Join Chesapeake Forum for its Spring 2025 Preview Party at the Academy Art Museum on Thursday, April 2nd, at 3:30 PM, to see what’s coming up. Enjoy light refreshments, meet other Forum supporters, get a chance to chat with presenters and Board members before enjoying short videos about each upcoming course. The event is free but requires registration at https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Classes start Thursday, April 10th with Smart Cycling  – tips on road cycling safety from the experts. Two (2) sessions, Thurs., April 10th from 9 AM – Noon  AND Sun., April 13th from 2 – 5:30 PM.  In person at the Easton YMCA. $40.  Also on Thursday, Wayne Bell is back with his popular birding class, this time focused on spring songbirds.  Oh Wow! Warblers is seven (7) sessions, Thurs., April 10 and June 5th 2:30 – 4 PM, plus five (5) Field Trips.  $80. HYBRID and in person at Field Trip locations. 

The following week it’s Not Your Granddaddy’s Crop Duster.  Get up close to a crop duster and learn about the role aerial applicators play in protecting the Bay and helping local farmers.  Not Your Granddaddy’s Crop Duster is one (1) session, Mon., April 14th from 10:30 AM – Noon.  $30.  In person at the Easton Airport.. 

On Tues., April 15th, Learn about the Effects of Alcohol and Nutrition. Three (3) sessions, Tues., April 15, 22, 29 from 10:30 AM – noon. $50. In person at Easton Family YMCA.  Later the same day, Savoring Shakespeare: The Winter’s Tale.  Five (5) sessions, Tues., April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13 from 1:30 – 3 PM. $60. In person at the Easton Family YMCA. 

Take a trip to Churchill, British Columbia, home to one of the world’s  largest concentrations of polar bears, on Weds. April 16th.  Polar Bears of Churchill: A Photographic Adventure is one (1) session from 10:30 AM – Noon.  $30.  HYBRID.  Also on Wednesday, enjoy another armchair travel adventure with Egypt: An Intimate Portrait.  One (1) session from 1:30 – 3:00 PM. $30. HYBRID. 

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Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities to residents of the Eastern Shore.   To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your name and contact information to [email protected]. 

Chesapeake Forum is a part of the YMCA of the Chesapeake. All Chesapeake Forum classes are held at the Easton Family YMCA, online through ZOOM or at off-site locations. Recordings may be available. 

Sze Wong, CEO of Zerion Software, will speak at the Easton Branch of the Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) on Monday, March 17th, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. as part of the ongoing MY Tech series presented by TCFL and the Apollo’s Dream Foundation.

As uses for Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology continue to develop, many are left wondering how this technology can be applied to their own lives. Wong’s talk, AI and Everyday Life: How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping the Future for Seniors, aims to provide answers to these questions and more.  

Diving into the ways in which AI can be accessible, useful, and personalized for senior citizens, Wong will discuss how the use of AI can bridge the digital gap and empower older adults to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

“Through this partnership program, we aim to educate Seniors about the opportunities, tools and resources available through AI technologies” said Dana Newman, TCFL Director. “Seniors will begin to understand how to leverage the new technology to assist with everyday tasks.” 

Apollo’s Dream Foundation is a local non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide within Talbot County and the greater community through their popular MY Tech clinics, which are volunteer-based and free to the public. From drop-in computer help to broaching topics around AI software and usage, the foundation aims to provide a human touch to technology education. 

“It’s about enhancing human connection through and because of technology,” reports the Foundation’s website. “In a world where Artificial Intelligence can seem to make anything look and sound more perfect, we cherish the authenticity when we are touched by another human being’s life and wisdom.”

Wong is the CEO of Zerion Software and creator of the iFormBuilder mobile platform. He is an entrepreneur, inventor, educator, and author of the book Craft Your World. Wong also serves as a board member of Apollo’s Dream Foundation. 

All Talbot County Free Library programs are free and open to the public. For additional information visit www.tcfl.org, or call (410) 822-1626. 

