Students get first-hand lesson on Japan devastation

Are we raising emotionally intelligent kids?  The recent crisis in Japan is a current event that provides an opportunity to discuss empathy and the calamaties that others face. 

Our kids pray for the Japanese every night and my daugther has decided to host another lemonade stand (the other was for Haitians after the earthquake) to raise money for the cause.  I also encouraged her to ask her teacher to coordinate a group philanthropic activity for her class. 



Check out this news story out of Charlotte, NC.  See how this school is teaching third graders about Japan:  the devastation, the language and culture. 

Congrats to Chocolate Chip kid Tasan Gandy-Smith on his television debut!

http://charlotte.news14.com/content/638216/cms-students-get-first-hand-lesson-on-japan-devastation

Chocolate Chip Mompreneur Roxanne Ferrance on BronxNet!

Congratulations Roxanne Ferrance

Chocolate Chip Mompreneur and owner of Cake in a Cup NY

on her television debut on Bronxnet!

Check out the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XnsH6UqZrg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Happy Black Marriage Day!!

Chocolate Chip wishes you

Love, patience, kindness, honesty, humility, laughter and joy

on this

Black Marriage Day!

We're sharing the Message Bible version of The Love chapter for your edification....Also something special from the Chocolate Chip archives

Cheers!

From the Chocolate Chip Archives...

A Chocolate Chip for your marriage

http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2009/06/chocolate-chip-for-your-marriage.html



1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)


The Way of Love

1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

11When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

From the Chocolate Chip Archvies: Prep School Negro Melissa B. Ivey

I remember how proud I was of my friend Melissa when I first read her story.  As we gear up for next weekend's Fairchester Boutiqe Recruitment Event on April 3, 2011, http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2011/03/dont-miss-our-independent-school.html , I thought it was a perfect time to dig into the vault and re-visit Melissa's remarks on her prep school experience and her decision to educate her children in prep schools.

For those considering the journey I hope you find her thoughts provocative and informative.  Let me know what you think.  Post your comment in the box below.

http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2009/11/prep-school-negro-of-week-melissa-b.html

Golf Anyone?

My how time flies when you're having fun!  Looking at this picture, I can't believe that 3 years have elapsed so quickly!  Our Uncle Jimmy, an avid golfer, first put a golf club in our daughters hands at the age of four during a family bbq.  It became apparent very quickly that she had a natural swing and great form even at that ripe young age.  Inspired by what he saw, her grand uncle quickly blessed her with her very own Barbie golf clubs:)

To introduce Brooke to the sport he loves, Uncle Jimmy brought us to an incredible program, The First Tee of Metropolit​an New York.  http://www.thefirstteemetny.org/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp
For a few weeks we hoofed it from Westchester to Newark and then quickly decided to find a program closer to home.  When a pee-wee division (ages 4-6) wasn't available nearby we formed our own 4 week session on Saturday afternoons for our littlest golfers.

Now that she's seven we've signed up her up for the junior program which cost only $15 for 6 1 hour sessions!  You can't beat that!  Classes begin mid-April so check out the site to find the location nearest you.

Our little guy is 4 now and he's ready to tee up.  Chocolate Chip will be organizing another 4 week pee-wee class for 10 4-6 year olds on Saturdays at 2:30pm at Mosholu in the Bronx.  Space is limited to 10 children and will be filled on a first come first serve basis.  So if you're interested in exposing your little one to golf, comment on the blog below and we'll be in touch and add you to the class list. 

Congratulations to our Chocolate Chip Scholars!

The Independent School admission process has a reputation for being daunting and is not for the faint at heart.  Many of our families began the process by attending our Fall Boutique Recruitment Event. After school visits, student and family interviews and other opportunities to get to know the schools, they toughed it out and made it through and lived to tell about the experience.

Well the acceptances letters are in and it's time to celebrate!  Join us over the coming days as we shout out our Chocolate Chip Kids! 

Congratulations to Rachel (one of my son's BFF's) who has been admitted and will be attending Riverdale Country Day School in the Fall!!

I'm especially proud of her because I've watched her grow over the years into sweet, well-mannered, self-disciplined and wise young lady.  She is truly the "mother hen" of her class!  Kudos to her wonderful parents and The Milestone School- where good beginnings never end.

Yeah for Ian (one of my daughters long time friends)!!  He's on his way to the Hackley School this fall!!  Ian is a product of The Milestone School and Harlem Succeess Academy. 

We have a special connection to Ian and his family because we're blessed to be apart of the same spiritual family.  Special shout out to Christian Cultural Center! 
Congratulations Ian!  Keep up the excellent work!




There are more to come.  Know a Chocolate Chip kid that we should feature.  Post a comment on the blog below and we'll be sure to collect the information.

Don't Miss Our Independent School Recuritment Event April 3rd

Did you miss us?  We've been busy creating this AMAZING educational experience for our families.  If you missed our Fall Boutique Recruitment Event here's a chance for you to learn the ins and outs, dispel the myths and hear first hand the value, challenges and triumphs of private school.  If you are thinking about applying to schools in the fall or in the near future, attending this event is a MUST!

Chocolate Chip, RIISE and Fairchester Independent Schools present the Fairchester Boutique Recruitment Event: An Intimate Discussion between Parents and Independent School Educators on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at The Italian Center of Stamford 1620 Newfield Stamford, CT at 3pm.

So why are we doing this and why should you attend?  The answer is simple.  As parents we know educating our children is our top priority.  We understand that academic excellence is paramount and is an investment in our children's bright future.  It is critical that we examine the pros and cons as we search to to find the best fit for our children. 

We're partnering with RIISE & Fairchester Independent Schools to help support and encourage the recruitment of African American students to cultivate diversity in private schools.  The event will facilitate the discussion and engage our families as they consider independent schools as a viable option to fulfill their family’s educational goals. 

The event will promote 20+ Independent Schools from Westchester and Fairfield counties. Featuring a dynamic keynote speaker and informative break out sessions, key topics for discussion include:

Admissions Process

Diversity & Inclusion

School Philosophy & Curriculum

Return on Investment

Mix & Mingle with school administrators, current students and families

So post it to your profile or share it on facebook or tweet this information to your heart's content and tell every parent you know with children pre-school -12 why this is an event they don't want to miss. 

RSVP: http://fairchesterboutiquerecruitmentevent.eventbrite.com/

Featured Schools:

Brunswick School

Covent of the Sacred Heart Greenwich

Greenwich Country Day School

Greenwich Academy

Greens Farm Academy

Hackley School

Harvey School

KING

The Masters School

Rippowan Cisqua

Hopkins School

The Long Ridge School

The Mead School

New Canaan Country School

Rye Country Day School

St. Luke's School

Whitby School

Windward School

Wooster School

The Storm King School

Waterside School

The Milestone School

Loomis Chaffee