Great News From Bridgeport Public Schools

Today the State of Connecticut Department of Education launched the KnowHow2Go college readiness campaign at Bassick High School. The initiative aims to increase high school graduation rates and college attendance.  Bassick was selected as one of 4 launch locations throughout the state.  Lt. Governor Michael Fidele was the keynote speaker.  Superintendent Dr. John J. Ramos, Mayor Bill Finch, and representatives from Bridgeport’s community colleges and universities also joined Bassick staff and students for the occasion. 

 

“We were very excited to have been chosen to host the launch of this website,” Ronald Remy, Bassick Principal said.  “The website promises to be an important tool that will help students be better prepared for college.  The intent is to motivate students to think about college as an option and to be well informed in order to make better decisions about where to attend college.”

 

Connecticut is joining the growing number of states throughout the country participating in the KnowHow2Go campaign.  The campaign specifically targets students from low-income families as well as students who would be the first in their families to attend college.  KnowHow2Go encourages students in middle and high school to follow four simple steps that will assist them and their families to plan and prepare for college and careers after high school.  These four steps are as follows:

 

1.   Be a Pain – in a Good Way – Let everyone know that you want to go to college and find someone who can guide you through the process;

 

2.   Push Yourself - Take challenging and rigorous classes in middle and high school that meet high school graduation requirements and post secondary entrance requirements;

 

3.  Find the Right Fit - Explore  postsecondary programs that suit your career interests and take time to discuss with an adult the range of post secondary options and opportunities; and

 

4.   Get your hands on some money – Take the time to explore college funding options and develop a play to pay for tuition. Apply for financial aid.  Save for college.

 

“This program will assist you in achieving all the goals that you’ve set for yourselves,” Dr. Ramos said to students.  “This technology helps put your goals into action.  It’s one more step in helping us ‘Expect Great Things.’” 

 

A new website, www.KnowHow2GoConnecticut.org, has helped launch this initiative. The interactive site links students to important information that will assist them in preparing for college.  After a brief website demonstration by Gail Stevens, Director of College Pathways at Norwalk Community College, Bassick students had the opportunity to try the new website. 

 

“I think this is a good website to help every student plan for college,” said James Amador, a junior at Bassick who plans to apply to Fairfield University and major in business.  “It motivates me to do better in school so I can get into college.”  Bernice Ocasio, a fellow junior hoping to study business administration at Delaware State University, agrees.  “I’m glad this website came out before my senior year, because now I have time to use it to help me prepare and gear up for college,” she said. 

 

“It’s so easy for someone to say ‘go to college.’ But this website does more.  It helps me know how to go to college,” said senior Ahlaam Abdul.  “I asked a question, and the website gave me step-by-step answers about choosing a major in just a few minutes.  I came into today’s presentation undecided about my major in college.  Now, thanks to this website’s information, I’ve decided that I want to major in journalism.”

 

This is just the beginning of “Great Things” to come from KnowHow2Go. “We hope that this campaign will be ongoing and that everyone in Bridgeport can get onboard to help all of our students get on the pathway to higher education,” Stevens said. 

 

To learn more about the KnowHow2Go campaign for college readiness, please visit www.KnowHow2GoConnecticut.org.

 

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