Thank You... Now Next Steps

Well, I must say barring a few incidents, I did see you all take a sincere effort to improve your attendance (being on time at each of your sessions)! I appreciate that!

Thank you to those of you who submitted your Project HONOR lesson plans. Those plans looked like a step in the right direction.

I had a chance to visit each of your sessions this week. The progress that you are making on your projects is great. The kids seem really involved in what you have laid out for them. That excitement turns into engagement which can turn into kids following you into the afterschool program. Having said that, we are still recruiting for Beacon afterschool. So share with your kids that activities and trips that your afterschool groups are participating. The Christmas break is coming up and students who don't have anything to occupy their time during that time can find a place here with us Monday through Sunday at Beacon 219 beginning December 12th. Remember the mission: help keep kids off the streets.

Please continue your planning and submitting those plans. Likewise, share your concerns via email or this blog before Tuesday's Staff Development so that we can utilize our one hour to plan and collaborate in advance.

Thanks for all you do,
Tate

Happy Post- Thanksgiving!

Good Day Project HONOR,

I hope that everyone enjoyed their much needed break and time with loved ones this past week. Now let's get back to work!

Update: Due to the abbreviated program week last week, HONOR projects are now due December 17th instead of December 14th. We hope that all the projects will be on display no later than December 18th. 

Please create a post about the HONOR project idea that your groups are working on! Let's get some feedback on how to collaborate within these projects!

Please let  me know what space (library, cafeteria, wall space, etc) is needed for displaying your groups' work no later than Thursday's staff development.

Tomorrow's Project HONOR staff development is scheduled promptly at 5:45pm (barring any further schedule interruptions). I do hope that every staff member will be in attendance and we will be able to discuss your project plans.

To clarify the HONOR process (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) for HONOR projects, here is a breakdown on how your groups can walk away with the highest HONOR.

Gold Medal Projects:

1. Should reflect student achievement and awareness about the topic (LEARN, IN DEPTH, ABOUT THE TOPIC)
   
2. Should incorporate a community education portion (TEACH OTHERS ABOUT THE TOPIC)
   
3. Should have a public action component (CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT or LOCAL COMMUNITY)
   
4. Should challenge the students' current abilities and utilize new technologies as much as possible.
   
5. Should reflect collaboration among other Project HONOR clubs

Silver Medal Projects:

All Gold Medal project requirements are met except requirement #3 

1. Should reflect student achievement and awareness about the topic (LEARN, IN DEPTH, ABOUT THE TOPIC)
   
2. Should incorporate a community education portion (TEACH OTHERS ABOUT THE TOPIC)
   
3. Should challenge the students' current abilities and utilize new technologies as much as possible.
   
4. Should reflect collaboration among Project HONOR clubs

Bronze Medal Projects:

All Silver Medal Requirements are met except #2 and #5

1. Should reflect student achievement and awareness about the topic (LEARN, IN DEPTH, ABOUT THE TOPIC)
   
2. Should challenge the students' current abilities and utilize new technologies as much as possible.
   

I heard that a number of groups are aiming for Medals this go round! Come for the Young Moguls' top spot, people! Iron sharpens iron, so encourage your students to work hard, use creativity, get involved in their topics and WOW me!!!

This week, I will continue circulating to groups (especially to Read All About It to speak with Dejion Taylor and to FUN FOODS to speak to LuLu's special interest student) distributing information about Johns Hopkins University's summer program for Talented Youth. Please ask your students for completed packets, originally handed out by Ms. Tate (to select few). 

SECOND CYCLE SELECTION

Alright, now is the time to start asking your students who will be staying in the club for second cycle. Offer them the opportunity to go deeper in the club focus and to learn different things. Pitch the club in a way that interests the students. The goal is to hold on to as many students in your current groups as possible so that the new students have some "young experts" in the room and so the students can develop their talents further.

Second Cycle activity selection will not take place until after the Christmas break , giving each group a chance to "wrap up" the learning after this next project, reflect on their accomplishments and make informed decision about both group and individual next steps. This will also allow for a smooth transition for students. There will be a Cycle One project exhibition scheduled during the second week in January. At this time, students will receive their selection sheets and based on the achievements of the Cycle One clubs, choose their Second Cycle club by January 18th.

