Girl Scouts Names Winner of K12 “I Want to Rock the Mall” YouTube Contest

Dana Marie will perform for 200,000 at Girl Scouts Rock the Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing‐Along

WASHINGTON – Girl Scouts announced the winner of the K12 and Girl Scouts I Want to Rock the Mall
YouTube contest. Dana Marie Rogers a Girl Scout Ambassador from Old Bridge, NJ wowed the judges
with an original Girl Scout Cookie Rap that landed her a spot on stage, June 9th at Girl Scouts Rock

the Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing‐Along.

The YouTube contest was created to excite and motivate the tech‐savvy youth culture. Girl Scouts
across the United States jumped onboard and created original songs celebrating what it means to be
a Girl Scout. Some played guitars, were backed by their family band, or created cool videos for the
chance to perform live onstage in Washington, DC at Girl Scouts Rock the Mall before an anticipated
audience of 200,000 Girl Scouts, family, friends and alumnae from around the world. Girl Scouts Rock
the Mall will be the largest gathering of Girl Scouts to mark the 100th anniversary of the movement.
Dana Marie performing Girl Scout Cookie Rap.

Thia Megia, “American Idol” finalist and K12 student will introduce Dana Marie to hundreds of
thousands of Girl Scouts, family, friends and alumnae expected to converge on the National Mall to
enjoy female song leaders and girl groups perform in what might be the world’s largest sing‐along.
She is also scheduled to perform One Day and Always. Megia said, “I am so honored to be a part of
this special day and cannot wait to watch Girl Scouts Rock the Mall winner Dana Maria perform on
stage.”

Girl Scouts Rock the Mall teamed‐up with K12 Inc, America’s leader in online learning for students in
grades kindergarten through 12, to tap the tech‐savvy youth culture with the YouTube contest.
“Students using K12’s education programs have the flexibility and freedom they need to fulfill dreams
inside and outside of the traditional classroom, said Ron Packard, K12 founder and CEO. ” We are so
proud to be partnering with an organization that shares our vision by encouraging girls to showcase
their talents and follow their dreams.”

“As we prepare to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting at Girl Scouts Rock the Mall, it is encouraging
to listen to girls express the importance of being part of an organization that encourages inclusion,
builds girls’ confidence and empowers girls to be leaders,” said Lidia Soto‐Harmon, CEO of the Girl
Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital. “We thank our sponsor, K12 for making this contest possible.
Every Girl Scouts’ song was a winner and every girl should continue to explore her passions.”
Girl Scouts have been writing, singing and playing songs that celebrate sisterhood and the
fundamental ideals of Girl Scouting for 100 years – the only difference now is that they’re able to
reach so many more as their voices are heard across the country and beyond. To view all entries
please visit the I Want to Rock the Mall YouTube Channel.

"GSCSNJ is very proud of Dana Marie and her achievement," states Mary E. Connell, CEO for the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ. "As we move forward we hope to see more girls using today's technology as a resource for Girl Scouting."

About K12
K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN) has reshaped the face of education to meet the needs of new generations as the
nation’s largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education for students in kindergarten
through high school. Using 21st century tools to prepare 21st century students, K12 provides a new
choice for children of all backgrounds to learn in a flexible and innovative way. K12 provides its
curriculum and academic services to school districts, public and private online schools, traditional
classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families. K12 is revolutionizing schools by
integrating technology and rigorous curriculum into classrooms, and designing new blended school
models that offer students engaging online courses and personalized learning programs. K12 course
offerings include English, math, science, history, world languages, art, music, AP, and a variety of high
school electives. Accredited through AdvancedED, the world’s largest education community, K12 has
delivered more than 3 million courses to hundreds of thousands of students worldwide. For more
information on K12 and their forward‐thinking approach to improving the quality of education, visit:
www.K12.com.

EF Tours Photo Contest

Photo Contest Announcement

EF Tours for Girl Scouts is taking photo submissions! Girls, please submit a photo of your choice from an international or domestic trip along with a title, the region and country where the photo was taken AND an answer to one of the questions listed below to girl.scouts@ef.com by Thursday May, 31, 2012 at 4 PM EST. The winner will receive a backpack with a travel guide and digital camera!

