Girl Scouts: Fun Times! And homework!

Hi everyone!

What a fun meeting!  These girls are pretty amazing.  We got a lot done, so here's what everyone needs to know:

1)  We started out with some Girl Scout Law charades.  The girls had some fun (and a LOT of laughs) acting out everything from "Make the world a better place" to "Be responsible for what I say and do."

2)  We moved on into our first badge work for the year--"The Science of Happiness."  Each girl made a pocket journal to carry with her until the next meeting where she'll take notes of when she's happy and what makes her happy.  Since they should be trying to be as accurate as possible, all the girls also signed up to contact at least one teacher to ask permission for scouts to log moments of happiness even in their class.  I've included the list of who was supposed to contact whom.  Each girl needs to include three things in either a personal contact or an email to that teacher:  1)  Our girl scout troop is collecting data for a science project about the science of happiness, 2) That data is a collection of times when they notice they are happy, and 3) Would it be OK if (at appropriate times) girl scouts logged moments of happiness in their journal?

Here's who signed up to contact whom:

Carrie -- Mr. Ligocki

Teagan -- Teagan's teachers

Liliana -- Ms. Hauke

Nyelah -- Mr. Schneider

Lauren -- Mr. Folker, Mrs. Weier

Evie -- Mrs. Gang

Samantha -- Mrs. Mutranowski

Kendra -- Ms. Walsh

Ellen -- Mr. Johnson

Eva -- Mrs. D'Acquisto

Quinn -- Mrs. Martens

Katie -- Mr. Van Roo

Kahlen -- Mrs. Dominguez

3)  More Science of Happiness!  The girls then brainstormed and then narrowed down a list of questions they will ask 5-10 people in the next month about happiness.  The girls also answered those 5 questions for themselves in their journal.  The questions are:

Where are you most often when you are happy?

Who makes you happy?

What do you do when you are happy?

What food makes you happy?

Is there a word that makes you happy?

4)  SNACK TIME!  We made fruit tacos.  We had various spreads (yogurt, cheesecake, cream cheese) and a lot of different fruits, and some extra-fluffy tortillas.  The girls seemed to realy enjoy it and got quite creative with their taco creations!

5)  Project time.  The girls wrapped up the meeting dividing into project/activity planning groups for activities through the year.  Based on the girls present we broke into groups to plan and organize:  1)  A food tasting event, 2) A cooking activity, and 3) A baby sitting event.  A couple of the groups got a good start, and I think they really have some good ideas.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how these activities/events come together through the year!

That's about it for today!  Keep scouting, and for the next month keep those girls journaling their happy times!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Two (short) important notes!

Hi everyone!

#1)  Reminder that the Highland View Raingutter Regatta is actually at Greendale Middle School!  So if you're helping out tonight go to the GMS MPR.  (And if you're a 5th grade scout racing, also go to Greendale Middle School!)

#2)  The meeting tomorrow has been moved from room 151 to room 152.  We'll make sure you find us!  Is everyone signed up?  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-october2

See you tomorrow!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Raingutter Regatta Helpers

Hi everyone,

Some quick notes for the scouts who are helping at the Raingutter Regatta for the HV students:

1)  The regatta is actually AT GMS in the MPR this year.  It's still for HV K-5 students, but the MPR gives extra space and should be better for the kids.

2)  The regatta itself is scheduled to start at 6:30, so if helper girls can arrive at 6:00 to help set up and get everything ready, that would be perfect.  

3)  The races should be done by 8:00, and we should be done cleaning up pretty quickly after that, so if you're not sticking around, then you can come by to pick your scout up 8:10-8:15.  

Thanks for all the helpers!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Happy Thanksgiving--November Meeting Sign Up!

Hi everyone!

The sign up for the November meeting is live!  It says room 151, BUT, that may change.  I'll let you know as soon as the office says anything to me.

