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Upcoming Events
By Kristin Black On July 21st, 2010 | 0 Comments
Student Highlight: Melyanet at P.S. 154
Congratulations to P.S. 154 piano student Melyanet, who received the Dominican Consulate’s Meritorious Student Award for her sky-high grades and test scores, outstanding leadership skills and active involvement in extracurricular activities (yeah, piano!). Did we mention she’s only in 2nd grade?
Piano students at P.S. 154
The Meritorious Student Award is an initiative from Dominican President Dr. Leonel Fernandez to recognize Dominican students who have demonstrated remarkable academic achievement in NYC, CT, PA and NJ. We love it when the larger community recognizes our students for their successes–not only because they deserve a little credit for getting focused at such a young age, but also because it reinforces the importance of providing as many different paths to excellence as possible.
For Melyanet, success in piano provides the confidence and energy she needs to succeed in other areas of school, as well. She tells us that her favorite memory of all time was her audition into the program. For the first time, she says, she felt truly talented and special, as everyone clapped at the end of her audition performance. Playing makes her feel “good and fuzzy,” like she can do whatever she wants and that anything is possible–especially when her mom comes to watch her performances.
Kudos, Malyanet!
By Kristin Black On July 14th, 2010 | 0 Comments
Staff Voices: Hello and Goodbye from Our Intern Haley Walker
Today Change for Kids is saying goodbye to one of the fabulous interns who’ve spent a portion of their summer vacations in the office with us. Haley Walker’s a business student at BYU with a flair for editing video, juggling projects and answering even the stupidest technical questions from yours truly. She was kind enough to offer some reflections on CFK’s programs before jetting back to her hometown in Southern California. We wish her the best of luck as she heads back to school this fall!
Incidentally, if you’re interested in interning at CFK, we’re always on the lookout for solid writers with an interest in education, business, event planning and nonprofit advocacy. Contact Mike Quinzio to get involved.
What was your favorite moment during your time here at CFK?
I have to admit that the Story Pirates event with the Yankee cameo appearance was pretty momentous for me. Not only were the Story Pirates entertaining and brilliant at what they do (for people of all ages), but it was really touching to see such big names getting involved with the community. (Now I’ll forever be a Yankees fan. Ha.)
By Kristin Black On July 9th, 2010 | 1 Comment
Awesome CFK Partner Alert
Huge thanks to Emer Kirrane and the Analysis Exchange for hooking us up with some much needed intelligence about our website use and traffic. The Analysis Exchange provides on-the-job training for those interested in web analysis, while offering free analytical insight to non-profit organizations – which means that we get highly valuable information about our communications AND the world gets a little web-savvier. Here’s the quick and dirty version from Emer’s website:
The process takes two or three weeks and begins with the goals for the project being determined between mentor and organisation. The student then steams ahead with an analysis based on these goals, tapping the mentor for advice and feedback along the way. At the end of the period, the findings are presented to the organisation and then everyone breaks for ice-cream before grading each other on their participation (a highly exciting back-to-school feeling).
Read more about the partnership here.
By Kristin Black On June 30th, 2010 | 1 Comment
Introducing…THE FIFTH GRADE POETRY PROJECT
Exciting things happen every semester at CFK’s partner schools. Sometimes a school leaps and bounds past its previous test scores (more on that to come…check back soon). Sometimes the larger community recognizes a student’s musical achievements as part of CFK’s programs (more on that soon, too). Sometimes a student raises his hand and asks a question in class for the first time ever (In fact, Mike Quinzio saw this happen; the teacher was ecstatic). But the 5th Grade Poetry Project was a total surprise to everyone in the office. What grew organically out of the literacy tutoring program up in the Bronx may just turn out to be the most exciting news of the year.
The Fordham literacy tutors take a break with their students
My Three Sides
Sometimes
I am mad but you will not like me when I’m mad. I will go crazy.
Sometimes
I am sad you might drown because I might form a tsunami.
Sometimes
I am happy.
I’m Jasmine and these are my three sides.
By HaleyW On June 29th, 2010 | 0 Comments
CONGRATS TO THE GRADUATES!
Despite the oven-like climate that besieged the Bronx community on Thursday, P.S. 73 graduating fifth graders celebrated their scholastic achievements in a full auditorium of family and friends. As if the accompanying plethora of congratulatory balloons weren’t enough of a sign of the crowd’s delight, the
5th Grade Graduates at P.S. 73
frequent “That’s my baby!” and other satisfied calls left little room for these youngsters to doubt their accomplishments. It was a morning of applause and smiles that many kids said they will never forget.
