first graduation of the year!

This Friday we had our first graduation of 2010 at girls campus!

our student speakers started us off on the right foot. they introduced the theme of "personal power" and did a great job of speaking in front of everyone.

our equine specialist, gary, gave a great speech on personal power using examples of our graduate in equine therapy.

our graduate's therapist, kade, shared a personal story with the campus to illustrate that even when things get tough, you have to work hard and serve others to improve your own life.

tayleigh and kade present ana's graduation certificate:

the graduate's family shared their thoughts on ana's success!

our graduate walked up to the podium with confidence and shared inspiring words to all the girls.

another graduate on her way home.

good luck, we'll miss you!

thursday at whisper creek

"advancements are a huge part of diamond ranch academy; the students always look foward to advancing; some get really nervous to present in front of their peers and campus director. it's a great opportunity for them to learn public speaking skills and come out of their shells. all the girls involved learn so much and so do i!"
-tayleigh

 "i have learned that that in any circumstance i have the choice to look at some options and that some choices really are better than others... i have worked really hard and i assure you i will continue to do so in the levels to come!"
-megan

"i like helping out with advancements because i love seeing the girls get their levels. sometimes it's difficult to tell your peers what they need to work on, but, it's so good in the following weeks when they've taken everyone's advice seriously and made the change. also, you can take your own advice in the advancements, which is a learning experience for everyone."
-jodi

bringing in the new year on tuesday!

another tuesday night with tayleigh and of course we made resolutions for the new year!

the top ten for 2010 are:

SoBrIeTy

iNtEgRiTy

ReSpEcT

SeLf-CoNtRoL

aCcEpTaNcE
GrAtItUdE
sErViCe
HuMiLiTy
hApPiNeSs
ExCeLLeNCe!

New Years Resolutions

Writing New Years resolutions!

"My biggest goal is to accept change"

-Claire

"My goal is to focus on my sobriety"

-Megan

-posted by Melanie

New Years Day!

Happy New Years! 2010!

Today we started the morning off with a great breakfast.  Chocolate oats, yogurt, bananas, and peanut butter and jelly!  Yummy! After the movie we gathered in the cabin and watched "Bee Movie".

After the movie WC and CS played a flag football game.

Line of Scrimmage:

-posted by Melanie

New Years Eve

ICE AGE 3

The girls were very excited when they found out they we were going to watch "Ice Age 3" to celebrate New Years Eve.  But nothing could top the fact they got to eat the taffy they had made with Mr. Force.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

-posted by Melanie

Christmas Coins for Kids

This year our students helped our local community charity "Koins for Kids".  We were asked to send some youth to help wrap and organize presents for local children.  The girls did such a great job.  The directors of the charity and the local volunteer center we very impressed with all of our students.

We are so proud of these young ladies!!

our mission statement is to mobilize people and resources for creating solutions to community needs.  we accomplish this with a whole bunch of super-great youth volunteers like those at Diamond Ranch Academy!!

-linda sappington, washington county volunteer center 

christmas movie

we gathered in a classroom, blankets and treats in hand to watch a christmas favorite, ELF!

"hi, buddy the elf speaking, what's your favorite color?"
-buddy the elf

thanks, santa!

check out our new stuff!

the girls said, "tayleigh, take a picture of us throwing the balls into the air!" i obliged, then a few of them forgot that what goes up must come down. here's what happened:

it was hilarious! they crack me up!

the girls showing off the latest in DRA fashion: long sleeve shirts. very nice!

it's been a great christmas, i love spending the holidays with the girls.

santa at DRA!!

HeRe CoMeS sAnTa!

DRA style...

drew was a little anxious to see santa!

he makes his first appearance to the homeless girls, everyone was all smiles!

you're never too old to take your picture with santa!

season of giving

some of our students sponsored our homeless students so they can participate in Christmas. some of the girls made a sacrifice by donating all their ledger money. it was really impressive to see them getting into the holiday spirit! all of the whisper creek students staying for the holidays donated over three-hundred ledger dollars!

Christmas at DRA

Merry Christmas to All!!

We wanted to take the time to present to you a short video clip from Ricky Dias as he presents the activities that will be taking place at Diamond Ranch Academy over the next couple of days.  We know, that as parents, you want to make sure this day is special.  We share that desire.  The students have been participating in several different events to not only get them in the Holiday Spirit, but to also give them the opportunity to share their time and talents and help those less fortunate during this time.  We thank you for your trust and support during this holiday.  We are happy and grateful for the opportunity to share the joy and blessings this season has to offer with your students!

tuesdays with tayleigh: christmas edition

we finally finished both the garbage cans, the girls were proud to show them off!

during dinner, we had an impromptu "milk mustache" contest. here are some of our winners:

after dinner, tayleigh shared the story, "the gift of the magi" with the girls. they got into the christmas spirit and thought about things they could give of themselves that would echo the sentiment of the story. the girls also shared what they were most grateful this year, most said they were grateful for the relationships they have with their families and the opportunity to start again.

hot chocolate, snickerdoodles and "the santa clause" were also on the agenda tuesday night. after the movie the girls went caroling to the other students in the dorms!

Pancakes

Pancake Palooza

In Mr. Force's science class we made pancakes.  Mr. Force, wearing his cooking visor, led the cooking crusade. Mr. Force ground the wheat into a fine powder that resembles the pancake mix you would buy in a box. In a blender, he blended apples, honey, salt, basking soda, and some other ingredients. Mixed together, it looked like mush. He then poured the batter on a hot griddle. The sizzle of the pancakes made my mouth water. The smell of apples and cinnamon quickly filled the room. When they were done, Mr. Force handed us each a thick, fluffy, whole wheat pancake. He taught us that Pectin, an ingredient found in apples makes the pancakes fluffy. These pancakes were amazing; nothing compares!

After our cooking lesson, we were rewarded with the treat of Force’s Cooking Corner. Mr. Force told us the story of how he got his pancake recipe. He made it so that his kids would eat healthy, but also enjoy. As kids, we usually avoid good food because we don’t think it will taste good. This is symbolic in my life as an addict, because I avoided doing good things because I believed that life wouldn’t be as fun. As I learned from Mr. Force, I was completely wrong. If you simply spice up the recipe a little bit, I have found that doing good things can be just as satisfying and even more fun.

-posted by Melanie Fox

Scrapbooking

ScRaPbOoK MaNia!!

"It WaS FuN To bE AbLe To uSe OuR CrEaTiVe SiDe"

ERIN, WC

Another fun Saturday of arts and crafts at DRA. It was a chance for us to show our creativity, not to mention make chic Christmas gifts for family members. A fun activity and a bonding experience for the girls; everyone made a picture scrapbook paper with individual themes. This was definitely one of the most fun activities yet!

Samantha, Whisper Creek

-posted by Melanie Fox