The school year is always filled with so many emotions.  At the beginning of the year, students are filled with excitement for new teachers, new classrooms and new friends.  By mid-year, the excitement has wavered and routines have set in, some mundane while others are still settling.  Then, Spring arrives and the excitement returns as students look to the end of year with eagerness for the summer freedom.

At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County, our staff professionals feel this same mix of emotions through the School Year among our Club members.  And truth be told, our staff professionals may feel a similar cycle of emotions, but it is this cycle that keeps them tuned in, focused and on target to meeting the kids where they are to help them grow to their full potential.

This year, to keep the excitement, enthusiasm, and enjoyment of engaging in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County’s after school youth development program, our staff accomplished some great successes.

The Boys & Girls Clubs’ triumphs this school year were:

• The Halloween Haunted House Family Night, sponsored by Stockman Bank at our Lockwood Clubhouse welcomed over 200 people. The biggest Family Night at this Clubhouse to date!
• The sensation and elation for the Secret Ingredient Club at our Lockwood Clubhouse. Each month, Club members enjoyed learning essential kitchen skills while cooking or baking an item with a secret ingredient.  Each time Club staff got a chance to guess the unknown ingredient. Some of the items made this school year were brownies with cayenne pepper and smoothies with avocado.
• In the Heights, our staff implemented a behavior incentive called Power Points. Club members could earn points towards rewards for positive and productive behaviors.  This new program helped members connect positive choices with affirming consequences.
• At our Bair Family Clubhouse, the Bair Cubs mentoring program proved very fruitful and effective. The 1 on 1 mentoring and attention to meeting kids where they are to help them grow and learn has turned out to be the assistance several members have needed to flourish.
• Overall at our McKinley Clubhouse, staff have noted a change in member behavior over the last nine months. Our local Club members have grown in understanding expectations, expressing their emotions and verbalizing their feelings.  That is a big feat and while there is still more growth needed, it is important to recognize every step towards success.
• Total Teen Takeover! 24% of the Club members attending the Boys & Girls Club currently fall between 6^th and 12^th Teens are consistently attending the Club’s program, staying engaged and turning to the Club as a resource as they look to build a path for their future.

There are, of course, more successes that I would like to share but had to just pick a few, otherwise this article would go on forever. When we are in the midst of the School Year it is hard to appreciate our achievements, but when we take a step back and evaluate all that we have accomplished in nine months, it is a GREAT achievement.  We should all be excited, enthused and overjoyed by our feats.  We are striving towards the Club mission daily and doing Whatever It Takes for the success of every Club member.