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PUBLISHED ON EDITION NO.
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353
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1/15/2011 |
Project FOCUS
Families in Our Community United
for Success |
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The South
Lawrence East Full Service Community School was inaugurated
on Thursday, January 6 at the gathering of teachers,
administrators, parents and lots of children through the
efforts of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council.
As a Full Service Community School, the South Lawrence East
School integrates its focus on academics, health and social
services, youth and community development and community
engagement which leads to improved student learning,
stronger families and healthier communities.
The Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE), supports
nationally significant programs to improve the quality of
elementary and secondary education at the State and local
levels and help all children meet challenging academic
content and academic achievement standards. The Full-Service
Community Schools (FSCS) program, which is funded under FIE,
encourages coordination of academic, social, and health
services through partnerships among(1) public elementary and
secondary schools; (2) the schools’ local educational
agencies (LEAs); and (3) community-based organizations,
nonprofit organizations, and other public or private
entities.
GLCPC Full Service Community School’s involvement is
targeted to the collaboration process with partners working
with the SLE Education Complex to insure that children and
families make appropriate gains on the MCAS.
The development of transition activities for all children in
the South Lawrence East Educational Complex. To this end,
they will work with the Community Steering Committee on
transitions to develop a calendar of activities for student
transition points including activities for parents to engage
their children in the home around literacy.
The development of parent leadership through Parent
Leadership Academies where parents will learn leadership and
advocacy skills as well as the development of Parent Circles
in neighborhoods led by parents who have participated in the
Parent Leadership Academy and collaboration with PTA
leadership to outreach to parents in our catchment area.
TYPES OF PROJECTS
Full-Service Community Schools provide comprehensive
academic, social, and health services for students,
students’ family members, and community members that will
result in improved educational outcomes for children.
For the FY 2010 competition, these services may include:
high-quality early learning programs and service; remedial
education, aligned with academic supports and other
enrichment activities, providing students with a
comprehensive academic program; family engagement, including
parental involvement, parent leadership, family literacy,
and parent education programs; mentoring and other youth
development programs; community service and service learning
opportunities; programs that provide assistance to students
who have been chronically absent, truant, suspended, or
expelled; job training and career counseling services;
nutrition services and physical activities; primary health
and dental care; activities that improve access to and use
of social service programs and programs that promote family
financial stability; mental health services; and adult
education, including instruction of adults in English as a
second language.
Lawrence Health and Human Services High School:
Students from the 11th and 12th grades will do internships
with FSCS projects that align with their areas of interest.
Students will meet with FSCS Coordinator prior to
commencement of the program to review internship specific
goals and objectives as they relate to meeting the overall
program objectives. Students participating in the High
School’s organic farming program, along with WIC staff, will
do presentations to South Lawrence East Middle School
Classes on the importance of nutrition and healthy
lifestyles.
Street Smarts: This program enables participants to
counteract the negative lure of gangs, develop effective
conflict resolution and leadership skills, and become
“POSITIVE PEER HELPERS” or role models, for other
adolescents and recognize the virtues of diversity.
Violence Prevention Program: The YWCA will present
the Safe Dates curriculum, a school-based nine-session
program intended for middle and high school students. Safe
Dates is designed to define caring and healthy
relationships, increase awareness in gender stereotyping,
and improve conflict resolution skills. Each session is
about 50 minutes long and will provide students with
fundamental skills that can be used throughout a lifetime.
YWCA – STEM: A special program for grades 5-8
designed to get students excited about Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM). Students learn basic computer
applications and web design as they complete various
hands-on science experiments and learn to harness the power
of the internet. In addition each student will develop her
own individual success plan that will help her navigate her
own future.
Mentoring Program: Family Service, Inc. AMIGOS Mentoring
Program is a school-based mentoring program that matches
adult mentors with students from grades 4–8 in the Lawrence
Public Schools. Mentors and mentees meet for one hour each
week throughout the school year during the lunch/recess
period. In addition to the weekly sessions, occasionally the
matches are invited to participate in offsite activities
including sporting events, trips to museums and other fun
activities.
WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition
and health education, healthy foods and other services to
Massachusetts families who qualify. WIC stands for Women,
Infants and Children. In order to qualify, you need to have
an infant or child 5 years old or under, be pregnant or
postpartum and live in Massachusetts. WIC will provide
services on site at the school.
Pathways to Family Success: Family Literacy Program:
Pathways will provide the following during the school year:
ESOL classes for parents (2 evenings a week - registration
required); Childcare for parents enrolled in ESOL classes
(age 5-12 yrs); Parent workshops; Parent-Child activities.
Family Preservation/ Parent-Aide / Case Management Program
provides comprehensive services and fosters inter-agency
coordination in order to support families with children up
to age 16. The staff conducts extensive client assessments
to identify family strengths/needs. Services include Parent
Education Programs, family and individual counseling, home
management skills counseling, financial management training,
transportation, comprehensive case management and advocacy.
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Manny Ayala, Boys
and Girls Club Program Director giving information about the
club to Johanna Largaespada and her niece Scarleth
Largaespada. |
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L/R – Chris
Vasquez, Rafael Garcia, Moises Dominguez, Emmanuel Colon and
Shayne Velez, part of a group of hard working volunteers
from the Lawrence Boys Club.. |
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