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YDI-Elev8 New Mexico eBlast July 2016
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2015-16 a Good Year at YDI-Elev8!
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It was a pretty good school year for YDI-Elev8's community school initiative in Albuquerque! Just read our 2015-16 annual report.
Check it out:
- 70% of Wilson Middle School students joined in after-school programs, exceeding projections by 30%.
- 12 struggling students formed YDI-Elev8's first Early Warning Indicators (EWI) project, which was launched at Grant Middle School in the fall.
- 315 primary care visits were made to YDI's school-based health centers at Grant and Wilson. Importantly, YDI secured funding for the school-based health centers and brought a new partner--First Nations Community HealthSource--to the schools.
- Wilson offered nine food pantries that served 281 families/community members (duplicated). West Mesa High School opened Roadrunner Mobile Food Pantries, too, distributing 14,105 pounds of food in five months.
- 3,379 donated school supplies were provided to Grant and Wilson students.
- The new West Mesa High School Mustang Clothing Bank, located in a portable on campus, was and is a huge success. Target donates the majority of clothing and personal care mini-kits are also available.
- 220 visits were made to the West Mesa Mustang Clothing Bank and 1,239 items were distributed, valued at $13,350.
- 100% of parents at all YDI-Elev8 schools received school newsletters in up to three languages at least five times yearly.
Best of all, we touched the lives of students, and they touched ours. And, in many cases, we believe that we helped to expand their vision of tomorrow.
A tremendous thank you to the incredible school staffs at Grant, Wilson and West Mesa for their commitment to supporting, nurturing and encouraging youths. We were so proud to stand with our principals during YDI-Elev8's presentation to the National Forum of the Coalition for Community Schools in April and share our stories of success.
Next year marks Elev8's 10th year in New Mexico. Our deepest thanks to The Atlantic Philanthropies for its investment in Elev8's community school initiative and to all of Elev8's funders and supporters.
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YDI-Elev8's EWI Project Gears Up for Expansion to Two Schools
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"Responsibility Row
" marks a hallway at Grant Middle School, which piloted YDI-Elev8's EWI Project in 2015-16.
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Processes to expand YDI-Elev8's Early Warning Indicators (EWIs) Project have been developed by Elev8's staff this summer. The project, which was piloted at Albuquerque's Grant Middle School last year, will expand to Elev8's Wilson Middle and West Mesa High Schools in 2016-17.
EWIs are based on the assumption that the process of student disengagement starts much before a student drops out as reflected by his/her grades, attendance and disciplinary issues.
Crafted have been standard processes, feedback mechanisms for teachers and parents and a new AmeriCorps VISTA position to support students. Additionally, YDI-Elev8 will employ the
Nurtured Heart approach in working with students.
Grant and Wilson's EWI Projects will focus on case managing supports, also called Tier 3 interventions, for up to 15 high-need 6th to 8th-grade students. YDI-Elev8's community engagement coordinators and the schools' Health & Wellness Teams will address students' specific challenges and changes in progress and identify mentors to support them.
"What it provides is that human component at school and someone who's there that the teachers, the parents and the students know. It's an adult advocate for these students," said Grant Principal Paul Roney.
YDI-Elev8's EWI AmeriCorps VISTAs will assist with Tier I and II interventions focused on whole-school populations and problem-solving. These will include building awareness of the importance of attending school each day in alignment with
Mission: Graduate's "Every Day Matters" attendance guide for families.
At West Mesa High School a new EWI Project social worker has been hired by the school
's administration to work with 9th graders. YDI-Elev8's community engagement coordinator, Delma Madrigal, is working to develop materials for families and school staff, including strategies and supports, to further the EWI Project, including aligning Tier I and II interventions to YDI-Elev8's 4 Pillars (school health, extended learning, family engagement and family supports).
"(The EWI Project) gives the parents and the students that personal connection to the school, and I think that it's really going to be a successful program and it's one that we really want to continue," said Principal Roney.
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Changes at YDI-Elev8 Full-Service Community Schools
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| Wilson Principal Ann Piper |
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As YDI-Elev8 heads into its 10th year during the 2016-17 school year it will see a new principal at Wilson Middle School. Principal Ann Piper is heading to Tulsa, Okla., leaving behind a legacy of strong community school support and leadership. Often referred to by Elev8 staff as a community school cheerleader, Principal Piper will be greatly missed. She oversaw the renovation of Wilson's campus, which resulted in a wonderful space for YDI-Elev8's Family Resource Center, and development of a middle school model for the ABC Homework Diner. Her Wildcat spirit was always on display.
YDI is also transitioning sponsorship of its school-based health centers at Grant and Wilson Middle Schools to its provider, First Nations Community HealthSource. The NM Department of Health (DOH) Office of School and Adolescent Health let YDI know in December that, going forward, sponsors of school-based health centers would be medical entities. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), First Nations is positioned to bring long-term sustainability to the centers. YDI began implementing a DOH school-based health center grant in 2015, opening the centers with DOH funding in October.
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Visit YDI-Elev8's Website!
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