BACK TO SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS & LEARNING DOESN'T TAKE A VACATION

Perfect attendance winners; Parents and students gathered to celebrate at the Superintendent's

"Back to School with Perfect Attendance' breakfast celebration.

Back to School Snapshots
Bridgeport Students Kick Off Their First Day of School in Style

Bridgeport Public Schools’ first day of school, which took place Wednesday, August 27th, commenced with the Superintendent’s ''Back to School with Perfect Attendance" Celebration. Taking place at Bridgeport City Hall, thirty students were randomly selected out of more than 800 hundred to receive recognition for perfect attendance during the 2007-2008 school year. The number of students who achieved this honor has more than doubled over last year.

"Perfect attendance at any school, inner city or in the surburbs, is a great accomplishment, and Bob's was proud to play a small role in rewarding it. We look forward to celebrating with all of you and your friends next year," said Thomas A. Williams, Vice President of Planning and Allocation for Bob's Stores. Mike Troy, Vice President of Office Marketing for Océ North America agreed. "You are the future work force and by having perfect attendance now you are already starting on a good path with a goal in mind. Students, keep up the excellent work," said Troy.

Immediately following the program, where gift certificates and school supplies were donated by Bob’s Stores, Océ North America and Connecticut Limo, to celebrate their accomplishments, the elementary school students from various schools throughout the district were escorted to school by Superintendent Dr. John J. Ramos, Sr., and Chief of Staff, Mr. Robert Henry. The limos were donated courtesy of Connecticut Limo plus, an added bonus, two Harding High School students will receive a free limo ride to the prom.

Students ride to school in style with Dr. Ramos; Sponsors of the event congratulate students after the breakfast; From left to right, Thomas A. Williams, Vice President

of Planning and Allocation; Bob's Stores; Jessica Kolbusz, Commericial Sales Executive and Mike Troy, Vice President of Office Marketing, Océ North America

Later that morning, the Superintendent greeted first graders at Dunbar Elementary School and read the book, "A Isn’t for Fox" by Wendy Ulhmer and Laura Knorr. The students answered questions based on the book and showed Dr. Ramos their excitement, as they discovered the joy of reading and enhancing their vocabulary. "Z is for Zebra with a flower in his head," chuckled the first graders. The students of Ms. Niestemski’s class and first graders throughout the district went home with their very own book, donated by the Bridgeport Public Education Fund.

Dr. Ramos reads to first graders at Dunbar School.

The First Day of School with a Real Life History Lesson

Former superintendent of schools Geraldine W. Johnson and superintendent Dr. John J. Ramos, Sr. take a moment to share with the students about Johnson's legacy. The life-long resident was the city's first female African American superintendent.

A trip to christen the new Geraldine W. Johnson School, was the next stop on the agenda. Former Superintendent Geraldine Johnson, who was also the first female African-American superintendent, was there to welcome students on their first day. "How do you like coming to my school?" asked the 89 year old retired Bridgeport superintendent. Johnson commented to Dr. Ramos, "This school is truly amazing."

Learning Doesn't Take a Vacation in Bridgeport
Students and Their Families Celebrated for Enhanced Literary Skills during

T.O.T.A.L. Program

T.O.T.A.L scholars showcase their talents during the 2008 T.O.T.A.L. closing ceremny. T.O.T.A.L., is a summer enrichment program sponsored by: Mount Aery Baptist Church, where Dr. Anthony L. Bennett, is the Senior Pastor.

Parents and community leaders came together to celebrate the scholars of the Teaching Ourselves To Achieve Literacy Program, or T.O.T.A.L. Scholars began their learning experience with a historical look at the Reconstruction Period, later continuing on to engaging in systems thinking. As they traveled across states, members of the T.O.T.A.L. experience investigated and explored systems as they related to the concepts of science, technology, health and wellness, government, business, and education.

Program Director, Teresa Cherry-Cruz said, "As a result, the students were able to effectively connect with their families to create learning enviroments and a culture for students living in the 21st century. Recognizing the signs of the times, T.O.T.A.L. realized the need for our young people to 'Rethink, Link and Move Forward' into a period of reconstruction. With that realization in mind, our scholars began their learning experience with a historical review of the Reconstruction Period."

Late this summer, Cherry-Cruz was unanimously voted by the Board of Education to join the Bridgeport Public School system as the new Director of Speech, Language and Hearing services.

Program director, Teresa Cherry-Cruz poses with Melonie Smith, Assistant Director. Many of the staff members in the program are former T.O.T.A.L. Scholars.

Park City Students Showcase Projects for CSI: Bridgeport
Science and technology at its best...

Central High School students, who participated in five weeks of investigation through the summer program CSI: Bridgeport, displayed their coursework at the Regional Aquaculture School earlier this summer.

CSI: Bridgeport is an inter-district summer science enrichment program that provides a multifaceted, interdisciplinary medium for students to develop their science inquiry skills.

Students proudly display their CSI: Bridgeport coursework.

Throughout the course, students performed various experiments through which they learned about forensic science essentials, such as the basic rules and laws of evidence, how to process a crime scene, fingerprint analysis and matching, hair and fiber analysis as well as blood typing and spatter. The junior sleuths solved cases such as murder mysteries and kidnappings. Career paths in forensic science and crime analysis were brought to life through guest speakers, including a senior military policeman, FBI Cybercrime Task Force special agent and nephrologist.

Family, friends, and community members gathered to observe what students learned during their summer enrichment program.

For their final project, students conducted a mock murder scene investigation. Upon receiving a background briefing, classmates put their newfound knowledge into practice and worked together to process evidence, determine which evidence to test, conduct tests, and collect and analyze the data to solve the crime.

The students are hoping to visit world renowned scientist Dr. Henry Lee in the future to share their work.

Upcoming Events

Please Join us...

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the John Winthrop School music curriculum.

Superintendent Dr. John J. Ramos Sr. is speaking at this weekend's:

"SERVICE FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR EDUCATORS AND OUR SCHOOLS"

Sponsored by the: I.M.A. of Greater Bridgeport

Sunday, September 7th 2008 at 7:30pm

Cathedral of Praise

45 Gregory Street, Bpt., CT

For more information call:

203.372.8684 or visit www.imabridgeport.org

Bridgeport Public Education Fund

25th Anniversary Celebration

Wednesday, September 24th 2008 at 11:45am

For tickets and more information call:

203.331.0551

Or visit: www.bpef.org

St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation’s Breast Cancer Luncheon on Friday, October 17, 2008.

Holiday Inn

1070 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT

Silent auction 10am/Lunch: 12pm

For more information call:

(203) 576.5451 or visit:

www.swimacrossthesound.org

In support of the Swim Across the Sound.