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About Talbot County Free Library

 It is the mission of the Talbot County Free Library to enrich and renew the lives of the people it serves. There are two locations: The main library in Easton is located at 100 W. Dover St.; and the temporary St. Michael branch is at 1013 S. Talbot Street, Suite 11. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents. Services at both locations include the circulation of books, DVDs, digital devices, and free Wi-Fi, public computers, exhibits, and programs for children and adults. Many of the Talbot County Free Library’s programs are made possible by the generous support of the local community. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary

 

Tired of winning?

For three Saints Peter and Paul High School student-orators, the answer seems to be a resounding “No!”

Beginning January 29, Kathryn Murphy, Will Coughlan, and Conner Bryan have been steadily winning contests and scholarships, in both the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion Oratorical Contests… with more to come, as two of the student-orators have advanced to the American Legion’s State Finals on March 23.

The Regina Coeli Council of the Knights of Columbus conducted the oratorical contest in the school’s auditorium at the end of January, providing content, judging, and scholarships.  The Knights subsequently were pleased to announce – and distribute prizes to – the winners at a school assembly in the Regina Coeli Council’s first annual Oratorical Contest on the U.S. Constitution at Saints Peter and Paul High School.

Senior Kathryn Murphy was named champion, Sophomore Will Coughlan finished second, and Senior Conner Bryan finished third.

The three students’ creative and effective presentations ranged from  James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln quotes to the historical context of the Magna Carta, King George, and Machiavelli, and the complementary nature of various Articles of the Constitution.

Champion Kathryn Murphy, who will soon be headed to the University of Pennsylvania, earned all three judges’ highest score for her speech on how and whether the Articles of the U.S. Constitution do – or do not – preserve the sanctity of life.  She concluded it does, and confidently proclaimed:

      Just as history’s human rights activists went beyond the      comfortable to change the Constitution for the protection      of all human beings, so must we do now.

As champion of the Knights of Columbus/Saints Peter and Paul High School Oratorical Contest, Kathryn received a $1,500 scholarship award from the Regina Coeli Council.

The Oratorical Contest at Saints Peter and Paul High School is precisely modeled after – and prefatory to – the American Legion’s Oratorical Contest on the U.S. Constitution which is comprised of an eight-to-ten-minute speech followed by a second round of a shorter oration on one of four Constitutional Articles or Amendments chosen at random by the contest organizers.  The student-orators know the four Articles of the Constitution in advance, but not which one will be assigned.

Two days after her well-deserved Knights of Columbus triumph at SSPP High School, Kathryn on February 1 won the American Legion Easton Post’s contest, earning a $300 award, and she then subsequently won the American Legion District championship in Centreville, earning an additional $500 in the aggregate $2,300… and counting.

Kathryn goes on to the American Legion Maryland State Finals in Towson on March 23, with the winner going on to the American Legion National Finals at Hillsdale College in Michigan, an all-expenses-paid trip for the state winners and their parents with the opportunity to win the $25,000 first prize.

Will Coughlan, the second-place finisher in the Knights of Columbus/Saints Peter and Paul High School Oratorical Contest, earned a $500 award. Only a Sophomore, Will shows great promise for the next two years’ oratorical contests.  He finished second to Kathryn three times – at SSPP and subsequently at the American Legion Post and District levels, earning a total of $1,300.

Conner Bryan, the third-place finisher at SSPP, earned a $200 award.  Conner lives in Dorchester County, unlike Kathryn and Will, and therefore competed in American Legion Post and District contests in Cambridge and Salisbury, winning both unopposed and totaling $1,200 in awards (and counting).  Like Kathryn, Conner has advanced to the American Legion Maryland State Finals in Towson on March 23 and the significant opportunities available there.

Kathryn and Conner are two of only five student-orators competing at the American Legion’s Maryland State Finals, so there statistically is a 40-percent chance a Saints Peter and Paul High School student will be the American Legion Maryland State Champion.  Best wishes to our two local champions.

Next on the agenda for the Regina Coeli Council of the Knights of Columbus at Saints Peter and Paul High School are this Spring’s third annual Essay Contests on Faith/Word of God for ninth graders, and Patriotism/American Greatness for tenth graders — and a similar theme to be determined for the newly added Essay Contest for eleventh graders.

