Chris Draft Joins Civitas Discussion
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Chris Draft, star linebacker of the St. Louis Rams (#52), engaged in lively give and take with fifteen Civitas students at the March 28 Discussion Group. Chris has taken an ever-increasing interest in Civitas because he shares Civitas' commitment to critical thinking, informality, and commitment to social change.
The discussion covered a number of topics including (a) Which schools permit military recruitment on campus and how do students feel about it, (b) What is the "just war theory" and how does it relate to American involvement in Afghanistan, (c) Is it human nature to de-humanize our opponents, (d) How is physical fitness related to mental fitness and what physical fitness requirements, if any, exist in each students school, and (e) what are some tips on time managment for students.
The discussion was reflective and engaging. Chris repeatedly drew on his knowledge of economics (he was an economics major at Stanford and minored in history).
We are looking for students to write up specifics about the topics covered last Saturday. If you are interested in writing, please contact us at info@civitas-stl.com.
Our next discussion group is this Saturday, April 11 at Crossroads (map) from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
To see more photos from the March 21 discussion, click here.
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Chris also spoke about the DRAFT FAMILY FITNESS DAY 2009 -- "A Project of the Get Checked and Get FitTM Movement" -- which will take place on Saturday, May 9 at the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club (map) from 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Civitas is helping the Draft Foundation promote the program. We encourage students, teachers, and parents in our program to participate. To learn more about it, click here or on the image below. |
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Resources for Pulitzer Global Gateway Project on Women & Children in Crisis to be Released this Week |
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Thanks to the teachers and students who have been working with us in scheduling visits by journalists on April 20-22 for the "Women & Children in Crisis" Global Gateway project. The journalists have reported from Nepal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Iraq.
This week you will be receiving considerable information and resources from both the Pulitzer Center and Civitas. Included will be an introductory video, background information, guidelines for a new essay contest, and links to the web portal for the project.
The sooner that teachers and students begin preparation the sooner more advance blogging can begin with the journalists. We urge you to act quickly upon the information that will be "rolling out" this week.
Any school (or for that matter any student) not presently enrolled in this project may do so by contacting us at info@civitas-stl.com.
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Collinsville Students Organize
Outdoor Showing of movie "Swing Vote"
this Saturday
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Facebook is described as a social networking organization, but every once in a while the content moves into the political arena. Thanks to some outstanding work by present and former Civitas participants from Collinsville [IL], Facebook is being used to promote far more civic engagement.
A group called "CoCo" [Collinsville Connection] is working as student watchdogs on the workings of the Collinsville local city government. Much of the work has been done by Jed Robbins ('08), Joe Rule ('08) and Tyler Doyle ('09). In an effort to get students more engaged in the upcoming April 7 local elections, they are sponsoring a free outdoor showing of the 2008 movie "Swing Vote." It will be this Saturday, April 4 from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM, at the public parking lot at the corner of Main and Seminary in Collinsville (map). For more information, go to http://uptown.collinsvilleil.org. Additional information is also available by clicking here. |
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Civitas Urban "Go-Team" Update
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Civitas continues to work on its plans for this summer's Urban Go-Team. Invitations and forms requiring parental permission were sent out yesterday to the families of students who had previously indicated that they were interested in participating in the program. In next week's newsletter we will have information about specific Go-Team activities for the week of June 8-12. |
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Successful First Middle School Model U.N.
ast Thursday |
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Civitas’ Middle School Model UN began its General Assembly “season” in fine fashion last Thursday. Students from Bunche International Studies, St. Margaret of Scotland, Queen of All Saints, and St. Gabriel gathered to discuss and debate five resolutions that dealt with some of the world’s most pressing problems. The resolutions dealt with infant mortality, unclean water, tuberculosis, literacy rates, and illegal drug use. The students impressed all of those present with their understanding of the problems at hand and their willingness to improve what were already pretty strong resolutions. Amendments were proposed, votes were cast, and when all was said and done four out of the five resolutions passed! You can read the deliberated resolutions by clicking here.
SPECIAL NOTE: Mark Messmer, a student at Queen of all Saints School sponsored a resolution on behalf of Peru about water shortages in his country. It related to our Fall "Water Wars" high school Global Gateway project with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. We interviewed Mark about his resolution and it is now uploaded on the Water Wars section of the Pulitzer web site. You can see it by clicking here.
We hope that the other middle school General Assemblies are as successful as this first one. Next on the docket is our session on April 29th with St. Justin the Martyr, Lift for Life, St. Dominic Savio, St. Roch, and Maplewood-Richmond Heights.
Additional photos are available by clicking here. |
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Responses to Last Week's Survey |
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The question was: On March 19, President Barack Obama appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Some people have felt that it is inappropriate for a sitting president to appear on a show such as Jay Leno's. How would you best describe your thoughts on the propriety of the President of the United States appearing on a program such as Jay Leno's? I fully approve; no problem
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| I suppose that it's okay
| 06%
| Not Sure
| 6%
| I'm somewhat uncomfortable with it.
| 6% | | I defininitely think that it's inappropriate. | 7% | | Don't Care | 0% |
We had nine comments, to ready them, click here. |
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Upcoming Civitas Events
(Actual events in bold -- always subject to change when change occurs!) Black: High School Blue: Middle School
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| Date | Time | Place | Activity | | 04/11/2009 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Urban Go-Team Session #1 | 04/20 -
04/22/2009 | Varies | Varies | Pulitzer Global Gateway
Program on "Women,
Children, Crises" | Sat.,
04/25/2009 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Urban Go-Team Session #1
or Discussion | Wed.,
04/29/2009 | 9:00 AM -
12:00 PM | Creve Coeur Gov't Center (map) | Middle School M.U.N. #2 | Sat.,
05/09/2009 | 7:30 AM -
1:00 PM | Herbert Hoover Boys &
Girls Club (map) | Draft Family Fitness Day 2009 | Sat.,
05/09/2009 | 9:00 AM -
12:00 PM | T.B.A. | Urban Go-Team Session #1
or #2 | Mon.,
06/08/2009 -
Fri.
06/12/2009 | 9:00 AM -
3:00 PM | T.B.A. | Urban Go-Team |
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What's Civitas? See video below: |
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Civitas simulation on "Carefully Getting out
of Iraq"
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