Palmer Trinity School

Bird's Eye View |Books| Great Reads (continued) for her child. Inspired by the framework of one girl's life, it is also the story of many children around the world who are marginalized and excluded from basic care, support, and education. Jenna Bush sends a message of hope, inclusion, and survival, and calls for youth involvement in helping other young people triumph over adversity. (Harper Collins, 2007) Stick Your Neck Out: A Street-Smart Guide to Creating Change in Your Community and Beyond by John Graham Meeting challenges and resolving conflicts are things that can be done by anyone with the passion to do so, according to John Graham. And he should know. A veteran conflict mediator, Graham heads the Giraffe Heroes Project, whose extensive workshops have helped communities, cities, organizations, and individuals deal with challenge and change. Stick Your Neck Out is based on those experiences. The book details the skills, qualities, and strategies required to make a difference, with profiles of problem-solvers and activists from doctors to waitresses, who have all acted like giraffes and "stuck their necks out" to address issues like poverty, gang violence, and pollution. Graham's concepts and coaching tips, from communicating with sensitivity to more urgent actions like filing complaints and protesting, apply equally well to macro and micro issues, all the way down to interfamily squabbles and work conflicts. Graham's "giraffes" have tested his ideas in the real-life situations recounted here, and shown that they work. (Berrett-Koehler, 2005) 365 Ways To Change the World: How to Make a Difference-One Day at a Time by Michael Norton You want to make a difference in the world, but don't know where to begin. Now you can. Here is just the guide to lots of exciting ways that are more personal and fun than merely writing a check. For every day of the year, 365 Ways to Change the World is packed with information and ideas that don't take a lot of special skills to put into action, but will achieve something positive. The suggestions cover twelve important areas in which you can influence change, including in your local community, as a consumer, making a cultural contribution, and addressing problems such as the environment, health, and human rights. You can go through the book day by day or use the index to flip to the issues that concern you most; to help you take action, a complementary website links straight to many of the sources listed in the book. Great to give as well as to keep, this is an inspiring, practical resource for making the world a better place -- one day at a time. (Free Press, 2007) By Ruthanne Vogel, PTS Librarian 10 |Sports| Fall Sports Bring Rewards to Falcons Even though our Falcon teams started playing way back in August, the Fall Sports Season seems like it was only yesterday.  Palmer Trinity student athletes serving, spiking, running, and tackling all in the name of Falcon Athletics!  During the Fall Season we fielded teams for our boys and girls ranging from sixth grade all the way up to seniors, and virtually all of them experienced a high degree of success, both on the scoreboard and, more importantly, in the spirit of competition. BABY FALCONS In our Football Program, we had a historic first – a first ever WIN by our first ever 6th grade football team!  Head Coach Ernest Robertson Jr. directed 18 young boys through their first steps in becoming Falcon football players from how to put on their helmets and shoulder pads, to how to celebrate a victory, as the "Baby Falcons" knocked off their rivals from Ransom Everglades by a final score of 6-0.  Congratulations to the Falcons of the Future! VARSITY FOOTBALL The Varsity Football Team also made history as the Falcons qualified for the FHSAA Football Playoffs for the first time in 26 years.  Head Coach Darryl Maple had a seniordominated squad (21 seniors) led by quarterback Aleck DaGrosa, David Omachonu and Stephen Marbert on offense along with Nick Benenati, Eric Lampert, and Danny Fresco on defense.   The team was very competitive throughout the season, playing a total of three overtime periods while showing an explosive offense and a hard-hitting defense. The future is definitely bright for Falcon Football. GOLF Continuing Palmer Trinity's success, Head Coach Mike Ford's Golf team reeled off victories in 12 of their 13 matches.  Landon Michelson and Ledah Geller were the top two players, qualifying for the Regional Championships in a very tough South Florida

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