WINONA LAKE - After a year of learning and fun, students in the first-ever Discovery Life Skills classes had a brief graduation ceremony Thursday afternoon at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.
As part of their graduation, each student received a certificate, a copy of the book "Unstoppable Me" and a prize. Prizes were awarded based on how many tickets students received for good choices, doing good deeds or providing right answers to questions.
The classes were for 7- and 8-year-old students. The Discovery Club was held at the church during the school year while Jefferson Elementary School was under construction.
The program, conducted by Grace College student volunteers, was an after-school class that met twice a week during the first semester and once a week during the second semester. The curriculum, written by Gladys M. Deloe, president of grace in ACTION usa, was designed to prepare children to become productive citizens. The lessons taught life skills in the areas of making choices, personal care, character development, love matters, money, personality and potential.
Coordinator for the program was Lindsey Eilbacher.
The graduates will be invited to participate in the program next year at the second level, Achieving Life Skills, for 9- to 12-year-old students.
Additional Discovering level classes will be offered as funding and volunteers become available. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Deloe at gdeloe@comcast.net or call 574-527-6160.
Discovering Life Skills is sponsored by the non-profit organization grace in ACTION usa, whose mission is "bridging the church to the community through education and economic development."Portions of the curriculum were published through a Kosciusko County Community Foundation HOPE grant. The Discovery Club was funded by local individuals and businesses who sponsored each child, and through a KREMC grant.
