resources and services so that hardworking people in our community are able to hold down their job while tackling the bumps in life’s road. At last count, the WERN Success Coach had worked with 220 employees of partner businesses and provided more than 750 support services and referrals.

These are only a few of the ways in which our community is locking arms to improve the lives of people in Waco and McLennan County. There are many organizations and individuals playing their part in a coordinated effort to improve the education, health, and financial security of our community. Look for the 2018 Prosper Waco Initiative Report to be released in January for more information about where we stand, what we’re doing, and where we’re going as a community. And mark your calendars for the Prosper Waco Summit on March 7 to celebrate the work of the many community partners who are helping to make Waco better in 2019 than ever before.

This Act Locally Waco Blog post was written by Matthew Polk. Matthew is Executive Director of Prosper Waco. Prior to that, he served as Superintendent of Rapoport Academy Public School. He and his wife attended Baylor, and after spending a few years in the northeast, they returned to Waco to raise their family. They have four children, ages 10 to 2 years old. You can contact him at [email protected].

Better Living for Texans: Maintaining discipline during the holidays

(As I’m sure most of you probably know, one of our Prosper Waco community goals is “McLennan County residents will live healthier lifestyles and access the best available care.” With that in mind Act Locally Waco is teaming up with Better Living for Texans to bring you a monthly blog post full of tips for healthy living. For more of the posts in this series, click here: Better Living for Texans. – ALW)

by Lindsey Breunig

Traditionally the November and December months are packed with celebrations and fun, with food at the center every time. We enjoy the holidays but quickly regret the after-effects when looking at our post-holiday waistlines. From the special meals, tasty treats, and delicious desserts, it’s easy to take in extra calories during the holidays. A small snack here and another there, combined with a large dinner and dessert, can add up to a few extra pounds. Not to mention the office party, friend gathering, or cookie decorating that come up! Fortunately, there are things we can do to discipline ourselves during the holidays. Below is a checklist to prevent overeating while having a wonderful holiday season:

Eat slowly so your body has more time to signal fullness.
Eat a small to medium-sized breakfast and lunch during the day and drink lots of water. Starving yourself in anticipation for the main meal will lead to overeating.
Use a smaller plate to control your portion size. (Try a 9inch plate!)
If you have many foods to choose from during the main meal, keep the size of your portions in mind. If you want to try everything, do so in moderation so that your portion sizes don’t get out of control.
Be physically active on a daily basis (walking, jogging, biking, etc.) – our goal is 30 minutes every day!
Make sure half your plate has fruits and vegetables.
Look at your plate for a variety of colors represented from the different food groups.
Try new fruits and vegetables to bring a bit more excitement into traditional meals.
Involve your kids in meal preparation.
Don’t be afraid to have that slice of pie or cake. However, when enjoying your desserts try having a small sliver instead of a large slice.
Beverages: drink water with your meals rather than sodas, or holiday drinks like eggnog which can be high in fat, sugar, and calories. Alcohol or sweetened beverages should be consumed in moderation.

Don’t get complacent. Remain disciplined in your approaches to eating healthier and engaging in physical activity. It’s much easier to break a habit than to start one, so stay engaged and committed and have a great rest of your 2018!

December Produce and Recipes

Shopping for seasonal produce means cheaper, tastier, and healthier produce. Look for these products at the Farmers Market or grocery store this December: Beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupes, carrots, celery, cucumber, grapefruit, greens, herbs, honeydew, mushrooms, oranges, bell peppers, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips.

Recipes to try:

Cranberry Crunch Salad: Cranberry Crunch Salad is filled with winter time favorites such as cranberries, brussel sprouts, quinoa and pecans.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Potatoes, and Chicken: This all in one sheet pan meal was easy and very tasty! We made this dish and it was a hit!

Grapefruit Salad and Vinaigrette: Did you know that the official state fruit of Texas is grapefruit? Here the whole grapefruit is used by including it in the salad and the delicious vinaigrette.

Lindsey Breunig is a graduate of Baylor University and currently works as the Better Living for Texans Educator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. She is originally from Grapevine, TX and now calls Waco home. Here in Waco she loves to venture out to Cameron Park, visit the local Farmers Market, and try out the awesome eateries in Waco. If you see her and hear a loud bark, that’s her pup Lucy just saying hello.

