~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The
ARKGROUP (Adults Relating to Kids)
formerly The Children's Center for Self-Esteem
ARK 'N ACTION October 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this issue:
-- A Special Story for Teachers
-- Are You Feeling Other "Hits" to Your Family Budget?
-- The Realization - - School Is the Beginning Opportunity
-- ARK Updates and Contacts
Greetings from the ARKGROUP and a very HAPPY and FESTIVE Halloween Season to all. Cool breezes are in the air and I have seen our neighborhood kids and their parents skipping, running, and laughing as they make their way each morning to our local Elementary school. Fall has officially arrived. Leaves are beginning to turn orange, yellow and tan. We have much to appreciate and for you parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors, it is time to VOTE once again. We have an opportunity to exercise our constitutional rights with much to consider this November. Please be sure to share our website (www.thearkgroup.org) with your
friends and colleagues. The ARKGROUP's website can assist you in obtaining
any information you need (both faith- based and secular) about the Adults
Relating to Kids' programs and processes for teachers and schools, parents
and others who would be intentional in the lives of children. Visit our
site today! We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Mel Bund. Mel was
ARK's wonderful accountant for many years and recently passed away in
Houston, Texas. He will be missed by so very many of us! We encourage you to commit to renewal and growth with education and networking facilitated by the ARKProgram DVDs: ARK for Teachers, ARK for Parents (Faith and Secular-based), ARK Facilitator Training, The ARK Group Process and an Introduction to ARK hosted by Pat Summerall. Order today at www.thearkgroup.org. The ARK Program has excellent lessons, DVD's, manuals, workbooks, texts and advertising materials. They will equip you to provide life-changing ARK programs including breakthrough parenting and teaching "skills courses." With your help, we can make ARKRelationships the norm for the 21st century family, church, school and community. For our Friends and Followers, we have had outstanding record-breaking participation through September with over 250 churches in the Dallas and Houston areas participating in our ARK for Parents Faith-based church programs. The Facilitator training, (which prepares churches to provide this outstanding program either to the entire congregation or to smaller groups, such as Sunday School classes) can be scheduled to fit the schedule of those who commit to serve as facilitators. Thanks to a wonderful gifts by kind benefactors, we are able to provide ARK for Parents Programs even to some churches who require scholarship assistance. The program includes facilitator training, lessons on DVDs, books, and a host of supporting materials and services. We invite you to be sure that your church takes advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Contact us today by e-mail, letter or by telephone in Dallas at 817-268-2100 or Houston at 281-537-1301 to reserve these programs for your church and to enable your church family to become the parents and intentional adults in the lives of children who will change the world through your care. PARENTING...IT'S NOT JUST A JOB...IT'S AN ADVENTURE! The gift of time, gentle communication with love and caring, a genuine interest in your child and a belief in his ability to be bright and interesting are powerful ways to love a child. Let ARK help you become an even better parent! | |
A Special Story for Teachers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  As she stood in front of her 5th
grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an
untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she
loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in
the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did
not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and
that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in
marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting
a big "F" at the top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson
taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put
Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in
for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class." By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on he her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets". A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his entire life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you." Teddy Stoddard is a noteworthy physician at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. The Stoddard Cancer Wing is named in his honor. Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I shed a tear every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life Today. Tomorrow. Just "Do it"! Share this world of service with your family. They will remember your acts of kindness when you are gone and will carry them on through their lives. I hope and trust that you agree the world will be a better place as a result. In every place where humans toil in every dream and plan, the laughter of the children shapes the destiny of man. ---- Edgar A. Guess DID YOU KNOW THAT------ of the 240 nations that participated in the recent Olympics in Beijing, 97 nations have never won a single medal? Let's hear it for the many people who work hard and compete never expecting a prize! "Ah, but a person's reach should exceed his or her grasp, or what's a heaven for?" Robert Browning | |
Are You Feeling Other "Hits" to Your Family Budget? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Certainly we
all are experiencing the personal and family impacts of these changing
economic times in America. An additional blow that might not be talked
about as much, but should be equally valued, is the issue of control over
your time.
