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Exploring Robotics through Trial and Error

Jan 4, 2016

THE ASSESSMENT KIDS DIVE INTO LEGOS, MINDCRAFT, SCIENCE, AND MORE!

The kids walked away from the classroom learning more than just a little science, but how to persevere through challenges and to trust that through hard work and a little time, they can overcome the obstacles in their lives.

Recently the Cedar classroom within the Assessment program has been busy using Legos to learn about programming, building robots, and overcoming obstacles. As part of this project each client participated in “the hour of code”- learning the basics of computer programming and got a hands on opportunity to use it to guide characters through a minecraft maze. “The Hour of Code” is organized by Code.org which is dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. It is broken into self-guided tutorials that allow students to work through the skills at their own pace. By far the most popular choice for Cedar was MindCraft!

After learning these skills residents got the opportunity to work in groups to solve a challenge. Using two Motors they were asked to create a vehicle that could move items from once place to another. After a quick group brainstorming session the kids were off and designing away! Three designs came out in the end and were all very unique.

The final test was trying to move a group of marbles. After some initial challenges the groups had to return to the drawing board to add some additions onto their creations. It was discovered that just a single plow was not effective, so sides were added and SUCCESS! Another group developed a gear system to move the wheels to increase their vehicles speed while the last group opted to attempt to build a claw that would pick up items.

Through this project the kids really got the chance to “do” science and learn that it is not a single step process, but something that is always changing and that can take several tries before getting it right! We look forward to continuing our robotics adventures and expanding on our programming skills.

Hannah Curran – Assessment, Cedar Unit Teacher

Northwest Passage is dedicated to creating an engaging classroom. Our teachers are skilled in connecting with each child’s individual strengths and challenges.

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Everyday Heroes – Riverside Gang!

Jan 4, 2016

Over the past few months, one Northwest Passage team in particular, exemplified what it means to be a hero at Passage. The Riverside evening primaries team, headed by Mike Brown, dealt with an especially difficult set of circumstances with positivity, great patience, and stellar creativity. Their program director, Angela Fredrickson, asked how we could honor, not only this team but employees across all of our sites, when their performance has far exceeded the traditional expectations of their roles. So here we are, creating our very first, “Everyday Hero” post to acknowledge their excellence.

As we wind-down a wonderful year at Passage, we’d like to take a moment to thank not only these Everyday Heroes, but all of our staff, our supporters, and YOU for reading. Keep an eye out for more posts like this and get to know the people that make Northwest Passage such a special place.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What does mental health mean to you?
“The ability to handle stressful events in the midst of a flurry of emotions.”

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If you could send one message to someone struggling with their mental health out in the world, what would it be?
“Live in the moment and take one step at a time.”

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What does mental health mean to you?
“To me mental health is like trying solve a Rubik’s cube while wearing a blindfold and mittens. At times it seems impossible and is daunting, but with time, patience, and perseverance anything is possible.”

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If you could send one message to someone struggling with their mental health out in the world, what would it be?
“Your feelings are valid, and those who support you are sincere whether you embrace them or are not yet ready too.”

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“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”
― Brodi Ashton, Everneath

“Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me. ”
― Fred Rogers

If you could send one message to someone struggling with their mental health out in the world, what would it be?
“There is no way to fix an individual nor are any of us broken, what we can do is develop tools to make ourselves make better decisions and be more positive.”

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Off to the Theater

Jan 1, 2016

The Prairieview girls have been reading To Kill a Mockingbird in school and recently attended the Guthrie Theater’s To Kill a Mockingbird play in Minneapolis, MN. It was their first time to the Guthrie for all of the girls and the first time to Minneapolis for several of them. The girls were in awe of the theater and the experience was a great one for all who attended! After the play, the girls attended a Q and A session with the cast members. In class, the girls have been dissecting the book by learning new vocabulary, practicing their creative writing skills by developing and extending the characters, participating in literature circles, and researching the themes of the book.

Brittany Bosak, Northwest Passage Prairieview Teacher

Prairieview-Guthrie- (1) Prairieview-Guthrie- (2)

Our teachers at Northwest Passage are always looking for new ways to teach our youth. Taking the girls to see “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Guthrie Theater is another example. Seeing the play after reading the books is not only a culturally enriching experience but also has significant educational benefits. It helps students to better understand the plot and vocabulary of the book/play, so overall improving their literary knowledge. It also improves their ability to read the emotions of others, enhancing empathy.

Everyday Hero – Kevin Gray

Dec 31, 2015

Kevin Gray

Kevin Gray

"Providing hope to those without much to hope for"

Kevin has been nominated as an Everyday Hero as a part of the very first Everyday Hero series honoring the Riverside Weekday Evening Primary team.

What does mental health mean to you?

“To me mental health is like trying solve a Rubik’s cube while wearing a blindfold and mittens. At times it seems impossible and is daunting, but with time, patience, and perseverance anything is possible.”

If you could have any career you wanted (talent, education not required), what would it be and why?

“My career would be as a FBI profiler. This is a field I have always been fascinated with and enjoy learning about what makes criminals tick.”