The primary goals of the partnership between the Knights of Columbus and Saints Peter and Paul High School are to:  (1)  improve the communication skills of our students – both written and oral (strong communication skills being one of the keys to later success in life); (2)  enhance and invigorate our students’ Faith and patriotism; (3) engender a deeper understanding of – and greater appreciation for – our U.S. Constitution and its framers; and (4) positively further differentiate Saints Peter and Paul High School from all other high schools on the Eastern Shore.

Beyond the financial awards, these contests instill confidence in the participants, and perpetually strengthen their university, internship, and job applications.  Who isn’t impressed by initiative and the ability to communicate well?

Moreover, how long would it take stocking shelves, mowing lawns, or babysitting to make “$2,300 and counting”?

Congratulations Kathryn, Will, and Conner!

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If you are interested in:  (1) financially supporting – at any level — the Essay and Oratorical Contests (naming rights are available for each of the contests if you wish to honor a family member, or a religious, military, or political hero); (2) attending the worthwhile June 5 Awards Ceremony/Dinner (at which we will invite the winning essayists to read their essays, among other aspects of the religious and patriotic program); and/or (3) you are a Catholic male aged 18 or older and would like more information about joining the Knights of Columbus – please contact Mark de Bernardo at [email protected].

 Leadership Maryland announced today that Cristy Morrell, Executive Director of Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers, has been chosen to participate in the Executive Program as a member of the Class of 2025. 

Morrell is one of 53 individuals chosen for the Leadership Maryland Executive Program’s 32nd class, who will complete the eight-month, hands-on learning program focused on the state’s most vital issues. The program will run from April to December, and include five, two-day sessions focused on Maryland’s five main geographic regions and the most vital issues impacting economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment, and multi-culturalism/diversity across the state. More than 100 experts representing Maryland’s business, government, education, and non-profit communities will serve as panelists and guest speakers.

“We are excited to announce our next class and welcome these accomplished and motivated individuals to the Executive Program,” said David Fike ’16 (LM) president and CEO, Leadership Maryland. “After a careful review and interview process, I am confident that the 53 members of the Class of 2025 represent a powerful cross-section of leaders who have a strong desire to make a broader impact within our state. I look forward to watching them grow as they build their knowledge, experience, and connections through our premier leadership program.”

Leadership Maryland’s flagship Executive Program is open to senior-level executives with significant achievements in either their careers and/or their communities. Ideal Leadership Maryland members have a desire to learn more about Maryland’s most critical issues and a personal commitment to be a force for positive change in their organizations, their communities, and their state. For more information about Leadership Maryland, please visit leadershipmd.org, call 410-841-2101 or email [email protected].

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About Leadership Maryland

Leadership Maryland is a statewide nonprofit offering professional development programs dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its business and community leaders. Established in 1992, Leadership Maryland’s Executive Program selects as many as 53 diverse and accomplished senior-level leaders from Maryland’s public and private sectors each year to come together as a class for an eight-month learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues. Introduced in 2024, Leadership Maryland’s Emerging Leader Program brings together a class of the state’s rising stars and gives them the skills and tools they need to advance in their careers. With an alumni network comprised of leaders from all industries and regions of the state, Leadership Maryland has established thousands of Marylanders on their career leadership path, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to influence positive change. To learn more, please visit leadershipmd.org.  

 

About Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers

Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers provides high quality, accredited financially accessible childcare for children and their families in a nurturing, diverse, safe, and enriching environment.  Founded in 1970, Critchlow Adkins has cared for and educated four generations of children in Talbot County and across the Mid-Shore.  To learn more about Critchlow Adkins, make a donation or enroll your child, visit their website at: www.cacckids.org

Delmarva Community Services, Inc. (DCS) has recently appointed Petrae Simpson as its new Director of Childcare for Sprouts Early Childhood Learning Center @ Chesapeake Grove in Cambridge.  Simpson previously worked as director of Bright Beginnings Child Care Center in Stevensville, Maryland.

“Petrae is a passionate and experienced childcare professional with a strong early childhood education and daycare management background who came to us highly recommended. We are thrilled she is joining our team as she is dedicated to creating a nurturing and engaging environment where children can develop in their early years,” states Andy Hollis, President/CEO of DCS.

