9 Funny Halloween Quotes

“Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.” Steve Almond

“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin.” Linus Van Pelt – Charlie Brown

The High School Boy’s Club

During my second volunteer year at StarShine, our high school girls’ Fashion and Etiquette Club was up and running.  We had about eight girls who regularly attended the after school class. I was approached by several high school boys who wanted a similar club.  I thought this was a great idea and decided that we would need a male volunteer to offer the program.

The Harvest Festival

The first year I was principal at StarShine Academy the students asked if they could have a Halloween Party. The fact that we were an inner city school with grades kindergarten through 12^th and many ethnicities and religious values, I was not sure that would be such a good idea. However, I knew the younger students would love some type of fun activity or event.

Halloween Etiquette and Safety Tips for Teens

Since Monday is Halloween we thought it would be nice to list some of our favorite Halloween Etiquette Tips for Teens:

1.      Be a good guest. If you are invited to a party, bring the host or hostess a small gift.

2.      Be sure your costume is appropriate for the event you are attending.

3.      Be a role model for younger kids. Halloween night can be scary for the little ones.

All About Halloween

Did you know that Halloween is celebrated around the world, not just in the U.S.A.?

Halloween is also called All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Eve. The celebration of Halloween began many years ago. It is most typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, meaning roughly “summer’s end.”

Top 6 Quotes for United Nations Day

Here are our favorite United Nations quotes in honor of the 67^th anniversary of the United Nations:

1.      “Today the United Nations are the mightiest military coalition in history. They represent an overwhelming majority of the population of the world. Bound together in solemn agreement that they themselves will not commit acts of aggression or conquest against any of their neighbors…”

Franklin D. Roosevelt 

Etiquette in Social Situations

Here are some situations you might find yourself facing.

You can’t remember a person’s name. You need to work out a technique for coping with these bad moments. Otherwise do your best to fake your way through it, which doesn’t always work. One way to handle the situation is to let the other person do the talking until he or she gives you a clue as to who they are. Let’s hope they never say to you, “You don’t remember me, do you?”

Etiquette – Why Do I Need It?

I have three etiquette books in my library –

Manners Can Be Fun by Munro Leaf

Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Book of Etiquette

Etiquette For Dummiesby Sue Fox

I think it is a good idea to have at least one etiquette book as a guide. No matter what your age, social standing, or financial position, there will come a time when you will need to feel comfortable in any occasion. There is nothing worse than finding yourself in a situation beyond your social skills.

Photos of Poverty - UN Day of Eradication of Poverty

Today we honor the United Nations Day of Eradication of Poverty.

If you’ve ever wondered what poverty really looks like, I’d like to share some photos from my trip to Liberia in 2009. On Friday, I wrote a post about the trip titled, “If You Go To Liberia.” I received many calls and comments about the trip, so I thought you would want to see Liberia the way I saw it, where poverty is everywhere; from City Hall to stores to homes to the schools.

 Liberian walking along the beach in Monrovia.

Liberian children pumping water on the road from the airport to Monrovia.

Two Liberian children in front of their home, Monrovia.

The streets of Monrovia, Liberia.

Help us in supporting the United Nations Day of Eradication of Poverty.

May peace and abundance prevail on earth.

If You Go To Liberia

If you have been following the news, you’ll know that three women won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia; Leymah Gbowee, Executive Director for Women Peace and Security Network Africa; and Tawakkul Karman, “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.”

What you may not know, is that I spent 10 days training and providing professional development to the teachers in Monrovia, Liberia in August 2009. The trip was a most memorable one. I still feel as though I left part of my heart in Monrovia. In addition, the teachers we worked with still contact us with questions and updates.

National Diversity Awareness Month

October is National Diversity Awareness Month.

According to the Webster Dictionary, diversity is, “difference, unlikeness, variety, multiformity, a point of difference.”

Today most schools have a diverse student population, except perhaps some private schools. SarShine is no different. The students are a mix of Latino, African American, Anglo and even Native American. It is a wonderful experience to visit the campus and see all their faces and how they interact with each other.

They have one thing in common; they are all kids without stuff.

An Apple for the Teacher

Seven years ago, when Jan asked me to be the StarShine volunteer librarian, I told her that I wasn’t a qualified librarian.

Her answer to me was, “Mom, you love kids, you love books, you are a librarian.”  That was the beginning of a volunteer experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. Since then I have taken care of the many donated books, both new and used, in the StarShine library.

9 Inspiring Quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt

Today, October 11, is Eleanor Roosevelt’s birthday. She was born in 1884 and died November 7, 1962 at the age of 89. Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the First Lady of the United States from 1933 through 1945. Mrs. Roosevelt was an author, advocate for civil rights and speaker. She supported the foundation of the United Nations, founded the United Nations Association of the United States and was a delegate to the UN General Assembly.

Eleanor Roosevelt left us with many humorous, wonderful and inspiring quotes to live by. Here are a few of my favorites:

14 Inspirational Quotes for Columbus Day

Today we celebrate Columbus Day. The day represents Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the America’s October 12, 1492. In 1892, President Harrison asked the people of the United States to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of Columbus’ arrival with celebrations in homes, businesses and schools. Columbus Day became a Federal Holiday in 1937. Although, Columbus Day is on October 12, the national holiday is celebrated on the second Monday of October. Federal offices, most state offices, the Post Office, banks, stock exchange and some schools are closed on Columbus Day.

The Volunteer Executive Chef

I was walking out of the StarShine library one day when I almost bumped into a gentleman I knew. He was carrying a bag full of a variety of vegetables fresh from the StarShine garden. His name is Rick Dupree. Rick is the executive chef at the Phoenix Ritz Carlton Hotel. You may be wondering why the executive chef at a very high end hotel was walking out of StarShine with our produce. 

The Difference in Success and Significance

I was reading this month’s issue of Success Magazine the article by Darren Hardy, the publisher and editorial director, really made me think. He wrote,

“As a society, I think we often misunderstand the word success. Our society celebrates those who obtain fame, wealth, power and celebrity, no matter the means – ethical or not – and we call them successful. Success is often equated to an achieved status, rather than to a measure of value or contribution.”

6 Tips for Shaking Hands

As long as I have been a school administrator, I’ve always felt it is important to teach children to shake hands and introduce themselves. I can’t tell you how many high school and college students I’ve met who had not mastered the art of shaking hands. Luckily I work at a school, StarShine Academy, where teaching children how to shake hands is valued.  

Volunteering and The Gift of StarShine

In about three weeks I will begin my 7^th year of volunteering at StarShine. I’m anxious to get back to my weekly visit with all of the children.  It is such a blessing to be surrounded by loving children.

After much thought, I decided to limit some of my activities at the school.

Universal Children’s Week - 8 Great Quotes

Universal Children’s Week is celebrated throughout the world during the month of October.

If it were up to me, we would celebrate children every day of the year. Children are our hope for the future. They should be mentored, guided, educated and loved. Celebrating children and their dreams and diversity is what Kids Without Stuff is all about. Join us in celebrating Universal Children’s Week this week and throughout the year.