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Westport Rotary renews its support of Carver summer programs!

Peter Helt, the Chairperson for the Westport Rotary’s Community Partnership Grants Committee, recently visited the Carver Community Center to present this year’s grant to support Carver’s summer 2022 programming.

Westport Rotary is committed to supporting charitable causes on an international and domestic basis. They believe that local community partnerships are an important part of their mission.  

The Carver Foundation of Norwalk was selected to receive one of the 33 Community Giving grants awarded this year by Westport Rotary.

In this photo, Carver’s CEO Novelette Peterkin receives this year’s grant from Peter Helt.

We are back to wearing face masks! The state’s positivity rate is 12.39%, up from 11.3%. yesterday/Monday.

Grand opening of the new NPS Family Center!

The Norwalk Public Schools Family Center is now open and centrally located in the Human Services Council building at 1 Park Street in Norwalk, near the historic Norwalk Green and convenient to city bus lines.

Norwalk’s commitment to engagement, inclusion, and access comes to life through the NPS Family Center, for both current families and those new to the city. Providing an easily accessible spot for family-facing school services, the NPS Family Center helps establish lasting relationships and meaningful family engagement throughout a student’s academic career.

Staffed by current NPS employees, the Center provides access to a wide variety of services for all families. Open year-round, the Center is a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment, providing easy access to register students, get information, voice concerns, and resolve issues. NPS’s special education ombudsperson, fluent in both English and Spanish, helps families access services and programs. By collaborating with other city agencies and community partners, the centralized location streamlines services for families across the city.

How Carver students never give up and make you shout for joy!

Our volunteer readers are presently rating the essays submitted by our graduating high school seniors and college students seeking Carver scholarships this June.

All of them have a common theme — the improbability of their even considering successful college and careers.

Some of their stories are heartbreaking, others miraculous, and still others joyously exuberant in their ambition to succeed despite the setbacks and disadvantages. All of them are or will soon be first-generation college students.

All of them will also make you shout with joy, just like the world did when Rich Strike on Saturday in the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby went from an 80-1 long shot, who did not even earn his spot in the starting gate in America’s greatest horse race until Friday (!), achieved a three-quarter length victory that had appeared until the final seconds to be impossible.

Carver scholars time and again run a hole through the wind!

“It’s a horse race, and anybody can win,” trainer Eric Reed said. “And the tote board doesn’t mean a thing.”

…Reed said he was notified at 8:45 a.m. Friday – 15 minutes before the scratch deadline – Rich Strike would not get in the race.

“The security guard was told to leave the barn,” Reed said.

Ten minutes later, he got the good news.

“We came here on a prayer,” Reed said. “I told my Dad and told (owner Rick Dawson), the worst thing than can happen to us is to have a call a day or two before the Derby and say you’re going to get in and not be prepared. We trained against all odds. Nobody thought we could get in….”

The moral of this story is to never bet against Carver's youth. They are winners!

Volunteer Jim Conti prepares Carver youth for successful careers

As a first-generation college graduate, Jim Conti can relate to Carver students. As a former managing director at Goldman Sachs, he has abundant good advice and guidance to offer them today. And that is exactly what he shared recently with a very attentive group of students at the Carver Community Center.

Mr. Conti shared what it was like to graduate from a small school like St. Peter’s University and how he was initially intimidated by the students there. The power of hard work saw him successfully through in school and then in his profession. He worked during the day and went to school at night. He eventually became a managing director in 2008.

Mr. Conti talked about the value of being coachable and taking pride in who you are, never forgetting to properly represent and sell yourself. He spoke about outworking everyone and perseverance. “Preparation prepares you for opportunities,” he said. “Secondly, know your facts. You have to be in the business of knowing yourself better than anyone else.”

Mr. Conti spoke about the joys of retirement and embracing new passions such as opening a school in the coffee business.

He wished Carver students the successful completion of the school year. “Don’t let up now; full speed ahead to the finish line!”

Mr. Conti first joined Goldman Sachs in 1984 as an analyst. He was named managing director in 2008. He rejoined the firm in 2004 after seven years away working at two other firms.  Jim worked at Deutsche Bank Securities and UBS Securities in various senior management capacities within the Equity Finance groups at both companies.

Mr. Conti is a member of Saint Peter's University's Board of Trustees and works with the University's career center, helping advise current Saint Peter’s students. Jim earned a B.S. in computer science from Saint Peter’s University (formerly College).

A Proclamation on National Teacher Appreciation Day and National Teacher Appreciation

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 3, 2022, as National Teacher Appreciation Day and May 1 through May 7, 2022, as National Teacher Appreciation Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the hard work and dedication of our Nation’s teachers and to observe this day and this week by supporting teachers through appropriate activities, events, and programs.

Open Enrollment in the Carver Summer Middle & High School Transition Programs

Attention Incoming 6th And 9th Graders!

We understand that transitions are a challenge. Navigating a larger environment, excelling with grades, multiple teachers, and juggling competing priorities can be quite challenging. The Summer Transition Program for incoming 6th and 9th graders is designed to help students gain familiarity with their new school and teachers.

The 5-week FREE summer program will take place at your student's new school, July 5 – August 5, from 8:30am - 3:30pm, Monday - Friday. This program is funded through the Carver Foundation of Norwalk and Norwalk Public Schools.

