Board of Education News:  Programs That Make a Difference

 

 

          At the May 8, 2008 meeting, the “Coventry Pride” section focused on the Reading Programs at the G. H. Robertson School.  Rebecca Moe and Kim Kozlowski, para-educators at GHR, presented information on the Rising Stars Program, which takes place first thing in the morning from 7:30 – 8:10 a.m.  The focus is on literacy competencies.  Mr. Petrone, GHR Principal, said parent willingness is very important because they have to be committed to making sure students arrive to school by 7:30 a.m.  He said staff is very impressed with the attendance rate.  Ms. Kozlowski said it was wonderful to see the students really coming together as a team.

           Mr. Petrone then spoke about the after school Expanding Horizons program, which began through a grant from UCONN.  Originally the program was to run for two years through UCONN, but it was so successful that GHR staff have continued it on their own into now, its third year.  He said they are still working with UCONN and Dr. Catherine Little, who is very supportive by providing free tutors and books.  Dr. Little said there is a visible increase in fluency with these students.

          Kim Licata and Michelle Santese, Expanding Horizons teachers, also spoke about the program.  They said it is based on school-wide reading model frameworks and is split into two sessions, one in the fall and one in the winter/spring.  It is structured with goals and phases, with one phase including students voluntarily completing journals.  A love of reading is evident in the students who participated in the program. 

          Tune in to Munivision, Channel 13, to view the entire portion of this meeting and learn more about “Programs that Make a Difference.”