Talent Days

Session 1 volunteers came with lots of talents to share!  We split them up into two days- one for the older kids and another for the younger so we could do more with each group.  Not only are our volunteers talented but our kids at Rising Star are too!

Older kids played bean bag toss and got to keep the bean bag if they won.

Paper masks were decorated and were a hit!

Bracelets and necklaces were put together with precision.

Bags were also decorated with paints and stencils.

Even nail painting was a big hit with the boys and the girls.

Younger kids made butterflies and flowers from tissue paper.

Tissue art was glued and decorated with care.

Jeevanatitham created this scratch art with layering colors.

Thank you to all our volunteers who made these talent days such a success and a great time for our Rising Star Kids.

After School Play Time

Play Time after school is about 4:30 to 6 PM and is one of the best parts of the day.  There are so many activities and so many of the kids to play with.    Some of the main activities are: 

Visiting with friends

Cricket

Volunteer Run Activities

The play equipment is always in use.

 There is always a good game of soccer in the afternoons.  Using your hands is somewhat loosely allowed in the Rising Star Soccer games.  

English is really learned on the playground.  Talents are shared and there are giggles and laughter all around.

 Play Time is a time for friends, 

laughter, 

family and just plain fun!

Reading Time in the Hostels

When Volunteers are here at Rising Star they participate and lead Reading Time before bedtime.  Families are gathered in their hostels and are either read to in a group or individually. 

Family reading time helps the House Mothers settle the kids for bedtime, improves creative thinking and 

assists in learning English by both listening and reading with the volunteer.

Some of the older kids like to take the time to read for their English class homework during the evening Reading Time.  

Every night its exciting to see their faces light up with curiosity to see what books we have brought with us. They can't wait to pull us to the floor to start reading. 

It's not uncommon for the volunteer to be the one read to at night.  Students are anxious to practice their reading and speaking.

"The more you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." 

- Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"

Star Store

Tuesday is Star Store day!  One of the favorite days here at Rising Star because they are able to go in and purchase items with the stars that they have earned in the past weeks. 

Students earn stars by good behavior (both in school and at home) and performing well on scholastic activities.  If at the end of the week they have earned all 7 stars (one for each day) they receive 2 additional stars.

The kids also learn to save their stars in the bank to purchase those items that are a little more expensive.

This program is one of the most important here at Rising Star.  Students learn to earn, save and work for what they purchase and to take responsibility for them.  

Items vary from school supplies, to toys, to beauty products, to art supplies, to field trips outside of

Rising Star Outreach. The store inventory can be changed as needed, but the purpose of the store is

twofold: to supply the children with fun things that will bring them joy, and to provide items that will

enhance their lives.  (Items for the Star Store are purchased here in India.)