Posted on March 21, 2008

STAR Winter Cycle Celebration

On Thursday, March 13 Five Town Communities That Care celebrated the accomplishments of students completing the 12th cycle of its STAR (Skills Training And Recognition) after school program.  The celebration was held at the Penobscot Bay YMCA and was attended by students and their families, as well as Five Town CTC Board members, coalition members, and staff. 

Everyone in attendance enjoyed donations of pizza by Domino’s and Pizza Hut and cake from Hannaford.  As students and their families filled their bellies, recognition was given to each student completing the cycle.  As students were called forward to accept their program certificates and incentives, each one received a small award to help them continue to use their skill – such as goggles for swimmers. Those in attendance were sure to express themselves through cheers and applause.  At the completion of the awards ceremony students and parents were eligible for raffle prizes.  Allison Warren won an iPod shuffle in the student raffle.  Lynette Meiler won a gift certificate valid for lunch for two donated by Camden Bagel Café.

Cycle 12 offered a variety of classes to students from the five-town area of Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport including Aldermere Farm Hands, Child Care Education, Hip Hop, Martial Arts, Rock Climbing, Sewing, Swimming, Tennis, and Zoey’s Room (an online resource for 10-14 year old girls to gain skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).  Students register to take a specific class with a goal of mastering the skills that are presented to them.  Each class has a skill set that can be mastered in eight hours of instruction.  This cycle 56 students successfully completed skills training.

 STAR benefits from the generosity of local businesses and agencies.  Through the donation of program space, instruction, and supplies, STAR is able to expose students to all of the resources available in their community.  During Cycle 12, program locations were donated by Aldermere Farm, Camden Hills Regional High School, The Country Inn at Camden/Rockport, Mid-Coast Martial Arts, Mid-Coast Recreation Center, Penobscot Bay YMCA, Peopleplace Cooperative Preschool, Rockport Dance Conservatory, and the Teen Center.  STAR is also the recipient of a grant awarded by Maine’s Juvenile Justice Advocacy Group.

 STAR is a program of Five Town Communities That Care whose mission is to promote healthy youth development and to prevent the incidence of problem adolescent behaviors such as substance abuse, suicide, violence, delinquency, school drop-out, and teen pregnancy in the five towns of Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville, and Rockport, Maine. Five Town CTC also seeks to foster increased collaboration and cooperation in the community in order to best serve the needs of its youth.

 Please contact Tarah Hall, STAR Program Coordination with questions, comments, and/or suggestions at 236-9800.

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