|
|
"Are You Smarter Than a Breakthrough Student?" a Fun & Successful Event!
|
Our trivia event featured high energy interaction between students and guests, focused concentration and lots of laughter, and we raised over $25,000! We appreciate the support of our sponsors and all who attended to support our program.
Click for full slide show
|
|
|
|
|
Student and Family Orientation
|
Breakthrough welcomed 40 new students and 69 returners, along with their families, at orientation. We look forward to building our summer community with high energy, high expectations and a ton of learning, laughter and leadership!
|
|
|
|
|
Breakthrough Student Julia Nees Speaker at Derryfield PFA Auction
|
As a guest speaker at The Derryfield School's Annual PFA Auction, Julia Nees shared Breathrough Manchester's positive impact on her. Her experience at Breakthrough strengthened her confidence, academics, and speaking skills and gave her a community of belonging. "I went into this program as a shy, almost seventh grader, and came out a well organized, prepared, and independent high schooler at The Derryfield School. It helps kids like me become the very first person in their family to attend college, or even to dream of going to college."
|
|
|
2018 Student Demographics
|
|
Donate Today! Give the Gift of Opportunity
|
|
|
|
|
With four weeks to go before our fiscal year ends, we have to raise another $30,800 to reach our annual fund goal! Please support the hard work and hopes of our 109 students this summer by donating below. We will also be participating in the NH Gives campaign, a 24-hour day of giving beginning on June 6th at 6:00 pm.
|
Seeking Homestay Families for Summer Teaching Fellows
We are seeking a few additional home stay placements for those teachers who are out-of-town and need a place to call home for the summer (June 19-Aug 6). Our Teaching Fellows are bright undergraduates looking to grow as teachers. For more details about this rewarding opportunity, please click below.
|
|
Executive Director Update
|
|
With decidedly mixed feelings, I have tendered my resignation as Breakthrough Manchester's Executive Director, effective July 27. I have recently accepted a position as the statewide Director of Education Services with Future In Sight, a New Hampshire nonprofit that is dedicated to transforming the lives of those who are blind or visually impaired, along with their families. I will begin that work on July 30.
I am happy to say that Reina Koistinen has agreed to step in as the Interim Director to finish out the last week of the program with students this summer. Reina will also support our small but mighty year-round staff, Lucy Weathers and Sue Fenton, as well as the summer seasonal staff through the final "wrap-up week" ending August 10. Firmly committed to Breakthrough, Reina was initially attracted to teach at Derryfield because of the program and saw the program through the eyes of her son, Josh, who volunteered as a school-year teacher. She has served on the Breakthrough Advisory Committee, translated documents for us into Spanish and worked as a school-year Instructional Coach. Currently a Spanish teacher at the school, Reina is very familiar with Derryfield facilities, staff and protocols, and she brings a long commitment to diversity and the under-served populations with whom Breakthrough works. Calm, steady, welcoming and competent, Reina will bring stability and a sense of reassurance to staff, students and families in a time of transition at the end of the summer.
I am proud of the progress we have made with Breakthrough over the past four years. The program is on sound financial footing with a balanced budget and a substantial operating reserve for future growth, and we now have a financially sustainable full six-year pipeline for students through our invaluable partnership with Southern NH University. We have created a step-by-step blueprint for future exploration of separate 501c3 status and expansion to another city, and The Derryfield School has taken the first significant step in that direction by formally voting that the BTM endowment and the operating reserve funds will transfer to Breakthrough if and when the program receives its 501c3 designation. Built on more than 25 years of excellent leadership and a continual willingness to innovate, the program enjoys an excellent reputation and continues to transform lives of both students and emerging teachers. As always, there is much more to be done, and I look forward to seeing where the program goes from here. My husband Bruce and I have been proud supporters of Breakthrough since 1992, and that will not change.
I will remain with Breakthrough for another two months, and I look forward to launching another spectacular summer with an inspiring community - 109 eager middle school students, 24 talented Teaching Fellows, a seasonal professional staff of 5, and a seasonal support staff of 4. Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, and please keep an eye out for great candidates who might shepherd the program forward from here. I am grateful to have followed on the heels of champions, and I hope that tradition will continue long into the future. And, I am grateful for you - for the steady and gracious support of our donors, champions, partners, teaching fellows, instructional coaches and followers. Our students have ambitious goals and the motivation and hard work work to match. They deserve no less. Thank you.
Becky Berk
Executive Director
|
|
2108 River Road
Manchester, NH 03104
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
