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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January 2019 - In This Issue:
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DIRECTOR'S CORNER
What's New in Open Choice
It's January! This month brings with it new beginnings, resolutions and renewed enthusiasm
! The beginning of a new year allows us to reassess and think about what we want to accomplish in 2019. This year we would like to encourage our Open Choice partners to focus on the development of a kinder, gentler global community.
During the past few years, we have seen an increase in incidents related to inequality, hate and discrimination. As a means of assisting our partnering school districts in addressing these issues; Granby and West Hartford school districts will present their work regarding equity & inclusion at two upcoming Open Choice events. We have already seen great interest in these sessions which will focus on developing, implementing and sustaining systems to support your district's equity efforts. We look forward, with enthusiasm, to the collective dialogue and cooperative learning that these events will afford. Look for specific details listed below in our Professional Development Offerings section.
Just a reminder, January is Celebrate World Religions Month and February is Black History 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
CREC Scholarship Opportunity for ALL Students - Apply Now!
The Bruce E. Douglas Scholarship for Overcoming Adversity is awarded to a deserving CREC region high school senior who is enrolled in a two or four-year college for the upcoming year. The scholarship supports students who, with great potential, have overcome adversity or obstacles to achieve success. The recipient will be eligible for up to $4,000 to be used for university fees, meal plans, summer housing, books or supplies. Recipients will receive $1,000 per year for up to four years of college or university. Candidates can apply online at
www.crec.org/c/BEDScholarshipapp
The application deadline is April 2, 2019!
Sheff v. O'Neill 30th Anniversary Celebration - Where Do We Go From Here?
Join the Hartford Public Library as they commemorate the filing of the landmark Sheff v. O'Neill school desegregation case, the reason the Hartford Region Open Choice Program exists, with a community conversation on the history and future of educational equity in Connecticut and workshops highlighting the advocacy of Hartford parents and students.
It's been 30 years since a group of parents from Hartford and surrounding towns came together to demand that the State of Connecticut correct the extreme segregation and inequity in the region's schools. On Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, we'll examine the state of integration in Greater Hartford through the lens of Dr. King's final published work, "From Chaos to Community: Where Do We Go From Here?"
How has the case shaped the education system since? What have we learned, and what does the future of integration look like?
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Open Choice Shines!
Ziggy Milner, Plainville
Ahziyah " Ziggy" Millner, a sophomore at Plainville High School, is a shining example of what a student cane overcome when they choose to commit. Ziggy was skeptical about attending the Choice After School Academy (CASA) after a long day of school. In a short time, Ziggy has demonstrated commitment and excellence in her academic productivity. Ziggy now feels better about coming to CASA to get help and completing all her homework. Awesome job, Ziggy!
Lourdes Ward, Canton
Lourdes has been an Open Choice parent for over 20 years. Her two older sons graduated from Canton Public Schools and her youngest child will graduate in June 2019.
"I believe Open Choice helped my children a lot. Besides morals and values instilled in them, they were also respected in this community as one of their own. It's very important for parents to be engaged with the school and their children. Schools had higher expectation in academics; pushed them to excel. I would do it all over again."
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As a mid-year refresher, we thought we would provide a summary of the services and program that Open Choice provides to you. Please click on the link below for a printable summary of services.
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OUTREACH and MARKETING MUSINGS
We are in the midst of recruiting families to apply to Open Choice through the Regional School Choice Office now through February 28, 2019. We have two Open Choice Information Sessions scheduled to provide an opportunity for prospective families to learn more about Open Choice, speak with district representatives and meet current Open Choice parents.
The dates are below in the Events section.
Please consider sending a district representative(s) to participate and share information about your schools. If you would like your district represented, please forward the name(s) and email address(es) of the designated representative(s) to Renita Ezell at [email protected]
The RSCO Application Process
Families can submit a Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) application for the following reasons:
- To get additional children into Open Choice
- To receive sibling preference
- To change a student's Open Choice district
- To get all siblings into the same district
To submit a RSCO application, families may visit www.choiceeducation.org. The application deadline is February 28, 2019.
