School & Youth Kick-off Assembly. Welcome to Kick - Off! The Purpose: Kick-off Assemblies are a great way to launch your School & Youth event and get

School & Youth Kick-off Assembly

Welcome to Kick - Off!

The Purpose: Kick-off Assemblies are a great way to launch your School & Youth event and get the entire school involved! Spread the message about childhood cancer, and encourage the school community to help support our cause.

Kick - Off Outline

Step 1: Start with an Introduction What are you presenting & why

Step 2: What is Blood Cancer? Use one of the skits to explain blood cancer at a age appropriate level Smiles & Superheroes! (K- Grade 3) Captain Chemo (Grade 3 - 8) Balloons (Grade 3 - 8) Hula Hoops (Grade 6- 8) Science Experiment (Grade 6 - 8) High School (Grade 9 - 12) Use School & Youth Assembly Video (Grade 3-8) Use Why Charlie Brown Why video? Janice hospital room (Grade 1-3)

Step 3: Who does Blood Cancer affect? Select which option will work best for your assembly Share a local survivor story Share our honoured Hero Video Use blood cancer statistics found in Coordinator Guide (p. 2)

Step 4: How your school can help Share with your students how your school can help: what the school will be doing for the 3 week program, your goal, and fun wrap-up activity on

last day!

Step 5: Question & Answer Period Q&A Tips Anticipated Questions

Click here for…SY Contact Information

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmcciepNxO4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qaiM0TKgeQ&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO62f5lUxI0&feature=relmfu

http://www.leukemia.org/graphics/National/SchoolYouth/SYCoordinatorGuide20122013.pdf

What are you presenting & why?

Explain to the audience that you are presenting on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

LLSC Mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

The reason why you are presenting is because for the next 3 weeks the school will be participating in the School & Youth Program. The school will be helping the LLSC with their mission to save lives and help many people touched by blood cancer.

Mention that you will explain what blood cancer is, how it affects the body, and how the school can help

Click here to return to… Step 1: Kick-Off Outline

Step 2: What is Blood Cancer /Skits Step 3: Who does blood cancer affect

Step 4: How your school can help Step 5: Q&A

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Skit: Smiles & Super Hero’s

Props Needed: Fisher Price doctor’s kit or stethoscope Smiley face posterCape and mask SY individual collection boxFew coins

See script


Step 2: What is Blood Cancer /SkitsStep 3: Who does blood cancer affect


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Summary: This skit is indented to encourage empathy and sharing at a young age.

Script: Smiles & Super Hero’s

Presenter ExplainsThis skit will show you just how far your coins can go in helping people who are sick with cancer. It’s important that you know how you can help others:

Presenter asks for 3 volunteers, each should stand next to each other. Be sure to ask each volunteer his/her name. Hand volunteer #1 the doctor’s kit; have them put on the stethoscope. Hand volunteer #2 the smiley face poster. Hand volunteer #3 the cape and mask and have them put it on.

Go back to volunteer #1. I would like someone to raise their hand and tell me who wears a stethoscope. Allow students to answer “doctor” That’s right; doctors wear stethoscopes. Today this is Doctor (STUDENT’S NAME). When you collect coins for School & Youth Program, you are helping doctors give the best possible care to patients (or people who are sick), so that they get the medicine they need to get well. Thank you, (Dr. STUDENT’S NAME).

Proceed to volunteer #2: Have them hold the smiley poster high. There are lots of people who make me smile. Who are the people in your life that make you smile? What did they do to make you smile? Allow students to answer family, teachers, friends, etc. Friends, parents, family ( etc) are some of the people that make us smile. Share examples of the ways that they helped students to smile and emphasize how important being a good friend is.

When you collect coins for School & Youth Program, you are a friend to our patients because you make them and their families smile when they learn about what you did to help them. Great job, STUDENT NAME

Continue Script

Script: Smiles & Super Hero’s Continued

Proceed to the volunteer #3: Ask them to stand with their hands on their hips. This question is tricky; who flies around in a cape and helps those in need? Allow students to answer with Superman/superhero.