Trails & Trials: Stay fit with the family throughout the holiday season

(This post is a part of a regular series “Trails & Trials,” a monthly adventure series inspiring others to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of cycling, running or swimming in Central Texas. For more posts in this series, click here: Trails and Trials. – ALW)

By Natasha van der Merwe

We are finally at the Christmas holiday season, which we all look forward to. A time to hit the brakes on our busy lives and unwind, spend time with loved ones and of course, indulge in all our favorite holiday sweets and treats. These are all great things, but in moderation. Don’t let January 1^st sneak up on you. Finish the year strong so that you feel well rested and ready to tackle those big goals next year.

Here are a few fun ways to combine all of the above – Family, Food, Fun and Fitness.

Do a Family Friendly Fun Run for a Great Cause – The upcoming ‘Communities in Schools Wonderland Run’ is a fun run on December 1st in Downtown Waco – corner Austin Avenue and 3^rd Street – with distance options available for all family members: A 10k, 5k and 1 mile run or walk. Get the family together, outdoors, and active for a great program that changes lives in our community.

Watch the Waco Wonderland Parade – After the Wonderland Run grab a coffee and snack and find a great spot to watch the Wonderland Parade. If you have little ones, make sure to find the petting zoo and of course, Santa will be around for pictures.

Christmas Light Walk – Find out which neighborhoods in your area have the best Christmas lights and plan a walk with the family to see them all.

Scavenger Hunt for the family – Head to your nearest park and plant a number of items around the park for your family and friends to find. This is a great way to get everyone active, while having fun. Make sure to reward the winner with another fun activity, like picking their favorite board game to play or movie to watch, instead of an unhealthy food treat.

Create a Family Holiday Challenge – Create a goal for the whole family to do throughout the holidays. Options include, running or walking a mile every day, doing a set amount of pushups or jumping jacks together. You can also simply make an “Activity Calendar” with different activities each day. Don’t forget the reward board to entice the little ones.

Cycle Your Way to Fitness – Get out that road or mountain bike and ride the many family friendly trails around Waco. A perfect example would be the paved trail around the Brazos River. Stop off at one of the many parks and set up a picnic as the kids play on one of the many playscapes. Then finish your day at the Cameron Park Zoo.

Go Exploring on our Trails – Did you know that Waco is the host of the Off Road Triathlon National Championship Race? That means that Cameron Park is recognized for having impeccable trails to mountain bike, run and hike on. Heading out on the trails would be the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of your daily life.

There are 39 days from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, so you have plenty of time to stay active and actually improve your health over the holidays.

Enjoy the Festive Season!

Natasha van der Merwe is originally from South Africa. She is mom to a 19-month old girl, former professional tennis player and tennis instructor, and a professional triathlete representing Bicycle World and Waco Running Company. She has multiple top 10 finishes in Ironman and 70.3 events around the world. She is Director of Team Programs for Bicycle World, Texas.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Connecting Local Teachers to Local Businesses Pays Dividends

By Hermann Pereira

Being an educator is one of the most rewarding and difficult careers around. We constantly invest our time and effort into the next generation and the school year feels like a marathon. So by the time the summer hits we just want to prop our feet up. But educators are some of the most dedicated professionals around so we spend our summers attending professional development sessions in order to improve at our craft.

This past summer teachers at Connally ISD had the unique opportunity to participate in a teacher externship program through a grant that we were awarded through the University of Texas STEM Center. The goal of the externship was to interact directly with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) industry leaders and learn about industry trends, needs, and opportunities that they can bring back to the classroom to enhance instruction and ultimately, student learning and achievement. We had 19 teachers from a variety of teaching fields who engaged with industry partners here in Waco. In this blog we will highlight 3 of our teachers and what their takeaways were from the program:

Liesel Wilson – Spanish/AVID

The recent Tex2 summer externship that I was a part of was truly an eye-opening experience! As a classroom teacher for 25 years, I have plenty of educational experience, but not a lot of encounters with the business world. This opportunity to spend time with various local businesses and learn first-hand how teachers could better prepare future candidates for the job world was an invaluable lesson.

