3rd Session/Parent Meeting

Dear Parents,

Tonight was great! Your teens showed true signs of "gelling" as a group. There was less "side-talking" (okay there was some, but it was less, they showed consideration to one another, nice interactions. Also they were simply more efficient and focused than during the last meeting, even though three week have elapsed.

We worked on updating LUNCH Points for many of your children. If you do not see any new behaviors when you log into the program, it is because your child did not request it. Remember, the purpose is to help them remember one or two simple things they can, and should, be doing on a regular basis. We will work on behaviors that you have targeted for group later on. Right now, we just need to get the "mechanism working."

If there is a behaivor you think it would benefit your child to target, suggest it when you get closer to the next meeting, in two weeks. Remind them to bring it up and, if you wish, send me an email. If they remember, let them know it is good for a "Hero Ticket."

In addition to working on LUNCH Points, they participated in making a group animation, which will apparently have another segment in the future. Everyone from group participated. Some may have chosen a character, a sound effect, scene change, or dialogue, but everyone participated.

They had dinner at Gelsons tonight, mainly because of the parent meeting. They ate outside and, according to Lindsay and Stacy, socialized or played games after they finished eating.

The parent meeting had the best attendance we've seen in a long, long time. Congratulations! We reviewed enhancements to the website and LUNCH Points, general strategies and information, e.g., do you take things away from your child? If so, how do you do it in an effective, learning, learning based manner?

Finally, the parents made a request, which has turned into a decision. The parent tele-conferences will stop and be replaced by..... Parent Dinners. We are planning to have them occur every other month, starting in December on the 2nd Thursday of the month. The meeting place and exact time will be sent to you.

We will still conduct tele-conferences on occasion, however this will be primarily for teaching about technology used in the program.

Finally, there is a closed social network available and we discussed some of the details regarding that.

Your kids threw their own trash away and seemed to enjoy themselves. I will dicate audio summaries after next session.

That's all for now.

Bruce

2nd Session

Hi Parents,

Here's a review of what occurred during last night's group. We had all of our attendees except one. As is our routine, the kids had a chance to socialize informally near Gelsons. Afterwards, the kids transitioned to the office and congregated in the waiting room.

After they had been conversing for about five minutes. The room became so quiet spontaneously. It was really quite amazing. I almost wondered if there was something going on I didn't know about. Turns out they were just being aware of the fact that I was filming and they wanted it to be a quiet time. During that time we talked a little bit about what kind of activities we were going to be doing tonight. We reviewed the LUNCH Points program (which you will be using beginning next week... watch for the upcoming tutorial!) and how the raffle tickets (blue and "Hero") work.

We transitioned (incredibly smoothly, ask to see the video for the parent meeting). All of the group members updated and reviewed their behavioral goals. So, in terms of the overall momentum and cohesiveness of the group building that clearly seems to be happening. They are listening to one another, even the few who were bored spoke quietly and in a nondisruptive manner.

I showed them a project that the kids had done and explained that I wanted them to do a very similar project. One of the distinctions between the teen and child group is that we will tolerate (not condone) mildly inappropriate language as teenagers will do. What was nice to see is that nobody became too over excited about that. Overall in fact the group was very well controlled tonight.

The group completed the animation and then we went out to eat at Baja Fresh, tonight. It was an organized process. Some of the kids did not know what to order and they were helped by the counselors. The groups gravitated into smaller groups of fours, and they conversed, and enjoy themselves. They really alternated between eating and talking. I didn't see inappropriate manners from anyone.

The evening ended on a very positive note. It was one of the group member's birthdays and we had cupcakes for every one. They selected them in an orderly manner. They sang happy birthday to her. And when we realize we were running out of time, they very quickly cleaned up and with very little guidance, we're ready to leave and we're back within just a few minutes of the time we were expected.

One of the really nice things that I observed is that the degree of group cohesiveness is very strong. This is probably related to the fact that in this particular group the majority of the group members are returning either from spring or from summer. So the few new kids who we have have been easily assimilated but also the kids who were late 12 year olds are really working out well within the team group as well.

So that's it for now.. except, here is the cartoon they created. We will have it up as a narrated version in a couple of weeks.

Hi Caren, Your kids...

Hi Caren,
Your kids successfully came to the mall right now I'm serving(?) clears with 4 boys and 1 girl and the girl looks very comfortable in fact so much for the boys but they're tailor(?) riding it so I would say they are practicing close sister shopping." They enjoy themselves California ____ more to camp. listen

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Important Merdoff(?),...

Important Merdoff(?), parent meeting time changed for next week. In order to give your kids enough time to be able to go on the community outing. We are canceling the parent meeting for next Thursday at 1:15. I am working out an alternate time and we'll let you know when that would be. Do not come next Thursday at 1:15 please. listen

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The kids worked on their...

The kids worked on their face online behavior project today. And, some of them had the opportunity to become Avatars. Also, 4 of the kids had an opportunity to play Wii. And, there was quite a bit of excitement about this. All in all, it was a successful day. And, the kids also had the chance to go to Jambojee(?). listen

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We have the parent meeting...

