The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2024 #31: 5-1-24

Posted May 2, 2024

                                            VOLUME 2024            MAY 1         NUMBER 31

President Bill Wisdom, welcomed everyone and gave us our morning blessing, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  

ACHES & PAINS:  Always be kind…      

PROGRAM:  This morning President Bill Wisdom introduced us to Lyriannette Santana, ESOL Family Liaiaon and Immigrant & Refugee Liaison for MHS.  ESOL services are available to students who have a first language that is not English or have a language other than English represented in the home.   Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 serves a diverse and ever-changing population.  The classrooms and hallways in our schools mirror the vibrant diversity of the world. With over 70 countries represented and 40 languages spoken, we value the rich cultural and linguistic variance our students and families bring to the classroom and community. 

Goals of the ESOL Program are to:
  • Provide support that will help students comprehend classroom instruction
  • Increase each student's level of English in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing
  • Make available the most highly qualified staff working with the most at-risk students
  • Bring awareness to cultural differences within the classroom and school
  • Afford parents opportunities that will facilitate communication and engagement between home and school
  • Offer professional development and ongoing staff development for educational professionals within the district 

Lyriannette collaborates with the school teachers, counselors, social workers to determine what the needs are of these students.  She works as an interpreter, helps find translators, seeks donations, helps with enrollment and gives school tours.  She helps with family counseling and also helps students set goals when they are struggling with attendance as well as academics.  She works very closely with the Fit Closet, UFM, MATC, the ESOL Summer kickoff, Library, Breadbasket and many others.  Striving to build cultural sustainability that supports social and emotional wellbeing for these students and their families.  Believing – “United we are Stronger”!

CLUB STUFF/ANNOUNCEMENTS and UPCOMING EVENTS:          

Optimist Park Workday: Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 10:00am Signup sheets are on the tables for the Optimist Park Volunteer Field Maintenance Program that we all need to take part in.  Please sign up! With the storm damage,  there is plenty of work to be done.
Bill Snyder Half Marathon, May 25, 2024, please sign up to help, we do get $50.00 per member. 
SAVE THE DATE: May 8th – IPS Essay Celebration, May 9th – New Member Dinner, June 19th – Celebration Project,       October 19th – Aggieville Chili Crawl

GUESTS:  No other outside guests this morning.  

Meeting adjourned with the OPTIMIST CREED.

MAY PROGRAMS:           Program chairs:  Jerry Banaka, Ed Klimek, Bill Wisdom & Mike Fincham

                MAY 8:                                 Interpersonal Skills Essay Presentations & Awards
                NOON MEETING              “Interpersonal Skills Essay Presentations & Awards”

                                                                Coordinator:  Ed Klimek

                MAY 15:                               Gary Fike, Riley County Extension Director
                MORNING MEETING      “Agriculture in Brazil”

                                                                Coordinator:  Jerry Banaka

                MAY 22:                               Steve Havenstein, Respect for the Law
                NOON MEETING              “Respect for the Law” recognition

                                                                Coordinator:  Steve Havenstein

                MAY 29:                               Business Meeting
                MORNING MEETING      “Business Meeting”

                                                                Coordinator:  Bill Wisdom

               MAY BIRTHDAYS