News: Winchester Youth Center

Winchester Youth Center, 458R Main Street, 781-721-0906 • www.winyc.com

It’s our 11th anniversary! The WYC has been in its current space at McCall for over 10 years Come celebrate with us! If you are a teenager who wants: to do something good for others… something fun to do after school… cool events and activities to attend… to spread the word about important issues… to be a role model to others… to give something back to the community… to learn more about yourself and what you’re capable of… then the WYC is the place for you. The WYC offers something for everyone, come check us out and find out how you can get involved. Go to www.winyc.com for more information. The WYC is a division of the Recreation Department serving middle and high school students. We are located on the backside of McCall Middle School. We offer a wide variety of leadership programs, special events, and service opportunities as well as a great space for students to call their own. IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER INCREDIBLE YEAR FOR ALL OF US AT THE WYC! Congrats to our seniors: Haley Wegner, Kevin Pywell, Nick Cobb, Ryan Ver Planck, and Tessa Belanger We have a few more special events to bring us through the end of the school year and into summer vacation: DROP-IN CENTER Staff: WYC Peer Leaders The WYC drop-in center is open daily from 2:15–5 pm on regular school days and 11:10 am–3 pmon early release days throughout the school year. The WYC staff provides a safe, supervised space where kids can have fun while interacting responsibly. Our daily activities include arts & crafts, sports, board games, dance parties, video games, pool, air hockey, foosball, group outings, and off-site adventures. Students are welcome to hang out with friends, play games, watch a movie, do homework, and take advantage of all the cool things that the WYC has to offer! Everyone is required to treat others with respect, be accountable for their own belongings, take care of the Drop-in Center equipment, and clean up after themselves. Students are welcome to come and go on a completely voluntary, drop-in basis. To attend the drop-in center after school, students must become WYC members. Our $40 membership is good for the entire school-year and scholarships are available. Students can become members at any time during the school-year; simply stop by the WYC to pick up your membership forms. LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS The WYC has several youth groups for students in grades 7–12 that focus on responsibility, respect for others, trust, commitment, teamwork, support, and community service. Through these groups students are given many opportunities to develop their skills in the areas of communication, organization, decision-making, and leadership. They also build confidence and self-esteem by serving as role models for their peers and making a difference in their community. Please contact Rebecca at winchesteryouthcenter@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information on any of these programs. PEER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Mondays, 5:30–7 pm Do you have what it takes to be a peer leader? If you have natural leadership skills, want to have a positive impact on the community, like to have fun and make good decisions; then the answer is yes! The WYC peer leadership program is a youth group for Winchester High School students who are committed to their community and serving as role models for their peers. The Peer Leaders meet on Monday evenings to work on further developing their leadership, communication, interpersonal, and decision-making skills; plan for upcoming projects; and have a lot of fun. They staff the Drop-in Center after school and serve as Project Leaders for all of the WYC’s service-learning projects including all of our special events and community service projects. This group is open to any WHS student who has natural leadership skills and the desire to further develop them. Anyone interested in joining this awesome group is welcome to stop by the WYC for more information. SSA: STUDENTS SPREADING AWARENESS Project Leaders: Victoria Salemme, Julia Hughes SSA is a peer education group for Winchester High School students. The mission of this group is “to inspire positive change in our world and provide opportunities for students to become active in the community. We identify issues of concern that we feel our peers are under-informed about and spread awareness in unique and interactive ways.” Throughout this year we are focusing our efforts on issues facing Winchester teens including academic pressure, body image, eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, stress, depression, bullying, school spirit and unity. Anyone interested in joining this group should contact the WYC for more information. THE 84 Project Leaders: Erica Pedersen, Robbie Torrey The WYC Peer Leaders have created our own chapter of the 84: a youth-led movement fighting for a tobacco-free generation in Massachusetts. The 84 represents the 84% of Massachusetts teens who choose not to smoke. As a chapter of the 84 we look forward to working with peer leaders in nearly 100 other chapters across the state who are fighting Big Tobacco in our schools and communities through interactive projects and awareness campaigns. Please check out our website or www.the84.org to learn more. Tuesdays, 3–4 pm EXPLORATION Project Leaders: Jake Biel, Joel Miller, Britta Erikson, Zack Landau This is our newest youth group and it’s just for 6th graders! Exploration meets after school on Tuesdays from 3–4 pm. Our goals for Exploration are to introduce young