Marvelous Monday: POSITRATIONS

Positrations are a special, daily tradition at the RMH school.

Past Monday posts have mentioned positrations… so today we'll explain what this positrations thing is and why students love it so much! Each morning, after the students arrive at school, there is a morning meeting. It's a time to review the date, weather and plan for the day. At our school, we also “do positrations” at this meeting. A positration is a time for concentration on something positive: positration. Students at our school are under a great deal of stress. They each have a sibling who is critically ill, or they are critically ill. They’re away from home; leaving familiar surroundings, school, friends and pets. Our goal is to provide not only an education for students at our school, but an entire network of support during a medical crisis. There is so much love and support for our students in the classroom. The lessons move at a different pace, leaving time for conversations about change, fears and life being different. One major way students are supported is through positrations. At positration time, each student is encouraged to share something positive from the past day. This isn’t always easy for students, but each day, with the help of their teachers, the kids find something. Sometimes it's a special event at the RMH, or the prize they won at BINGO. Sometimes it's an important milestone in their sibling's (or their own) treatment. There is always time for conversation about each positration, including time to explain medical procedures. While we know focusing on the positive is not the only way to cope in such challenging circumstances, positration time allows for positive thinking, and most importantly, wonderful sharing and a warm cushion of support from peers and teachers. It's a safe time for students to share and be heard. And, there is an added bonus! Each positration is written on a poster board. When the board is full, there is a special positration lunch or event! The students always encourage writing with BIG letters! :)

Here are a few examples of recent positrations. (First initials used for anonymity.)

©       B is breathing on his own

©       Book club is today

©       C (a patient) is back at school

©       L is excited to go home next week

©       L’s mom got to hold her baby sister

©       A’s brother got a new heart!

©       L has been off her vent (the breathing machine) for 4 days

©       D is very excited for BINGO!

©       R lost her tooth last night

©       K had his big surgery

©       L’s mom went to trach (tracheostomy) class

©       R went to the Mall of America. The turtle ride was scary and fun.

©       A played the drum set with Melody at music

©       Today is field trip day

©       D is so glad to be in school

©       B went to the Twin’s game

©       Today is bouncy house day

©       B’s sister is coming in 2 days

©       A and M went to Kevin Love’s baseball camp

©       J had his 100 day biopsy

©       L is getting help at the hospital

©       A’s hickman (permanent IV line) comes out today

©       A likes the author Gary Paulson

©       B hurried to school this morning

©       L got to hold his brother for the first time

©       M solved the geography riddle

©       The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is coming to the House!

©       R won a tie-dye kit at BINGO and made her dad socks

Marvelous Monday featuring volunteer, Liz Null

Today’s Marvelous Monday is the story of one of our volunteers. Many volunteers in the classroom are students at the University of Minnesota – just down the street from the RMH. These are such special young people who look outside of themselves to serve others. College is a very busy time. There is so much to balance and attend to as a young adult. We are always amazed and grateful for the college students who carve out time for families in need. But, as Liz says, “The giving goes both ways.”

Liz has been a volunteer at the RMH since 2010, primarily in the classroom. Before she shares her thoughts about her time spent with us, let us share a bit about the many ways she supports our families…

Liz is a fabulous musician, so we have enlisted her help (along with her sister) to perform at our Parents’ Night In “Date Night,” where Liz brings her enthusiasm and generosity…like everything she does at the House. Over the summer, she helped out on many of the field trips we took with the kids and families. When we host a lemon-aid stand, Liz is often on the corner with the kids waving signs and encouraging lots of sales. Liz and her family celebrated her 20^th and 21^st birthdays by serving dinner to families at the House through our Cooks for Kids volunteer meal program. When she is not volunteering, she is a bright and diligent pre-med student.

 Liz writes…..

“I have been a volunteer in the classroom since 2010. Working with kids of all ages and ethnicities challenges me to adapt to many different types of learning styles. Although I'm now in college, the favorite part of my week is having the opportunity to transport myself back to elementary school to re-discover the pure joy in getting a multiplication fact correct or scoring a goal at recess. Listening to the positrations and the enlightening and imaginative conversations that take place among the students always leaves a smile plastered to my face as I walk out door and on to my own classes. I'm very proud to serve in the RMH classroom every week!”

Rowan’s view from Egypt

This week’s Marvelous Monday is the amazing story of one of our students. We are starting with Rowan, as she holds the honor of having enrolled in our school the most times. Rowan, a wonderful young woman from Egypt has enrolled in our school seven of the fifteen years the school has been open. Rowan and her family come to the Amplatz Children’s Hospital for treatment for her brother’s rare immune compromising diagnosis. As she says below, she learned English in our school as well as many other life lessons. Rowan attended the Ronald McDonald House School for part of her first, second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh grades. Rowan is a bright, gentle, kind and motivated young lady. She is a fabulous sister to her brother. She adapts to all of the changes his diagnosis has presented to her family. Rowan knows herself, in the midst of all the changes, and seeks out the support and help she needs. As it is with all the children and families we have the privilege of knowing, it has been such a joy for the staff at the House to get to know Rowan and be a small part of her journey.