That’s right! Superman flies around in a red cape. When you collect coins for School & Youth Program, you are a superhero to those who are sick with cancer because you are helping to save their lives. That’s amazing work!

Let’s do a quick review. Walk back to each volunteer and recap what their role is and how they help sick people.

Can we please give our 3 volunteers a round of applause. They did an awesome job! Remove props from volunteers and thank them as they return to their seats.




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Skit: Captain Chemo

Props NeededCape and mask1 Red blood cell poster1 White blood cell poster1 Platelet poster5 Cancer cell posters

See script




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Summary : An interactive object lesson to illustrate what blood cancer is and how it affects the body, concluding with ways in which students can help make a difference.

Script: Captain ChemoPresenter Explains: To understand blood cancer we have to understand the blood and its different parts. Inside of your blood, inside of my blood, there are 3 parts: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Ask for volunteer #1 select a student and have her hold the ‘W’ poster. Name her WendyEveryone, I would like to introduce Wendy, the White Blood Cell. (Look at the student.) Wendy, can you say hello to everyone? (Allow her to say hello into the microphone.) Wendy the White Blood Cell helps fight off germs and keep the body healthy. Let's say you were sitting in class, or maybe you were sitting in the movie theater, and the person next to you keeps coughing. You might think, "Uh-oh! I am going to catch their cold?" Well, Wendy the White Blood Cells fights off those germs and keeps your body healthy.

Ask for volunteer #2 Select a student and have him hold the ‘R’ poster. Name him RyanThe second part of the blood is the red blood cell. I have Ryan here to help us understand what a red blood cell does. On the count of 3, can all of you take a deep breath? Ryan the Red Blood Cell can you count to 3 for me? (Allow him to count to 3 in the microphone and take a deep breath.) Well done! All of us just breathed in air; we took in oxygen. Red blood cells grab that oxygen and carry it throughout our body, from our head down to our toes. Ryan the Red Blood Cell carries oxygen and gives our body energy.

Let's talk about the last part of the blood. Ask for volunteer #3 Select a student and have him hold the ‘P poster. Name him Pauly

Welcome to the stage Pauly the Platelet. Can you please wave to all of your fans? Let's pretend you are on the playground. You fall, cut your knee, and start to bleed a little bit. Platelets, like Pauly, form around that cut and stop the bleeding. This is how a scab is formed.

These three cells make up everyone's blood. Wendy the White Blood Cell and all white blood cells fight germs. Ryan the Red Blood Cell, and all red blood cells, carry oxygen, and Pauly the Platelet, and all platelets, clot blood! And those are all the parts of your and my blood.

Now I need 5 volunteers to represent the cancer cell? Hand them the 'X' posters, and have them stand in front of the R, W, and P so the audience cannot see them…

Continue Script

Script: Captain Chemo Continued

Presenter explains: People with leukemia, their blood looks very different. One of her healthy white cells changes and turns into a cancer cell. That one cell grows and multiplies until these cancer cells start to take over the blood and crowd our healthy cells.

These X's represent cancer cells. It's really hard to see the healthy cells because there are so many cancer cells. This is what leukemia looks like. Instead of just having platelets and red and white blood cells, someone with leukemia has all of these cancer cells. Luckily, there are medicines to fight blood cancer. The kind of medicine we are going to discuss today is something called chemotherapy. We will just call it chemo.

Ask for one more volunteer play Captain Chemo? Select a volunteer or call out your pre-select Capt Chemo and hand them the cape and mask.

Alright, so we have Captain Chemo to the rescue. Chemo is the medicine that a person with leukemia might take. So, Capt. Chemo can you please take away the X posters?

