Month: September 2016

How to successfully survive High School

By Deyamonta Diaz, Tulalip Education Advocate

 

 

 

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Deyamonta Diaz and I am the newest Tulalip Education Advocate. I currently work at Heritage High School, Tenth Street, Arts n’ Tech, Mountainview Alternative, and Cedarcrest Middle School.  As an Education Advocate, I have the opportunity to relate to our current high school students both as a fellow tribal member and as someone who understands the unique experiences that come from growing up on the Rez. As a student, I didn’t have a mapped-out plan to navigate high school in the conventional way. Now, as an advocate I’d like to help our students by offering some simple advice, based on my experiences, that can help them survive and maximize success during their very important high school years.

Freshman:

  • Don’t miss out on sports and being part of a team because you think they’ll take up too much time. Trust me, you can balance school and sports.
  • Do not goof off, stay focused on grades.
  • Worry less about trivial things, care more about yourself.
  • Don’t take things too seriously. You only get to experience high school once, so enjoy it.
  • Don’t allow your friends to define who you are. Break away from negative influences if they don’t accept you for you.
  • Read and write as much as possible. These are skills that will last a lifetime.
  • Get very involved in extracurricular activities. You may discover something you are super passionate about.
  • Get your required gym classes out of the way early. Plan ahead when it comes to what classes you’ll take each year.
  • Be yourself! Life will be infinitely easier if you aren’t spending all your time trying to be someone you aren’t.

Sophomores:

  • College. It’s time to consider what the requirements are for colleges you’re interested in attending and setting yourself for long-term success.
  • Work. If you need to make your own money then it’s time to start applying for part-time jobs. Don’t forget about the Summer Youth program when the school year is coming to an end.
  • Balancing school work, sports, clubs, and a part-time job, not to mention a social life, can be challenging. Talk to guidance counselors if you’re feeling swamped, sometimes just talking it out can be very helpful.
  • Driver’s License. Look into Driver’s Ed programs. Your chance to finally get off the school bus, and sleep in a little longer.

Juniors:

“Senior year, you will be overcome by many adult decisions and leaps that you will have never faced before (choosing a college, saying goodbye to old friends, figuring out how to do common household tasks, and taking care of yourself as an independent). See how what you are passionate about fits in with a possible future career, and do something special with that passion to make yourself feel fulfilled while at the same time being a good resume booster. Research and tour colleges NOW!

Learn how to manage your time. You can accomplish anything you want in life, but without proper health and organization in your life, your achievements will reduce to nothing real quick, especially if you have become overworked/stressed or depressed because of how busy you are. Don’t forget your family & friends. Relationships last longer than recognition, jobs or money. Learn what to participate in and what to sacrifice. It may also help to learn how to multitask efficiently.” – Corvyn Kusuma, Southridge HS Co-Valedictorian

Seniors:

  • Senioritis is real. Don’t let it overpower you because the finish line is within reach.
  • If you have the slightest interest in applying to any colleges, like the Nike saying goes, “Just do it”. Worst that can happen is you get a “no”, but the best thing that can happen is you get a “yes” that changes your life forever.
  • College application season – Apply, apply, apply!
  • You only have one year left so talk to as many people as you can
  • Minimize distractions. InstaChat and Tweetbook can wait. These final school moments last only so long

And last but not least before you say your final “Hoorah’s” and “Goodbye’s”, remember; “Just when the caterpillar thought his world was ending, he turned into a butterfly.”  – Proverb

CERT Classes for All This Fall

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates community members about disaster preparedness and trains them to take care of themselves in the aftermath of a disaster when first responders are overwhelmed or unable to respond because of communication or transportation difficulties. CERT-trained volunteers can also support their communities during disasters. The CERT Program offers training in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. With proper CERT training, you can help protect your family, neighbors, and co-workers if a disaster occurs.

The CERT training team is now preparing for the next course. If you missed it the last two times, here it is again! The classes will be offered on Monday afternoons starting October 3rd from 1 until 3 PM and will run for 8 sessions, finishing before Thanksgiving.

The classes will be held at the Tulalip Tribes Administration building at 6406 Marine Dr.

Medical Reserve Corps members Floyd Bannister, Jr., Cindy Pruden and Eric Cortez have attended training that provided them the knowledge, skills and abilities to instruct and manage CERT training in our community. Volunteer Coordinator Sandy Evans will facilitate the classes.

Twenty participants will be accepted for this session. Participants must be 14 years of age or older and tribal elders are especially encouraged to attend. Attendance at all classes is required for CERT certification.

