Carver's Eric Day named to the Dean's List and much else at Lasell University!

Eric “EJ” Day

Lasell Dean’s List

Eric Day is repeatedly named to the Lasell University Dean's List for his academic performance, most recently in the Spring 2021 semester. To be named to the Dean's List, Lasell students must achieve a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher. Eric, Class of 2022, is majoring in Criminal Justice.

Chi Alpha Sigma (XA)

Eric was also inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, founded in 1996 by then DePauw University head football coach Nick Mourouzis. His goal was to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected within a fraternal association that aligns their educational and athletic successes for a lifetime.

In order to be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, NCCAA, or USCAA. The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).

Lasell Basketball

Eric plays guard for Lasell’s basketball team, the Lasers. Eric is a team starter and is an All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference Third Team selection.

"We are very thankful to be playing games this season," said Lasell veteran head coach Aaron Galletta. "The players' commitment to the program and to getting better each day has not changed, despite the current conditions. The team has been adhering to all local and campus health and safety protocols and we are very anxious to get back onto the court in these upcoming games. It is a great opportunity for these players to compete against outside competition, and for our fans to see our returning players back in action and to welcome some new faces as well."

At Brien McMahon High School, Eric also played football. As well as being the team’s Captain, hIs role on the field was as a shut-down defensive back and as a big play wideout. Through two senior games, he scored three of McMahon’s four touchdowns while making seven catches for 211 yards — a 30.1 yard per catch average. His touchdown receptions have measured 74, 26 and 56 yards.

Brien McMahon High School & Carver

Eric was a scholar-athlete (basketball and football) at Brien McMahon High School as well.

Eric was a longtime after-school and summer Carver student.

In the years before college Eric worked as a Carver summer camp counselor and was deeply involved in the Carver community.

TD Bank partners with First Book to launch a new Juneteenth initiative

First Book, a nonprofit dedicated to educational equity as a path out of poverty, launched Black Kids Matter, an initiative designed to amplify, celebrate and empower the voices of Black children. As part of the initiative, First Book will distribute 17,000 culturally relevant books that showcase diverse characters, voices, and life experiences to children of color, thanks to TD Bank.

The campaign is being introduced in recognition of Juneteenth (June 19th), a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Here is more information on how to participate from First Book and TD Bank.

Those who participate in this initiative by submitting multimedia responses from the kids they serve by June 17, 2021, will receive a $100 credit to the Diversity & Inclusion section of the First Book Marketplace to thank you for your effort, courtesy of TD Bank.

​​​​​​In addition to collecting these creative responses, we're working together to distribute credits for books in your community. If you serve kids from low-income families, create your free First Book account to be notified when this and other funding opportunities are available!

If you have any questions, please contact First Book Member Services at help@firstbook.org. We look forward to celebrating alongside you and amplifying the voices of the children you serve!

—Your friends at First Book and TD Bank

Black Kids Matter kicked off in seven states across the Eastern seaboard last month, where educators encouraged their students to express the many ways that Black and Brown kids are special. Those educators submitted a wonderful array of videos, drawings, writing and poetry expressing the voices of the kids of color they serve. A selection of that content can be viewed here.

As part of the campaign, the TD Ready Commitment is enabling First Book to make books available for students in pre-K through grade 12. The books are being distributed throughout June, just in time for children to have on hand for summer reading.

To learn more about the Black Kids Matter Initiative, click here.

TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues, and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (U.S. $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/tdreadycommitment.

See Cranbury After the Bell students enjoying end of school year fun activities!

Tahnee Serrano is our before and after-school program coordinator who makes sure our Cranbury Elementary School After the Bell students are thriving academically and in social-emotional ways as well.

“Blues and Beyond,” a live concert and two Zoom sessions to commemorate Juneteenth

“Blues and Beyond” is a three-part foray into America’s Black music heritage in commemoration of Juneteenth, announced by Norwalk Public Library.

1. A live outdoor “Blues and Beyond” concert featuring Saige Bryan (vocals), Eric Finland (organ), Noe’ Socha (guitar & harmonica), and Moses Patrou (drums) will take place on Saturday, June 19 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the SoNo Branch Library, 10 Washington St., Norwalk. The concert will be preceded at noon by a proclamation put forth by Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling, remarks from local officials, and a poetry reading.

2. A Zoom exploration of field hollers, gospel music, and New Orleans tradition will be narrated by session musician/vocalist/drummer Adam Taylor on Tuesday, June 15 from 6 to 7:45 p.m. A Q & A will be included.

3. A Zoom “blues and rock’n’roll master class” conducted by Adam Taylor and guitarist/harmonica player Noe’ Socha is planned for Tuesday, June 22 from 6 to 7:45 p.m.