Help Capt. Chemo take the X posters from the other volunteers. Thank the volunteers quietly and ask them to return to their seats. As Capt. Chemo takes the posters, you can say: So you see, if chemo does its job correctly, it will wipe out the cancer cells.

Once all the 'X' posters are removed, ask the students, Can you see all the healthy cells again? Alright, well Capt. Chemo has done his/ her job and the body is back to working properly again! Can we give all of our volunteers a round of applause?! Thank your volunteers, take their posters, and ask them to return to their seats.




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Skit: Balloons

Props Needed: 12 white balloons2 red balloons2 green balloons2-3 large trash bagsPrior to the assembly, have two bags filled with inflated balloons (not helium). One bag should be filled 2 green balloons, 2 white balloons, and 2 red balloonsOther bags(s) should hold just white balloons.

See script




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Summary: An interactive object lesson to illustrate what blood cancer is and how it affects the body, concluding with ways in which students can help make a difference.

Script: Balloons Presenter Explains: To explain that cancer I will talk about the blood because that's where the cancer is. Inside everyone's blood there

are three parts.

Ask for 2 volunteers and hand them red balloons.These two students are going to help me today by playing the part of Red Blood Cells. How many of you watch football? Great, how many people know what the running back does? Carries the ball down the field, correct? Well that is what red blood cells do for us, except instead of carrying a football on the field; they carry oxygen throughout our blood stream.

Ask for 2 more volunteers and hand them white balloons Can anyone guess what part of the blood stream these students are playing? (Wait for white blood cell answer) White blood cells are our fighter cells because they knock out germs and keep us healthy.

There is one more part of our blood

Ask for 2 more volunteers and hand them green balloons How many people have cut themselves recently and have a scab on their skin? The reason you have that scab is because of our next cell, the Platelet. These cells help us when we cut ourselves. They come rushing to our cut, help our blood clot (or stop bleeding), and form a scab to help our cut heal.As you can see, all three of these cells are very important to a healthy body. Red blood cells carry oxygen and give us energy. White blood cells fight germs and keep us healthy. Platelets clot, or stop, our blood from bleeding. These three cells make up a healthy body.

For people who get a blood cancer, their blood looks very different, and their white blood cells start to multiply. I need a few more volunteers to help demonstrate this.

Continue Script

Script: Balloons ContinuedBring up 10 students, and hand them white balloons, and ask them to surround the other students in a circle. Tell the circle of white balloons to begin “closing in” on the first six students. Keep it fun and light, but watch out for students who can get out of hand.The body is supposed to tell white blood cells when they should stop being made, but when someone gets leukemia their white blood cells keep growing and don’t allow the healthy blood stream to work as it should. As you can see our healthy red cells, white cells and platelets are having a tough time functioning with all these extra white blood cells in our blood stream.

When we do School & Youth Program, we are trying to help people with blood cancer get better. By putting coins in your classroom's box you are helping people with blood cancer get rid of all these extra white blood cells!

(Take an extra white balloon from a student and hold it up.) The money you collect helps people with blood cancer get special medicine to feel better and knock out these extra white cells.

Can we give our volunteers a round of applause for helping? (Have the students return their balloons to you and ask them to return to their seat. Place the balloons back in the bags.)




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Skit: Hula Hoops

Props Needed: 1 red hula hoop1 white hula hoop1 hula hoop that is not white or red

See script




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Script: Hula HoopsPresenter Explains: In order to understand blood cancers we need to have a general understanding about cells in a healthy body. All cancers, including leukemia, begin in cells, which make up our blood and other tissues. Normally, cells grow and divide as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.

