Indian River School District April 2011
Saturday School Reaches Out
A novel approach to an old problem reached a difficult
target : engaging adolescents
outside of the normal school day.
Past years proved that middle
school students are unlikely to stay
Connecting community after school. In response,
resources with schools administrators John Turssline and
—to help young people Mike Williams convened with CIS to
successfully learn, stay develop a new approach to helping
in school, and prepare their middle school students improve their academics,
for life. test scores, social skills, and self-esteem. The outcome?
Saturday School. It works. Students are waking up on
We believe that every their Saturday mornings, taking the school bus, and
child needs and deserves sitting in a classroom for up to two
the Five Basics: hours, honing their Language Arts and
Mathematics skills before participating
1. A one-on-one in an enrichment of their choice.
relationship with a Saturday School reaches 6th, 7th, and 8th
caring adult graders who were recommended by
their teachers as candidates for the
2. A safe place to learn
program. Teachers use creative
and grow
methods and work with smaller groups to help students
3. A health start and who haven’t been able to grasp academic concepts during
healthy future the regular school day. Saturday School is funded through
a grant from 21st Century.
4. A marketable skill to
use upon graduation
5. A chance to give
back to peers and
community.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
CIS school-based This year, five 6th grade girls from Georgetown Middle
programs are designed to School came together to form the Lunch Bunch, a group
provide students with at that meets once a week during
least one of these REAL lunch with Jennifer Graybeal
basics. to talk. Respect is a recurring
theme in each session: Respect
for self and respect for others,
especially for authority figures.
The group hit some bumps early
on, where girls were pushing the
boundaries of the group’s
dynamics, but they continue to push forwards, talking
Indian River School District April 2011
about difficult issues and acting as both a sounding board
and a jury of peers for each other’s thoughts and actions.
Perks to coming to the group include special treats
(granola bars, Peeps, cookies, etc.) and a chance to learn
how to avoid trouble through managing their behavior and
learning how to deal with their thoughts and emotions.
Recently one girl was matched with an amazing mentor as
Connecting community a result of some issues uncovered during both the group
resources with schools and 1:1 discussions. Already, several girls have asked if
—to help young people they can continue the group next school year.
successfully learn, stay
in school, and prepare
for life.
We believe that every
child needs and deserves April Showers Bring May Flowers
the Five Basics:
Georgetown Elementary School students and teachers did
1. A one-on-one an amazing job with their Operation Playground, Go
relationship with a Green! fundraiser. All together, the paper fundraiser
caring adult brought in a little over $2,000, half of which is profit and
goes towards new equipment for the playground. It was
2. A safe place to learn organized by Jennifer Graybeal in conjunction with Van
and grow Bourgondien, a flower company. This is their first time
doing this type of fundraising and working with Van
3. A health start and
healthy future
Bourgondien. Students and teachers had the option to sell
flower bulbs online or through a traditional paper
4. A marketable skill to brochure. The online version raised an additional $50.
use upon graduation Bulbs are due to be delivered and distributed the second
week in May.
5. A chance to give
back to peers and
community.
On Track for Completion
Ceremony
CIS school-based
19 students: 17 young women and 2 young men, all
programs are designed to
provide students with at
juniors from Sussex Central High School, near completion
least one of these REAL of On Track 1. On Track 1 is the first in a series of 3 one-
basics. credit classes through Delaware Technical & Community
College that the students are offered via CIS. In this first
class, students learn the many
differences between high school
and college.
With the help of their teacher,
Ericka Wright, they explore
possible careers and work on a
final project that assists them in
Indian River School District April 2011
setting goals and learning about themselves. Attendance
and participation is the highest that it’s been in 3 years of
operating the program in Georgetown. It’s funded through
Wal-Mart grant. A completion ceremony is scheduled for
Friday, May 6th from 12-1:30. Students, parents,
administration, state dignitaries, and Wal-Mart
representatives will be present.
Connecting community
resources with schools Program Highlights
—to help young people • Meetings attended: 21st Century Grant revision, summer school
successfully learn, stay meetings at GMS, GES, and NGE, GES PTO, Rotary Club (April)
in school, and prepare
for life. • School Programs: GMS Saturday School, GMS Lunch Bunch, SCHS
On Track
We believe that every
child needs and deserves • Pursued outside funding for bowling trip for GMS Saturday School
the Five Basics:
Students
1. A one-on-one
relationship with a • Grant recipient from Rotary Club; grant to fund GMS JA trip in 2011-
caring adult 2012 school year
2. A safe place to learn
and grow • Signed up new mentor and matched her with student at GMS
3. A health start and
healthy future
4. A marketable skill to
use upon graduation
5. A chance to give
back to peers and
community.
CIS school-based
programs are designed to
provide students with at
least one of these REAL
basics.
