The Whole Year!

In today’s Marvelous Monday post celebrating our school, we’re excited to feature another student! A handful of times over the past 15 years, students have been enrolled with us for the entire school year. Although it is uncommon, it is not unexpected due to the extreme medical conditions that bring families to stay with us. At the Ronald McDonald House on Oak Street, the average length of stay is longer than any other Ronald McDonald House in the world!

Alyssa’s family lived at the RMH for 219 nights. Alyssa’s younger sister, Gracie, was born with Down Syndrome and the first years of her life were occupied by many medical complications. During Alyssa’s time with us, she was involved in many House activities. Every Monday night was Nintendo Wii time. Alyssa and her RMH friend, Ky,  loved to dance! They would boogie the night away competing with other kids and our staff. Katy could keep up...Persis not so much! During the winter, school recess is either in the gym or the game room. There is a fabulous Dance Dance Revolution game in the game room which Alyssa mastered. Her feet never missed a step! Alyssa also participated in one of our Sibling Camps at Faith’s Lodge. This is a 3-day trip specifically for the siblings of patients. Time is spent having fun, feeling special, having adventures and celebrating the wonderful job siblings do. 

Alyssa (currently back home in North Dakota and in the 4th grade) shares:

Alyssa and her family lived at the RMH for over 200 nights. 

I have so many memories of going to school at the Ronald McDonald House! I spent my entire first grade year at the Ronald McDonald House School! I loved that I was able to go to school and still be close to my family. Our classroom was set up just like any other classroom; the only difference was there were all different aged kids. It was a one-room school house just like on “Little House on the Prairie!”  I loved Mrs. Britain! She always made me feel special and gives great hugs! Mrs. Hoops always had a warm smile on her face and that really encouraged me. It was so nice to be able to go to school with other kids who had sick brothers and sisters, or were patients themselves. We all understood how hard it was. I loved Persis [Director of Family Services] because she gave me Beads of Courage and always took the time to see if I was alright and to check on Gracie. We got to do some super neat activities in school. I especially liked Wordily Wise, Positrations, Jerry coming to school, and our many field trips. I learned so much! I loved lunch too. We had great food and the volunteers were so nice to us. Our classroom was like a big family. Together we celebrated the happy times, the scary times and the sad times. Towards the end of the year, I was the only student left. Mrs. Britain, Mrs. Hoops and Persis made me feel extra special and always gave me the hope that one day I would be able to return home."

Alyssa (4^th grade | Age 10)

North Dakota

What an incredible perspective! Thank you, Alyssa, for sharing with us! Thank you for being a great kid, a great student, a great dancer and a great big sister! And guess what? Alyssa is a big sister again! In December, her family welcomed another baby girl!

Reading is FUNdamental

We love every subject covered in our school! However, reading and language concepts are a primary focus. Our teacher, Mrs. Britain, hopes every student develops a love of reading. Mrs. B knows a love of reading is attributed to a solid foundation in a student’s educational foundation! In addition, Mrs. B understands the benefit of reading and being swept away by imagination. For many RMH students facing stressful daily realities, being transported to another place for a little while is a tremendous gift. Reading also introduces our students to role models who encounter challenges and difficult circumstances and find ways to endure, thrive and grow through trials.

Volunteers from Capella University help us celebrate 15 years of serving students at the RMH!

In our classroom, reading happens all day! There is time when volunteers read aloud to students and there is time when students read aloud to one another, or to teachers or volunteers. Students also select their own books for quiet-time reading. To see our classroom full of kids cuddled up with their books makes us truly happy.

Each month, the classroom breaks for “Reading Club.” This time is designed as a special out-of -classroom, partner reading time for each student with an adult volunteer. The purpose is for students to share time with an adult, which will encourage the student both as a reader and as a special child who is cared for and valued. Volunteer groups sign up to come to the House, read with the students for 30 minutes and then have lunch and recess with us. Volunteers provide the books as well as lunch. It’s a unique and special volunteer opportunity that has a lasting impact. Book Club days are special for so many reasons. Thank you to our wonderful volunteer groups for giving the gift of reading to our students. To learn more about this awesome opportunity, email Carynn Roehrick | carynn@rmhc-um.org.

 

Marvelous Monday, Featuring Julie & Hope

Today's Marvelous Monday post celebrates two amazing volunteers. Oftentimes, we share stories about the friendships children and families find at the Ronald McDonald House. Today, we're sharing and celebrating the friendship two volunteers found.


Julie and Hope have volunteered in our school for six years.

Six years ago, Julie and Hope met as "Thursday morning" volunteers in our school. Because each of our students has an individual curriculum, most of the teaching is done on a one-to-one basis. Our teacher, Mrs. Britain, plans the curriculum and teaches the concepts,  then students are paired with volunteers to complete their work. As you can imagine, we need a lot of help! Most mornings and afternoons, we have at least 2 volunteers in the classroom. Julie and Hope have been devoted volunteers. They've added shifts when there are higher numbers of students in  school and are flexible with taking on other tasks when the numbers in the classroom go down. They have supervised recess, added and multiplied, spelled and read (and read and read). Through their volunteer experience, they have become lifelong friends.  

(Julie and Hope write)
For six years, the two of us have met every Thursday in the Ronald McDonald House classroom. We have been blessed to meet children from all over the country and all over the world. With ages ranging from 5-15, we have experienced life in the classroom from the eyes of all grade levels. The common thread, however, is the intense need for love and community. It has been an honor for us to meet in a place where the values are so real and important. The kids are amazing, and though their lives are difficult and their days unpredictable, they learn to cope and rise to the occasion of what is expected of them at school. We have learned more from these students than anything we could have taught them. It is a true pleasure to volunteer in the school.

Thank you, Julie and Hope, for your heartfelt service to children in need. You are truly marvelous!

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!