It's the last month of summer! I don't know about you, but I am ready for autumn. I love the smell of pumpkin spice everywhere, the cooler temperatures, the beauty of the colorful leaves, and the fact that the kids will be back in school.
This summer has been like no other. The kids had so many field trips and opportunities they never had before. We were busier than ever.
Our summer began, like every other summer, with a field trip to Lockwood Park. I have often said Lockwood is one of my favorite field trips. The kids just had their promotion night at RHK and moved
to their new grades. So, it was a good time to have a picnic and let them release all their energy. This was our program coordinator's first field trip to Lockwood. She said she didn't get why it was my favorite trip. She thought, “How great it could be? It’s just a park.” She was won over and told me - NOW she gets it. The atmosphere is something you can't explain. Yes, it is just a park, but to see the kids ALL get along, playing amongst the grades, volunteers face painting, and being face painted by the kids is priceless.
The teens went to Medieval Times in June. This is the fourth time we have gone. Once again, our knight did not win his battle, but we all enjoyed cheering him on. Maybe next year, we will come out triumphant.
In July, we changed our teen program. In the past, kids entering the seventh grade in the fall were the only ones who were promoted to the teen program. This year, we promoted all upcoming sixth and seventh graders to teens. We are now in line with the public schools’ grade levels. All middle school and high school students are now “teens.”
The renovation of our expansion area is done and we are nearly finished filling the space with the items needed to make the area special for the kids.
With all the excitement in July, we also had a somber moment. On July 8, we celebrated the life of Destiny, who was taken from us by violence on July 8, 2023. We had a night remembering Destiny as we reflected on what she meant to us at RHK and sang her favorite praise and worship song, "Every Praise," by Hezekiah Walker. We also decorated the cafeterias in pink, and each child received a pink lei. For dessert, everyone had cupcakes with sparkly pink frosting. We still miss Destiny very much, but being able to celebrate her life on the first anniversary of her death helped bring more healing to all who knew her.
These summer months have also been a buzz of activity as we prepare for our annual Streets & Sweets fundraiser. Our puppet team is practicing very hard. They are both excited and nervous about their performance. Every year, they do an amazing job. This year’s event is extra special because we are celebrating RHK’s 25th anniversary! If you haven't already purchased your tickets, we invite you to come and help us celebrate this great milestone together! The deadline is August 31, and we have limited seats available.
Hope to see you there!
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