ESI Update
Week of March 24
Principals and ESI Team Members,
We continue to see exciting strategies being implemented across ESI schools. Last week Urban Assembly for Careers in Sports and Science Genius were in the news. (Click here to see the news video on Urban Assembly and Science Genius.) Science Genius is an exciting program that infuses hip hop, which is part of the culture of many of our ESI young men, into science classes. This year, ESI partnered with the creators behind the program, Dr. Chris Emdin, Professor at Teachers College, and GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan. Science Genius is the kind of innovative strategy that ESI is looking to uplift in our schools. A total of 12 ESI schools signed up to take part. This week a number of participating schools had an opportunity to bring students to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum where they heard about the history of the aircraft carrier. (See Shout Outs below.) They also gathered in the auditorium of the Intrepid to learn more about the Science Genius program. We encourage school leaders to continue thinking about the innovative strategies we want perpetuated in our schools next year and beyond.
In this issue you will find the following features:
- News and Updates: ESI Symposium June 12 and Year Three Workplans!
- Opportunities: MCU Build a Better School Contest and All Star Code!
- School Spotlight: High School for Law and Public Service!
- Resources: Interactive Tools for College Planning and Access, 5 Games and Apps That Build Math and English Skills!
- Shout Outs: El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice and Explorations Academy!
News and Updates
*This feature is intended to keep you up-to-date on what’s happening in ESI.
June 12 ESI Symposium
WHERE: Brooklyn Law School
Subotnik Center – 10th Floor
250 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
WHEN: Doors open at 3:45 p.m.
Refreshments will be served.
More details to come!
Summer Plans and Year Three Workplan Due Dates
Summer Plans are due by May 9. School Year Plans are due by June 2. ESI Liaisons received copies of Year Three ESI Workplans at this month’s Liaisons Meeting. The ESI Team will be visiting schools to support planning for this summer and Year 3. School leaders should work with their ESI Liaison to complete and submit their school’s plans by the due date. For further questions, please contact Paul Forbes at PForbes@schools.nyc.gov.
Opportunities
For Students
MCU Build a Better School Contest
What does your school need to thrive? How would you make it better? How would you like to win $10,000 for your school?
New York City high and middle school students are invited to submit a three-minute video telling why their school is in need and the project they would undertake to make it better – if they had the money.
The winners will be selected based on:
1. the school’s need;
2. the spirit of collaboration
demonstrated in the video and the
proposed project;
3. the creativity of the project; and
4. how the project will help strengthen the school community.
The winning school will receive a monetary award, with a grand prize of $10,000!
For more information, click here. For a copy of the submission form and guidelines, click here.
All Star Code
All Star Code is a non-profit initiative that prepares qualified boys of color for full-time employment in the technology industry by providing mentorship, industry exposure, and intensive training in computer science. They are dedicated to closing the opportunity gap between young men of color and the tech industry.
All Star Code selects 20 smart, talented, and driven high school juniors and seniors to participate in the program. These young men receive hands-on, project-based instruction in computing concepts, programming fundamentals, mobile phone development, robotics, web development, and design. They provide 200+ hours of intensive instruction with high-touch mentorship and exposure, led by mission-aligned engineers and entrepreneurs in the tech industry.
The deadline to apply for summer 2014 is April 3. For more information, click here. To apply, click here.
Henry Street University Six-Week College Readiness Program
Expanded Horizons College Prep is currently recruiting for Henry Street University (HSU) a six-week summer experience for rising seniors which runs from July 7 – August 14, 2013. It is designed to prepare the Class of 2015 for the college application process!
During the summer students will:
- Participate in a mandatory 6 week college readiness program (classes meet Mondays)
- Attend SAT or ACT prep class (classes will meet on Tuesdays and exams will be held on select Wednesdays)
- Attend 5 college tours (fees may apply) and admissions roundtable
- Create a well-rounded and comprehensive college list with assistance from a college counselor
- Review the application process for CUNY, SUNY, private and out-of-state colleges
- Write and fine-tune a personal statement/college essay that will set you apart from the crowd
- Explore the financial aid process, including the FAFSA, TAP, and scholarship opportunities
The Eligibility Criteria for HSU includes:
*Student must be a rising senior in summer 2015 (graduating June 2015)-thus current juniors
*Students must have a CUMULATIVE GPA of 78% or above.
*Priority given attend High School or live in Community District 3 which includes the Lower East Side, Chinatown, and the East Village.
*Priority given to students receiving free or reduced lunch
*Students must submit prior SAT scores (if they have taken the SAT exam).
Students must HAND-DELIVER all application information including:
The application DEADLINE is 5pm on Friday, May 9. Students must include a copy of their most recent high school transcript and SAT scores (if available) with the 3 forms attached. There is also mandatory parent meeting for all parents of accepted students on June 12, 2014 from 5:45- 7pm.
Application must be HAND-DELIVERED to:
Judith Belliard
301 Henry Street, Rm 409
New York, NY 10002.
Penn State Prospective Student Receptions
Interested students and parents are encouraged to attend one of their Prospective Student Receptions to learn more about Penn State’s academics, admissions process, financial aid, and more. Click here for more information.
For Staff Members
NYC High School Counselor Bus Trip to Stony Brook University
The NYC High School Counselor Bus Tour to Stony Brook University, sponsored in collaboration with the SUNY Center for Student Recruitment, will take place on April 30th, 2014. This will be a great opportunity to meet members of the Admissions Team, Campus Administrators, Tour Campus, and much more. ROUND-TRIP BUS TRANSPORTATION FROM NYC PUBLIC LIBRARY AND LUNCH PROVIDED.
WHERE: Bus Departs from NYC Public Library at Fifth Avenue between 41st & 42nd Streets
WHEN: 7:15 am SHARP on Wednesday, April 30, 2014
For more information, click here.
Seating is limited. Click here to register.
Once per week, ninth grade students are invited to come and work with their peers and their teachers on various service learning projects. Upperclassmen who served as mentors were also invited to attend these sessions. Upperclassmen mentors were then paired with a Freshman student and introduced to the service learning project.