• What do you find adventurous about travel? (min 200 words)
• What do you like most about travel? (min 200 words)
• How have you used what you have learned from a recent travel experience in your daily life at home? (min 200 words)

Winner will be notified by email. Announcement will be made at the B.I.G Celebration on June 23rd and the prize will be sent to the winner by mail. You do not need to be present to win. Please submit all photos by email to: girl.scouts@ef.com

Terms and Conditions:  http://landing.eftours.com/gs-nj-photo-contest

EF Tours for Girl Scouts offers international travel opportunities for Girl Scouts. Please visit us online to enter to win a free trip and learn more about international travel opportunities! EF Tours for Girls Scouts is part of EF Education, the world leader in international education.

Salem Middle School students take action to improve an eyesore they are faced with every day

SALEM — Sixth-grade students in the Salem Middle School’s 21st Century afterschool program meet regularly in the school’s cafeteria, where just outside their window, an ugly abandoned building looms in plain sight.

It’s a beige, multi-level structure with knocked out windows and chipped paint, remembered by residents to have been a car dealership decades ago — certainly not something anyone would want to have to look at on a daily basis.

“It’s ugly. It needs a lot of work,” said sixth-grader Delorian Lewis.

Though demolition funds to knock down vacant buildings in the city are tough to come by, the students in 21st Century came up with one idea to at least make the structure less of an eyesore.

With some outside help from the Girl Scouts of Central &Southern NJ’s Take Action Program, the students are painting a mural to hang in the windows of the building.

“We were invited into the school to do a Take Action project, and we asked the students what they would like to do or fix-up in their community,” said Rona Whitehead, a leadership specialist with the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ.

“We brainstormed with the students on a project appropriate for sixth graders, and we came up with the idea of creating a mural for the community.”

View full sizeStaff photo by Britney LillyaThis eyesore building across from the Salem Middle School will be improved by murals painted by students.

Whitehead said in speaking with students, she found that they really didn’t like looking at the ugly abandoned building, which is located just across from the middle school on New Market Street.

Since the building is owned by the city, Whitehead worked in partnership with Salem Main Street to get permission for the mural. After a few weeks of research, followed by brainstorming and design sketches, permission was given to install the mural in its windows, where students could see it and take pride.

“I think the students can be proud of themselves when they look at it, and that they went through all the different steps and took action,” said Whitehead.

The mural is being painted on wood panels, which once assembled, depict people holding hands around the symbolic Salem Oak, a landmark in Salem City.

A message on the mural reads, “Salem Means Peace.”

“The students came up with all the ideas, and those ideas were incorporated into a design,” said mural artist Patty Lafferty, who helped outline the mural. “The students told me about the oak tree and that Salem means peace, so we took those ideas and designed the mural.”

 Students are currently in the process of painting the mural, and the group expects to complete it sometime next week.

“I think this is nice, because we don’t get to do stuff like this around Salem,” said student Janiah Ryals, 12. “Kids have nothing to do, so we end up in the house or getting in trouble. I think this is something fun and good for our community.”

Once the mural is hung, Salem Main Street Executive Director Chris Davenport said he has received permission from the city to have the abandoned building re-painted if Main Street can come up with supplies and volunteers.

“I think the students did a great job thinking of this, and the Girl Scouts organization was great for helping them,” said Davenport. “My hope is that other groups in the community might be inspired to take on more projects like this.”

Salem Middle School Vice-Principal Mary Benatti oversees the 21st Century program, and said she is very proud of the students’ efforts.

“I think a project like this helps the students take pride in their community,” said Benatti. “It lets them see that they can make a difference and bring change. I think that’s a valuable lesson for anyone to learn.”

Contact Michael Williams at (856) 935-1500 or via email at michaelwilliams@southjerseymedia.com

Woodbury Heights Girl Scouts donates cookies to local food bank

Woodbury Heights Girl Scouts donates cookies to local food bank

 By Jessica Bautista/Gloucester County TimesGloucester County Times

WOODBURY — The Girl Scout Cookie Program became more than just a lesson on money management and business ethics for one Woodbury Heights troop this week when they donated more than 50 boxes to the Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries Food Bank.