I was able to visit HOLT CAT Machines and Engines, KWTX TV, Central Texas Iron Works, Vossloh, the Lacy Lakeview Police Department, and a robotics class at TSTC. At each location, the overwhelming response to what our students were lacking was the basic knowledge of soft skills. Applicants need to be aware of proper interview dress, use of cell phones (or lack thereof), the importance of eye contact, and a firm handshake. This take away was something that I was easily able to implement daily both inside and outside the classroom. Upon entering, all students must shake my hand and look me in the eye while saying “Good morning”, or “Nice to see you”. It was important for me to first teach my classes HOW to shake hands and the implicit value of body language and eye contact. After MUCH practice, this has become second nature to my students. I use myself as an example of the NO cell phone policy that many workplaces enforce. Students are not permitted to text during class time, so I also follow this rule. Leading by example shows students that I value the rules and understand why they are in place.

All in all, the externship was a tremendous experience. I am happy to say that the takeaways were relevant and definitely worth spending time on to ensure that students will be ready to face the world of work after graduation!

Liesel Wilson has been in education for twenty-four years. She currently teaches Spanish 2 and is one of the AVID elective teachers at Connally High School. In her free time, she loves to read, trail run, and have amazing travel experiences with her children Joslyn and Savanna.

Julia Jirovsky – Debate Coach

As a communication teacher, the opportunity to speak with employers around Waco in the TEX2 externship was tremendously valuable. Speaking with Express Employment Solutions highlighted a need for students to leave high school with an understanding of professional documents such as résumés and cover letters. Specifically, students can give themselves an edge in the job market by submitting résumés that are not adapted from popular web templates. In addition, touring manufacturing operations such as Englander dZignPak and Vossloh taught me that many of the most successful employees, regardless of education level, are ones that show up on time, ask questions, and take initiative in the workplace. It was validating to learn that the skills Waco’s job market craves are ones that we teachers can reinforce every day in every content area. We can hold our students to high standards, require attendance and timeliness, knowing that these soft skills will propel our students to success after graduation.

Julia Jirovsky is a second year teacher and debate coach. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently teaches Debate, Professional Communication, and Principles of Education and Training. In her free time, Julia enjoys judging debate, crafting, and going to metal concerts.

Miranda Flanary – Business

As a business education teacher with prior work experience, it is important to take advantage of ways to refresh and renew my knowledge what is happening in today’s workplaces. The externship offered this invaluable opportunity as I was able to gain insight at a variety of local employers, including KWTX Channel 10, DeuxSouth Creative, Caterpillar, Sherwin Williams, and the City of Waco. These businesses each demand very different levels of education and work experience amongst their employees. However, there was a consistent message when it came to transferable skills: these are the foundation on which any successful employee is built. Dependability, reliability, willingness to learn, and communication skills are essential, regardless of the hard or technical skills needed for a job. This information allows me to reference real-world expectations at real-world employers, beyond my own work experience, to drive home how students need to be prepared for the next stages in life.

Miranda Flanary is a native Wacoan and has been in education for five years, following careers in financial services and human resources. She currently teaches Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance; Entrepreneurship; and General Employability Skills and is the CTE department head. In her free time, Miranda enjoys live music, traveling, trivia, and spending time reading and drawing with her 8 year old son Regan.

Opportunities like this need to continue because the beneficiaries of these programs are the students of our community. When public educators, the business community, and higher education entities come together the possibilities are endless.

Connally would like to thank all of our partners that made this experience so meaningful. We look forward to connecting with them and others this next summer:

Hermann Pereira is the Principal of Connally Career Tech Early College High School and AVID Coordinator and has been in education for 12 years. He is a Houstonian who roots for all Houston sports teams, but has called Waco home for the past decade. He has been married to his wife Kristi for 14 and a half years and has two children, Hudson who is 10 years old and Ruby who is 7 years old.

The Birth of A Clinic

By Gary Wardlaw

I was four when my pops left. I remember it being dark and there was yelling—a lot of yelling. A door slammed, the car started and it was four years before seeing him again. I didn’t know it then, but from that moment on, I would grow up in what our society calls a “broken family.” This meant that there would be no father in the home to teach me how to shave or how to respect women. No one to teach my sisters what respect and real love looked like from a male. The chances of experiencing a home with two loving parents became a faint longing. As a result…depression, low-self-esteem, anxiety, anger, insecurity, lack of self-acceptance, daddy issues, commitment issues, all of that and more ran rampant through our childhood. I did not know it then, but that night would go on to impact me in ways I could not have imagined.

