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It's Show Time at Wexler-Grant!

On Friday the 13th, students, parents, and families gathered in the auditorium at Wexler-Grant Community School. Wexler is one of 5 Boost! schools, key element of the nationally-recognized New Haven School Change Initiative.  For months the students had been practicing and preparing with Lorraine Nusdeu. Our art teacher Melissa Frobel created the backdrop for the event, and music teacher Cheryl Seagraves lent her "pipes" and expert ear to the music for the performers.

After-school programs give New Haven students a Boost!

At many high schools, students have a sense of community on the first day of classes because most attended elementary and middle school with their fellow students.

Since Metropolitan Business Academy is a magnet school, the 350 students who attend come from all across the city, as well as from several other towns throughout the region. Therefore, they are far less connected on Day 1 than their peers in traditional high schools.

Published in The New Haven Register, Sunday, November 13, 2011
By Steve Higgins, Special to the Register

After-school programs give New Haven students a Boost!
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Metropolitan Business Academy
Boost!
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Community Voices Podcast: Lauren Chicoski, Boost! Service Corps Member at Metropolitan Business Academy

The City of New Haven, New Haven Public Schools, and the United Way of Greater New Haven have partnered to develop a part of the School Change Initiative called Boost!, a system to support children’s overall development. Lauren is one of three AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members working with the United Way on this Boost! project.

Jan McCray Price's picture

What every parent says to their child when they graduate high school….

Submitted by Jan McCray Price on October 31, 2011 - 4:20pm

 

As a parent, what would you say to your 18 year old graduating high school?

  • Congratulations!
  • Enjoy your college experience…
  • The next few years of your life are your defining years….

These and many more sentiments might be true for you and your young adult, but what about the many young adults “aging out” of Connecticut’s foster care system with no parent figure, no family, no plans for college and no idea about their “defining years”?

Miss Harris's 1st Grade Class at Wexler-Grant Community School Celebrates Food Day New Haven!

First graders love apples. At least, Miss Harris's class does! Boost! wanted to bring Food Day New Haven to Wexler-Grant Community School, and Miss Harris and her first graders jumped at the chance to learn more about healthy eating. After learning that natural foods come from the ground, trees, vines, and other plants, they wanted to color in pictures of some of their favorite natural foods. Take a look at what an awesome job they did! Thanks for helping to spread the word, Miss Harris's class!!

Deede Dixon's picture

It Made A Difference To That One

Submitted by Deede Dixon on October 20, 2011 - 9:22am

I’ve been working in the Augusta Lewis Troup School now for about a month and a half. Some days have busy, non-stop projects with immediate deadlines; other days have pauses, waiting for meetings so I can hear direction in how to move forward. Throughout both extremes, however, it seems as though every project I complete gives deep relief to someone in this building. One project here at Troup was organizing by reading level a room filled to the brim with scattered books.

Lauren Chicoski's picture

AmeriCorps VISTA, what is that?

Submitted by Lauren Chicoski on August 9, 2011 - 11:52am

When I tell people that I am one of three AmeriCorps VISTA members working with United Way's Boost! Initiative, their first reactions are to say, "HUH?!"

Interestingly enough, AmeriCorps can be described as a domestic Peace Corps. Volunteers across the country work in various positions to combat the same issue, poverty.

J.R. Logan's picture

It's Time for School Gardens to Grow

Submitted by J.R. Logan on July 29, 2011 - 12:10am

In addition to my job as Director of New Media Strategies at United Way, I spend a lot of time volunteering as the Board Chair of the New Haven Land Trust. In this role I get to see another side of the community as I work with environmentalists, gardeners and community organizers.  Recently I have found myself working on a project to connect gardens to schools.

You might be asking yourself why do school gardens matter? In my view they matter because school gardens can function as an outdoor classroom, creating opportunities for hands on learning and student engagement across all subject areas and grades.  Studies have shown that school gardening programs boost students’ scores on science achievement tests.(1) Educators are seeing that activity, healthy eating and learning are linked. In addition to anecdotal evidence, a growing body of research-based literature supports the use of school gardens as a teaching tool. Research has found that participation in youth gardening programs can have the following impacts on students:(2)

Clara Sanders Marcus's picture

New Haven Reads' K and Pre-K Programs Build a Solid Foundation for Reading Success

Submitted by Clara Sanders Marcus on July 1, 2011 - 2:55pm

Whew!  As we take a two-week hiatus before our summer tutoring session begins, I can finally look back at the full and exciting year we’ve had in our School-Aged Youth kindergarten and pre-k programs, held through our partnership with United Way of Greater New Haven.

“I am so proud of all our students,” said Adela Schrader, kindergarten program teacher at New Haven Reads’ Bristol Street location.  “They progressed by leaps and bounds!”

Jessica Teta's picture

"Let's Move" comes to Boost! school, Wexler Grant!!

Submitted by Jessica Teta on June 16, 2011 - 3:19pm

I recently had the pleasure of participating in the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Center Program. A 10 month program where professionals learn about all topics relating to being a good leader! As part of the program, our class was divided into groups. Our group consisted of myself, Jessica Teta, United Way of Greater New Haven, Alex Cinotti, East Shore Health District, Julissa Rodriquez, Neighbor Works New Horizons, Tarja-Canon Bryant, People's United Bank, and Rachele Ceccorulli, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. We were charged with the task of conducting a sustainable project which targets a specific community issue. Our group’s topic was childhood obesity.

 

Our group decided to work with one of New Haven’s  Boost! schools, Wexler Grant Community School, to plan their annual field day. We had identified the national health and wellness initiative "Let's Move", a comprehensive initiative, launched by First Lady Michelle Obama dedicated to solving the problem of childhood obesity in a generation so that kids born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. The initiative focuses on four strategies:  giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices, providing healthier foods in our schools, ensuring that every community has access to healthy, affordable food, helping kids become more physically active* (www.letsmove.gov). Our group’s focus here is the later of the four, helping kids be active and stay active.

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