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There are some AmeriCorps facts that keeps them hiking the peak so fast!

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Jester and Pharley Reading Challenge at McKinley Elementary, September 19^th-October 17^th 2008

AmeriCorps Bridging Borders coordinated and led the Jester and Pharley Reading Challenge at McKinley Elementary, engaging the schools 516 students in literacy, fun and service.  Based around the book “The Jester has Lost his Jingle”, the reading challenge had students count their pages read, aiming to reach their goal in one month, from September 19^th to October 17^{th, 2008}.  The students far surpassed their goal, reading a combined 127,883 pages.

Among the highlights of this month long program was the Literacy Focus Event, which engaged Comcast employees to read with students in a small group.  We then transitioned into an art enrichment activity, where students made dioramas of a scene in the book.  During lunch we supported with some organized physical activities as well.  AmeriCorps members recruited and managed 23 volunteers from Comcast, 5 from CommUniverCity San Jose, and engaged 7 classrooms, Kindergarten through 6^th grade.

Comcast was very happy with the event, especially those volunteers which participated in the in-class reading: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with the students.  We, volunteers, enjoyed the reading portion so much that we ended up staying for the art portion.  It was very difficult and sad leaving the students because they didn’t want us to leave.  All in all, if this experience makes a difference in just only one student, it was worth the effort.”  We look to implement similar programs in the future at other schools.

Days of Service at Lowell Elementary and South University Neighborhood, March 30^th and May 8^th 2009

To honor the legacy of San Jose native Cesar Chavez, AmeriCorps Bridging Borders upheld the call for service and helped to beautify Lowell Elementary School on March 30^th, 2009.  AmeriCorps Bridging Borders members recruited 20 external volunteers from San Jose State, the Lowell staff and the surrounding community to help with the day, which included a variety of projects: re-painting in the Kindergarten playground, landscaping and picking up trash around the school, re-painting a United States map, removing weeds on the field, and constructing a new science garden for the school.

We followed up on May 8^th 2009 at the SJSU Day of Service, again helping Lowell Elementary and the South University Neighborhood.  AmeriCorps managed and led 155 of the days 1500 volunteers.  Among our crew were volunteers from Greek organizations, the Environmental Club, CommUniverCity San Jose, community members, local politicians Sam Liccardo, George Shirakawa and University President John Whitmore.  AmeriCorps members led 4 different projects – a landscaping and flower planting project in front of Lowell Elementary, further beautification of the schools science garden, tree planting and weed removal at the nearby 280 off ramp, and trash pickup in the nearby streets.  Our 4 projects were definitely a highlight of the day, with community members, school staff and the students all thanking us.  Our reward for the hard work was seeing the faces of students, and knowing that they see that the community cares about their school, their education, and their future.