June 14, 2007 |
Other News & Events
Congratulations to this year's
Valedictorians and Salutatorians
Bassick High School
Valedictorian: Danielle Pettway
Salutatorians: Duyen Tran and
Tina Doung
Central High School
Valedictorian: Huy Ngu
Salutatorian: Elida Babollah
Harding High School
Valedictorian: Nicole Quame Moore
Salutatorian: Sania Beckford
A tree planting
was held on June 6
in memory of
Howard Reed
Former Garfield School Principal
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The Rainforest Alliance at Madison
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The Rainforest Alliance has been working closely with Madison School to incorporate its environmental education resources into the spring curriculum on a school-wide level. The Rainforest Alliance met with teachers and provided resources for the school to help connect students to conservation and understand the role each person played in protecting natural resources. Students participated in various art projects, wrote stories and poems, created rainforest animals, and engaged in other fun activities that showcased their new-found knowledge of the rainforest.
Last month the Rainforest Alliance visited Madison to tour the rainforest-decorated school and speak to students and teachers about what they have learned during their rainforest unit. The fourth grade classes also held a chocolate festival to celebrate what they have learned about a community in Ecuador where chocolate is grown.
The Rainforest Alliance believes it is its responsibility to encourage citizens and businesses to live in harmony with nature and reconcile economic needs with environmental and social concerns. Its mission is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. To become a member, please visit http://www.rainforestalliance.org/join/index.html.
Direct Learning Through Video Conferencing Project Wins Award
Recently, second grade teachers Maria-Helena Fisher of Columbus and Carli Rocha Reaes of Multicultural Magnet won the Connecticut Educators’ Computer Association (CECA) Award for their “Direct Learning Through Video Conferencing” project. According to the CECA, Reaes and Fisher have been recognized for their “innovative curriculum exemplifying excellence in the application of technology to classroom learning."
The teachers were honored at the CECA’s annual dinner; where there were each awarded a $1,000 grant to use at their discretion, along with a $500 grant to be used at each school to support their project. Reaes and Fisher will share information about their technology integration project via a CECA newsletter and a CECA conference breakout session in October.
The following is an abstract description of the impact of the Direct Learning Through Video Conferencing project, as described by Mrs. Ficher and Mrs. Reaes:
The incredible impact that the Direct Learning Through Videoconferencing program has had in our classrooms has been significant, on an individual level, as well as in the classrooms experience as a whole. One of the most encouraging results stemming from our practice with this project is the increased confidence that our students have had in public speaking and exploring the internet more independently. They are excited to present facts of their cultures demonstrating their knowledge to the class. Similarly, the receiving end, fully engaged, shows a genuine interest in what is being shared with them. Equally as important as the initial exchanges is the feedback that they offer each other. Students are provided with an open forum in which they feel comfortable asking and responding to questions posed to them. Ultimately, this unique interactive experience has raised self-confidence, fostered interesting discussion, and promoted a collaborative student effort to generate new ideas.
Congratulations to Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Reaes for their outstanding achievement!
Bridgeport Celebrates Mentoring Program
This month the Bridgeport Board of Education and the School Volunteer Association of Bridgeport, Inc. hosted the Bridgeport Mentoring Program Banquet at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn. The banquet, sponsored by Aquarion Water Company, was held in honor of this year’s 110 mentor/mentee pairs throughout Bridgeport Public Schools. Guest Speakers included Superintendent Dr. John J. Ramos; Adrienne Vaughan, Director of Corporate Communications at Aquarion Water Company; Dr. Susan Weinberger, President of the Mentoring Consulting Group; and Tasha Branch, Dr. Weinberger’s mentee since 1993. Mentors and mentees were presented with a Mentoring Program T-shirts and a Certificate of Involvement.
“This year-end Mentor Banquet is an opportunity for parents and mentors to meet in a celebratory, social atmosphere and join each other in supporting the children’s accomplishments,” said Anne Gribbon, Mentoring Program Coordinator.
According to Gribbon, “Mentors are caring adults who are good role models and friends to their mentees. They are recruited from community at large as well as area businesses and are asked to spend one hour each week during the school day with their mentees. Mentor pairs typically meet at lunch time and may play games, work on projects or simply talk. Parents/guardians must give permission for their children to enter into the mentoring relationship.”
The Bridgeport Mentoring Program has had a positive impact on both the students and their mentors. “Our mentees makes us better people,” Gribbon said. Gribbons mentee, Jaquin McClain, a junior from Bassick, expressed his appreciation for Gribbon’s support with his schoolwork. “She always encourages me to do my best,” he said. Dr. Ramos also noted that these mentor/mentee relationships “give the support base necessary to empower students to achieve their goals.”
Aquarion Water Company has supported the mentoring program for over 10 years. “We really appreciate their firm commitment to our mentoring program,” Gribbon said.
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