With extensive experience in licensing regulations, staff development, and curriculum implementation, Simpson understands the importance of research-based teaching strategies.  She is a proponent of incorporating the Frog Street Curriculum into the Center’s program. This comprehensive curriculum is designed to support children from infancy through pre-kindergarten, focusing on intentional, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that foster critical thinking, creativity, and school readiness.

According to Simpson, Frog Street’s emphasis on social-emotional development, language acquisition, and STEAM-based activities aligns with her own philosophy of holistic learning. By implementing engaging, hands-on experiences, she believes that every child can receive the foundational skills needed for lifelong success.

“I am committed to maintaining high-quality standards – including building strong relationships with families, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment, and mentoring educators to continuously grow in their roles. I am driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of quality care and education that ensures that every child has the opportunity to thrive,” Simpson states.

She shares that she got into childcare because she struggled to maintain employment with childcare schedules as a single mother of three children. After getting a job at her children’s childcare center she realized it was a career she wanted to pursue. She started as a teacher’s assistant and then with the encouragement of her director, focused on her own professional development. Simpson became director-qualified within four years.

“There are different aspects of operating a childcare center that I love and enjoy. When I first got into childcare, I became very passionate about the children. When I became a director in my first position, I worked closely with licensing and became a stickler for policies and procedures. I then became even more passionate about teaching the teachers. These are all the things that tie into having a successful center,” she adds.

“We have great people working at our Center and the potential to offer some amazing things through this new curriculum. I am very excited about that,” Simpson shares.

“I want the public to know that we love the children in our program. I think loving the children is the most important element of engaging and caring for children. We are so excited when children come into our doors and sad when they age out of the program and go to kindergarten.”

Currently, Sprouts Early Childhood Learning Center has 10 staff and is in the process of hiring additional qualified staff. There are 26 children in the program and the Center has the capacity for 46 children between the ages of six weeks and five years of age. The Center is particularly excited to be opening a new infant room – one of the few centers in Cambridge to have openings for infants.

The Center’s physical space is new – part of DCS’s new state-of-the-art building at 108 Chesapeake Street in Cambridge which opened in April 2022 and includes a large modern playground.

“I cannot wait for the weather to get nice so that we can consistently go outside with the children,” Simpson adds.

Another special aspect of the Center is the involvement of DCS’s Senior Center with the children. Seniors do monthly intergenerational crafts and games and read with the children, as well as rock the babies. In addition, seniors host the Center’s annual preschool graduation and provide “Bubble Day” once a month where they interact by blowing bubbles for the children in the daycare. In February, the Senior Center invited the children to participate in their fashion show.

For further information or to arrange a tour of Sprouts Early Childhood Learning Center @ Chesapeake Grove in Cambridge, contact Petrae Simpson at 410-221-1900 ext. 401.

Delmarva Community Services Inc. (DCS) is a multi-service organization founded in 1974 that serves individuals with developmental disabilities, seniors, and individuals living in poverty, as well as provides childcare and transportation services. Donations can be made at www.dcs.org by clicking the Give to DCS link. For services, please call 410-221-1900.`         

The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum is pleased to announce the availability of their academic scholarship application for 2025.  The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a deserving Talbot County high school senior who graduated from the Tilghman Elementary School, or is living in the Tilghman Elementary School District, and has been accepted as a full-time student at an accredited technical school or a 2-year or 4-year college. 

Applications for the scholarship are available on the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum website at TWM-Scholarship-Info-and-Application.pdf.  Students who wish to be considered must complete the application and send the requested supporting documentation to the attention of the TWM Scholarship Committee, PO Box 344, Tilghman, MD 21671.  

Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2025.

The recipient will be announced in May 2025. Please contact The TWM Scholarship Committee Chair by phone at 410-215-1575 or email at [email protected] with any questions regarding the application process. 

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The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum is dedicated to the vision of celebrating, documenting, preserving and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman Island.

The special exhibition, Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad will be the topic of discussion for a special Conversation on Race program at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Van Lennep Auditorium on Monday, February 24 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited, with pre-registration needed.

