The American Job Center Career Coach is back with another fantastic virtual seminar. Get the tools to create a great resume that will help you stand out from the pack.
NPS wins national recognition for the second consecutive year for music education!
For the second year in a row Norwalk Public Schools has been recognized for its commitment to providing all students a quality music education #artsednorwalk.
As states face budget shortfalls due to the recession created by the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers must be reminded of the importance of fully funding public education to support all students and their right to a well-rounded education including music and the arts. Having states commit adequate funding for public education will be the first step toward maintaining, rebuilding and growing arts programs to reach more students in the 2021-2022 school year and beyond.
The general public, NAMM members and their school/parent networks are encouraged to reach out to state legislators using the templated letter tool below to urge that they fully fund public education for next school year.
To learn about ways to connect with and support music and arts education in your own school district, please visit the Arts ARE Education campaign website for school board resolution, advocate pledge, tools and more.
Picture Books That Help Kids Explore Diverse Music
There’s something magical about exploring music with children. Besides teaching them about musical genres, famous musicians, and instruments, music also provides opportunities to connect with different cultures, experience feelings and emotions, and bring history to life.
Here is a diverse list of favorite music books for kids.
Delay for middle and high school students returning to full in-person learning
In the past week, Norwalk Public Schools has consulted with the Norwalk Health Department and their medical advisor about plans for the expansion of in-person learning. While vaccinations are progressing as quickly as possible, community transmission remains high.
NPS schools have been working to plan out how to move to 3 feet distancing, based on the new CDC guidelines. At this elevated status, keeping students in cohorts is required in order to operate at 3 feet. NPS is able to do this effectively at the elementary school level, but not at the middle and high schools.
The new CDC guidelines also require that schools still maintain 6 feet of space in common areas such as hallways, and when masks cannot be worn, such as during mealtime.
Based on these considerations, NPS needs to delay the switch from hybrid learning to full in-person learning for middle and high schools. Hybrid and remote learning will remain in place for now at all secondary schools.
It is a priority for the district to have as many students as possible return to full-time, in-person learning. But that can only be accomplished when health and safety conditions allow it.
Carver families from Tracey, Kendall, Brookside, and Naramake Elementary Schools go bowling together
Alma Samuel, Carver’s Program Coordinator for our 5th Grade Scholar transition program at Brookside Elementary School, is with a student in the first photo. Our Program Coordinators and Carver’s Chief Program Officer Brian Alert joined 32 Carver families from Tracey, Brookside, Kendall, and Naramake Elementary Schools for an evening of fun at Bowlmor Lanes in Norwalk! Our families experience these outings together thanks to the generous support of 21st CCLC, the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local after-school programs.
Our 5th graders are learning Yoga at Brookside Elementary School!
On Mondays at Brookside Elementary School, students partake in athletic activities like jump rope, soccer, and basketball, arts and crafts, or computer games like Kahoot, Escape Rooms, and Quizlets.
On Tuesdays, they participate in China Club, thanks to students from BMHS who teach our 5th graders Chinese. There are also the wild experiences offered by the Maritime Aquarium!
On Wednesdays, we are beginning computer coding.
Yoga is taught by Ms. Ledger on Thursdays.
Our 5th-grade students experience these enrichments, along with homework help and other academic activities, all thanks to the generous support of 21st CCLC, the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local after-school programs.
Carver kids are able to engage in hands-on activities, watch spectacular demonstrations, take home educational science-themed creations that reinforce the concepts they've learned, and learn new life-long skills like yoga.
This important funding enables Carver to prepare 5th grade students at four Norwalk elementary schools for what they will experience in middle school.
Our 5th-grade transition students are assigned to a homeroom which they attend following the school’s afternoon dismissal bell. Students then have a few minutes to eat a snack and get ready for the Carver experience. Study hall and homework are first. Certified teachers and assistants help, and sometimes students help each other.
