Oct 29, 2024
Our twelve STOKE Directors have been busy with fall programming and projects. Having hired Liz Wishman, a retired teacher, as our Development Coordinator, the directors are now able to expand our mission of offering kids more skill opportunities. Liz hit the ground running, working on potential grants, organizing, scheduling, recruiting instructors, and filling in where needed. We are very lucky to have her in STOKE and she’s a joy to work with. The kids love her too.
Our FIRST Robotics teams are going full STEAM ahead with two teams of Middle Schoolers in the FIRST Lego League, which are full now, and one team of highschoolers in the FIRST Tech Challenge. The kids and coaches, Spencer Sellay, Roger Flynn, Adam Six, and Bobby McCauley, were out in full force at Fall Fest selling raffle tickets to fund their teams’ needs and competition schedules which will start in February. The kids were also tasked with cleanup during Fall Fest after receiving a generous donation of $1500 from the Townsend Rotary Club. The kids received many compliments from Fall Fest attendees about the great job they were doing on cleanup.
Having lost our connection with Snapology last year, we purchased several kits used by Snapology, along with some of their equipment, and started our own program which we call Lego Tech. These classes are geared for 3rd thru 5th graders. The kids who went through Snapology in past years were really prepared for moving into the FIRST program, so we were able to do very well in last year’s competitions even though it was their first year. Lego Tech has started but there will be more sessions offered throughout the year. Scott Gossard, a fairly new board member, is coaching this class.
Destiny Grandy and Tessie Hughes were also at our Fall Fest booth selling products they made from STOKE classes. Destiny was selling her jewelry and Tessie her handmade fishing flies, lures, and jewelry made from fishing hooks. Destiny and Tessie are both our “poster” kids for STOKE as both are involved in many of our programs and other activities.
Pottery continues to grow and we’re partnering with the school to put on classes for their 21st Century grant kids. Teddy Lewis instructs 3 – 4 classes per week, teaching the basics and much more in all aspects of pottery. The kids have really improved with several moving up into full-scale pottery piece production. The Pottery Guild is also open to adults, and we have several who partake of the guild’s equipment and Teddy’s expertise.
Cooking Classes have started with Rachael Alexander and Simone Dominguez teaching this class. The kids really get involved in this class and have really blossomed with parents finding that their kids can actually take over the cooking at home.
Laura Frazier has retired from the sewing class. We really miss Laura as she started our first program and was a great mentor to the kids, but Jeanne Mainwaring has agreed to take on the class and will teach sewing, crafts, and whatever else the kids are interested in. Jeanne will be an equal replacement for Laura we feel and are excited to have her on board. The sewing class will be held in the Methodist Church now and we feel very fortunate that the Methodists have allowed us some space there. With all our new activities, we are quickly expanding beyond the Lodge’s capacity.
Please check out our new website at https://stokemt.org. It has an exciting video that the kids produced themselves with the assistance of MAPS Media Institute. We are very proud of the job the kids did on it and it describes STOKE’s mission perfectly as well as showcasing the kids’ achievements.