Based upon the book, “Sailing to Freedom,” the exhibition expands the understanding of how freedom was achieved by sea and what the journey looked like for many African Americans.

Exhibit guests will explore the little-known stories and the less-understood maritime side of the Underground Railroad, including the impact of African Americans’ paid and unpaid waterfront labor. They’ll also meet figures like Henry “Box” Brown, who escaped to freedom in 1849 by arranging to have himself mailed in a wooden crate to abolitionists in Philadelphia.

“Self-emancipation along the Underground Railroad was not entirely by overland routes,” says CBMM Vice President of Education and Interpretation Jill Ferris. “Many enslaved persons made their way to freedom using coastal water routes along the Atlantic seaboard, including the Chesapeake Bay. Enslaved African Americans often escaped by sea aboard merchant and passenger ships, or smaller watercraft.” 

Sailing to Freedom was curated by New Bedford Whaling Museum Curator of Maritime History Michael Dyer and the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth’s Timothy Walker. The exhibit continues through December 2026.

The February 24 program will include a guided exploration of the exhibition, followed by facilitated discussion. The free program includes a light meal and refreshments, with advanced registration required at bit.ly/feb24convo.

The program is part of the Talbot Family Network’s Conversations on Race series and is presented in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The year-long series brings the community together over monthly sessions for thoughtful dialogue about the impact of race on their lives and in the community.

“Having this guided tour of the exhibition offers a powerful opportunity to explore the critical role of waterways in the pursuit of freedom,” says Talbot Family Network Director Nancy Andrew, “Through this Conversation on Race program, we hope to deepen understanding, inspire dialogue, and connect our community through the stories of resilience and courage that shaped our history.”

The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board and was established by the state of Maryland to change the way services are provided to children and families. TFN identifies priorities and target resources for the jurisdiction’s communities, while also coordinating child and family services and administering state resources. Local Management Boards improve coordination across state agencies and empower local stakeholders to help drive local priorities.

The mission of the Talbot Family Network is to identify and develop support systems for a healthy, safe, caring, and equitable community for all Talbot County children and families through collaboration with public and private entities. For more information, visit www.talbotfamilynetwork.org.

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ABOUT CBMM

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum explores and preserves the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and makes this resource accessible to all. Every aspect of fulfilling this mission is driven by CBMM’s values of relevance, authenticity, and stewardship, along with a commitment to providing engaging guest experiences and transformative educational programming, all while serving as a vital community partner. More is at www.cbmm.org.

A special Conversation on Race program will take place on Monday, February 24 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. Program participants will participate in a guided exploration and discussion on the special exhibition, Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad. Seating is limited, with pre-registration needed bit.ly/feb24convo. Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum volunteer photographer George Sass.

On Monday, March 3, at 6 p.m., in the Easton branch of the Talbot County Free Library, library guy Bill Peak will interview Paula Johnson about her newest book, “Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space.”       

Johnson is a distinguished curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.  Among her many curatorial triumphs, she and co-curator Rayna Green brought Julia Child’s kitchen to the museum in 2001.  Almost a quarter of a century later, it remains one of that institution’s most popular exhibits.  

Johnson’s new book tells the story of the home kitchen from which so many of Julia Child’s television shows originated.  We learn the tales behind the famous Garland range, the parties that occurred at the kitchen table, and the myriad pots, pans, and gadgets that Julia collected over her long culinary career.  

But the book also brings to life the people that populated that kitchen: Julia’s adoring husband Paul Child, writers like Alex Prud’homme and Nora Ephron, fellow cooks like Jacques Pépin and Martha Stewart, and, best of all, Julia herself.

In his February column in The Star Democrat, Peak wrote, “The book itself is like a party at Julia’s house.  You meet fascinating people, hear terrific stories, experience a magical place, and, at the very least, get to imagine yourself enjoying extraordinary meals.”

Finally, Johnson’s book tells the surprisingly exciting story of how the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History convinced Julia to donate the kitchen and then managed to carefully and delicately disassemble it, catalog each appliance, tool, and doo-dad, and then transfer the kit and caboodle to the museum, where it would all be reassembled once more in its own gallery.  

In addition to being an excellent curator and writer, Johnson is a renowned storyteller.  Her program at the library will be both informative and entertaining.  Copies of “Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space” will be available for purchase and autographing.   