Most speakers in the program emphasized the importance of gratitude and participation in the community, while others highlighted the students’ rising generation of leadership and the “goodness” they will bring to this challenged world. Also inspiring were the words of valedictorian Ledion Lecaj, who moved with his family from Albania two years ago without knowing a word of the English language. Knowing that he preferred the freedom that the United States offered, he overcame the communication barrier that threatened his dreams of becoming an architectural engineer in this country.
By Kristin Black On June 25th, 2010 | 0 Comments
Bronx Museum Performances
The Bronx Museum has been a good friend to CFK for almost two years now, but they really outdid themselves last week when they hosted the third- and fourth-graders from P.S. 73 for a celebration of U.S. Civil Rights history.
The challenge for educators of all stripes—whether they’re in the classroom everyday, or working in museum outreach, or simply providing programming support—is to make enrichment opportunities relevant for today’s students. And the particular challenge last Thursday was to make more than 150 years of history come alive for a group of 9- and 10-year-olds. The timing for the program couldn’t have been more perfect. The museum is currently hosting a major exhibition of photographs from the Civil Rights era, and it was with the iconic images of Birmingham and Selma and Dr. King marching in 1965, that our students offered their own tributes to the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement.
By Kristin Black On June 25th, 2010 | 0 Comments
Staff Voices: Liz Grover
Summer intern Liz Grover reflects on the lessons of history and the CFK mission
During my first week at Change for Kids I sat in on a meeting with Principal Mirvil of P.S. 73, and he spoke about what CFK has brought to the school. He repeated the word exposure, because essentially this is what Change for Kids has brought to his students in the South Bronx. It is important for the “youngsters,” as Mr. Mirvil calls them, to know that there is much more to life than what they are exposed to at home.
Students on stage reading their own reflections
“Now the school is the community,” says Mr. Mirvil, and Change for Kids has made that possible. The school partners with the Bronx Museum only a few blocks away—a great resource for the kids within their own neighborhood. The museum is currently holding an exhibition on Civil Rights, and on Thursday, June 16th, each class went on stage to recite poetry, perform a skit or read their own personal poems and reflections.
By LizG On June 18th, 2010 | 0 Comments
Year-End Violin and Piano Recitals
Ms. Ai’s and Mr. Majid’s musical instruction throughout the year have given the young musicians of P.S. 154 and P.S. 73 a great deal of confidence, which the students exuded on stage at both schools’ final recitals. It was clear that their practicing had paid off. Everyone in the audience could tell that each student had put significant time and effort into preparing for these concerts. If the kids were nervous, they did not show it. The performances were seamless and the programs ended this school year on a high note.
By Kristin Black On June 15th, 2010 | 1 Comment
CFK Celebrity Sighting Number Two!
Joe Maloof is mobbed by a crowd of adoring basketball players
Big news from our partner school in Queens. About 200 students, teachers and chaperones from P.S. 160 came out on a hot June day to meet their newest and very coolest neighbor—Joe Maloof, owner of the Sacramento Kings and Palm Casino in Las Vegas. Students spent the day exploring Maloof’s brand new skate park in Flushing Meadows, watching a number of demonstrations from top-skateboarder Billy Rohan, and learning a little about fitness and healthy lifestyles.
After loading the kids with loot from Vans and Vitamin Water, Mr. Maloof was also kind enough to sign dozens of signatures and to take a few minutes to visit personally with the school’s basketball team. If the thank-you notes we received are any indication, we think he’s made 200 new friends for life.
By Kristin Black On June 11th, 2010 | 1 Comment
2 Yankees + 1 Gossip Girl + Story Pirates = 1 Awesome Day of Literary Fun
Here’s a story with a happy ending. Yankees Nick Swisher and David Robertson, along with Gossip
Yankee Nick Swisher surprises Story Pirates actors Lauren Stripling and Jono Hustis
Girl Joanna Garcia and the lovely Erin Robertson, made a surprise visit to the Story Pirates’ end-of-year show at P.S. 73, making an already exciting day that much more celebratory for our South Bronx third graders.
CFK paparazzi managed to catch the foursome sporting stylish Story Pirates t-shirts, participating from the audience, and even hopping on stage to help perform student stories. In fact, they’ve all received the unofficial CFK Good Neighbor Award for being so willing to provide autographs and cell phone pics. Their prize: a lifetime invitation to all CFK events in the greater metropolitan area. Plus our undying gratitude for lending a little star power to literacy education in New York City.