I wish that was where relationship ruptures ended…but it wasn’t. Soon, bigotry and racism became another method that exacerbated the negative view I had accepted of myelf. It was sixth grade when the new girl moved to my hometown. She was smart, beautiful…and blonde. Her dad, well, he was the new head surgeon in town. While I won’t bore you with the nuanced details, I will share what I remember as “the phone call.” I ask to speak to her over the phone only to hear that their daughter could no longer speak to me. If she wanted to mess up her life when she is 18 then that is her choice. From then, to my freshman year in college, the same cycle repeated. I like girl…girl likes me…we date…parents find out…relationship ends because of my color, not my character.

How are the stories that I shared relevant to the Relationship Clinic of Waco? Well, they are my lived experiences, and these experiences are part of what made me want to establish a practice where relationships can be made whole and where people can heal from racism. Through my own counseling journey, I was able to discover that attachment injuries from my broken family system played a major role in the way I negatively viewed myself. Why did my dad not want me? Why was I good enough to be entertainment on the field or on the wrestling mat, but not good enough to date? The logical answers I was able to come up with were…”you are not good enough and you are not worth it.” These core beliefs opened up the flood gates of my mental health struggles.

Maybe your story is not that your dad left when you were a kid. Perhaps your story is that you are in a new romantic relationship and before saying “I do,” there are some things you want and should talk through. Or maybe you want to strengthen your relationship, or you are seeking to mend a relationship that has ruptured in the past but that you haven’t taken the time to repair. Whatever your story may be, whether it’s with a spouse, parent, sibling, boss or even relationship with God, I am fully-committed and well prepared to come along side of you in your journey of reconciliation, development and restoration.

My wife and I wanted to establish this practice here in Waco to be a resource for our community. We love Waco and we firmly believe that The Relationship Clinic will help our city become a stronger community by helping relationships thrive, bringing families closer, and by eradicating racism. If you or someone you know could benefit from seeing a therapist, take the next step and visit our website. There you can learn more about me and our practice. You can also schedule a free 15-minute consultation or book your appointment. Our website is www.trcwaco.com.

So now that you know how The Relationship Clinic was birthed from and why we started, I’d like to end by sharing our vision, mission, purpose statements and services:

Our Vision

To see:

Relationships live up to their fullest potential
Relationships strengthened and restored
Marriages, families, and other interpersonal relationships thrive

Our Mission

To see relationships made whole. We want to help people overcome the resistance and reservation often associated with counseling by helping them focus on living in healthy community with others. As reflective in our marriage, we believe functional relationships are essential to anyone’s healthy well-being.

Our Purpose

We recognize that we live in a world that revolves around relationships. At some point in the circling of people in your life, it is inevitable that conflict will arise. We are committed to personal resolve and conflict management.

Conflict can arise between a husband and wife, brother or sister, parent and child, a boss and employee, and even Christ followers and God. No matter the dynamic, relationships are inherently woven in the threads of life.

Here at The Relationship Clinic, we specialize in facilitating the process of maintaining, creating, or restoring relationships in the following situations

Shaken to its core and couples are at a loss on how to bring it back (i.e. infidelity, loss of love
Have decided to embark on the journey toward marriage (i.e. engaged)
Have said “I Do”, but have recently lost the connection that was once there,
Walked away from the Christian faith,
Interested in exploring the potential for a new relationship.

Products and Services

50-minute pre-marital therapy sessions
50-minute marital therapy sessions
50-minute individual sessions
90-minutes group marital sessions
Relationship Enrichment Weekends (Marriage Lock-Inns)
Tele-mental Health or Therapy (Online Counseling)
Race-Relation Counseling
Workshops/Seminars

Gary Wardlaw is the founder and co-owner of The Relationship Clinic of Waco. He is licensed as a Professional Counselor in Texas and Virginia and is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Virginia. Prior to relocating to Texas, Gary served in a Christian group practice where he primarily saw couples and families. He also has experience working on adolescent, adult, and geriatric psychiatric units. Gary graduated from Liberty University in 2012, earning his M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy. He has recently developed a passion to combat racism through discussion and education, while helping those who have experienced racism outwardly or systemically though talk-therapy. He can be contacted at [email protected] or by calling 254-294-7572.

Sustainable Waco: Happy America Recycles Day!

By Anna Dunbar

America Recycles Day (ARD) has its 21^st anniversary this year. What many don’t know is that ARD has its roots in Texas, central Texas in fact. Texas Recycles Day began in 1994 as the idea of two Texas Commission on Environmental Quality employees, Kevin Tuerff and Valerie Davis. I met them while I was at the agency and have always been impressed with their creativity. They came up with the concept of designating a day to promote recycling in Texas, but then of course they had to wrestle with the question of what day. They wanted a day that was far enough away from Earth Day (April 22^nd), but they did not want it to get mixed up in all the media in the run up to Election Day. They picked November 15^th .

