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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November 2018 - In This Issue:
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DIRECTOR'S CORNER
What's New in Open Choice
During this month of Thanksgiving, we are grateful for your partnership and our parents in the Hartford Region Open Choice program for helping CREC to continue working toward social justice and equity for all students in Connecticut. Please know that without you this goal cannot be reached.
Now onto some exciting news! Please join us in welcoming Curtis Porter as our new Family Engagement Specialist starting on November 13. Curtis is a Hartford resident as well as a family and community advocate who has been diligently serving students and families in the Greater Hartford area, most recently in the Hartford Public Schools. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, he will bring a fresh and innovative approach to family engagement. You will have the opportunity to meet him at our upcoming Dine & Discuss about Family Engagement where Ellington and Farmington will present their best practices on November 27 and 29. We hope you can join us, details are below in "Professional Development Possibilities."
Open Choice Applications are now open! The Regional School Choice Office (RSCO)'s application for Open Choice and magnets is now available for families to apply through February 28, 2019 at
www.choiceeducation.org. Please continue to share the good work you are doing in your districts and the success stories of students enrolled in your district through Open Choice. We will share these stories on
CREC's social media.
Finally, remember that November is National Native American Heritage Month and December is an opportunity to celebrate the Winter Solstice.
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 Twitter pages. Stories can be sent to
Family First Celebration at DDP
Last month, CREC hosted its first ever Family Engagement Celebration, titled Family First, at Dunkin' Donuts Park.
Representatives & parents from
CREC Family Resource Center
, CREC Magnet Schools, the Hartford Region Open Choice program, the City of Hartford, Dunkin Donuts' Park, Hartford Board of Education, University of Hartford, and local clergy members shared stories of the importance of parental involvement in schools and interests towards the students' success in education. Parents appreciated the effort to recognize their involvement in their child's school and valued the message that every kid needs a champion.
"We all know that family engagement is the backbone to student success," said Eric Crawford, managing director of the CREC Family Resource Center. "This event will create enthusiasm for staff and parents to work together to ensure success for their students."
Organizers planned skill-building activities and facilitated conversations to engage parents and guardians at the event.
A major goal of the event was to encourage parents and guardians that their presence in their child's school experience is vital to the student's achievement in their education, career, and life. A great time was had by all!
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Open Choice Shines!
Lizbeth Serrano, Suffield
A future veterinarian, Lizbeth is a senior at Suffield High School and has participated in the Hartford Region Open Choice program since kindergarten. Lizbeth now attends Suffield High's Agriscience Program and is a proud member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA); a youth organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. In October, Lizbeth attended the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana with 69,944 other attendees. Lizbeth also enjoys volunteering at Ebony Horse Women. We wish Lizbeth continued success on her journey to becoming a veterinarian.
Naviah Barrow, Granby
Homecoming at Granby Memorial High School was a great night for Naviah, a junior, who was honored to be part of the Homecoming Court along with her classmate, Rowan Heinze. Naviah has been a Granby student since Kindergarten through the Hartford Region Open Choice Program. Not only is she a scholar, but she is also a member of the field hockey and basketball teams, and the Capitol Region Interdistrict Leadership Academy (CRILA). What a special night for Naviah!
Noah Wallace School, Farmington
Thanks to the enthusiastic and forward thinker, Carrie Huber, principal at Noah Wallace in Farmington, CREC provided training for all teachers in the art of proactive Circle Keeping. Thirty-four educators from the school participated in the three-hour professional development for implementation in all classrooms this school year. The Circles Keeping concept is implemented globally and is a way for adults and students get to know each other in a structured and safe space. Proactive circles develop and deepen relationships within classrooms and schools and lead to less conflict and stress for all involved. Thank you, Carrie and Farmington Public Schools, for your partnership and hard work in supporting students enrolled in the Hartford Region Open Choice Program.
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TRANSPORTATION TIDBITS
Since last year, Rudy Thomas has been collecting and analyzing all disciplinary write-ups for Open Choice bus runs. Over the past month, we have seen a steady increase in the number of behavioral issues on buses. We would like to share best practices regarding bus behavior. If your school or district has implemented a creative approach to this problem please email Rudy, (
[email protected]) and share this practice. We will compile all information received and send it out in next month's Oracle.