Woodbury Heights Girl Scout troop 61782 deliver 54 boxes of girl scout cookies and canned goods to the Greater Cooperative Ministries Food Bank in Woodbury. Staff Photo by Tim Hawk/Gloucester County Times 

Woodbury Heights Girl Scout Troop 61782 filed into the food bank to donate cookies, and some other non-perishables, to who the girls specifically understood were “people who don’t have enough money to buy food,” second grader Courtney O’Hara said.

As the troop wrapped up their annual cookie sale campaign this week, some of the mothers of the girls decided it’d be a good opportunity to learn about paying generosity forward to the community, according to Troop Leader Lisa Daniels.

“When we were kids, it was people telling us, ‘there are kids starving in Africa,” Daniels remembers. “Now, it’s ‘kids are starving next door.’”

In keeping with one of their general themes of philanthropy, the girls quietly helped unload the boxes and bags of cookies and food and were given a lesson on what they do and who they help by the food bank’s director, Kathy Stackhouse-Cunningham.

“Most of the families that come here normally wouldn’t be able to afford cookies, this will be a real treat for them,” Stackhouse-Cunningham said. “People are going to be so excited about this,” she told the children.
The food bank serves approximately 350 needy families a month.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had cookies donated to us before,” Stackhouse-Cunningham said with a smile. “This is just great.”

According to Daniels, the inspiration to donate to the food bank came from a teacher of the some of the kindergarten girls.

“[Woodbury Heights Elementary School kindergarten teacher Nancy] Barton encourages her students to give back to the community,” Daniels said. “She keeps a jar in her classroom where the children can drop spare change. Then she donates the money to the food bank. We are just expanding on what she started.”
The girl scouts were able to collect boxes to donate while they were selling them door-to-door, at cookie booths outside of local businesses and with the help of their parents. People were able to buy boxes for the sole purpose of donating them to the food bank, as well.

Contact Jessica Bautista at (856) 686-3729 and jbautista@sjnewsco.com

© 2012 NJ.com. All rights reserved.

GIRL SCOUTS SAMBA THEIR WAY TO A “STRONG AND COURAGEOUS” PETAL

FIFTY WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP GIRL SCOUTS SAMBA THEIR WAY 

TO A “COURAGEOUS AND STRONG” PETAL WITH A LOCAL ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR

Turnersville, NJ —Fifty Washington Township Kindergartens and First Graders ages five to seven earned a Girl Scout “Strong and Courageous” petal while learning Latin dance party moves with local Zumba Expert Desiree Bowen.

“Our troop leaders teach our children so many valuable life lessons, including how to care for your body through nutrition and exercise,” says Stacy Aguilar, Co-Leader for her troop in Washington Township.  “The girls loved Zumba!  Desiree did a really nice job teaching them fun dance moves appropriate for their little bodies.”

To keep the healthy theme moving, the Girl Scouts are currently celebrating their 100th year anniversary by challenging each scout to walk 100 miles over the course of a few months.  Girls are given a pedometer to track their steps.

Zumba Instructor Desiree Bowen is a member of IDEA Health and Fitness Association. She teaches all levels of fitness through Zumba, Piloxing, and Toning in several locations throughout Washington Township.  For more information, or to view her schedule, visit www.zumbadesi.com.

Submitted By: Stacy Aguilar
 

GIVING AND GETTING A LITTLE RESPECT

Washington Township Police Officer Helps Girl Scout Daisies 

Earn ‘Respect Authority’ Petal

Turnersville, NJ, March 3, 2012—Washington Township Police Officer Tobias Haley visited a local Daisy Girl Scout Troop at Birches Elementary School to help 11 first graders earn a petal for learning how to ‘Respect Authority.’

Using the Dr. Seuss Book Horton Hears a Who, Officer Haley taught lessons on kindness, bullying, and coming to the aid of others.  He finished up the lesson with a more serious talk about “Stranger Danger” and how to sense and react in potentially dangerous situations.

