Foden Road 5K!
Join us for our 6th Annual Foden Road 5K Race and Block Party! Our 5K Run is on a flat and fast, certified course here in South Portland through quiet streets and paved trails. Following the race, Kaplan University will hold its annual block party presented by the Foden Road Networking Group! 20+ booths, live music, and family-friendly events will all be taking place! All proceeds benefit STRIVE.
Kids Fun Run: 8:00am
5K Run / Walk: 8:30am
Race entry fee is $25 in advance, $30 on race day.
Register before August 1st and receive $5 off with the discount code "earlybird."
Kids 12 and under run for FREE.
All runners receive race T-shirts, bibs, chip timers and finisher's medals!
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STRIVE U News
This past month, the first-year STRIVE U students did a fantastic job volunteering at the Red Cross blood drive. The blood drive was held on April 18th 2017 from 12:00-5:00 pm at Kaplan University on the South Portland campus. The students were very professional, confident and helpful while greeting the donors who gave blood. The Red Cross was thankful to the eight donors who donated seven pints of blood throughout the afternoon. The hard work and enthusiasm of the STRIVE U students was appreciated very much during the event!
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What's New In Next Step
This month in Next Step it's all about spring cleaning and enjoying the nice weather! The Next STEPPERS helped out for STRIVE Pride Day by picking out new plants to plant outside. On STRIVE Pride Day we planted our plants and helped clean inside and outside. After we got done cleaning the Next STEPPERS got to sit and enjoy all kinds of food at the BBQ!
Also with summer coming, we are brought back outdoor games! To kick off the season, the Next STEPPERS got to enjoy a fun game of wiffleball at Deering Oaks Park! With the hope of great weather we are planning a trip to take the Metro Breeze bus to Freeport to have a picnic and do a lot of window shopping!
Next STEP is a great option offering quality curriculum for those who are on a waiting list for other services, in combination with other
services or for those who may not qualify for other services. Contact Betsy
Morrison at
bmorrison@pslservices.org
or 207-774-6278 if you would like more information.
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TOPS Update
TOPS won third place in CLYNK's Maine Recycling Championship! A representative from CLYNK presented the class with a giant check for the money raised in bottles and cans and the third place prize money, totaling $688.95. The students graciously accepted a plaque and reminisced about their hard work over the two months!
In addition to CLYNK, TOPS students are working hard on being more active! They transformed the Teen Center into a yoga studio one morning, participated in weekly circuit workouts which are typically for well over an hour, and are embracing the joys of the South Portland Community Center pool during open swim time. Physical activity has become a norm for the students and will hopefully carry on into their life after high school.
TOPS is a transition program for high school students in their 13th and 14th year of school. Partnering with 16 school districts in York, Cumberland and Androscoggin Counties, TOPS is a leader in transition preparation for students as they work toward independence. For more information, please contact Kelly Frey, TOPS Transition Specialist,
kfrey@pslservices.org or 207-774-6278.
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Bayside News
The spring has brought a lot of changes for Bayside! We have welcomed some new faces and said goodbye to some old friends. This last month we said goodbye to our most recent STRIVE Bayside graduate, Consta. We are so proud of Consta and all the hard work he put into his 2 years at Bayside! We have also started volunteering at our local community garden again and have even begun to plant some vegetables in our plot! We cannot wait to see what our garden will grow into throughout the summer!
Another big change at Bayside was welcoming Katherine Nook as our new Program Leader! Katherine has worked as a DSP in the program and has officially begun her role as Program Leader.
STRIVE Bayside is a unique community supports program that is dedicated to exploring and increasing independence. Some of the goals we work on are grocery shopping, budgeting, cleaning, navigating the community, cooking and social skills. We run five days a week, Monday through Friday and have two daily sessions, 9:00-1:00and 1:00- 5:00. We offer full time (Monday- Friday) and part time (Tuesday, Thursday -or- Monday, Wednesday, Friday) options. We operate out of an apartment in down town Portland to simulate actual apartment living. We currently have openings in our morning and afternoon sessions. If you would like more information about our program, or to schedule a tour please contact: Caroline Cole at 774-6278 or
ccole@pslservices.org
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Wednesday Night Educational Series
Explore what makes Maine unique! This class is taught by a USM Environmental Planning & Policy student. Students will learn about Maine's plants, oceans, and efforts toward sustainability through outdoor exploration and experiments around the greenery of STRIVE.
For more information on our Wednesday Night Educational Series, please contact Michaila at mmccloskey@pslservices.org.
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Tweens
Tweens has had a great month, with activities ranging from riding the South Portland Bus, to throwing a therapy dog's retirement party and more! Tweens continues to be STRIVE's fastest growing program, with new members joining and new friendships taking off each month.
Tweens is a safe and fun environment to build new skills and friendships for 11-14 year olds with developmental disabilities. For more information, contact Michaila McCloskey at
mccloskey@pslservices.org.
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STRIVE Nights have continued to be such a blast, and we had an amazing Summer Kickoff Celebration last Friday! The rain couldn't keep us from celebrating the incoming warm weather, with hot dogs, Uno's pizza, and beach balls galore! In June we're looking forward to Hawaiin Night, and in July we'll be having two theme nights!
STRIVE Night also welcomes our 2017-2018 Advisory Board Members: Josh, Bridget, Emma, Caleb, Eben, Michael and Consta!