People who go through CERT training have a better understanding of the potential threats to their home, workplace and community and can take the right steps to lessen the effects of these hazards on themselves, their families, and their community.

Request a registration form or ask any questions with an email to TulalipCERT@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov or sevans@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov.

Merging programs to benefit the community

By Kalvin Valdillez

The Tulalip Caregiver Program has recently moved from the Health Clinic to the Senior Center. The move is part of a merge between the Tulalip Elder/Vulnerable Adult Protection Department and the Tulalip Caregiver Program. The joining of the two will provide more efficient and convenient care for their clients.

“The move just seemed like a good fit,” explained Tulalip Elder Protection Manger, Cara McCoy. “Having the two departments housed together will better service the community.”

Aside from location convenience, the merge offers numerous advantages for those in need of assistance. The department is working closely with two caregiving agencies to ensure that cultural needs are met and respected by their team members. The department also recruits and encourages tribal members to become paid certified caregivers, giving them an opportunity to help their fellow community members who are in need of assistance.

“We want to be culturally sensitive and listen to the concerns that everybody has, and address those concerns because we want our people to be able to stay home and get the care they need so they can be with their families,” stated Cara.

The new unified department services close to 90 patients, ages 18 and over, within Snohomish County. With the two programs successfully merging, the next step for the department is managing the supplemental supply for their patients.

Cara states, “Currently, we are in the process of taking over the medicinal supplies. We are learning how to properly store and distribute as well as creating a policy so everybody has an opportunity to get the supplies they need.”

She believes her new crew shares the same goal of taking care of the Tulalip community, “We are all tribal members in the department. I think that we have a unique perspective, we’re thinking of how we can best support our people long-term.”

For more information about the Tulalip Elder Protection Department contact (360) 716-4689.

Lady Hawks volleyball returns with emphatic victory

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By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News 

The Tulalip Heritage Lady Hawks volleyball program took leaps forward last year by winning five regular season matches and winning two clutch postseason matches before losing a nail-biter to Shoreline Christian, ending their season with a 7-11 final record. This season’s Lady Hawks team returns seven players from last year, and with another off season of development under their belt the Heritage program looks to take another successful leap forward.

On Thursday, September 8, the Lady Hawks hosted the Grace Academy Eagles in what doubled as the season and home opening game. Last season, our Lady Hawks got walloped 0-3 in both match-ups with the Eagles, so a good showing would be a nice confidence booster and proof positive the program is developing in the right direction.

From the opening serve it was obvious the Lady Hawks came to play. The first game was a highly contested battle, with each team going on a series of runs. Up 23-22, the Lady Hawks tightened up the defense and scored on back-to-back points to take the opening game 25-22.

The near even play continued in the second game, until miscommunication crept in on the Lady Hawks part leading to them trailing 17-23. Digging deep, they went on a 6-1 run to make it a one point game, 23-24. The momentum was halted moments later with a bad serve that gave Grace the game 23-25.

 

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Tied at one game each, the Lady Hawks opened up a 7-5 advantage to start the third game. However, Grace took control and the home team trailed 10-18. Heritage was unable to get back in the game, going on to lose 17-25.

Down one game to two, and with Grace only needing to win one more game to take the match, the odds weren’t looking good for Heritage. But these Lady Hawks were determined to take the momentum back. They took a very quick 6-1 advantage in the fourth game and never looked back. Winning the fourth game 25-15 tied up the match at two games apiece, forcing a match deciding fifth game.

In the fifth and final game, the Lady Hawks opened up trailing 0-2 before buckling down and scoring at will. Determined to end their match losing streak to Grace, the Lady Hawks went on a 15-3 run to clinch the game 15-6 and take the match victory 3-2 in front of a very spirited home crowd.

The Lady Hawks hit the road for their next two matches against Lopez and Arlington Christian before coming back home to host Skykomish on Tuesday, September 20.

 

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Johnny Jerome Gibson Jr. (1979 – 2016)

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Johnny Jerome Gibson Jr., 37 of Tulalip, Wash. passed away September 5, 2016. He was born August 17, 1979, in Oroville, California to Johnny Gibson Sr. and Lawana Watson. He was a loving son, grandson, brother, father and uncle. He is survived by his father, Johnny Jerome Gibson Sr.; his mother, Lawana Watson; siblings, Janet, Keith, Elisha, Marisia, and Jared; his children, Jazlyn, Ckquoya, Quinton, and Eva; grandmother, LaVerne; and great grandmother, Gladys, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Services will held Saturday, September 10, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home.