From the BCCT
Career center helps kids get ready for future
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
BRISTOL TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS - Lombardi walked into the new career center at Harry S Truman High School last week not knowing what to do after he graduates.
Less than an hour later, the Truman senior left the center armed with a list of potential careers that might be a good fit for him. The list is based on the answers Jeremy gave during an online survey of his interests and goals. It includes graphic designer, landscaper and airport grounds crew member.
“It really helped me out with possible careers for after high school,” Jeremy, 19, said of the list. “It shows me I've got the world at my fingertips, basically.”
The Bristol Township school used Project 720 funds from the state to create the career center to help Truman students develop a post-high school plan, said Mark Kaye, a retired guidance counselor who oversees the facility.
It includes computers, online career strategy programs, an overhead video screen for presentations and a meeting area for students, counselors and college and trade representatives. Students can do online searches about colleges and universities, apply for free online to Bucks County Community College and make a reservation to take the SAT test at a neighboring high school.
“It's helping us with our future and it's great that we have a center to do that,” said Truman senior Samantha Kurfuss, 17, who plans to pursue a career in criminal justice, phlebotomy or forensic science.
Project 720, named for the number of days a student is in high school, was established a few years ago to provide students with personalized attention, tougher classes and a more rigorous senior year.
Gov. Ed Rendell pushed for the program because surveys suggest an estimated 40 percent of high school graduates are not ready for college and other grads entering the workforce often lack basic math and communication skills, state officials said.
The Morrisville and Palisades school districts were among the first in the state to receive Project 720 grants, which are awarded over a three-year period.
Morrisville used the $120,000 it received between 2005-08 to develop a high school curriculum that includes four years of required mathematics classes and other initiatives, including mentoring and apprenticeship programs, district officials said.
Palisades used the $150,000 during the same time period to expand summer reading programs, integrate technology into math classes and, like Truman, help students develop plans for their career paths.
Bristol Township's Project 720 grant for $217,119 is spread out in three installments between 2007-10.
Once all the Truman seniors have access to the center this year, counselors will arrange interviews with juniors and sophomores to get them thinking about their futures, Kaye said. Ninth-graders at the district's Benjamin Franklin Freshman Academy also are taking the career survey online to help them begin plotting a plan for the future, he said.
Matt Kohler, a Truman senior, had to ask where the center was when he received notice of an interview time. Now he's glad he found it.
“It helps so much. It gives kids so many opportunities,” said Matt, 17, who plans to be a social studies teacher. “It's probably the most important room in the school in my opinion, because it will help you determine where to go after school.”
Several area school districts are receiving Project 720 grants in three installments between 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 to better prepare their students for life after high school. In addition to Bristol Township, the districts are:
BRISTOL
$165,405 to establish a college and career center in the guidance office at Bristol Borough Junior/Senior High School, provide more than 200 virtual online courses to students, establish a reading apprenticeship program and redesign the school's math program.
HATBORO-HORSHAM
$120,000 to establish student internships, integrate Pennsylvania career education and work standards into core academic courses, create a standalone course called Pathways Seminar for high school juniors to address transition planning and personal finance and establish a Student Success Center where students meet with college representatives and speakers from various professions and use numerous resources to develop a post-secondary plan.
LOWER MORELAND
The district is in the process of receiving Project 720 grant money totaling $90,000. The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching district officials Friday for information on how the money will be used.
NORTH PENN
$150,000 to bring in an academic intervention specialist to serve as a success coach and provide academic support for underachieving students. The money also is being used to support student incentive programs and curriculum enhancements, expand the high school's advanced placement program and increase after-school and Saturday academic support activities.
SOUDERTON
$196,770 to implement a more rigorous and relevant curriculum to help students focus their attention on their post-high school plans, and to enhance the high school's Career Pathways initiative.
Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Education and local school districts
Showing posts with label grants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grants. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
I Want My MTV!
Thanks to the contributor who noticed this money for nothing story. Maybe we could apply and use it to climb out of our dire straits.
State Funds Move Classrooms Into The Future
By Peter Ciferri, Advance Editor
Misbehaving students at Council Rock's two high schools won't have to worry about clapping erasers and washing chalkboards as punishment anymore.Today, students say it's "kind of a joke" when teachers use the green, slate fossils of the classroom, as more and more teachers are turning to interactive white boards to deliver their message.
Fueled by over $750, 000 in Pennsylvania Classrooms for the Future (CFF) grant money, 68 classrooms across district high schools are now equipped with technology from laptops and digital cameras to camcorders and Web cams.