Friday Nights at
STRIVE
, fondly referred to as "
STRIVE
Night," is a relaxed but fun evening of socialization for 15-24 year olds. New members welcome, and your first night is free! Sliding scales also available. For more information, contact Olivia at ofraioli@pslservices.org or call 207-774-6278.
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After School
After School has been rolling steadily along this spring, with our routine down and our activities feeling consistent. As the school year has gone on, it's been amazing to see the students advocate for themselves and help choose what activities they'd like to see put on the schedule to suit their individual needs and preferences. With weekly cooking and trips out in the community, After School has really been working on some great skills all while having tons of fun.
STRIVE's After School Program provides an opportunity for students to
explore their community, build friendships within a small group of peers, and
work on skills that support self-determination and independence. After School runs Monday through Friday from 2pm-5pm during each student's respective school district schedule
, and transportation from schools to STRIVE is available within reasonable driving radius, for an additional charge
. For more information, please contact Olivia at ofraioli@pslservices.org.
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Camp STRIVE
Summer is just around the corner! We've had such a great year during our school vacations, and we are so excited to finally have be summer camp approaching. Our summer camp staff will be starting here at STRIVE June 12th to begin planning and prepping everything to make this our best summer yet! Camp will be running this summer June 26-September 1st, and we still have slots available! For more info, please contact Olivia at ofraioli@pslservices.org, or visit
www.pslstrive.org/camp to submit an application for a camper.
Camp STRIVE provides tween, teens and young adults, ages 11-24, with a supportive, safe, and active program during school vacations and throughout the summer. During each camp session, campers participate in activities including cooking, community trips, arts and crafts, games and physical fitness and of course social time! Campers are supported at all times by professional staff who have completed PSL's full training and are certified Direct Support Professionals.
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Aktion Club
Congratulations to members Mary and Stephanie for being recognized by the Portland Kiwanis Club for their dedication, personal growth, and contributing to the betterment of Club!
Car wash season has started! Our June car wash will be June 21st.
Upcoming Meetings:
June 7th
June 21st
Interested in joining Aktion Club? Come to our next meeting! All meetings are at 3:15pm in the big conference room at STRIVE.
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Member Spotlight
Meet Caleb! Caleb is a second-year student at STRIVE U, but has also been a member of our Next Step, Camp STRIVE, and Wednesday Ed Series, so has been a part of the STRIVE family for a long time.
In his spare time at STRIVE U, Caleb enjoys writing poetry. We thought for this month's member spotlight we'd share some of his work. Enjoy!
"Love will feel your light
Of to learned your voice
We are peaceful to make your
voice feel wonderful
warm growing light
Imagine the light will
Grow your body in
Heaven to make you more
Relax in outterspace
To earth below
To be in the sun
Your responsibility
Thoughts your
Thoughts in the sun
To make at warm in your
Brain your breathe
Will be warm in
Your shoulders
You rays me up to stand
On mountain we are
Stronger I will be on
Your shoulders"
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Happy Birthday to the following STRIVE Members!
Alexander Doyer
Andy Le
Ashley Low
Caleb Dunlap
Colby Padulo
Courtney Houde
Danielle Doherty
Elijah Johnson
Emily Bell
Felisha Saunders
Greta Anderson
Joanna Wyand
Joshua Small
Katrina Southard
Kyle Sargent
Marston (Marty) Poore
Matthew Piper
Michael McDonald
Morgan Adams
Roberta Anderson
Samantha Gauthier
Stephanie Elsman
Tiffany Filliger
We hope you have a great day!
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Thank You to Our Donors
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David & Catherine Crockett
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Anne & Mervel Cronin
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Steve and Cindi Berg
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United Way of Eastern Maine
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Bill Gourde
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Anonymous in honor of Ryan Taylor
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David & Catherine Crockett
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Unite Way on Eastern Maine
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Maine Community Foundation
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Chris & Sarah Cameron
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John & Lynda Lawrence
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Brian & Shelly Shibles
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Andrew Sarapas & Suzanne Keller
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Dan Reardon & Brenadette Woodcock
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Michael & Lynn Spadinger
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Fern & Susan Masse
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Kathleen & Michael Bouchard
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Catherine & Charles Sanders
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Bill & Emilee Taplin
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United Way of Mid-Coast Maine
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John & Carol Ann Cagle
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Brenda Anderson
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Peter & Judith Hayes
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Anonymous
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Pamela Houk
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Janet & Michael Collins
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Angela Zook
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Sheila & Kenneth Oullette
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Karen & Peter Jannace
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Erin & Michael Soucy
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Gerry Johnson Co.
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Hutchins Truckin Co.
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Katie Collins
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Roberta Lipsman ~ in Honor of The Caleb Dunlap Family
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Carol Bradford
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Anonymous
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Corin Swift & Rafael Adams
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Stephen & Nancy Sawyer
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Jim & Jenny Clair
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Elaine Crasnick Kahaner ~ in Memory of Claire Crasnick
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Michael & Maryanne Trangaglia
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Robert & Margaret Murray
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General Announcements
-STRIVE will be closed Tuesday, July 4th.
-STRIVE thanks all who participated in our Annual Campaign. There is still time to make a contribution and be featured in our newsletter. Click on the 'Donate' button below!
SAVE THE DATES!
Foden Road 5K Race-
Saturday, September 9th
STRIVE Auction-
Wednesday, November 8th
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