Since we’re talking about leukemia, and leukemia is a blood cancer, let’s talk more about healthy blood cells and how they work in the body. Ask for 3 volunteers that can hula hoop. Ask each to stand up front and give them each a hula hoopThere are three types of cells in our blood and these hula hoops represent each type: Red blood cells, White blood cells and Platelets. Can anyone tell me what a red blood cell does?Repeat question with white blood cells and platelets. Students that answer correctly get a prize

Red Blood Cells The red blood cell’s job is to carry oxygen through the blood stream. Kind of like a running back carries a football down the field. This helps us to feel energized and not tired or run down all the time. To represent the red blood cells carrying oxygen, I’d like Volunteer Name to start hula hooping. White Blood Cells The white blood cell is responsible for fighting off infections and other “bad stuff” in our bodies and to help keep us healthy. To represent the white cells fighting disease, I’d like Volunteer Name to start hula hooping. Platelets The platelets are the cells that we can actually see doing their job! Platelets are responsible for making our blood clot so that when we get cut, we stop bleeding and form a scab. To represent the platelets helping the body to heal, I’d like Volunteer Name to start hula hooping.

This is what is happening in side of your blood stream. All of these cells are working together to keep the body healthy. Now to show you what happens inside a body with blood cancer.

Ask for 6 more volunteers Continue Script

Script: Hula Hoops ContinuedSplit the volunteers into 3 groups of 2 and have each pair stand inside a hula hoop with the original volunteer. In people with leukemia, the body has all of these cells, but a leukemia patient’s body also produces abnormal white blood cells. The abnormal cells are leukemia cells. At first, leukemia cells function almost normally, but in time, they begin to crowd out healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Ask the “healthy cell” volunteers to try to hula hoop with the 2 “leukemia cell” volunteers inside the hoop.Because the leukemia cells are in the blood stream, the healthy cells can’t do their jobs. When the cells in a cancer patient can’t do their job, they have to undergo treatment to help them become well again.

Thanks the volunteers and have them take their seats.

Presenter Explains: There are generally 3 types of treatment for blood cancer patients. Can anyone name one of them? Chemotherapy is the word for strong drugs that are given intravenously or orally and are designed to eliminate the cancer cells. Radiation uses a certain type of energy to shrink tumors or kill cancer cells. Bone Marrow Transplant is a procedure that transplants healthy bone marrow into a patient whose bone marrow is not working properly

Many of these treatments have some pretty unpleasant side effects; such as nausea and loss of hair. And the treatments can take a long time to work; the treatment for childhood leukemia can last for 3 years! The good news is that when the treatment works, hair will grow back and that kids like our HEROES can go back to school and feel normal again.




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Skit: Science Experiment

Props Needed: Clear plastic tubeWhite poms = white blood cellsPink poms = red blood cellsSmall multi-colored poms = platelets

See script




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Script: Science ExperimentPresenter Explains: In order to understand blood cancers we need to have a general understanding about blood. All cancers, including leukemia, begin in cells, which make up blood and other tissues. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.

Let’s talk a little more about healthy cells and how they work in the body.

Ask a for a volunteer. This student will hold the tube and assist you in putting in the poms.

There are three types of cells in our blood: Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells and Platelets. Can anyone tell me what a red blood cell does? Red Blood Cells The red blood cell’s job is to carry oxygen through the blood stream. Kind of like a running back carries a football down the field. This helps us to feel energized and not tired or run down all the time. As you are describing this, you or your helper should put the red poms into the tube.White Blood Cells The white blood cell is responsible for fighting off infections and other “bad stuff” in our bodies. They’re like little boxers in our bodies because they fight off infection and help us keep a healthy immune system. As you are describing this, you or your helper should put HALF of the white poms into the tube.Platelets The platelets are the one that we can actually see doing their job!! Platelets are responsible for making our blood clot so that when we get cut, we stop bleeding and form a scab.

As you are describing this, you or your helper should put the multi-colored poms into the tube and show the audience how freely the “blood cells” move.

*Continue Script

Script: Science Experiment Continued

Presenter Explains: In people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. The abnormal cells are leukemia cells. At first, leukemia cells function almost normally, but in time, they begin to crowd out normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This makes it hard for blood to do its work.