The program is limited to 70 students for middle school students at each of the four NPS middle schools and 100 students for each of the two NPS high schools on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students who are not attending summer school and have scored above the 25 percentile on the NWEA MAP testing are eligible to attend. This program is not intended to serve as a remedial program of any kind but is intended solely to help ensure a smooth transition from elementary school to middle school and middle to high school.

Students enrolling in the program will participate in project-based learning activities in English, Math, Science, Technology, and Study Skills. Students may take field trips to enhance team-building and the academic program.

FREE breakfast, lunch, and transportation (to those eligible to take a school bus during regular school days) will be provided each day.

Here is more information on all Carver summer programs. To register online, go to the following link: http://app.campdoc.com/register/carverfoundation or email Mary Martini at Carver – mary@carvercenterct.org

Our Spring Tennis Clinic is underway at the Carver Community Center!

Our Spring Tennis Clinic is underway on our outdoor courts at the Carver Community Center with Coach Marcus Hooks!

Email rhea@carvercenterct.org for more information!

Carver alumnus Marcus Hooks is teaching Carver kids the sport with his own local tennis training program called Six Love. We’ve shared a lot here about how proud we are of Marcus. His creativity, generosity, and leadership are extraordinary.

Marcus is teaching the tennis classes at the Carver Community Center every Tuesday from 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM (rain dates are Thursdays from 6 to 7 PM).

Carver 5th Grade Scholars at Marvin Elementary School are ship builders!

Carver after-school students at Marvin Elementary School built small wooden boats!

Christian Guzman, a certified daytime teacher who manages our 5th Grade Scholars after-school program at Marvin, obtained all the materials and tools from Home Depot (donated by a friend).

This creative project supplied our students with knowledge that will last a lifetime.

This project is one of many hands-on, project-based learning opportunities all Carver students receive after-school and during the summer. These projects and lessons give our students a foundation from which to explore all levels of learning.

Model wooden boats connect diverse subjects such as math, English, history, and science with a common thread. Each Marvin student built a ship using wooden blocks, nails, screws, a screwdriver, and a hammer.

The students learned to read the directions and follow each step as well as follow all the safety guidelines.

Hands-on project-based learning projects are recognized as an effective way to engage students of all ages. It’s not just an enrichment activity or an add-on. It’s not just incorporating hands-on activities or a research component to the lesson. This kind of activity involves learner-centered questions driven by student inquiry, not by teacher-driven exploration. It is not about adding something new but rather delving deeper into a topic, asking hard questions, and allowing time to pursue multiple answers.

Thanks to the Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, Carver is able to offer these programs. The 21st CCLC initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to supporting local afterschool, before-school, and summer learning programs. The program serves nearly 2 million youth, nationwide through grants awarded by state education agencies. This funding awarded to Carver by the Connecticut State Department of Education through a very competitive grant process provides for academic enrichment activities that help students meet state and local achievement standards. Carver is also able to offer a broad array of additional enrichment services designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program, such as STEM programs, and physical activity and nutrition education programs. Carver also offers literacy and related educational development services to the families of children we serve.

Carver kids are ship builders!

Join us for the NorWALK for Mental Health & Wellness Fair Sat, May 7 @ 9:00 am - 11:30 am, Norwalk Green

To recognize Mental Health Awareness Month and National Prevention Week, The Norwalk Partnership, Norwalk ACTS, and NCC are hosting “NorWALK for Mental Health” along with a “Check-In” Wellness Fair featuring speakers, prizes, music, and more. This is an important event we hope you will share and attend.

Here are the many offerings they are planning:

  • Mental health booths where you can practice coping skills, “paint your art out,” get a “check-up from the neck up,” and meet friendly people who can answer your mental health questions.

  • Prevention booths where you can experience the risks of impaired driving, pick up Liquor Stickers or Narcan, learn about suicide prevention, and get parenting resources.

  • People of all ages share their personal mental health journeys.

  • A press conference with local elected officials.

  • A 1.5-mile walk to create visibility and join together for the cause.

  • The state’s “Change the Script” behavioral health resource van.

  • Music, art, door prizes, laughter, yoga, drumming, and tie-dye!

An estimated 49.5 percent of adolescents have had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. The good news is that promoting positive mental health can prevent some problems. For young people who do have mental health disorders, early intervention and treatment can help lessen the impact on their lives.

Presently, H.B. 5001 and S.B. 2, are two bills currently awaiting votes in the Connecticut General Assembly. These bills address the growing mental health needs of Connecticut’s youth. From instituting universal pre-K in S.B. 2 to improving the availability of mental health resources to children and teenagers in H.B. 5001, these two bills would demonstrate a newfound and welcome prioritization of youth mental health.

Questions about the NorWALK for Mental Health & Wellness Fair? Contact Wendy Mendes at Wmendes@norwalk.edu.

Also, Margaret Watt, MPH, MA (she/her), Prevention Director, TurningPointCT Project Director, Co-Chair, The Norwalk Partnership & Westport Prevention Coalition, Positive Directions - The Center for Prevention and Counseling at mwatt@positivedirections.org, www.positivedirections.org.

In a behavioral health crisis, dial 2-1-1, option 1 to access CT's regional mobile crisis response team, or call your local first responders at 911. If you are in emotional distress, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 anytime. Positive Directions hosts the TurningPointCT.org project: online resources & support for mental wellness, created by and for young people in CT. They also serve as fiduciary & coordinator for The Norwalk Partnership and the Westport Prevention Coalition, local coalitions dedicated to preventing substance misuse in their community. Like & follow them @positivedirections @turningpointct!