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Student & Family Newsletter
April 4th - April 8th
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Photo Credit: Common Ground Math Teacher & Junior Guide Mel Morales | |
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Hello, Common Ground Students & Families -
At Common Ground, we believe EVERY student is growing into a powerful leader – and leadership takes many forms. We want to shout out:
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The 142 students who cast their votes for student-written proposals for Voice for Change, and the students who wrote and championed these proposals – including Jayla Turner, Mikela Jones, Liliana McIntosh, Alexander Almanzar, Deja Beckford, Diana Isodoro, Asia Vilsaint, and Jeremiah Godley. Results coming soon – we are just waiting for the state to make them official!
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Seniors Christopher Albert and Georgii Larkov, who presented this week to our Alder Honda Smith, and to the New Haven Director of Public Works – sharing plans for making the area around Common Ground safer for bus riders, walkers, cyclists, and all of us!
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Ibrahim Al Hraaki, Edison Santiago, and John Atonk, who beat out strong competition from their teachers and peers to win the 3-on-3 10th Grade March Madness basketball tournament!
There are more opportunities for positive, powerful leadership around the corner:
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This Wednesday, teachers submit mid-term comments and grades. Students, this is the right time to make sure you are doing your best work in all your classes.
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Students & staff, voting will open this week for our 9th Annual Environmental Leader in Residence. Stay tuned for the ballot!
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This Saturday 10-1, you can help clean up Springside Avenue and bring much-needed attention to traffic safety in our neighborhood! Students, sign up here for the Rock to Rock Day of Service!
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In April, all 10th graders will present their leadership portfolios, and seniors are preparing for their final portfolio defenses in May. We’re excited to see you shine as you share your power & growth!
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Thursday, April 14th is Community Service Day! Remember, students need 15 hours of service each year to earn credit in guidance.
Families, thanks for supporting our powerful student leaders. We are excited to see you at Mid-Term Conferences -- in person on Tuesday, April 13th, or by Zoom on Wednesday, April 14th. Details below!
Sincerely,
Cherry Pacquette Emmanuel
School Director
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Here's the breakdown of information you'll find in this newsletter:
- Midterm Family/Teacher Conferences
- Get Your CG Veggies, Eggs & More
- Congratulations To Seniors On College Acceptances
- On The Spot Decision Week For Colleges at CG
- Join our Rock to Rock Team, And Fundraise for Common Ground!
- Yale Environmental Science Cafe 2022: Pangolins, Beetles, and Traditional Farming - Tuesday, April 5, 6-7pm!
- Do You Know What You're Doing This Summer?
- Spring & Summer Green Jobs Applications Remain Open
- $$$$Attention Seniors! Scholarships!
- Meet Ms. Darlitha Busby, Special Education Teacher
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1. Midterm Family/Teacher Conferences
Families, please join us for mid-term conferences! You will be able to meet with your students' classroom teachers, in person or by Zoom. Look for additional details and reminders by email and SMS!
Tuesday 4/12: 4:00-7:00 pm, In Person in the Hilltop Building
Wednesday 4/13: 1:30-3:30 pm, Virtual Zoom Conferences
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2. Get Your CG Veggies, Eggs & More!
Want Fresh Veggies from the Common Ground Farm?
WHAT: 6 weeks of Fresh Spring Veggies (greens, eggs + more!!) for Common Ground students & their families
WHEN: 6 afterschool pickups: Thursdays 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26, 6/2, 6/9
HOW MUCH?: PAY WHAT YOU CAN $0-$25 per week *everyone gets $20+ worth of produce each week
HOW DO I APPLY? Fill out this electronic form here or a paper form [ask Farmer Disha, Diane or Ms. Iris] & return to your GUIDANCE TEACHER or the SCHOOL OFFICE by Monday May 2 to be one of 25 CGHS families to receive a weekly share of veggies. Click HERE to apply!
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3. Celebrating Our Latest College Acceptances!
CONGRATULATIONS to ...
- Ismael Al Hraaki - Fairfield University!
- Shykwan Covington, University of Hartford with big scholarship renewable for 4 years, and Lasell University!
- Sam Oathout - Boston University!
- Larry Wilkins - University of Bridgeport and Southern Connecticut State University!