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RESOURCE SPECIALIST'S RAMBLINGS
From Peg Gomez-Hixon (Elementary Resource Specialist)
The Capitol Region Education Council's Family Resource Center (FRC) located at the Wilson Gray YMCA, 444 Albany Avenue in Hartford, hosted their annual holiday party for families from magnet schools and the Hartford Region Open Choice program on December 21. It was a spectacular occasion filled with food, festivity, and 244 family members! Everyone was filled with the anticipation of Santa's expected visit alon
g with the promise of a gift for every child. A traditional meal of ham, chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans was served lovingly by the teachers and staff of the CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Eric Crawford and Cristina De Araujo (two FRC staff members) were a miraculous duo. Together they orchestrated the entire event down to the last magical detail. There was also a cookie decorating table with gingerbread men and ladies!
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| FRC Director Eric Crawford, speaks to students and families at the holiday event. |
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Cookie decorating at its best! |
From
Roz Pacè (High School Resource Specialist)
The Hartford Region Open Choice Program is sponsoring its first "Prom Dress/Suit Giveaway."
The brainchild of BCBA Kristen Martel, this event is sure to be a fun and fabulous time!
The high school prom is an event where students may feel pressured into purchasing something new and extravagant.The Open Choice program's goal is to facilitate an alternative option.
We are excited to be able to connect with several students through this fun process.
On Saturday, March 16, 2019, the Open Choice staff, in collaboration with Open Choice social work interns, will offer Open Choice students the opportunity to select free prom attire between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 55 Van Dyke Avenue, Hartford, CT. Please encourage your students to participate and pick out a special dress/suit for the occasion. We are sending out invites to all juniors and seniors, but we encourage you to invite your students to come and find that special dress or suit and/or accessories for their prom.
If you have dresses, suits or accessories that you would like to donate, please contact Kristen Martel at (860) 305-8446 or [email protected]. For more information or with any questions, please contact Roz Pacè, High School Resource Specialist at 860-240-6612 or [email protected].
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ROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Dine & Discuss - Moving to Action for Equitable Classrooms
Addressing equity requires a systemic effort that engages all stakeholders in shifting mindsets and implementing equity-focused classroom, school, and district practices. By collaborating to understand root causes of inequity through individual stories, equity can be addressed by understanding, planning, and acting. Changing long-standing mindsets and practices requires strong shared leadership, courage, and commitment.
Granby Public
Schools Equity Task Force
A hearty "thank you" to the members of the Granby Public Schools Equity Taskforce that shared how their group was established and the steps taken to address issues involving isolation and discrimination in order to foster the development of an equity lens on the part of educators and students. The event occurred on Thursday, January 17 at Timothy Edwards Middle School in South Windsor and was attended by over 25 district teachers and administrators.
West Hartford Equity & Diversity Council
On Tuesday, February 12 at Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington, members of the West Hartford Equity and Diversity Council will describe the work their five subcommittees have done to examine, develop and improve systemic practices, programs and policies in their district.
Learn more about building a system to support your district equity efforts by participating in facilitated table conversations to explore how a purposeful focus on equity can help transform challenges to shared successes.
To register for a session, please email your name, position, and district to
[email protected]
along with the session you will attend. Both sessions will take place between 4:15 - 6:15 p.m.
For information regarding specific locations and registration please contact Gloria Francesca Mengual at
[email protected]
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Event Title
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Date |
Time |
Location |
| Sheff v. O'Neill 30th Anniversary Celebration |
January 19 |
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
Hartford Public Library
500 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103 |
| Information Session for Prospective Families |
January 23 |
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
CREC Central
111 Charter Oak Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106 |
| RSCO Fair |
January 26 |
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
Conard High School
110 Beechwood Rd.
West Hartford CT, 06107 |
| Family Meet and Greet |
TBD
Contact Curtis Porter III |
5 - 7 p.m. |
451 Restaurant
351 Franklin Ave.
Hartford, CT 06114 |
| Liasions' Breakfast |
February 7 |
8 - 10 a.m. |
Open Choice
55 Van Dyke Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106 |
Dine and Discuss:
Equity in School |
February 12 |
4 - 6:30 p.m. |
Irving A. Robbins
Middle School
20 Wolf Pit Rd.
Farmington, CT 06032 |
| Information Session for Prospective Families |
February 12 |
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
CREC Central
111 Charter Oak Ave
Hartford, CT 06106 |
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