5th Grade Scholars Program students at Brookside Elementary School have an ice cream party!

Carver’s 5th Grade Scholars Program helps elementary school students to successfully transition to middle school. This transition can otherwise be a difficult and stressful experience for students. With the support of parents, teachers, and administrators, this program also includes a summer transition program for some of the rising 6th graders in their respective middle schools.

New Seal Exhibit Unveiled At Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium

The Maritime Aquarium is a longtime Carver before and after-school and summer program partner.

They are integral to our STEAM project-based and hands-on learning experiences and they regularly provide our students with access to the aquarium itself.

We are excited about their new "Pinniped Cove," home for the Maritime Aquarium's harbor seals. It is the largest aquatic display in the aquarium's 33-year history.

The harbor seals have always been a big attraction at the Maritime Aquarium since its opening in 1988, so much so that the aquarium's logo even pays tribute to them.

Now the aquarium's five seals, Ariel, Leila, Polly, Rasal, and Tillie, have more room to swim and relax in an area meant to evoke their natural environment: a classic New England cove.

The seals' original home was mainly a pool with straight walls, with one side of the pool inside the facility and one outside. Now guests can view the seals underwater from the cavernous bottom half of the two-level exhibit, or head upstairs to see the seals traverse around or lounge upon the exhibit's fabricated rock work.

The 22-foot deep exhibit holds 160,000 gallons of water and is over eight times larger than the seals' original 19,000-gallon exhibit, where they had lived since the aquarium's opening.

Pinniped Cove is also nearly 50 percent larger than the aquarium's popular 110,000-gallon, 18-foot-deep shark exhibit, which was previously the facility's largest display.

The construction of the seal exhibit and the 4D theater represents a unique collaborative effort by the state, the city of Norwalk, and the aquarium to address the impacts of the upcoming replacement of the Walk Bridge, a 125-year-old railroad bridge adjacent to the aquarium.

The project required razing the aquarium's former IMAX theater and replacing the original seal habitat, which was partially outdoors, to ensure the seals and aquarium guests can enjoy a secure indoor habitat protected from the construction noise just yards away.

The state provided $40 million in funding and the city managed the capital construction project for the aquarium to compensate for the loss of those signature assets.

That the Maritime Aquarium staff and city completed the project in the midst of a global pandemic is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in making this one of the nation’s most important aquariums.

USDE to hold virtual summit on 6/22 on addressing the inequitable impact of the pandemic

The U.S. Department of Education will hold a virtual summit on June 22 — the first in a series of events focused on addressing the inequitable impact of the pandemic on students of color and other high-need groups.

Setting the stage for the conversation, the department’s Office for Civil Rights released a report Wednesday, summarizing what it calls a “developing story” of how the shift to remote learning and the public health crisis widened disparities in students’ access to a quality education.

Drawing on existing surveys, research and assessment data, the report recapped how vulnerable groups, including English learners, students with disabilities and LGBTQ students, faced significant barriers to learning before the pandemic, only to be further cut off from the support they needed during school closures. The report comes the same week as a public hearing on Title IX and follows last week’s announcement that the Office for Civil Rights will accept public comments on discrimination in school discipline, offering further evidence that an arm of the department that was downsized during the previous administration is leading much of the agenda so far under Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

The department also released guidance for how states and districts can implement the “maintenance of equity” provision of the American Rescue Plan, which is intended to prevent budget and staffing cuts at high-poverty schools.

The upcoming summit, guidance and report comply with an executive order President Joe Biden issued when he took office, directing federal agencies to examine the challenges facing underserved communities.

Offering 11 observations of the pandemic’s impact on students, the report noted “worrisome signs” that academic performance has fallen below per-pandemic levels, that nearly all students have experienced mental health challenges and that gay, lesbian and transgender students have been at increased risk of isolation, harassment or abuse.

“Those who went into the pandemic with the fewest opportunities are at risk of leaving with even less,” the report said.

The event later this month will focus on how students can influence the schools they attend, continuing Cardona’s emphasis on student voice. He’s met with students during school visits, featured students during his school reopening summit in March and held a roundtable discussion with homeless youth in April.

Other speakers at the summit will include Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, Pedro Noguera, dean of education at the University of Southern California, and Olivia Carter, the 2021 School Counselor of the Year.

Norwalk teens are invited to join Norwalk Speaks TONIGHT at 6PM on Zoom for a community discussion.

Despite the challenges, there have been useful learning gains made during the pandemic

Despite the hardships of pandemic learning, there have been bright spots and even many learning gains. While the potential for learning loss is very real, simply comparing students' scores this year to previous years doesn’t tell the whole story and ignores the difficult but also rich life experiences students have had over the past 15 months. 