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4. On The Spot Decision Week For Colleges Starts April 4th
On The Spot Decision Week Starts April 4th to April 8th! Connecticut State Universities will be at CGHS to promote their University, have Interviews with Admissions for on-the-spot decisions, and host current college students and alumni panelists. Students are encouraged to submit their applications and required documents to receive their decision on the spot. Accepted Students are encouraged to come to be celebrated as well. There will be Cake to Celebrate those Accepted Students!
Here are the Dates and Times Of The Visits:
April 4th 11:30 - 12:45 University of Connecticut
April 5th 11:30 - 12:45 Western Connecticut State University
April 6th 11:30 - 12:45 Eastern Connecticut State University
April 7th 11:30 - 12:45 Southern Connecticut State University
April 8th 11:30 - 12:45 Central Connecticut State University
See Flyer HERE!
Contact Ms. Dani Dixon at danielle.dixon@nhep.com to participate!
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5. Environmental Science Cafe 2022: Pangolins, Beetles, and Traditional Farming - Tuesday, April 5, 6-7pm!
Interested in life as a scientist? Participate in the Environmental Science Café hosted by students at the Yale School of Environment! Researchers will share their journeys to Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the woods of Connecticut to explore questions about pangolin conservation, the diversity of traditional farming, and how insects cycle nutrients.
Register: onha.yale.edu/EnviroScienceCafe
Presenters:
Janey R Lienau (Connecticut) Ground beetle nitrogen cycling in eastern temperate forests
Coral Keagan (Thailand) Pangolin conservation in Thailand: leveraging local ecological knowledge
Raqib Valli (Sri Lanka) Exploring the native ethnobotanical diversity of a traditional Sri Lankan village
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6. Students & Families, join our Common Ground team for the Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride!
We hope that you will:
- SIGN UP FOR ROCK TO ROCK AND JOIN COMMON GROUND'S TEAM!
- FUNDRAISE TO MAKE COMMON GROUND'S WORK POSSIBLE!
- GET EVERY DOLLAR YOU RAISE MATCHED 1:1
- RIDE OR HIKE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH - OPTIONS FOR CYCLISTS OF ALL AGES & ABILITIES, AND OPTIONS THAT DON'T INVOLVE RIDING AT ALL!
- SWEET PRIZES FOR THE GUIDANCE GROUPS THAT RAISE THE MOST, CONTRIBUTE THE MOST SERVICE HOURS, AND HAVE THE MOST RIDERS & HIKERS!
LEARN MORE! Visit our Team Page.
LET US KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED! Students, Click here! Families, click here!
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7. Green Jobs Still Applications Open!
Green Jobs Corps is a unique job training program, providing students with coaching, skill-building, academic support, and college/ career coaching. Students receive pay for work and academic credit for participation. Corps members learn about time management, accountability, and the importance of team building in workshops, and put the learning into practice through paid job placements. Participation in all components of the program is required to be considered for paid opportunities.
Complete the GJC Application Online HERE! Now Accepting Application for Spring & Summer Cycles.
**A Youth@Work Application must ALSO be submitted to be considered for SUMMER Jobs. **
Youth@Work Applications can be found in the mailbox outside of the Pathways Office in the Springside Building or printed online using this link.
For Summer Jobs Only: Youth@Work Application Deadline is April 28, 2022
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8. Do You Know What You Are Doing This Summer? Take Action Now!
What do YOU want to do this summer? Don't wait -- you can start making plans NOW!
Students and families, check out this presentation from our virtual summer opportunities fair -- FULL of opportunities for paid jobs, pathways exploration opportunities, early college classes, and more.
If you didn't get a explore these summer opportunities in guidance on Friday, and complete this survey, you'll have a chance in the week ahead.
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10. Meet Ms. Darlitha Busby, Special Education Teacher
Ms. Darlitha Busby joined Common Ground’s special education team early in the school year, but she’s the kind of person who seems like she’s always been part of our school community. She earned the nickname “Queen Bee” or “Momma Buzz” at the last school where she taught – partially a reference to her name, partially to her ability to create a “bee hive” where students feel safe and supported, able to do their best work.
"It's just how I’m set up, that I go all in. I try to do everything with love and kindness. My goal is to bring calmness to chaos. I get up every morning, excited to come here. I love what I do, and I do exactly what I’ve always wanted to do."
Read an interview with Ms. Busby by members of our Educational Change Internship team.
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