We have the parent meeting today, and 8 family showed up so this was really nice. We will have an audio recording by the end of the day tomorrow so you can search under parent audio/video recordings. Last weeks is already up. listen

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From 12:17pm (Tues).
I am now watching from outside I should skip off very quietly and came to the ___ manner, answered(?) the Italian restaurant that we're having lunch hour, see to themselves and I'm now conversing and just being great trip. listen

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From 12:15pm today (Tues). We just finished laser tag. The kids had I would say perhaps one of the best times they've had in Bruce(?). They're wondering if they can come back. And, they're always perceptible(?) when it's up no video game. In all even those kids who are sensitive to noise did not seem to be bothered. listen

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Hi Parents, I'm sorry...

Hi Parents,
I'm sorry there were no updates yesterday. The kids had a good time at the barbecue. There's plenty of videos that will show up on the end of your DVD and as you already heard, the sibling meeting had no participants to let us know if you want to have a sibling meeting for next Thursday. Just email me at ____.com More updates to follow today, thanks. listen

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New Programs and Schedule

Just want to be certain that everyone knows the LUNCH Points 2 program is now up and running. Visit the Parent Web Site for details. Remember, if you can't find what you need in the navigation bar on the left side, just type the term in the "search bar" at the right top. For example, to find the LUNCH Points login, just type "login." You will need to know your child's nickname. You can find this by searching for "nickname."

We have finalized our meeting schedule:

• Kid Parent In-Office Meetings: Wednesday mornings from 9:15am-10:15am
• Teen Parent In-Office Meetings: Thursdays from 1:15pm-2:15pm
• Sibling Meetings (both groups): Thursdays from 4:00pm-5:00pm (these meetings are held at the office--siblings only. Those who cannot attend can participate via their computer at home and/or by calling in.
• Parent Tele-Meetings (both groups): Thursday from 8:00pm-9:00pm

The last piece of technology to introduce is the closed social network. This will allow teen and kid parents of the summer programs to share resources and communicate.

That's it for now.

Bruce

Hi Dawg(?), coming back...

Hi Dawg(?), coming back with your kids on the bus. I had a good time bowling, all of them participated. We had pizza and chicken wings(?) and ____, but ____ lunch but we'll make up for it. Over all as a great(?) trip. listen

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Hi Parents, We are walking...

Hi Parents,
We are walking into ____ your kids were perfectly behaved on the bus and they also chose behavers(?) that they all wish to work on during our group meeting this morning. I'll keep you posted later.
Thanks. listen

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I was just coming back...

I was just coming back from the park on our way for the end of the day. One of the things that was nice to see was that nobody really iced(?) themselves, but we were able to make use of the councils to do different things. They really didn't bring much with them, and was nice to see how they did with just some turf and duck food. listen

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On of the other things...

On of the other things that happened was that when one of the members got flowers in his hair, and another member started to tell the others in a teasing way, it was possible to intervene and pull that member aside. Give him a choice of whether to be teasing or whether it'd be helpful to the person who has flowers in his hair, and didn't know it. He made a good choice. listen

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One of the things that...

One of the things that group decided is that if they would like to return to the park and this time they are going volley ball match Thursday ____ be able to ____ by a Johnny walker.l But we will be forming to do that in a couple of weeks. listen

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So now we're headed...

So now we're headed off to lunch at Numero Uno, and then we'll be going to the park to see ducks afterwards, which surprisingly they all seem pretty interested in. We have some tarts(?) with us and it should be a fun day. This is the last toast until after lunch time. listen

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Things settled down,...

Things settled down, and the group was very productive this morning being able to come up with different rules. And, looking at some animation samples online. They also decided on a main project which involve safe and unsafe online behavior. listen

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The group today began...

The group today began very smoothly and we had a new member join us a 17-year-old. The other members were excepting even when things ____ smoothly initially as we ____ white. The grip began to look over a project they started on Tuesday and had some fun playing around with different advertise, which will show up on the sight shortly. listen

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We finished our first...

We finished our first group with the teenagers and things went pretty well. We had an opportunity to go over some of the basic rules, although we haven't written them down yet. Everyone choose nicknames, except one member. For lunch, we went out for Chinese food at Uncle Chen's. The majority of your kids apparently are fond of fried foods. They socialized and the returning and newer kids got along with one another without problems. A couple of members stayed more by themselves, which we do not push to change. The group ended with participation in a project, which will be posted on the website. So thanks, it was a successful day.

One note: Please do take time to read the Introduction on the parent website. You may click here to view.

Initial Update 1st Day

This is Bruce just giving an initial report. I am meeting with teens in the waiting room. We went over the roles about how group works and now we're going to be doing nicknames. So, this is just a periodic update. Thanks.

It's Tuesday morning...

It's Tuesday morning and we are going to be starting the group in about an hour-and-a-half, this is just an opportunity for me to test out the blogging system and see if it is _____. listen

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