October 22, 2007 |
Great News From Bridgeport Public SchoolsThe mission of the Bridgeport Public Schools and its supporting community is to graduate all students "college ready" and
prepared to succeed in life.
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In other news...This week is
National Red Ribbon Week
For a Drug-Free America
 This week's upcoming Great News will feature stories from Bridgeport public schools
that are hosting events for
substance abuse awareness.
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RBS Card Services Donates School Supplies to Dunbar Recently, the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Card Services donated 3,300 school supplies to Dunbar School in its second annual “Tools for Schools” drive. The amount donated was a 16 percent increase from last year’s drive.
“We are thrilled! I could hardly believe my eyes when I came out of a meeting and saw all of the boxes,” said Dunbar Principal Gladys Walker-Jones. “We are looking to use these resources to reinforce positive behaviors. We are tremendously grateful.”
“Needy families and individuals in our community go without essential items every day due to a variety of factors,” said Jennifer Zbell, RBS Card Services Vice President of Strategic Information Business Analysis. “With the continued support of our employees, we are able to help many of these less fortunate children work toward a brighter future. These donations have already made a difference in the lives of many students at Dunbar School.”
By means of such generous corporate donors, Bridgeport public schools can continue to provide students with the tools necessary to “Expect Great Things.” In the case of Dunbar School, RBS Card Services lived up to its motto in “Making it Happen.”
 Aquaculture School’s Student Designed/Constructed Boat Destined for Indianapolis
Since January, 2007, students and staff of the Bridgeport Regional Vocational Aquaculture School have been diligently designing “concept” boats for the school’s industry-partner project with the General Motors Corporation and Mercury Marine. Most designs were built in scale model-form but one was chosen to be built to full-scale.
The project has focused on students using their CAD skills to first design a number of “concept” boats, similar to the GM process of designing concept automobiles, and then putting all of their problem-solving skills into the full construction of the chosen design. All boats were designed and constructed around GM and Mercury’s newly introduced inboard/outboard engine, the VASER.
The project officially began on January 6th with the visit of three representatives, one from GM and two from Mercury, who presented the project through PowerPoint and Question and Answer sessions. Integral to the success of the program, both companies agreed to donate two of the brand new inboard/outboard engines to the school with one being placed in the constructed boat and the other for enhanced instruction in the school’s Marine Propulsion Laboratory. Those engines arrived at the school on April 4th.
Yesterday, the boat, recently named “InVaser,” was transported to the upcoming National FFA Student Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The opportunity to place the boat on the convention floor was made possible by the school’s industry partners, GM and MerCruiser. In addition, a number of the scale models will be included in the display. All eight students members of the school’s FFA Chapter will be attending the conference on October 24 through 27 to be with the boat and speak to the public about the project.
BPS Holds 5th Annual Literacy Conference
The Bridgeport Public Schools’ 5th Annual Literacy Conference was held this past Saturday at Cesar Batalla School. Bridgeport parents, children and early childhood educators attended the event, hosted by the Bridgeport Public Schools Early Childhood Programs.
Irene Smalls, nationally acclaimed children’s author, storyteller and historian, was the conference keynote speaker. Her books include My Nana and Me and My Pop and Me. Each family received a copy of one of Smalls’ books and a book signing was conducted after the conference. Following Small’s presentation, workshops were available to adults and activities were provided for children.
“This conference is a dynamic exchange designed to involve parents in their child’s education because they are a child’s first educators,” said Mary Beth Stickley, Director of Early Childhood Programs.
To learn more about Early Childhood Programs, please call 332-2830.
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