Sign up here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-october2

(Yes the link says October, but that's just me recycling sign ups--use resources wisely!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Pick Your Fun! (IMPORTANT)

Hi everyone,

There's not  a lot of action on dividing up the activities the girls picked at our last meeting.  Our focus as Cadettes, as Girl Scouts, is leading and creating, not just doing, so this is really important.  This is their chance to be "the boss" of an event, or activity. 

Here are the sign ups again.  Please take a moment with your scout to find out what she wants to be the boss of.  Everyone has to pick at least one thing from the first sign up to be the "boss" of.  Girls that don't pick now will end up dividing up whatever is left over at the meeting.  So act now to get your top choice(s)!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-girl3

For the second, those are just amazing opportunities to be leaders in the community and to other younger scouts.  I highly recommend them.  Also, for the international fair listing, I need to know if there's a country your scout would be interested in teaching other scouts about.  Our troop may not get our first preference, but we won't get ANY of our preferences if no one tells me any.  

So far Poland and China have been nominated.  Any others?

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-girl4

  

Happy scouting!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: The BEST Sign Ups ever!

Hi everyone,

Do I have the sign ups for you!  There are two, and they are awesome.

#1)  Is the sign up to pick which of our troop's projects the girls want to be the "experts" on.  A scout can pick as many or as few as she likes (she has to pick at least on though, since we'll spend some of our meeting time on these committees!)

Each group of experts will be in charge of planning/organizing that event.  They'll need to figure out:  HOW we can do that project, WHO we need to contact about it, WHEN we can do it, HOW MUCH it would cost, etc.

These are all projects the girls brainstormed, and then voted on last meeting.  I'm very proud of their creativity and their ideas!  There should definitely be something for everyone to enjoy!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-girl3

#2)  Is the sign up for projects we've been invited to work with by community organizations, other scout troops, schools, etc.  These are OUTSTANDING ways for the girls to become leaders in the community.  And have no doubts--this group of scouts are the future leaders of Greendale, and the world!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-girl4

Thanks everyone!  Happy Scouting!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Nut Sale, and keep your eyes open!

Hi everyone!

First:

I have a living room full of nuts and candy!  If you want to pick yours up, text me or call at 414-595-6668 and we can connect and get yours to you.  Money is not due right away, but is due November 28th, so you have time to deliver to people meeting for Thanksgiving.  

Thank you so much to everyone who participated!  The sale raised about $200 for the troop to help support our activities, snacks, and everything else that goes along with scouting.

Second:

Keep your eyes open in the next couple days for a long list of choices for the girls to get involved in this year.  I've been approached by a bunch of people this year about projects that they'd like our scouts to have a role in.  Everything from an organization starting in Greendale that's working to help respond to the growing opioid problem, to other scouts that want to put on an Earth Day/World Thinking Day event that's all Girl-led, to the various projects and activities the girls themselves picked out at our last meeting.  

Third:  

Do you remember the Highland View Boy Scout vs. Girl Scout Raingutter regatta? It's happening again!  And if any of our scouts that are still at Highland View want to participate, let me know and I'll get a boat kit to you!  It's November 29th, 6:00-8:00 PM in the Highland View Gym, as usual.

AND for our GMS scouts, the Highland View Girl Scouts have asked if we'd like to help at the regatta this year.  Jobs would include keeping the "Best Design" table organized, checking scouts and their boats in, running the craft tables, and helping set up and clean up.  Who wants to do a little service for our old school?

Happy Scouting!

Girl Scouts: Girl Scout Project you might find interesting

Hi everyone,

I saw this and figured it was worth sharing with you.  A 10 year old scout in Washington DC created a Girl Scout program called:  "Raise Your Hand" encouraging girls to be as brave as boys in school, and raise their hands even if they weren't sure they knew the right answer to a teacher's question.

The editorial she wrote for the New York Times (!!??) explains the problem she saw and how she hopes to solve it.  It's a short article, but worth the read.  I might look into getting our troop involved.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/31/opinion/im-10-and-i-want-girls-to-raise-their-hands.html?_r=0

Aleks