Category: Academics
Some might call 1,000 youngsters a handful. At Triple Threat, we call it fun.
So on Saturday, August 14th, from 12 – 4pm, Triple Threat will team up with the City of Aurora, area churches, non-profits and volunteers to offer the annual urban festival for youth called Celebrate our Children. Last year, about 2,000 people filed into East Aurora’s McCarty Park to enjoy the free event that features live entertainment and special attractions, rides, carnival games, prizes, community booths and more. Plan now to volunteer and join the fun. Stay connected to our Facebook and Twitter accounts for more details and we hope to see you there!
East Aurora, meet west Africa.
Students from Nicholson Elementary have gotten their fair share of African culture thanks to a new Triple Threat program called Feel the Beat.
Feel the Beat is a new hand drum program that teaches 4th grade students rhythm and playing skills and on the djembe drum.
Regular sheet music is not called for. All it takes is some handwritten counts and a passion to feel the beat!
We’ll have more on this program in the coming weeks!
And check out these photos — they’re awesome!
Hard work isn’t usually fun.
Basketball, obstacle courses, soccer and kickball are.
Such was the scenario for more than 150 students at Beaupre Elementary in Aurora. On Monday, they were rewarded for months of good behavior with an open gym with Triple Threat. Student accrued “Paw points” throughout the school year and could redeem them on an afternoon of sports and events with Triple Threat.
Congrats to all the youth at Beaupre on their hard work. Turns out hard work can be fun.
A softball tournament that featured fully extended diving catches, flawless double plays and nip-and-tuck battles deserved a fitting finish.
That’s exactly what fans got Saturday at the Triple Threat and District 131 Co-Ed Softball Tournament. It took extra innings to decide a winner, but the Bardwell Bears eked out a win over the Oak Park Lions.
Teams from across the district participated in this years tournament, which brought with it uncharacteristically cold May weather and resoundingly hot hitting and fielding.
Plenty of action was brewing outside of the two softball diamonds at Phillips Park. Whether it was face painting, an obstacle course or one-on-one soccer, there was plenty of fun to be had for youth of all ages.
Triple Threat is sending out a big thank you to all of the hard-working volunteers who make our events possible. Thanks guys!
For more photos, check out our Facebook page.
Mix food together with sports and games. Sprinkle in more than a hundred people. What do you have?
Intersection 2010.
Triple Threat Mentoring partnered with North Central College recently for Intersection 2010, an event chock full of athletics, academics and arts for residents of Jericho Circle.
Youth came from Jericho Circle to nearby Westwood Park to partake in a number of activities. Whether it was flipping around in an inflatable jump-house or learning the 50 states through a puzzle, kids had a bevy of activities to keep them busy all day.
We want to send a big thank you out to all our volunteers and friends at North Central for their hard work and making Intersection 2010 a great success!
Like many commuters heading into the city, Lemuel sat quietly on the Metra Rail on Tuesday morning as he thumbed through the New York Times.
But as a 12-year-old from Aurora, his early morning trip carried a much different purpose than other business suit-clad riders.
Lemuel, along with nine other youth from Jericho Circle, took in the Windy City with money on their mind.
As part of Triple Threat’s Money in Motion program, the 10 youngsters got an in-depth look at the world of finance from an ultra-knowledgeable group of professionals.
Back in the Metra car and barely 8 a.m., Lemuel’s mood graced his sleeve.
“I was up until 4 a.m. reading a book,” he admitted, exemplifying the group’s thirst for knowledge.
A visit to four different places in Chicago provided ample opportunity for Jericho youth to obtain the financial knowledge they sought. The trip included stops to Charles Schwab, the Federal Reserve, the Chicago Board Options Exchange and Nike’s Midwest Region Headquarters.
Leumuel said that in the past, any money he saved usually found its way to the corner store on candy.
Money in Motion has already changed his spending habits – he’s trading in his piggy bank for a bank account.
“Once I hit the legal age, I’m going to apply for a job,” Lemuel said. “I want to get a little money and save it up so I have money to pay for college.”
Lemuel said that after college, he doesn’t want to rely on anyone else to pave his way.
He wants to buy a house.
CJ also took home some valuable lessons. A few months from entering high school, CJ is already looking into his financial future.
He took note of every detail, from Nike’s marketing strategy to the advantage of investment over saving.
“It taught me a lot of things dealing with money,” he said.
Money In Motion is dedicated to introducing middle school and high school students to the world of money .. BEFORE they get it! This Triple Threat program will run March 18 – May 13, from 5:15pm – 6:45pm at the Jericho Circle Community Center. The program will feature lessons on the basics of finance, hands-on experimentation with financial concepts through interactive web sites, and field trips to the Federal Reserve Bank, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, Nike Regional Headquarters, and local banks. Finance Professionals will present “learning talks” on alternating weeks. For more information or to volunteer, email Nancy@triplethreat.org.
Word Up is a creative new Academics program focused on raising third graders’ scores on standardized tests by building their vocabulary proficiency and reading skills through music. The Word Up curriculum integrates professional rap songs with vocabulary words, definitions, and comprehension exercises simulating those found on many high-stake tests. This fun, highly interactive program has kids on their feet as they learn! Word Up meets Wednesdays from 3:00 – 4:30pm, Feb. 24 – April. 14 at Gates Elementary School.
ROFL, Reading Our Fun Literature is dedicated to helping young readers discover the joy of reading. This creative new Triple Threat program combines group activities, learning exercises and mentors in a fun, informal setting designed to engage students. The program targets students in third grade, a critical juncture for an early reader. ROFL will launch at Gates Elementary School December 2009 – February 2010.
Literacy statistics show that a student who is not reading at grade level by the fourth grade has only a 1 in 10 chance of ever reading at grade level. Yet a child who is struggling with reading can become fluent if the right support is provided at the right time. Contextual learning, group discussion and breaking through reading roadblocks are aimed at enhancing literary performance as student confidence grows and reading enjoyment increases.
East Aurora High School students with Future Educators of America will partner with Triple Threat as reading mentors. Shirl Healy, student group Advisor, will also participate in the program.
A workshop and lunch for East Aurora 5th grade students, led by Medallion Press artists and writers, will be held in St. Charles Wednesday, June 17 from 10am – 3pm. Students will learn to sketch animated characters and basics of short story writing. Transportation and lunch will be provided by Triple Threat Mentoring. The workshop timing is concurrent with the annual Miss Illinois pageant. The Miss Illinois Scholarship Association has adopted Triple Threat as their charitable platform for community volunteerism in 2009. Miss Illinois pageant contestants will join students for lunch and assist in workshops.
