Dear Open Choice Partner;
To keep you informed regarding services, events, and information for the Hartford Region Open Choice program we have revived our newsletter, The Oracle, which you will receive on a monthly basis. We are thrilled to offer you another way to keep abreast of what is happening to help support children and families enrolled in your district through Open Choice. Please share this with your colleagues and contact us if you would like any additional information or assistance.
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The
Oracle
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March 2019 - In This Issue:
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DIRECTOR'S CORNER
What's New in Open Choice
Greetings from the Hartford Region Open Choice office,
Well,
it certainly played out that March came in like a lion! I am writing this after shoveling out and cleaning up with my family. I hope you and yours stayed safe and warm. Storm Wayne also disrupted our snow date for Dine and Discuss. Apologies to those who were impacted by canceling this event again! Life in Connecticut can be challenging this time of year. We'll send out a new date and time soon.
Women's History Month is here. Check out some great Women's History resources linked below.
Please share with your students and highlight these women in your classroom discussions, bulletin boards, and school newsletters
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The RSCO application cycle ended with 2,545 Hartford families applying for seats in your districts. We continue to be grateful for your partnership and for the commitment you have made to Hartford families. We look forward to continuing our equity and inclusion work with you
On both a sad and happy note, we would like to share that Peggy Gomez-Hixson has resigned from her position as the Elementary Resource Specialist for Open Choice as of March 15. Although her loss will be deeply felt by many, we are thrilled for her and the students at Jumoke Academy with whom she will be working. Peggy has taken a position as a .5 art teacher and .5 garden program coordinator. Right up her ally! As if it were created just for her. We will desperately miss Peggy for the dedication and commitment she has exhibited to the families, districts,
and students we serve. We will never be able to replace her smile, work ethic, food, love,
and support. Please join us in wishing Peggy well in her new endeavor. We request your patience and understanding as we seek to fill this vacancy within the Open Choice program and urge you to contact
Carole Kerkin with any critical elementary situations should they arise.
As a final note; April
is Celebrate Diversity Month!!
Warm Regards,
Debra M. Borrero
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FEATURE STORIES
We would like to feature the excellent work and partnership we have with our Open Choice districts. Please share your brief stories about Open Choice students and their positive experiences in your school/district, along with any high resolution photos. We will share them here and on CREC's Facebook and Instagram pages. Stories can be sent to
@OpenChoiceHartford on Instagram!
Thanks in large part to our colleague, Curtis Porter III; the Hartford Region Open Choice program is expanding its social media footprint! You can now find us on Instagram by searching @OpenChoiceHartford or by using our official hashtag #OpenChoiceHartford. Please use our hashtag when posting pictures on any social media platforms so that we can continue to promote all the great things districts are highlighting.
Join us on social media to catch all the Open Choice buzz!!
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OPEN CHOICE SHINES!
Southington
Twelve Southington High School students and three teachers spent two days building bonds, hearing other's perspectives, and discussing structural racism. They focused on understanding privilege, stereotypes, and how skin color impacts a person's life. Youth shared their perceptions of racial inequities within the school and brainstormed action ideas that, if implemented, could address existing racial inequities. One teacher noted, "The training was incredible... You gave us the empathy and compassion that enabled us to build bonds as you taught us the skills necessary to facilitate racial dialogues while we processed and acknowledged our feelings. It was masterful."
Choice After School Academy (CASA)
These young ladies were treated to a Valentine by our CASA Social Worker as a reward for excellent persistence in their academics.
Jeffrey, a kindergartner enrolled in Cherry Brook School in Canton through the Open Choice program has made impressive academic strides. Cherry Brook's strong reading program has helped Jeffrey learn his letters, letter sounds, sight words. "My favorite thing in the classroom is that I like to read books!" Jeffrey enthusiastically shared. As part of his academic program, he brings books from school each day to practice at home. His teacher is pleased with the support Jeffrey's parents so importantly provide.
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RESOURCE SPECIALIST'S RAMBLINGS
From Peg Gomez-Hixon (Elementary Resource Specialist)
If you can't beat them join them! Here at the Farmington Collaborative Preschool, students and teachers are relishing the winter by creating fun activities with winter themes. Snowman painting with icy blue colors and finding letters in ice are just two among the many activities being enjoyed by all.