Although many of us are feeling the pain in our pocketbooks associated with the economic news we encounter every day, I want us to think about the impact we are shouldering as we possibly defer our dreams of striking a good work-life balance. As past recessions have shown, downturns can disturb our plans to cut back on part-time work hours, drop out of volunteer activities or take vacations to relax and retouch our joys of family. As I read the papers and internet articles, it is clear that moms are marching back to work, dads are staying longer in the office and the task of making ends meet has us all seeking solutions. Many moms are returning more quickly than they had planned from maternity leaves. Dads are working longer hours and weekends. Fewer volunteers are showing up at ARK offices, the Habitat for Humanity projects and United Way programs. On the flip side, many parents are finding they are having more "at home" time because they have either been laid off or are being allowed to work fewer hours because of the lowering GDP. Stephen Coontz, research director of the nonprofit Council on Contemporary Families, notes that parents are not always aware of this "great" opportunity to spend new time with their kids because they are unable to appreciate the change due to the "stress and tensions" they have associated with the change in employment. To offset these stressful burdens, we recommend that you consider the following:
What we are suggesting, is that we all take a moment to appreciate a simpler life in these difficult times. We suspect that a return to those values we share from family traditions and the intentional creation of new family traditions will go along way to help us relax, appreciate our many blessings and enjoy that which brings meaning and significance to our lives. We are so privileged to take part in the nurture and teaching of our children. As we relax from those challenges of today's economic world we can begin to contribute a little care for those who would benefit from our recognition of their importance in our lives. This opportunity may help us to see the value of getting back to basics, establishing new traditions and nurturing the network of people who share their time for those kids that need a little helping hand. TO HELP US COMPASSIONATELY TEACH ARK TO A WORLD IN SEARCH OF
MEANING, CONSIDER THESE GIFT OPPORTUNITIES:
Together we can improve the quality of life in our communities-one child, one family, one classroom, one school at a time. Thank you for your involvement! In helping others, not only are spirits are lifted but hope is given for the future! "I have been wandering. I have been wasting my force upon too many plans. Now I have chosen one. The Simplest. To make myself in all things admirable."Cyrano De Bergerac | |
The Realization - - School Is the Beginning Opportunity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Fall again is making its presence
known and 55 million schoolchildren have broken in their backpacks in
their daily journey to the halls of wisdom.
We tend to measure our lives by the calendar, or by the weather changes or by the sports seasons that display their entertainment on TVs around our great nation. For parents and other caregivers, school times set our schedules for meal times, travel and shopping for supplies and clothing. How fortunate we are to have these experiences in a world where most of our fellow residents have little opportunity for education. Schools reveal vast opportunities, open many doors and begin to close others. Most of us have a positive view of the world and we can see this in our children. A child enters school imagining a world full of knights and ballerinas who are also spies and agents who cure diseases and then slowly works backwards toward life learning to write, read and do math. This journey figures out how to channel life without narrowing it, how to find a compass of direction and infinite speed without losing freedom. These are amazing times for heavy thinking and practices and ARK is invaluable in enabling doors to be opened and opportunities to be expanded for all! ARKParenting and ARK for Teachers acknowledges the difficulty of parenting and teaching to youngsters who are learning the challenges of these weighty questions and choices and provides tools and support to overcome the challenges which are encountered every day. ARKPrograms helps teachers,mothers and fathers establish firm and consistent limits while establishing love, warmth, support and encouragement. Recent studies have shown that the ARKParenting program has dramatically benefited participants in changing their behavior toward their children and family on the whole. Mothers reported that their children's responses changed when they altered their strategies toward them and fathers were also reported to have started sharing more time and effort thereby leading to overall improvement in the home environment. Both fathers and mothers reported that they were able to better control their anger and this, in turn, was leading to increased self-esteem, confidence and even improved behavior in their children. After attending ARKParenting sessions mothers reported that they noticed their husbands were assuming an increased share of responsibility for parenting. The overall findings confirm that even after just a few lessons ARKParenting provides a major impact in creating and ensuring a loving, nurturing family environment. To find out about facilitating an ARK Program in your area, give us a
CALL! EINSTEIN IS QUOTED AS HAVING SAID: "THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND EXPECTING THE SAME RESULTS." | |
ARK Updates and Contacts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The ARKGROUP
is now providing training and materials nationwide for schools from
preschool level through college in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. These
booklets, materials and videos provide the tools and activities that
enable administrators, counselors and teachers to relate to students with
the love and care that is integral to building and reinforcing children's
self-esteem.
ARK is always aware of organizations which want to incorporate the ARK experience in their programs but who need financial assistance to do so. Even public schools frequently don't have the resources that will allow them to offer their students the life-changing benefits of ARK. DID YOU KNOW THAT ...your gift of $100. will introduce ARK to a school, United Way supported agency, neighborhood center or church. ... your donation of $1,000. will provide ARK programming for an entire school. ...your contribution of $10,000. will allow the ARKgroup to equip 10 schools within a school district to begin the ARK for Teachers and ARK for Parents programs. GoodSearch - a way to support ARK while using the Internet. You can contribute to the ARKGROUP which we will invest in your favorite community services, church, juvenile justice program or school just by searching the Internet or shopping online with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo! | |
Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
email: wduffyark@sbcglobal.net
phone: 281-537-1301
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