For years, educators have been saying we can do more than measure progress by testing alone. Here are some of the gains we have seen in our students: Increased Communication Skills; Students Taking Ownership of their Own Learning; Resilience and Learning Outside of School; and Time Management.  

One of the greatest gains has also been teachers learning to do asynchronous assignments with their students and then providing support to them as they need it. Teachers can be guides rather than only explaining subjects to their students.

Educators and their students are learning to utilize technology that can increase learning and access. For instance, ebook reading has surged during the pandemic. 

Pandemic restrictions are easing and parents, educators, and students are hopeful that next year’s school year will be free of COVID-era restrictions. Still, many stakeholders are eager to utilize what worked well from this time.

While some students have struggled in the hybrid or remote setting scene much of the past year, others have thrived with increased flexibility.

Mo's Summer Run begins Wednesday, July 7th!

Mo’s Summer Run is a community-based youth-driven basketball program. This year, the program will operate Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from Wednesday, July 7th, to Friday, August 13th.

6 pm to 7 pm is for elementary school-aged children, 7 pm to 8 pm is for middle school-aged youth, and 8 pm to 10 pm is for high school-aged youth. Each Friday is alumni night with a DJ!

We will be using both the newly refurbished Richard Whitcomb Gymnasium and the outdoor courts at the Carver Community Center at 7 Academy Street.

Mo’s Summer Run began in 2009. Players who honed their skills at Carver and then went on to high school, collegiate, and, in some cases, professional careers, show up on Friday nights to flaunt their talents on the court in epic games.

Mo’s Summer run has been documented by The Hour here and here (among other stories).

The goal is to give youth a safe environment during the summer evening hours where they can learn the basics of basketball as well as learn teamwork and leadership skills.

Mo’s Summer Run also serves to help keep youth off the streets and engaged in positive and rewarding activities. This program touches upon but is not be limited to the importance of education, hard work, conflict resolution, and healthy living habits through recreational enrichment.

From The Hour:

The open gym borrows its name from Maurice “Mo” Tomlin, a beloved Brien McMahon basketball player and coach and Carver Center athletic director who died suddenly at age 42 in 2015. Tremain Gilmore, a friend and colleague of Tomlin’s sought to immortalize his friend at Carver and changed the name of the program after Tomlin’s passing.

…After drills on Mondays and Wednesdays, until 10 p.m., high school players own the court. But on Fridays, those same stars of high school squads from Norwalk and nearby cities like Stamford and Bridgeport must prove their worth.

“I tell the high school guys they can play, but it all depends on your level,” said Gilmore, or Gil, as he is known at Carver.

“It’s the older guys’ night to get more out of their run. The younger guys have to work their way up,” said Evan Kelley, 25, a Carver alum who played four years of college ball at Sacred Heart University and has played professionally overseas.

The style of play at Carver on Friday is scrappy. In the absence of a referee, players call their own fouls and dispute among themselves out-of-bounds calls and travels. Younger players thrown into the mix too soon could have their weaknesses easily exposed by the older, stronger, more savvy veterans.

Most players who have worked their way into the Friday night circuit recall coming as kids and battling against bigger, better guys. It’s something of a rite of passage at Carver.

“I used to come every day when I was younger. All the older Carver kids were better,” said Saikwon Williams, a senior forward at Brien McMahon and one of only a handful of high school players on the court that night. “But then I got better and stronger.”

Williams, now 6 feet 5 inches tall, looks not at all out of place in the pickup games. The 17-year-old has become a force on the Carver court, but he remembers well looking up to players like Gardener and Kelley.

“I think it made me want to be better,” Williams said from the baseline, where, waiting for his next turn to play, he dribbled a ball and, when the action moved to the far side of the court, snuck back on to get in a shot or two.

Because the open gyms attract players from various high schools from across much of Fairfield County, there is sometimes competitive tension. Current and former rivals often face off in the sweaty gymnasium.

“Some people take certain games more personal than others,” said Gardener, who, with Kelley, was conserving energy for a Saturday tournament in Stamford and remained on the sideline for the duration of the run.

But, Gilmore is quick to point out that in nine years, the open gym has gone off without incident and the competition remains friendly. For many, such as Singleton-Bates, the open gyms are like a reunion, where she sees people with whom she grew up with and went to high school. For others, the Carver’s atmosphere has a healing effect.

“Some people see it as therapy,” said Gilmore, works as Caver’s teen center manager and a security guard at Norwalk High School.

Ocean Woods, 20, said he comes primarily for fun, but also to play against the city’s top players.

“This is the best competition in Norwalk,” said Woods, a former Norwalk High School basketball player. “Everybody knows that the ballers come to the Carver to ball.”