But the consensus is that the project's crown jewels are the interactive white boards installed across many core classrooms.
The boards, about four feet tall and mounted overtop existing chalkboards, allow teachers to utilize touch screen technology to draw diagrams, create notes and even make a database of previous lessons. "I embraced it with open arms", Physics teacher Joe Warwick said. "The kids are much more likely to look at the drawings I'm going to make on the board with the different colors, than what I would just draw on a chalkboard."
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Warwick has been using the technology since September. During classes, he navigates through the program - which operates like a PowerPoint and Photoshop hybrid - with ease. "There are times when it makes it much, much easier", Warwick explained. "I can say it but without a simulator, there's nothing like seeing it on the screen." Warwick said he often e-mails students notes or study guides based on the computerized lessons. "It makes it more interactive", student Marissa Custren said. "Instead of just telling us, they can actually show us the notes."
According to a description on state.pa.us, the CFF program "recognizes and embraces the need for high school reform preparing students to enter and successfully compete in the ever-expanding high-tech global marketplace." Council Rock was one of two Bucks County schools (Bensalem) to receive first year project funding in 2006. This year, that number jumped to $742, 000 and the district has applied for a third year grant to equip 41 more classes next year. The state also funds training for teachers not experienced with the technology. "It's really opening up classroom walls", CFF Coach Suzanne Loftus said.
She said the program also allows teachers and students to work together on outside projects, using new digital cameras and camcorders for interactive homework assignments. "These projects teach you how to pace yourself, how to interview people, all those 21st century learning skills you're looking for", Loftus explained. "It's preparing them for the job market that they're going to be exposed to when they're getting through college." Each teacher also has their own Web page, where students can access notes and use blogging tools to hold classroom discussions even when school is out.
One Council Rock South Psychology class even links to a classroom at Council Rock North, where there are no staff members trained in the subject. The South teacher uses a monitor to see and hear the students as they sit in class and students watch their teacher over a projector. They get homework via fax machine and are still under live supervision by a substitute teacher.
"I think [CFF] is going to revolutionize learning", Loftus said. "It's going to be standard eventually." Currently, around 1, 750 students at North an 1, 890 students at South use the CFF equipment in some form every day. Loftus said the students and most teachers took to the technology immediately, and those who were reluctant at first, are now embracing the schools'goal.
"Nobody has said 'I'm sorry I did this.' They all say 'Thank God I'm in the program what are we doing next?'"
State Funds Move Classrooms Into The Future
By Peter Ciferri, Advance Editor
Misbehaving students at Council Rock's two high schools won't have to worry about clapping erasers and washing chalkboards as punishment anymore.Today, students say it's "kind of a joke" when teachers use the green, slate fossils of the classroom, as more and more teachers are turning to interactive white boards to deliver their message.
Fueled by over $750, 000 in Pennsylvania Classrooms for the Future (CFF) grant money, 68 classrooms across district high schools are now equipped with technology from laptops and digital cameras to camcorders and Web cams.
But the consensus is that the project's crown jewels are the interactive white boards installed across many core classrooms.
The boards, about four feet tall and mounted overtop existing chalkboards, allow teachers to utilize touch screen technology to draw diagrams, create notes and even make a database of previous lessons. "I embraced it with open arms", Physics teacher Joe Warwick said. "The kids are much more likely to look at the drawings I'm going to make on the board with the different colors, than what I would just draw on a chalkboard."
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Warwick has been using the technology since September. During classes, he navigates through the program - which operates like a PowerPoint and Photoshop hybrid - with ease. "There are times when it makes it much, much easier", Warwick explained. "I can say it but without a simulator, there's nothing like seeing it on the screen." Warwick said he often e-mails students notes or study guides based on the computerized lessons. "It makes it more interactive", student Marissa Custren said. "Instead of just telling us, they can actually show us the notes."
According to a description on state.pa.us, the CFF program "recognizes and embraces the need for high school reform preparing students to enter and successfully compete in the ever-expanding high-tech global marketplace." Council Rock was one of two Bucks County schools (Bensalem) to receive first year project funding in 2006. This year, that number jumped to $742, 000 and the district has applied for a third year grant to equip 41 more classes next year. The state also funds training for teachers not experienced with the technology. "It's really opening up classroom walls", CFF Coach Suzanne Loftus said.