The winter can sometimes be long and cold, but when approached positively it can be exciting, new, and explorative. Imagine a classroom with an igloo as a cozy corner or ice fishing in the dramatic play area! Wouldn't it be amazing to push cars and truck around in the snow, using the water table? Anything is possible with a little creativity. Great fun can be had while learning and working. These friends can't wait to get to their center time!
From Michael Livingston (Middle School Resource Specialist)
Congratulations to Aurianna Evans, Open Choice eighth grade student at East Granby Middle School on becoming one of the finalists at the East Granby Middle Science Convention. Aurianna entered Open Choice in the 6th grade, and quickly adjusted to her new environment and expressed a strong desire to be successful. During the past two years, Aurianna (below) has demonstrated rapid growth in all areas. In addition to achieving success in her classes, she also attends the Open Choice After-School Academy to keep up with her studies. Rianna, as all have come to know her, is a wonderful addition to East Granby Middle, "Aurianna's bright smile and engaging personality has made teaching her a rewarding experience," noted School Counselor Anne McCluskey. "She has worked diligently to adapt and to overcome many of the hardships that come with such a change. She is curious, devoted to her success, and a wonderful student to work with."
From
Roz Pacè (High School Resource Specialist)
Shian Earlington, Canton High School Hartford resident student, is pictured below on a recent school trip to Spain. On February 17 to February 24 of this year Shian (below), 16 school peers, and three chaperones participated in an educational trip to Spain. The experience deepened their education, appreciation, and practice of the Spanish language. Each day, the Avon students visited various parts of Spain and embraced the diverse culture and scenery.
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OUTREACH AND MARKETING MUSINGS
From Renita Ezell (Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator)
SAVE THE DATE - Registration Planning Meeting
An in-person and online meeting for all who register new Open Choice students is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, 2019 from 11 a.m.-11:30a.m. at 55 Van Dyke Avenue in Hartford. Information to join the meeting online will be forwarded later this month.
I
will be contacting the districts to confirm who will be registering Open Choice students. You can also forward the name, email and phone number of your registrar(s) to
[email protected]
or call (860) 524-4017.
The steps for district registrars will remain the same this year:
- Call families who received a placement to answer their questions and encourage them to accept their seat by the designated deadline.
- Contact families who accepted their seats to facilitate the district's registration process.
- After families register, forward a copy of their proof of address and the student's birth certificate/passport/adoption or probate document to [email protected].
- Update the District Portal to indicate that the students' registrations are complete
- Communicate regularly with the Open Choice Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator regarding students' registration status
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES
Dine & Discuss is an opportunity for districts to share best practices with each other. We are now planning the final topic of the year for April and May. Please respond to the survey below by March 15, so we can plan.
What topic are you most interested in for the next Open Choice Dine & Discuss? Click on your choice to vote!
For more information, please feel free to contact Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Gloria Francesca Mengual at [email protected] or at 860-509-3768.
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As a new service to districts, we will list links to resources that we feel may be of assistance to you in our monthly newsletter.
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AMILY ENGAGEMENT
From Curtis Porter (Family Engagement Specialist)
Our Open Choice Family Network Newsletter and Family Hot Topic Cafés have gotten a great response from our families. The newsletter features Hot Topics, Student Highlights, Resources, Featured Events, and Other Upcoming Events. In efforts to keep you all up to date, we are sharing the links for the past three months. Moving forward the links for the current month will be included.
The February Hot Topic Café was held at Tisane Café in Hartford (below). Families had the opportunity to network with one another and engage in motivational conversation. One of the hot topics was rebranding the Advisory Board to Parent Ambassadors. Families expressed the positive impact that comes along with holistically collaborating and networking more with district families in different capacities to support all students and families. As this group develops, more information will be forthcoming on how the ambassadors can be an asset to you all.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Event Title
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Date |
Time |
Location |
| Open Choice Prom Dress/Suit Giveaway |
March 16 |
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
Open Choice Office
55 Van Dyke Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106 |
| Hot Topic Parent Café |
March 23 |
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. |
Back Stage Café
35 Westbourne Parkway
Hartford, CT 06112 |
| Holistically Addressing the Contemporary Young Urban Male |
March 30 |
8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering
1101 Kennedy Road
Windsor, CT 06095 |
| New Student Registration Planning Meeting with Districts |
April 9 |
11 - 11:30 a.m. |
Online and
Open Choice Office
55 Van Dyke Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106
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