So keep up the good, hard work! 

Thanks for all you do,

Tate

DisHONOR Assembly Probationers as of November 4, 2009

DisHONOR Assembly Probationers are on probation until November 27th, 2009.

Their progress, participation, and behavior should be closely monitored. I will be creating a scoring tool for these students within the coming week, so that we can keep track of their performance.

Dejion Taylor 

Juwan Parker

Deshawn Wilson

Abdoulaye Doucoule

Keshawn Singleton

Malik Whitley

Joshua Brooks

Jonathan Ortiz

Kareem Midgley

Omar Washington

Christopher Rivera

Chyna White

Shania Hernandez

Hillary Martinez

Albert Pimental

Miguel Agosto

Mirella Acevedo

Kiliran Ramirez

Sarah Solorzano

Abass Braimah

Fatemata Krubally

Calvin Jackson

Brian Jones

Thomas Renovales

Shavonte Mathis

Jose Florian

Isaiah Felton

Randy Corporan

Please check these names against your rosters and monitor these students closely, reporting any issues to me. I will report the students to Mr. Pinckney and notify the school when disciplinary action should be taken. In any case, all reports should follow the DFOY/Beacon disciplinary procedure which is detailed in your staff handbook. 

Thanks.

Project HONOR Assembly & DisHONOR Assembly

Hey There!

I want to thank you publicly (Yep this blog is public!) for you hard work on the First Project HONOR exhibition!

Don't forget, MS 219 has asked us to redisplay the work for November 17th, Parent-Teacher conference night. Please let me know in advance, what is needed to display your work (space, set up). Junior JDs (role-play debate) and Keyboarding I would love to have you guys be a feature that evening for a half-hour public performance.

Congratulations to the following groups and their instructors who received the HONOR for their presentations:

Gold:     Young Moguls & Oshane Moore   "High School Selection and Application Process"

Silver:   Junior JDs & Shante Holmes      "Role Play Debates"

Bronze: Young Pen Society & Eve Bates  "Interactive Media Albums" (Voice Threads)

Your groups will receive your medals, this week. The instructors will also receive Certificates for their hard work and creativity!

Let's keep it up!

Project #2 is due December 14th (completion). The exhibition date will be announced at a later date. Please post your project ideas on the blog, email them to me, talk to your colleagues. As was stated in the previous staff development, this project should be more challenging, show greater collaboration within the clubs, as well as show collaboration among the other clubs ( Pair UP!)

Next Cycle begins after the Christmas break, this cycle means that we are planning workshops and activities that increase the kids' social awareness (awareness of the world around them). We will talk more in the coming weeks (and you will receive emails) about possible activities and workshops that bring social topics to your groups.

Please use this blog for questions and to share insights. Also, let us know what your group is working on! (HINT: You could create your own blog that could be shared with the school and Beacon!) Since you all should have established your group gmail.com accounts, I will begin giving you email contacts for mentors. Please begin each email with an introduction of your club and what you focus on, then ask away!

Here are the email addresses for Project HONOR clubs who completed their first assignment.

If your club is not listed, please create a gmail account ASAP. (Please check your group accounts regularly for email from me and any contacts I forward to you.)

Youngmogul219@gmail.com

MixedMediaMasters219@gmail.com

culture.club219@gmail.com

youngpensociety219@gmail.com

BeaconReadAllAboutIt@gmail.com

Juniorjds219@gmail.com

You may also contact another club about collaboration via their email address. 

I will see you all at planning!

Tate

This week at Mixed Media Masters!!!

This week finds the Mixed Media Masters working on Public Service Announcements using Photography! Mr. Mays, Parent Coordinator at MS 219, has created a contest asking MS 219 students to create Public Service Announcements to make parents aware of the importance of parent involvement in their child's academic and extracurricular lives.

We have four production crews who will begin photoshoots on this Wednesday! So far we have learned about different ways that photographers use their images to send messages!

We are really excited about using our perspective to communicate to the world. Look out for our Photography and Photojournalism gallery exhibit coming soon!