As you are describing this, you or your helper should put the rest of the white poms into the tube and show how crowded the “bloodstream” is.

When the cells in a cancer patient can’t do their job, they have to undergo treatment to help them become well again. There are generally 3 types of treatment for blood cancer patients. Can anyone name one of them? (Wait for responses)- Chemotherapy is the word for strong drugs that are given intravenously or orally and are designed to eliminate the cancer cells.- Radiation uses a certain type of energy to shrink tumors or kill cancer cells.- Bone Marrow Transplant is a procedure that transplants healthy bone marrow into a patient whose bone marrow is not working properly

Many of these treatments have some pretty unpleasant side effects; such as nausea and loss of hair. And the treatments can take a long time to work; the treatment for childhood leukemia can last for 3 years! The good news is that when the treatment works, hair will grow back and that kids like our HEROES can go back to school and feel normal again.




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Skit: High SchoolSummary: There is not one particular script that is recommended; however, the following tactics are recommended and will allow for a successful high school presentation.

Student leadership should be involved. Ask that the student-body president, a student council member or a few other students to speak on why they chose to do the School & Youth Program.

Prep Statistics and the work of the LLSC Present the basic campaign logistics and dates. Bring a patient to speak. Work with your local Chapter, in advance, to set up a speaker. This is the component that will keep the

students interested. (The Educate & Motivate Video may take the place of this)

ScriptI think many of you may be surprised as to how many people blood cancers can affect. Let's do a little demonstration. Can I get the first FOUR rows to stand? Imagine it's the year 1949, and all of you have just been diagnosed with leukemia. I need everyone to sit down but the four of you. Given the state of medicine in 1949, the only people who survived were the four people standing here.Now, I need the first EIGHT rows to stand. Everyone standing has just been diagnosed with a blood cancer in 2008. Okay, I need you four in the front row to sit down. Thanks in part to money that students like you have raised in the last fifty years, everyone standing here is a survivor. Unfortunately for those that I've asked to sit that's not good enough. I wish no one had to stand up, but the truth is cancer affects a lot of us in one way or another, and that is why I am here. I need your help to improve the lives of those living with a blood cancer, like leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.




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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxdBwW2Bxqk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxdBwW2Bxqk

Who does Blood Cancer Affect

This is the point in the presentation when you share the story of a survivor. It is a great way to help your students connect to someone of a similar age that has been affected.

Select one of the following options to use during your assembly presentation:

Share a local survivor story: If you have a local connection with a survivor, share their story. This will help your students connect to the mission at a more personal level.

Share our honoured Hero Video Use blood cancer statistics found in Coordinator Guide (p. 2)

*Please contact your School & Youth Coordinator should you require additional information on how to share the story of a blood cancer survivor.


Step 2: What is Blood Cancer /Skits Step 4: How your school can help

Step 5: Q&AContact Us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO62f5lUxI0&feature=relmfu

http://www.leukemia.org/graphics/National/SchoolYouth/SYCoordinatorGuide20122013.pdf

How your school can help

Presenter explains what the students and school will be doing for the next 3 weeks to raise awareness and funds…

Announce how the school will celebrate with a fun wrap-up activity on the last day of the program!

Showcase collection boxes and how they will be used Remind students to create their personalized online fundraising page & to

personalize it! This will help the school reach the goal faster and create more awareness within the community!

Announce your school goal Ex: Our goal is to raise $1500, that means if everyone brings in 1.50$ we can reach it!

Promote prizes available for the top fundraising class and online collection!




http://www.leukemia.org/graphics/National/SchoolYouth/SYFundraisingIdeas.pdf

http://www.schoolandyouth.org/school/Controller?action=loadContent&itemid=581403

Q&A

This is the point in all presentations where a presenter can lose control over the audience.

*Rule of thumb: Anticipate the questions that may be asked. This portion of the assembly should be an educational opportunity, but also a chance to remind students on how they will be making a difference.