She said the program also allows teachers and students to work together on outside projects, using new digital cameras and camcorders for interactive homework assignments. "These projects teach you how to pace yourself, how to interview people, all those 21st century learning skills you're looking for", Loftus explained. "It's preparing them for the job market that they're going to be exposed to when they're getting through college." Each teacher also has their own Web page, where students can access notes and use blogging tools to hold classroom discussions even when school is out.
One Council Rock South Psychology class even links to a classroom at Council Rock North, where there are no staff members trained in the subject. The South teacher uses a monitor to see and hear the students as they sit in class and students watch their teacher over a projector. They get homework via fax machine and are still under live supervision by a substitute teacher.
"I think [CFF] is going to revolutionize learning", Loftus said. "It's going to be standard eventually." Currently, around 1, 750 students at North an 1, 890 students at South use the CFF equipment in some form every day. Loftus said the students and most teachers took to the technology immediately, and those who were reluctant at first, are now embracing the schools'goal.
"Nobody has said 'I'm sorry I did this.' They all say 'Thank God I'm in the program what are we doing next?'"
If Only I had Said "Morrisville is GOOD for business"
Remember when the Emperor decreed that he would not recommend business investment in Morrisville? We know the borough council backs up that view (remember Gateway?), but did you know that civilized communities know about and use the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.
Giving back for June 3
Bucks County Courier Times
Click Here!
FirstService Bank donated $8,050 to the Lower Bucks Family YMCA to support the YMCA's full- and half-day preschool programs and several programs for teenagers. FirstService is a division of Boyertown-based National Penn Bank, with branches in Warminster, Bristol, Middletown and Bensalem. The money was donated under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, which gives businesses tax credits for approved education-related contributions.
Freedom Credit Union of Warminster sponsored A.M. Kulp Elementary School's Reading Day, a community-wide literacy project held last month. Freedom's marketing coordinator, Cyndi Cohen, read to second graders at the Hatfield Township school, which is part of the North Penn School District. Freedom Credit Union, which has branches in Philadelphia, Warminster and Lansdale, has been a major sponsor of the event for three years.
Rita's Water Ice hopes to raise more than $580,000 for pediatric cancer research during its latest paper lemon promotion. All Rita's locations will sell paper lemons for $1 during June. Proceeds will go to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. In two years, the Bensalem-based company has raised more than $1 million for the foundation, which is named after Alex Scott. She died of cancer in 2004.
Giving back for June 3
Bucks County Courier Times
Click Here!
FirstService Bank donated $8,050 to the Lower Bucks Family YMCA to support the YMCA's full- and half-day preschool programs and several programs for teenagers. FirstService is a division of Boyertown-based National Penn Bank, with branches in Warminster, Bristol, Middletown and Bensalem. The money was donated under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, which gives businesses tax credits for approved education-related contributions.
Freedom Credit Union of Warminster sponsored A.M. Kulp Elementary School's Reading Day, a community-wide literacy project held last month. Freedom's marketing coordinator, Cyndi Cohen, read to second graders at the Hatfield Township school, which is part of the North Penn School District. Freedom Credit Union, which has branches in Philadelphia, Warminster and Lansdale, has been a major sponsor of the event for three years.
Rita's Water Ice hopes to raise more than $580,000 for pediatric cancer research during its latest paper lemon promotion. All Rita's locations will sell paper lemons for $1 during June. Proceeds will go to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. In two years, the Bensalem-based company has raised more than $1 million for the foundation, which is named after Alex Scott. She died of cancer in 2004.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
21st Century Grant Renewal
Good news for Morrisville schools. The 21st Century Grant was renewed for three years.
The Morrisville School District was recently awarded three more years of funding from the 21st Century Grant. It will receive $373,000 a year to continue community learning cetners at Grandview and M. R. Reiter Elementary Schools, Morrisville Middle and High Schools and the Ivins House.
Grant money will help contribute to homework support, remedial assistance, and enrichment.
The learning centers help kids with college preparation and cultural arts activities. They also offer a range of clubs and activities, including mentoring and tutoring, academic help, community service opportunities and more.
The Morrisville School District was recently awarded three more years of funding from the 21st Century Grant. It will receive $373,000 a year to continue community learning cetners at Grandview and M. R. Reiter Elementary Schools, Morrisville Middle and High Schools and the Ivins House.
Grant money will help contribute to homework support, remedial assistance, and enrichment.
The learning centers help kids with college preparation and cultural arts activities. They also offer a range of clubs and activities, including mentoring and tutoring, academic help, community service opportunities and more.
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