School Feature: Side By Side Charter School and The Carver Philosophy

Fencing is just one of many after-school programs SBS students enjoy

Side By Side Charter School is nestled in the beating heart of South Norwalk, just a short drive from The Carver’s home at 7 Academy Street. If you’re lucky enough to pass Side By Side during their midday recess, you’ll be treated to a veritable cavalcade of play. Song, dance, games, joy! Inside that energy persists as students engage with academic panache. From in-depth ecosystem studies on an extinct species of moth to social-emotional music learning, Side By Side “teach[es] the whole child.”

We sat down with Assistant Director, Mary Newbery, to learn more about how Side By Side cultivated this educational environment. “When the school was founded in 1997 by six teachers, it was done so with the intent to reflect the diversity of the community,” she said. Today, Side By Side teaches 235 students from several surrounding CT towns and cities. “How do we prepare kids to be in a pluralistic democracy if they don’t see and learn with each other?” Indeed, Side By Side focuses on providing students with social context, critical engagement, the ability to broach difficult conversations, and the academic chops to succeed in high school.

With the Carver mission to equip all learners with global competitiveness, Side By Side’s vision of equitable, diverse, and interdisciplinary learning is a match made in heaven. “What was so unbelievably fabulous was that The Carver brought after-school programming here. When kids get to 11, 12, 13… they start having a much harder time getting homework help," said Mary. “Now they’re able to participate in enrichment activities, access tutoring, have snacks, and get a bus home.” Mary brightly credited perpetually honored Carver staff member, Tremain Gilmore, for the vibrant activity planning and the grades it improved. “Kids deserve discourse and a rich learning experience… They use [this background] to come up with their own vision with so much care.”

We at The Carver are delighted to partner with Side By Side. Learn more at sbscharter.org.

Carver's Science, Technology & Engineering Showcase!

See all the Facebook album photos here!

On Thursday, March 2nd, at the Carver Community Center, six school student teams participated in a public exhibition of their work in STEM related fields. Teachers, families and community members helped cheer the student projects created during the Carver afterschool program this year.  Projects were thoughtfully designed.

Robotics and much was where on display.  For example, some students constructed and displayed Truss Bridges. They used simple hand tools and materials, and followed a simple construction sequence. Students presented their Truss Bridges and explained how they performed simple calculations to determine the amount of materials required for each part of the project. They calculated the cost of producing a structure based on the selection of materials. They also identified a truss structure from other possible bridge structures and compared the strength of a truss structure with that of a rectangular structure.

Carver Jr. YDP team produced Hovercraft Boats (engineering) and Truss Bridges (technology). Nathan Hale BARK YDP students produced robotics demonstrations (technology), and fruit DNA (science). Ponus Ridge PRIDE YDP students produced an autonomous car display and survey (engineering), and air turbines and small boats (CPEP technology). Roton STRIVE YDP students produced robotics demonstrations (engineering) and air boats (CPEP technology). Side by Side Charter School RISE YDP students produced robotics demonstrations (engineering), CPEP technology projects and a videography project (technology). West Rocks REACH YDP students produced robotics (engineering), Truss Bridges and a Spaghetti Marshmallow challenge (technology).

The judges selected the following teams/projects as the winners (5 categories) and prizes were awarded to each team member. Best overall project – Carver engineering team for their Hovercraft project. (Each team member received a $25 gift card) | Most challenging (highest degree of difficulty) - Side by Side Engineering Team for their Robot Demo. (Each team member received a $15 gift card) | Most Innovative Project – West Rocks REACH Technology Team for their Spaghetti Marshmallow Challenge. (Each team member received a $15 gift card) | Teamwork Award – PONUS PRIDE CPEP Team. (Each member received a $10 gift card) | Top Presentation Award – West Rocks Engineering Team for Their Robot Demo. (Each team member received a $15 gift card)

Nathan Hale BARK = Belief Awareness Respect Knowledge

Ponus Ridge PRIDE = Perseverance Respect Intelligence Diversity Excellence

Roton STRIVE = Scholarship Togetherness Resilience Integrity Values Excellence

Side by Side Charter School RISE = Rising Innovative Scholars of Excellence

West Rocks REACH = Responsibility Effort Aptitude Character High Expectations