Rowan writes…..

We love when Rowan and her family are "home" with us!


"I owe having an enchanting one-of-a-kind childhood to The Ronald McDonald House school. Mrs. Britain is a teacher one cannot fail to admire and I'm eternally grateful for her help in teaching me English although I’m from Egypt and English was so foreign to me. Mrs. B helped make learning easier with her fun-loving spirit and excellent skills. This school made me a stronger, more confident person. It was my second home because I could be myself in it and express myself freely. I really loved positrations in school where everyone would share what they did last week and we would all listen with such excitement and love, like a big family. So many precious memories, I remember when it was Halloween and Mike served us the best scary food, and all the thrilling costumes! Also, when Mrs. Britain and I were interviewed by a journalist which was published in the newspaper just before I went back to Egypt in 2010. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have had such an experience. I'm truly blessed, even in hard times the school managed to brighten up my day with its vividly colored walls and never-ending shelves of books. Not only has the RMH School helped boost me academically, it taught me the most important lessons in life; it taught me to be kind and understanding ...for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. It taught me to be happy be bright and most importantly be myself!"

Thank you Rowan for sharing with all of us. We think of you often.

Rowan made many friends from all over the world while she was here. And she read and read and read. Stay tuned in the coming weeks. We will describe some of the special things about the school that Rowan mentioned. What is a positration? How are holidays celebrated in our school? Who is this Mrs. Britain? A classroom as a family? Stay tuned! There is lots to share!

Many Marvelous Mondays

Our school is celebrating 15 years of serving RMH families by kicking off a new Monday tradition called "Marvelous Mondays." For the next 15 weeks, we'll share photos, quotes, stories and other things that make our school a truly unique family service. Your support makes all of our programs and services possible, and we wouldn't be here without you! Thanks and enjoy the first "Marvelous Monday!"  

 

Over the past 15 years…

©       We've had 521 student curriculums were planned (87 for patients, 434 for siblings).

©       We've had 540 Monday mornings at school.

©       Approximately 5,250 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches have been made for lunch.

©       About 3,000 rolls of paper towels and toilet paper have been used.

©       About 1,000 bottles of hand soap have been used. (There is a lot of hand washing!)

©      Teachers and volunteers have used about 600 containers of Clorox wipes to keep the classroom clean and safe.

©      About 8,000 volunteer shifts helped in the classroom and/or supervised recess.

©       Students have used about 2,500 pencils and 2,300 boxes of Crayola markers.

©       Students went on over 900 field trips.

©       Over 5,000 books have been read in our classroom.

©       Countless hugs have been given. Many friendships made and so much love and support shared.

©       The most students we have had at one time is 23.

©       Most students are enrolled for an average of 40 days. Several students have been enrolled for the entire school year.

©       Every year, we have students enrolled from multiple grade levels. Our teachers work with individual student's home district to keep kids on track with their peers back home.
 

©       Students have come to our school from around the world. 15 countries have been represented, including: Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Senegal, Taiwan and Turkey. How amazing is that?!

 

15 years of providing education to children at the Ronald McDonald House  –  Oak St. What a milestone!

 

Thank you, Coit!

For over twenty years, Coit Cleaning has donated the cleaning of the carpets and furniture at the Ronald McDonald House - Oak Street. Recently, Ernie, Tony, Jordan and Jacob began their day at 5:00am so they could clean the slate floors and grout in the common areas of the House before the daily activities began. Thanks to Coit, our rooms are quickly cleaned for each new family before they arrive. I recently stopped by the Coit – Bloomington office to recognize this dedicated group. We can't thank you enough for your generosity.

Making Dental Care Accessible

Thank you to Delta Dental of Minnesota, supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest since 2008. Throughout the last five years, Delta Dental of Minnesota has graciously given $170,000 to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program- providing dental care to underserved children in the metro area. Since 2010, they have been present as a Fam Glam sponsor, totaling $17,000. Delta Dental of Minnesota is a true friend of RMHC-UM and we are so grateful for their continued support!

Click here to learn more about this program.

Cal’s All-Star Angel Foundation Shows Support

 

Tom and Stacy Sutter and their family visit the Ronald McDonald House - Oak Street every summer to drop off much needed items to help us serve families in gratitude for the support they received when their son, Cal, was treated here in the Twin Cities. Cal's All-Star Angel Foundation responded to a request for new, flat screen televisions for fifteen rooms of the House. Much to our delight, the new televisions are installed and fit perfectly in the bookshelves in each room. With gratitude to Tom and Stacy and their supporters, we say a huge THANK YOU! Even though Cal's Angel Foundation is actively supporting families in the Chicago area where they live, their continued support and generosity makes a real impact.