teens to the middle school and the goals of the WYC, allow students to create bonds and friendships with other WYC members and peer leaders, learn more about themselves, talk about important issues, and have fun! While playing games and going on various adventures we will address a variety of middle school issues including peer pressure, communication, cliques, transitions of middle school, bullying, role modeling, dances, relationships, and teamwork. Exploration members have the opportunity to participate in many fun activities including scavenger hunts, field trips, movie nights, and community service projects. All 6th graders are invited to join us. We hope to see you soon! Tuesdays, 6–7 pm DISCOVER Project Leaders: Jill Stone, Victoria Salemme Discover is the WYC’s middle school youth group for 7th and 8th graders. This group provides students with the opportunity to make new friends, participate in programs, activities, and discussion groups on topics that are important to them, and have fun on a weeknight. Members are provided with opportunities to learn how to make informed decisions and positive choices about the important issues they face as middle schoolers. The group meets on Tuesday evenings from 6–7 pm. Thursdays, 5:30–6:30 pm, beginning March 1. PACT Project Leaders: Dani Siegel, Lauren Burchard, Victoria Salemme, Caroline Ver Planck, Julia Salemme PACT is the WYC’s youth group just for 7th and 8th grade girls! We have created PACT with the goals of creating a dialogue about common issues girls face going into high school and inspiring a strong sense of self. Each week we will focus on the following issues: Self-image, Friends, Peer Pressure, Expectations, and Relationships. Through discussion, super fun activities, and special guest appearances we hope to motivate girls to build self-confidence and the ability to think critically and carefully about all of the decisions that they will make during the important transitions they face in the near future. PACT will meet at 5:30–6:30 pm on Thursday evenings in the WYC beginning March 1. Please contact the WYC for more information. SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS Throughout the year the WYC runs a ton of different special events in an effort to provide teens with great alcohol & drug-free alternative activities. It’s all part of the Peer Leaders’ commitment to helping their peers make good decisions! Check out our website to learn about all of our special events and mark your calendars for all the things you won’t want to miss. Throughout the year the WYC Peer Leaders coordinate and participate in a huge variety of community service projects. The Peer Leaders are committed to making a positive difference in the world and encouraging others to do the same. If you’re interested in doing something good for our community, stop by the WYC and find out how you can get involved. Please check out our website for a complete description of our service efforts HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Project Leaders: Lauren Burchard, Beryl Emmerich, Britta Erikson, Joel Miller, Dan Hollahan For the past 6 years the Peer Leaders have participated in a week-long service-learning project with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for needy families. This year, during April vacation we will travel to West Virginia to participate in our 7th annual week-long service trip. The Peer Leaders will be running a variety of events in an effort to fundraise 100% of the expenses for our trip in April. Please contact us to find out more about any of the following fundraisers or if you would like to make a donation toward this amazing service-learning experience. DUMP RUNS Let us take care of your trash on Saturday, March 17. We are currently selling dump run vouchers for $10 Contact the WYC for more information. RAFFLE TICKETS Buy your $20 tickets for the chance to win: • iPad 2 • 4-pack Red Sox tickets • Live performance by The Dirt Dogs Drawing is April 9. ALS COMMUNITY OF HOPE Project Leaders: Jill Stone, Hallie Stone Please support our efforts to defeat ALS a.k.a. Lou Gehrig’s Disease. We have created “Haley’s Comets”, a Community of Hope Fund at web.alsa.org/goto/haleyscomets. Our goal is to raise money to support people in our community with ALS and to spread awareness of the urgency to find treatment and a cure for this disease. Please also check our website for upcoming fundraising events to benefit the ALS Association. Friday, March 30 ROCK FOR YOUTH Project Leaders: Allie Silverman, Erica Pederson, Amanda Toumayan, Cam Currie The second round of the Battle of the Bands will take place on Friday, March 30, from 7–11 pm, in the Winchester Town Hall Auditorium. This show will feature the nine bands that received the most votes in round 1. Be there to support your friends and listen to some great, live music. Audience members will vote to select the five bands that will perform in the final show on the eve of Town Day. Doors open at 7 pm. Admission is $10.Proceeds from the Rock for Youth benefit the WYC’s Youth Service Scholarships. MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTIVITY NIGHTS Project Leader: Victoria Salemme, Jake Biel, Britta Erikson The WYC co-sponsors monthly activity nights for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders with the McCall Middle School Parent’s Association and McCall Student Council. Participants are welcome to hang out, play games, or watch a movie in the Drop-in Center and listen to the DJ play music for the dance in the gym. All students must enter through the McCall front door, admission is $10. Check our website for upcoming Activity Night dates.