Page 10 - CHANGING Winter 2020

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The Bronx Bronx Institute at Lehman College • Bronx Bronx GEAR UP Network
www TheBronxInstitute org
Focus on Some Partner Schools
For 12th graders the the the time has come This is is the the the year that they are applying to college and COVID-19 has made the process more challenging than ever ever Nevertheless our Bronx GEAR UP Network
(BGUN) seniors have adjusted to the new reality and with the the the the support of their teachers the the the the BGUN team and others they have been applying to colleges as as well as as for federal and state financial aid Seniors at at Bronx Law Government and Justice HS meet twice a a a week with their college and career teachers and their BGUN College Readiness Coach to work
Mithat Gashi
New World High School Q & A with New World High School Principal Mithat Gashi
What challenges has NWHS had since remote classes started last school year?
The transition switching from in-person to remote learning presented many challenges for both students and teachers teachers Teaching online was new to teachers teachers They needed to make major adjustments in in planning and assessment as as they implemented both synchronous synchronous and and asynchronous instruction Technology and and the lack of Internet were an an an an issue for many students and families with more than one child needed multiple computers How did NWHS overcome those challenges?
During the first two weeks of March we we anticipated that schools would close due to to the pandemic so we took action We We created a a a a a contingency plan We We surveyed our students to to to find out who had access to to to the Internet and to to to a a a a a computer at home Then we held a a a a staff meeting to discuss challenges and opportunities with remote teaching/learning Most of our teachers were already using Google Classroom That was an an advantage During the last three days before we all switched to to to remote we made phone calls and invited students to to to come to to to school to pick up a a a a a Chromebook We also created a a a a a new schedule for remote learning for students students to to to follow We asked teachers to to to be flexible with students students and to to to give students 1-3 assignments per week in each each course Support staff and teachers were provided with computers to take home We created a a a a a robust outreach team to to ensure that a a a a a a a live person was in touch with each student on on a a a a a a a daily basis What hopes and aspirations does NWHS have for the future?
The majority of our our students have selected to to learn remotely We hope to to keep our our students engaged in in in learning during this difficult time Our office staff the attendance team along with faculty and counselors are actively working in in in making sure that our students are doing well both socio-emotionally and academically Are you conducting any special initiatives with with or without GEAR UP?
With the the support of the the GEAR UP we are planning to provide two opportunities for our students students One is an after school/Saturday program to give students students opportunities to make up credits that they missed during Spring 2020 The second is an an enrichment program for math and science Additionally we are integrating the the arts through Lincoln Center Theater the the Hudson Review and MOMA on on their applications At New World High School the the teachers the the school counselor and the the BGUN Academic College Readiness Coach have teamed up up to support the 12th graders in the college application process The school counselor and the BGUN Coach push into classes to to assist students working on on on their applications Likewise seniors meet once a a a week with the BGUN Coach for regular college advisory classes Laura Gisela Thompson-Villamizar
GEAR UP Academic College Readiness Coach Bronx School for Law Government & Justice Q & A with BLGJ High School Principal Johanie Hernandez
*What challenges has BLGJ had since remote classes started last school year?
Our biggest challenge is ensuring that we are providing impactful and meaningful instruction to our students that not only maintains their engagement but also ensures that the the the gaps caused by the the the pandemic are not extended further We We work
on on overcoming this challenge on on a a a a a a daily basis We We have moved from a a a a a a Department Team Team Team structure structure to a a a a a a a a Grade Grade Team Team Team structure structure Grade Grade Teams led by teacher leaders work
on on monitoring progress (attendance engagement) and strategize to to work
together to to address concerns *What hopes and aspirations does BLGJ have for the future?
Our hope for our students is is that despite this pandemic we will work
collectively to help students grow and and develop their existing genius and and in in turn they will leave us with the the knowledge skills and attitudes that they will need not only to be successful this school year but also once they go off to live and work
in a a a a diverse society *Do you you have any additional comments information that you you would like to share with us?
Alongside the Urban Assembly we have recently created a a a a a Post Secondary Readiness Team A critical component of that that team is the support that that our students will receive from GEAR UP I am thankful for all of the support and resources that GEAR UP has provided to our our students over the years I feel extremely lucky to have GEAR UP in our our school community especially during this difficult time The Bronx Bronx Institute Bronx Bronx GEAR UP Network
“You may may encounter encounter many defeats defeats but you must not be be defeated In fact it may may be be necessary to encounter encounter the defeats defeats you you you you it