What is your favorite thing to do this time of year?

“Spend time with my kids.”

What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

“My son did not like you for a long time, but your dedication and no nonsense approach is invaluable.”
– Quote from the Mother of a past resident,

Name three people in history (dead or alive) with whom you would want to sit down to dinner.
  • Chris Kyle
  • Carlos Hathcock
  • Chuck Mawhinney
Tell us a fun fact that you're proud of.

“Conducted over 250 combat route clearance missions in Afghanistan.”

What is the earliest memory you have of life in Northwestern Wisconsin?

“Visiting my Grandparents in Webb Lake with my two cousins and drinking root beer floats on their screened in porch, as we watched the deer in the yard.”

What would the title of your autobiography be?

“Lost and Found”

If you could send one message to someone struggling with their mental health out in the world, what would it be?

“There is no ‘magic pill,’ change comes from within.”

Finally, do you have a favorite quote or saying you'd like to share?

“Be Undeniable”

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Everyday Hero – Tyler Bridley

Dec 31, 2015

Tyler Bridley

Tyler Bridley

"I ensure a safe and therapeutic environment involving nature"

Tyler has been nominated as an Everyday Hero as a part of the very first Everyday Hero series honoring the Riverside Weekday Evening Primary team.

What does mental health mean to you?

“Mental health means to me to be the state of emotional, spiritual, and intellectual health that one is living in either positive or poor.”

If you could have any career you wanted (talent, education not required), what would it be and why?

“I would want to work with the DNR as a conservationist.”

What is your favorite thing to do this time of year?

“I enjoy making homemade foods: chili, stews, or s’mores around the fire.”

What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

The best compliment I have ever received came from a soldier I was training who stated, “you have made a meaningful impact on my life, and I’m glad you care so much for me and my peers.”

Name three people in history (dead or alive) with whom you would want to sit down to dinner.
  • Teddy Roosevelt
  • General Odierno
  • General Eisenhower
Tell us a fun fact that you're proud of.

“I once sat down and spoke with the Nobel prize committee for science while on a trip to Sweden.”

What is the earliest memory you have of life in Northwestern Wisconsin?

“Riding in a boat on yellow lake.”

What would the title of your autobiography be?

“Tyler Bridley: A road less traveled by with scars to prove it.”

If you could send one message to someone struggling with their mental health out in the world, what would it be?

“Your feelings are valid, and those who support you are sincere whether you embrace them or are not yet ready to.”

Finally, do you have a favorite quote or saying you'd like to share?

The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

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Everyday Hero – Mike Brown

Dec 31, 2015

Mike Brown

Mike Brown

"I oversee and support one of the best direct care teams out there"

Mike has been nominated as an Everyday Hero as a part of the very first Everyday Hero series honoring the Riverside Weekday Evening Primary team. Mike is their supervisor and makes working at Passage extra special.

What does mental health mean to you?

“The ability to handle stressful events in the midst of a flurry of emotions.”

If you could have any career you wanted (talent, education not required), what would it be and why?

“I would like to own and operate and bar and grill.”

What is your favorite thing to do this time of year?

“Spend time in the woods hiking or hunting.”

What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

“I received a compliment from the owner of a company when I was handing in my two week notice and it has always stuck with me. He said he knew that the day would come when I would be leaving the job because he knew that I was not challenge enough there and that I would be successful at what ever I wanted to do.”

Name three people in history (dead or alive) with whom you would want to sit down to dinner.
  • Apostle Paul, I need some clarification of a few things he wrote.
  • Martin Luther, I would like to know what gave him the courage to confront the Church of his time knowing, it would change everything.
  • Anyone of the founding fathers It would be interesting to know what they had in mind when they started this nation.
Tell us a fun fact that you're proud of.

“I think I am the most proud of the fact that I left everything at the age of 37 to start over and go back to school and have earned two degrees since then.”

What is the earliest memory you have of life in Northwestern Wisconsin?

“Deer camp with friends in Minong.”

What would the title of your autobiography be?

“I Have No Idea What I am Doing; Confessions of a Jack of All Trades”

If you could send one message to someone struggling with their mental health out in the world, what would it be?

“Hang in there, you are not alone.”

Finally, do you have a favorite quote or saying you'd like to share?

“It is better to be hated for what you are, than loved for something you are not.”
Andre Gide

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Everyday Hero – Mick Lulic

Dec 31, 2015

Mick Lulic

Mick Lulic

"Evokes change through role modeling, accountability, passion, teaching, active listening."

Mick has been nominated as an Everyday Hero as a part of the very first Everyday Hero series honoring the Riverside Weekday Evening Primary team.

What does mental health mean to you?

“A state of mind weather its positive or negative.”

If you could have any career you wanted (talent, education not required), what would it be and why?

“Professional Golfer – I love the game. i.e. the smell of the cut grass, the feeling after sinking an eagle putt or finishing a great round, recognizing game improvement, every shot counts, mental toughness ect.”

What is your favorite thing to do this time of year?