With news of an attempted child luring in Washington Township last month, Girl Scout Troop moms appreciated the lesson.  “Officer Haley’s message was entertaining, fun, and right on the mark,” says Troop Co-Leader Donna Sullivan of Whitman Square.  “Parents enjoyed him as much as our children,” she added.

Dayton Girl Scout Becoming a Cookie Entrepreneur

South Brunswick Patch - By Davy James February 18, 2012 

Vittoria, 13, has sold over 2,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in the last two years through hard work and dedication.

It's a magical time of year for cookie lovers. A time of Thin Mints, Shortbreads, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lots, and Shout-Outs. Girl Scout Cookie season. 

But for one scout from South Brunswick, this time of year is pure business. Vittoria, of Dayton, knows just a bit about selling cookies.  She should after having sold over 2,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in the last two years alone.

"My secret is to use a lot of eye contact when I'm selling cookies and having lots of cookie booths," Vittoria said. "It helps to talk to everyone who walks by and not just certain people. And to be always be polite."
Girls Scouts have been selling cookies throughout the area from Jan. 19 through late February for $4 a box. The program is the largest girl-led business in the country, according to the Girl Scouts of America. The time spent organizing cookie booths and managing sales is designed to teach the scouts how to make decisions, manage money, develop people skills and to understand business ethics.

"Scouting has helped Vittoria develop as a leader, not just in scouting but in her own life," said Vittoria's mother Maria Flick. "Whether it be in school or other activities, she's active in our church and her leadership skills come out. You can see she's the type of child who's going to step forward and do anything that's asked of her. If she's not asked, she decides to go where help is needed, and that comes from being independent, which is a great aspect of Vittoria. She also has a kind heart and a lot of that comes from working with the Girl Scouts."

Vittoria is an independent Girl Scout, so she's not attached to any troop. With cookie sales through a troop, the proceeds go back to the troop where they decide as a group what to do with the funds, Maria said. As an independent scout, Vittoria still gets to do all of the activities other scouts do, but she gets to decide how proceeds from her sales are spent.

"As an independent scout, she can do everything a troop does, she just doesn't go to troop meetings, so it's a little bit of a different aspect that puts things more on her shoulders and makes her take on more of a leadership role," Maria said. "It's helped her build confidence and courage, that she can go out and do this on her own."

During last year's sales, Vittoria announced to her family that her goal was to sell 1,000 boxes to earn a destinations trip to Georgia to ride horses for two weeks. She ended up selling 1,200 boxes.

"We thought it would be nice if she could pay for the trip. We didn't pressure her to do it, but she was very gung ho about it and went out there and tried to hit that goal," Maria said. "At first we thought she was crazy, because she never sold more than 650 boxes before. When she figured out if she sold 1,125 boxes it would pay for the trip in full, we said sure, okay, we'll support you. We never thought she would hit that goal. We're so proud of her for picking that goal, carrying it out and surpassing it."

This year, Vittoria is looking to outdo her sales total from last year and is off to a roaring start. She's already sold over 800 boxes with two weeks left to sell.

"It's going very well, I have three more cookie booths to sell at and will try and sell the rest of the cookies at church or schools," Vittoria said.

Vittoria also collects boxes for the U.S. Armed Forces and brings them to the Blue Star Mothers, a support organization for mothers who have children serving or who have served. Last year, Vittoria brought 100 boxes that were donated by customers to the Blue Star Mothers for their care packages. Thus far in 2012, Vittoria has received 86 boxes and is hoping to bring another 100 boxes to the Blue Star Mothers at the end of the cookie sale, Maria said.

For Vittoria, the work that comes with selling cookies and scouting is both rewarding and fun, as it allows her to expand her horizons.

"I really like being able to travel all over the place and learning about different activities I can do when I get older," she said. "It's also just fun getting to interact with a lot of different people."

http://southbrunswick.patch.com/articles/dayton-girl-scout-becoming-a-cookie-entrepreneur