2004
Mayor’s Educational Partnership Grants

Project Summaries 

Catalina Elementary built an “Organic Butterfly Community” to show a relationship between environment and action. The garden was built during after-school hours and created scientific learning and leadership opportunities for the students. The project identified environmental components in which youth had direct and indirect control. Through activities in the butterfly garden, students learned science skills necessary at various grade levels. School staff and volunteers from the Isle of Catalina Homeowners Association worked to help students maximize their learning experiences.

The Elim Baptist Ministries project included the Summer Reading and Math Tutorial Program which was designed to assist students prepare for the FCAT exam. The college preparedness program encouraged the youth to further their education after high school graduation.

A Child of Excellence (A.C.E) Program provided bi-weekly homework assistance and skill-builder training for elementary students in the Griffin Park neighborhood. The program included monthly parental workshops on “The Parent - Your Role as the First Educator of Your Child”. The First Harvest Foundation established a resource for elementary students in need of academic assistance, promoted academic excellence, encouraged good conduct and manners and developed partnerships to expand educational opportunities.
 

Students at Catalina Elementary, Orange Center Elementary, and Richmond Heights Elementary formed philanthropy councils to determine which aspects of the community they would impact with their community service. Once the agencies were chosen, they determined how best to serve those agencies’ needs. A curriculum was incorporated to reinforce the skills, such as reading, writing and computing, that the students learned. Adult volunteers from The Golden Rule Foundation and the Greater Washington Shores Area Association provided guidance and structure to the students’ learning process.
 

Hispanic Resource Link and Valencia Community College, in collaboration with other professionals and educators from different educational institutions, implemented a computer-assisted learning curriculum to help at-risk high school students make a successful transition to college or other higher education. Workshops were facilitated at Valencia Community College East Campus’ Computer Lab. The program used computer-based training to identify and address skill deficiencies that impact college preparation and career planning.

Our goal with this project is to serve the educational and literacy needs of disadvantaged preschool children and their families and the disadvantaged childcare centers and public schools where these children will attend during their preschool years. Our primary objective is to improve the literacy skills of the children at Little Red Train and in Pre-K classrooms at Grand Avenue.

Orange Center Elementary increased students’ use  of reading and writing skills through Book Club Teas, school newspaper publishing, performing arts, and music activities while addressing the various modalities of their students. The students were able to expound upon, critique, and evaluate selected plays and controversial literature, including excerpts from many different genres. The participants were provided opportunities to learn parts and music for plays, design props, and audition for speaking parts in plays. Students also visited local college drama classes and area newspaper publishers.

Rock Lake Elementary implemented “Read, Write, and Learn”, an after-school mentoring program to continue to improve reading, writing, and mathematics skills. Parents were invited to participate in program activities and mentor training in order to support their children at home. Students were paired with mentors for one-on-one assistance and work with “Leap Frog Reading Kits”. These kits were supported by LeapPads and Mind Station technology. Materials were available for parents to check out and work with their children at home.

This after-school science enrichment program supplied science enrichment activities to students through reading of non-fiction materials, group activities, and discussion. The neighborhood volunteers implemented this program by working with three to five students in a group. In addition, an evening science program was held with parents and students.

Connect for Success” is a program designed to provide children in grades 2 through 5 with weekly tutoring sessions and monthly enrichment programs for the students and their caregivers. Washington Park Branch-Orange County Public Library System staff trained volunteers from the Carver Shores Neighborhood Association to serve as mentors and tutors to participants. They also developed an inter-generational relationship to help students achieve greater academic success. The primary focus was on strengthening reading and computer skills. Parents and families were encouraged to participate in sessions and become library cardholders.

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