Outdoor activities such as:

  • Bonfires
  • Golfing
  • Yard work
  • Boating
  • Fishing
What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

“Someone once said that I have a great singing voice.”

Name three people in history (dead or alive) with whom you would want to sit down to dinner.
  • Chris Farley
  • Bill Murray
  • Steve Carrell
Tell us a fun fact that you're proud of.

“I saved my Mothers life by performing the Heimlich on her.”

What is the earliest memory you have of life in Northwestern Wisconsin?

“Arriving at our families lake front property in Luck, Wisconsin.”

What would the title of your autobiography be?

“Persistence”

If you could send one message to someone struggling with their mental health out in the world, what would it be?

“Live in the moment and take one step at a time.”

Finally, do you have a favorite quote or saying you'd like to share?

“In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Everyday Hero – Sean Dinneen

Dec 31, 2015

Sean Dinneen

Sean Dinneen

"Youth Counselor for young adults with mental health issues."

Sean has been nominated as an Everyday Hero as a part of the very first Everyday Hero series honoring the Riverside Weekday Evening Primary team.

What does mental health mean to you?

“Helping individuals understand the state in which they feel, think, and behave and developing skills which they can use to address their personal issues.”

If you could have any career you wanted (talent, education not required), what would it be and why?

“A professional hockey player.”

What is your favorite thing to do this time of year?

“Play hockey, cross country ski, and spend time outdoors.”

What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

“I have been thanked multiple times for my work with residents and young adults. Any appreciation I receive from themselves or their families is what makes my job so rewarding.”

Name three people in history (dead or alive) with whom you would want to sit down to dinner.
  • Wayne Gretzky
  • Lebron James
  • Nick Saban.
Tell us a fun fact that you're proud of.

“I like to play sports.”

What is the earliest memory you have of life in Northwestern Wisconsin?

“Playing in a holiday hockey tournament against Baldwin Wisconsin.”

What would the title of your autobiography be?

“The Law of the Harvest: You Reap What You Sew”

If you could send one message to someone struggling with their mental health out in the world, what would it be?

“There is no way to fix an individual nor are any of us broken, what we can do is develop tools to make ourselves make better decisions and be more positive.”

Finally, do you have a favorite quote or saying you'd like to share?

” I’m a dream chaser, that means I chase my dreams, no one else’s.”

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Prairieview Science Fair

Dec 4, 2015

Prairieview held its second annual science fair this fall! The science fair is a showcase to display weeks of hard work in the classroom. The science fair unit begins with an in-depth look at the scientific method and experimental design. The girls begin with basic classroom labs, writing hypotheses and analyzing data. They learn how to design a sound experiment with all the necessary components. The exciting part about this unit is that it mixes science, writing, language, math, art and social skills all into one exciting experience.  The expectation of the project is that the students are leading the way with their teachers guiding them as needed. Each student is allowed to do a project of their choice at their own academic level.  The process is full of inquiry and discovery. The girls learn that there is no failing in research and that the scientific method is always successful in some way. The types of projects chosen varied, including experiments researching the statistical probability of M&M colors, respiration rates in dogs, the genetics of the tortoiseshell cat, best way to make a chocolate chip cookie, visual vs. auditory memory, how do puppies stay warm, what is the best homemade pop recipe based on bubbles, grittiness and flavor, and how to make the best bubble solution. Some projects took several hours to conduct while others took days, challenging the girls to be patient and consistent.  They learned how to organize their data and report the results using visual graphs. They incorporated the use of technology using iPads to film their trials, record data and take photos. Several of the projects required the girls to use specific computer programs or websites to conduct their research and carry out their procedure.

At the cumulating event, the girls all stood proudly in front of their projects and shared them with residents and visiting staff members of Northwest Passage. The education team at Northwest Passage strives to set high standards for their students while supporting them through the process. We are very proud of these young scientists from their diligent lab work to their outstanding presentations. We also appreciate those who attended the science fair to make the event a success. Thank you and we look forward to doing it again next year!

Brittany Bosak, Prairieview Teacher

 

What is experimental design?

Nov 23, 2015

The Prairieview girls are learning about the scientific method and experimental design in science! The girls have completed several science labs and are working on their own science projects for the upcoming science fair. They spent a morning learning about scientific research in the real world from Northwest Passage’s own, Ben Thwaits.

Ben worked as a Biologist prior to his employment with Northwest Passage with a Masters in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior with a neuroscience minor from the University of Minnesota. He has completed research from the Wisconsin Northwoods to India. He spoke about his experiences with science and the integration of science and art.  Ben focused his presentation on a three-year project he completed on Lake Superior studying homing mechanisms in trout and salmon.

The girls were engaged and intrigued as they saw the diversity of experimental design and the tasks that research scientists endure. Thank you Ben for coming to talk to us and sharing your experience and passion for science!

Brittany Bosak, Prairieview Teacher

Science is one of the many subjects that Northwest Passage teachers focus on in their classrooms every day of the week. Science helps to teach students how and why things work the way that they do. Science teaches a wide variety of concepts. It can help those at Northwest Passage to understand many different mechanics and functioning of complex systems.

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