In the meantime; the Open Choice office is seeking grant funding to start a
Bus Grannies and Grampies program, as well as researching cost for placing DVD players on buses so that students can watch a movie on their route.
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The Hartford Region Open Choice After School Academy (CASA) has just completed four weeks of after school support to 43 students from the 13 districts! Several of our partnering districts are reporting an increase in homework completion and improvement in grades for those students attending the program. Students are coming in each day proudly displaying their improving grades, especially in the content areas of math and English/language arts.
We have room for more students to attend CASA and welcome your referrals. Please visit
www.crec.org/CASA to access our referral form.
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RESOURCE SPECIALIST'S RAMBLINGS
From Mike Livingston (Middle School Resource Specialist)
The Hartford Region Open Choice program is pleased to announce that we have entered into a collaborative agreement with
Hartford Youth Scholars (HYS). The overall goal of the HYS program is to motivate middle school students to see themselves in college and to develop the skills necessary to successfully complete a course of student in a four year college or university. This partnership will enable Open Choice middle school students the opportunity to attend a rigorous summer program, as well as after-school programming and Saturday classes during the school year. HYS makes a ten year commitment to students to support them until high school graduation.
Nominees for this program must be Hartford residents who are in the sixth grade. Nominees must also exhibit the academic potential and desire to make the commitment to excel in high school, go to college, and earn a degree. If you know of an Open Choice student who meets these qualifications
, please contact me at (860) 461-5759 or
[email protected]
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RESOURCE ALERT!
Did you know that the Hartford Region Open Choice office has a
free translation service available
only to Open Choice families in our partnering districts? We do! If you are in need of a live person who can translate for you (via phone) follow these simple steps:
- EMAIL: Send an email to [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance of needing this service to request the Open Choice code
- DIAL: 1-866-874-3972
- PROVIDE: Client Id Number 527335
- INDICATE: Language
- PROVIDE: The Open Choice Code you received via email
We recommend that you call in advance of the meeting to prepare your translator and state the nature of the translation.
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ROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES
Dine and Discuss!
From front porch steps to local community centers to area parks to coffee houses; suburban district educators are combining commitment with creativity to connect early on with families of Hart
ford c
hildren about to enter their kindergarten classes. In August, staff from suburban school districts reached out to Hartford families in their neighborhoods to welcome them, share information about the school, and build that sense of trust so vital to productive parent/school collaboration.
Suburban school district staff will discuss outreach strategies used this past summer, as well as other efforts made throughout this school year, that have continued to strengthen family/school connections. They will highlight outcomes of their efforts, including increased family attendance at extracurricular activities, responsiveness to calls, emails, and much more.
Learn more about best practices regarding family engagement; hear from Ellington and Farmington as they share their work to engage Hartford families that have met with success and participate in facilitated table conversations highlighting strategies that have worked in school districts. Take a look at the great work of Ellington Public schools here:
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| Ellington's Open Choice Family | Ellington Public Schools |
Sessions will be held from 4:15 - 6:15 p.m. in Wethersfield on November 27, and the same time on November 29 in Windsor Locks. Addresses are below in the "Upcoming Events" section.
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 |
Dine and Discuss
Best Practices for
Family Engagement |
November 27
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4:15 - 6:15 p.m. |
Silas Deane Middle School
551 Silas Deane Highway
Wethersfield, CT 06109
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Dine and Discuss
Best Practices for
Family Engagement |
November 29
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4:15 - 6:15 p.m.
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Windsor Locks B.O.E/High School Building
58 South Elm Street
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 |
| Open Choice Leadership Institute: Day Two |
December 6 |
7:30 a.m - 3:30 p.m.
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CREC's Open Choice Office
Room 310
55 Van Dyke Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106 |
| Final Open Choice Leadership Institute |
January 7 |
7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
CREC's Open Choice Office
55 Van Dyke Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106 |
| Information Session for Prospective Families |
January 23 |
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
CREC Central
111 Charter Oak Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106 |
| 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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