Ask students questionsExample:

What do the Red blood cell do? Brings oxygen throughout the body What do the White blood Cell do? Protects us against infections What do the Platelets do? They coagulate our blood (form scabs)

Allow students to ask questions (Grades 3+). When a question is asked by a student, try to bring it back to the program and the work they will doing to help.

Ex: Student Question: Do you have cancer? Response: I don’t, but our school will be helping many families touched by cancer, and with the donations we collect, these people will get the help they need to feel better.

*See Anticipated Questions



Step 4: How your school can help Contact Us

Anticipated QuestionsBelow are examples of various types of questions that may be asked during an assembly, response examples are provided.

The ‘comment’: This is the question that is not really a question. It is often a statement based off of the subject matter that you’ve just presented. Approach these delicately so not to embarrass the student, but do so in a way that always brings it back to the program. For example: I had pizza at my friend’s house last night. The response: I bet your classmates enjoy pizza too. Don’t forget, if your class raises the most money, they will receive a pizza party!

The question you don’t know the answer to: Simply admit that you don’t know the answer. Promise to find out and contact your School & Youth Program Coordinator and they will send back the response.

A personal or irrelevant question: Young students are naturally candid, but in some cases middle school students can choose to be purposely forthright. Whether or not the question is intentionally personal, you should try to stay away from talking about yourself. Respond by bringing it back to the program and the work they will be doing:

For example: Are you married? The response: Keep in mind that because of the great work that you’ll be doing through the School & Youth Program children with leukemia will be able grow up and look forward to getting married!

Assembly Questions and Popular Responses: Keep in mind that answers will vary depending on the age group. What you’ll find is that the level of understanding is usually great. Many young students want to know "bottom-line" kind of answers—be honest, concise and gentle. When you can, use comparisons and solid examples to better communicate your response..

*Continue Anticipated Questions

Anticipated Questions ContinuedCan you die from cancer? Sadly, some people do die from cancer. That’s one reason that participating in School & Youth Program is so important. We can help doctors and researchers find new ways to help patients.

How would I know if I have cancer? First, everyone should keep in mind that it’s far more frequent to have a cold or normal childhood sickness than to have cancer. A doctor has to tell you if you have cancer. In fact, there is not one single way you would feel—doctors will look at signs and symptoms such as achy legs, bruising, slight pains, and fevers. He will then decide if he needs to do blood tests, x-rays or other tests. Overall though, it’s always important to pay attention to how you feel and if you’re not feeling well, let your mom or dad know.

PLEASE NOTE:Questions #1 and #2: Students may have some first hand knowledge of what cancer looks like in a real person. These students may need extra reassurance around these questions.

Question #2: if you feel the need to share more tangible facts on symptoms, you can again reference your honoured hero or refer back to the blood cell object lesson.

What is the difference between AIDS and blood cancer? HIV and Aids are not a type of cancer, and you can’t catch cancer.

How do you get cancer? That’s a really good question. We are not sure why some people get cancer. That is one of the things we are trying to find out, which is one of the many reasons your work on School & Youth Program® is important. You will be helping researchers find answers to questions just like this one.

*Please contact your School & Youth Coordinator should you require additional information regarding tough questions. Click here to return to…

Step 1: Kick-Off Outline Step 2: What is Blood Cancer /Skits

Step 3: Who does blood cancer affect Step 4: How your school can help


SY Contact Information

On behalf of the School & Youth Program, thank you for choosing to use a educational Kick-Off Assembly to Educate & Motivate your students.

Please contact your regional coordinator for any additional questions you may have on how to successfully hold an assembly.

West Canada1-888-600-0567 ext. [email protected]

East Canada1-888-600-0567 ext. [email protected]




Documents

School & Youth Kick-off Assembly. Welcome to Kick - Off! The Purpose: Kick-off Assemblies are a great way to launch your School & Youth event and get