All library programs are free and open to the public.  For more information, please call the library at 410-822-1626, or visit www.tcfl.org.

The Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) is proud to announce Gavyn Stebbins from Easton High School as one of the 2025 recipients of “The 24: Maryland’s Emerging Scholars” award, an annual recognition of Maryland’s most outstanding high school students who excel in academics, community service, and leadership, with a special emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career interests.

Selected from across the state, this year’s 24 honorees represent the brightest young minds engaged in the MBRT’s programs and initiatives. These exceptional students have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, community impact, and future-focused leadership, setting a standard for their peers and paving the way for a brighter tomorrow.

The winners were celebrated at MBRT’s annual student awards program, “The 24: Maryland’s Emerging Scholars,” in partnership with The Daily Record and presented by Whiting Turner at The Westin Annapolis, held in conjunction with the MBRT’s signature Youth Congress Day on February 5th. This prestigious event brought together esteemed educators, business leaders, policymakers, and families to honor the scholars’ achievements and aspirations. Elected officials including Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Pro Tem Del. Dana Stein, and Del. Chao Wu, who presented MBRT with a legislative citation, shared their career and civic leadership insights and advice, engaging students in discussion.

“The 24: Maryland’s Emerging Scholars award shines a spotlight on the remarkable talent and dedication of students across Maryland,” said Sharon Markley Schreiber, Executive Director of the MBRT. “These young leaders are not only excelling in their academic pursuits but actively working to make meaningful contributions to their communities through compassionate service. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments alongside President Ferguson, Speaker Pro Tem Del. Stein, and Del. Wu., and support their continued growth toward careers in Maryland.” 

This year’s program was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, including Whiting Turner, presenting sponsor, and Loyola University of Maryland, transportation sponsor. Additionally, College of Southern Maryland and Allegany College of Maryland also provided sponsorships, further demonstrating their commitment to student access and success in developing the talent Maryland’s industries require.

Congratulations to “The 24: Maryland’s Emerging Scholars” award winners for their outstanding achievements and commitment to excellence! To learn more about this award and the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, please visit www.mbrt.org.

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About Maryland Business Roundtable for Education 

Founded in 1992, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) is a coalition of leading employers that have made a long-term commitment to support education reform and improve student achievement in Maryland. MBRT is the catalyst for business, government and education to drive high student achievement that ensures a competitive future workforce for a world-class economy. For more information, visit http://www.mbrt.org/. 

 

St. Michaels Middle High School (SMMHS) hosted an inaugural “Real World – Saints Edition” event just before winter break.  Although the name is similar to MTV’s show from the 90s, The Real World, the SMMHS event was unique and not related or even especially similar to the show. 

Students spent the day rotating through numerous “real world” activities to help prepare them for life after high school.   Sessions included topics like how to get a part-time job, laundry and cooking, babysitting skills, starting a small business, changing a tire, sewing, and so much more.  Each grade level (grades 6-12) had different sessions tailored to their age. Junior Sebastian Cornish created this sneak-peak video “Real World – Saints Edition” to promote the event.

The initiative was a collaborative effort between JR Burkhardt, School Counselor, Cara Breeding, Career Counselor, and Becky Mann, Assistant Principal.  “Real World – Saints Edition had three purposes,” Burkhard said. “We often hear from the community that our schools no longer teach the real world living skills that kids need to be functioning adults in society.  We also hoped to strengthen and build relationships among students/staff in smaller groups, as well as with community partners. We thought this would be a productive use one of the days right before Winter Break, which often has a higher absent rate because students feel nothing important is happening.”

“This event would not have been possible without our numerous alumni, parents, business owners, and community members saying “Yes!” to our requests for their help,” Burkhardt added.  “We had over 70 volunteers come in to lead these informative and interactive sessions. It was great day!”

Parents, community members, and students are still commenting on what a valuable experience it was.  One parent of a sixth grader wrote in an email: “I want to say that I think the Real World Day was a success. That was the first day my son came home from school and was so happy and excited to tell us about every station and what he learned. I’ve talked to multiple parents whose children said the same thing.”