June 14, 2007 |
Other News & Events
Congratulations to
Kathy Silver
Bassick Art Teacher
Recepient of this year's
Service Above Self Award
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Congratulations to
Central High senior
Ashley Holley
Ms. Juneteenth of Fairfield County
who participated in the
Miss Juneteenth Parade
held last weekend.
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the
United States.
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ARTE 2007
Latino Artes Scholarship
Applications are now available!
$400 to $700
Scholarships are awarded to students and individuals of all ages interested in pursuing the arts.
Applications must be completed in full and submitted by:
Friday, August 31 at 5 p.m.
For more information, please call
Arte, Inc. (203) 469-4536
Arte Inc. is a non profit organization whose mission is to develop and promote Latino art and culture. Arte establishes partnerships with community agencies and groups to improve the quality of life of residents through artistic and cultural development. Arte commissions artists, organizes programs, events, shows and exhibits. Most importantly Arte provides education, employment and scholarships to Latinos.
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Bridgeport Students Write Books of Hope
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Books of Hope celebration at Batalla School.
Earlier this month Cesar A. Batalla, Waltersville, and Read Schools celebrated the Books of Hope project. Students wrote and illustrated a variety of autobiographies and creative fictional stories to send to orphans in Uganda. Books for Hope was made possible by a grant from The School for Ethical Education.
At the Batalla celebration, which honored Batalla and Waltersville students, Ms. Padilla's sixth grade Waltersville students received a warm welcome from Deborah Broccoli, Director of Reading & Literacy, Linda Chaffin, Program Director for The School for Ethical Education, and Batalla’s Talented and Gifted (TAG) students. Included in the celebration from Batalla School were Ms. Miranda's fifth grade students and Mrs. Strubbe's fourth to eighth grade TAG students.
The celebration was an opportunity for both students and adults to reflect on the project and its impact. “The students demonstrated that writing can be used to help bring smiles to faces of children that have little to smile about,” Mrs. Strubbe said. “The experience has been very positive, and we look forward to participating in service learning next year.” Student authors received certificates for their participation in the project.
At the Read School celebration, Marlo Verrastro-Ruggiero’s kindergarten class and Lisa Porpora’s eighth grade class collaborated to create their books for the project. "Miss Porpora and I wanted to provide the students with a meaningful celebration to acknowledge their hard work and dedication to this project. We also wanted to celebrate the wonderful events in Bridgeport," Ruggiero said.
Many of the students who participated in this project also received service learning training from Linda Chaffin at The School for Ethical Education.
Books of Hope is one of the many service learning projects that Batalla students have engaged in this year. Throughout the year, students initiated several school-wide community projects, including an ongoing Sock Drive, an effort organized by the sixth grade TAG students in which donated socks will be distributed to the homeless next winter. In addition, a Military Christmas project successfully sent thirteen boxes of gifts and goodies to a military unit for Christmas. The unit has since returned home and SSGT Walter Laracuenta paid students a surprise visit last month.
Books of Hope celebration at Read School.
Hooker School Students Host Ronald McDonald House Walk-a-Thon
This month the students in Room 210 at Hooker School hosted a Ronald McDonald House walk-a-thon. The students have worked hard all year to raise money for the foundation, and this project proved to be their biggest fundraiser of the year.
The Ronald McDonald House is a place for families with sick children to stay while their childe receives medical treatment. In showing their support for the cause, Room 210 students hung posters around the school, which said “The Ronald McDonald House, where kids help kids!”
After a year of planning and hard work, Room 210 has raised $1,000 to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. The students would like to thank all of the nearby businesses and participants who contributed to this great cause.
Carol D. Birks Appointed Principal of Harding
Bridgeport native and Warren Harding High School graduate Carol D. Birks has been appointed principal of Warren Harding High School. Birks is currently serving as assistant principal of Harding.
In her new role as Harding’s principal, Birks will focus her administrative leadership on relationship building, engagement, capacity building, establishing a core curriculum, and including common assessments and social/emotional learning. Birks believes that no significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.
“I am excited and honored to become principal of Warren Harding High School,” Birks said. “I want to encourage my students; as each of them has special gifts and talents. I grew up in similar conditions as many of these young people and I was able to succeed through realizing my purpose, establishing a plan and going through the process.”
In regards to Birks’ recent appointment, Superintendent Dr. John J. Ramos said, “Carol is an educational leader with more than ten years of teaching and administrative experience at all levels of education. I am confident that she will embrace and carry forth the mission and strategic plan of this district.”
Birks attributes much of her success to her mentor. “I am extremely grateful to my mentor, Dr. Janis M. Hadley, President Emeritus of Housatonic Community College. She believes in me and keeps me grounded and committed to this work.”
Her professional experience includes language arts teacher, program manager for the Connecticut Department of Higher Education’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) project, administrative fellow to the president of Housatonic Community College, and adjunct professor, and administrator with Hamden Public Schools.
Birks is pursuing her Superintendent’s certification through the Executive Leadership program at the University of Connecticut. She earned a Masters of Science Degree in Education and an Advanced Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport. Birks was awarded her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Hampton University. She has also participated in leadership training at Harvard University and Yale University.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Birks is committed to community involvement. She is a member of the following committees and boards of directors: United Way of Eastern Fairfield County, Housatonic Community College Foundation, New Haven Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Friends of New Beginnings Family Academy, University of Bridgeport Education Council, Bridgeport Board of Education Teacher Recruitment Team, Association of School and Curriculum Development, Association of School Administrators. Birks is an active member of the Cathedral of Praise Church of God in Christ International and serves on the Christian Education Board (CE Fitness) and the Pastor’s Aid Committee ministries. She is also a mentor, motivational speaker, and trainer and workshop presenter on both the state and national levels.
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