Then our students explore all manner of enrichment opportunities that both interest them and that open their minds and expand their abilities. Within each elective session, students are breaking barriers by completing challenges, enhancing skills, and building teamwork abilities. The students make presentations of their work later in the school year. These academic and enrichment experiences complement what the students are learning during the school day.
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local after-school, before-school, and summer learning programs. The program serves nearly 2 million youth nationally, through very competitive grants awarded by each state education agency.
Carver is proud to report on the results we are achieving with these grants our state education leaders entrust us with.
The funding level for the 21st CCLC is set each year by Congress in an appropriations bill that is then signed into law by the president. For more than 20 years 21st Century Community Learning Centers have been providing high-quality programming to a wide range of children grades pre-K to 12th grade in communities nationwide.
This downloadable fact sheet is a great primer on who is served and key outcomes of local programs such as Carver.
COVID-19 Update
As Connecticut prepares this week to open access to the COVID-19 vaccine to everyone aged 16 and older, yesterday Gov. Ned Lamont outlined plans to prioritize specific populations including people with certain medical conditions and developmental disabilities. Read more
The governor announced that the statewide positivity rate was 3.53%.
Read the Daily COVID-19 Report as of 5 p.m. Monday, Mar. 30
Indicators for School Learning Models released Aug. 20
Many hospitals and healthcare providers around Connecticut are now offering COVID-19 testing without a doctor's order. Check 211 for the list here.
Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center: Desktop & Mobile
Vaccine Clinic at Calvary Baptist Church, Tuesday, March 30, 10AM to 2PM
Naramake students share thoughts on kindness
Naramake students created their art on Friday during SEL/ARTS Day. Each grade level was given a specific color of post-its to write acts of kindness.
5th graders at Naramake Elementary School having fun while preparing for middle school!
This Carver program is made possible with generous funding from the 21st CCLC grant program administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education
In the photos below, you will see our 5th grade scholars making slime under the guidance of Mad Science experts; constructing bridges; creating animated flip books and storyboards; and the Maritime Aquarium teaching our students all about sharks!
And that is just a glimpse of what is in store for our 5th grade transition students each day, thanks to the generous support of 21st CCLC, the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local after school programs.
Carver kids are able to engage in hands-on activities, watch spectacular demonstrations, and take home educational science-themed creations, such as bridge you see below, that reinforce the concepts they've learned.
This important funding enables Carver to prepare 5th grade students at four Norwalk elementary schools for what they will experience in middle school. Below are images of our students at Naramake Elementary School during their individual enrichment sessions.
Our 5th grade transition students are assigned to a homeroom which they attend following the school’s afternoon dismissal bell. Students then have a few minutes to eat a snack and get ready for the Carver experience. Study hall and homework are first. Certified teachers and assistants help, and sometimes students help each other.
Then our students explore all manner of enrichment opportunities that both interest them and that open their minds and expand their abilities. Within each elective session, students are breaking barriers by completing challenges, enhancing skills, and building team work abilities. The students make presentations of their work later in the school year. These academic and enrichment experiences compliment what the students are learning during the school day.
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local after-school, before-school and summer learning programs. The program serves nearly 2 million youth nationally, through very competitive grants awarded by each state education agency.
21st CCLC was reauthorized in 2015 as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Programs support:
Academic enrichment activities that can help students meet state and local achievement standards.
A broad array of additional enrichment services designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program, such as: drug and violence prevention programs, career and technical programs, counseling programs, art, music programs, STEM programs, and physical activity and nutrition education programs.
Literacy and related educational development services to the families of children who are served in the program.
Carver is proud to report on the results we are achieving with these grants our state education leaders entrust us with.
The funding level for 21st CCLC is set each year by Congress in an appropriations bill that is then signed into law by the president. For more than 20 years 21st Century Community Learning Centers have been providing high quality programming to a wide range of children grades pre-K to 12th grade in communities nationwide.
This downloadable fact sheet is a great primer on who is served and key outcomes of local programs such as Carver.