Eventually, Texas Recycles Day was transformed into America Recycles Day. The first national America Recycles Day was held November 15^th, 1997 and it has been celebrated annually ever since.

What about America Recycles Day in Waco? There is a lot of energy behind recycling in Waco because our Waco Landfill is running out of space for trash. If you want to recycle in and around Waco, here’s what you can do:

Do you want to get started recycling in your home? First, Waco residents should note that up to 2 blue carts for curbside recycling and 1 green yard waste cart are available for no extra fee. Please call (254) 299-2612 with questions or to request a blue or green cart on Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 5 PM. Para informacion en Espanol: (254) 299-2612. You can also go to the City of Waco Recycling Service Website and complete a request form. On the website you will find information about the recycling program including a calendar with “blue cart weeks” and “green cart weeks”. You can also request a printed calendar be mailed to you.

Visit the Cobbs Convenience Center to recycle! Anyone from anywhere can bring the following items at no charge regardless of residency. Please rinse items which have contained food or drink.

Plastics #1 – #7, all colors. We cannot accept Styrofoam.
Glass bottles and jars, clear, brown, blue and green.
Metal, including steel or “tin” cans, aluminum cans, and aluminum pie plates.
Paper, such as magazines, phone books, cardboard, junk mail, printer paper, envelopes with windows and stapled paper.
Cooking oil (liquid only, please no solid grease)
Household batteries

Waco residents can also recycle big items (such as scrap tires, appliances with Freon and electronics) at Cobbs. Some items may have a fee.

Become a part of the “blue bucket brigade!” – Mission Waco is asking the public to donate food waste for composting and is making buckets available for the process. One can obtain a blue bucket at the greenhouse, located on the corner of North 15th Street and Colcord Avenue, next to Jubilee Food Market. Instructions and sawdust are available to help you with diversion of your organics for composting.

Do you plan to fry a turkey for the holidays? Small quantities of cooking oil can be mixed with kitty litter, doubled bagged, and placed in your trash cart. Please do not pour cooking oil or grease down the drain; it can clog pipes and the City’s sewer system. You can properly dispose of the cooking oil or grease at 5 stations located around the city; go to Waco-texas.com or call 254-299-2612.

Recycle your live Christmas tree at the Chipping of the Green on January 6 at Paul Tyson field from 10 AM until 3 PM. Keep Waco Beautiful partners with City of Waco Parks and Recreation to turn your tree into mulch. See Keep Waco Beautiful’s Facebook page to learn more.

Replace your alkaline batteries with rechargeable ones. Newer models can charge in as little as 15 minutes! It saves you money and helps the environment at the same time.

Instead of disposable plates and utensils, serve food on real dishware. Get those dishes out and use them! Your mom and grandma will be so proud! Also, prevent food waste: Ask friends to bring containers for leftovers or get that blue bucket from Mission Waco!

Electronics and appliances: Waco residents can take electronics and appliances to the Cobbs Recycling Center with proof of residency. There will be a fee for appliances containing Freon. If you are not a Waco resident, you can take appliances without Freon to one of Waco’s metal recyclers. Appliances with Freon can be taken to the Waco landfill; again there will be a fee. Many electronics (except TV’s) can go to Goodwill. Best Buy accepts electronics for recycling; Best Buy will charge a fee.

Why all of this discussion of recycling during the holidays, you might wonder. It’s because Americans produce more trash during the holidays than any other time of year! It’s estimated to be 25% more. Between the wrapping paper, disposable plates and cups, Christmas advertisements and cards, and plastic shopping bags – it’s hard to keep track of everything we dispose of during those busy months. And, we pile it all in a bag, tie the bag, and put it in the grey cart to be set out and “disappear” forever. But, it doesn’t really disappear, does it? With some effort, we can all do a better job of recycling. The future generations will thank us!

Anna Dunbar is the Environmental Programs Manager for the City of Waco Public Works Department. She has been working with the City of Waco since August, 2012. Anna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Baylor University and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at Dallas. She and her husband live in Woodway, where she recycles as much as she can! She is also active in the Central Texas Audubon Society and Waco Rotary.

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