School Zone
Points of Pride
United Way Dollars Invested in Duval County Public Schools
DCPS employee contributions of more than $422,000 this year to the United Way of Northeast Florida will be returned in an innovative strategy to decrease dropouts.
Six years ago, United Way of Northeast Florida took a close look at how its programs affect the good of the community, and saw that change was needed. Indicators showed that the community’s efforts toward resolving complex social problems were not producing the results needed for improved conditions. United Way adopted a new direction—a direction that addresses the root causes of the symptoms that plague Northeast Florida children and youth. After an intensive study to uncover the most important root causes of social ills, United Way found that helping students at-risk for dropping out of high school is an area that held out the possibility of doing the most good for the greatest number of people.
The program, Achievers For Life, targets middle school students at risk of dropping out with comprehensive services and programming to move them successfully into 9th grade, and increase their capacity for completing high school on time. The program seeks to improve the dropout and graduation rates. Studies show that only two-thirds of Duval County 9th graders graduate on time. Experts explain that the process of dropping out begins way before high school. Through Achievers For Life, United Way helps 6th grade students at Arlington and Ft. Caroline Middle Schools stay engaged and successfully complete high school.
United Way’s Achievers For Life provides support to both students and families with access to social services, provided by professional Family Advocates, and focused academic assistance, provided by trained Achievement Advocates.
The progress of these middle school students will be followed from 6th grade into their 7th, 8th and 9th grade years. The two middle schools will also work to identify obstacles that prevent parents from being fully engaged in their student’s academic lives and implement research-based parent engagement activities.
Due to the unique feeder pattern in the Arlington community and high drop out rates, Ft. Caroline and Arlington middle schools, as well as Terry Parker High School were selected as the pilot locations for Achievers For Life. This will allow United Way to accurately evaluate the impact of these services. United Way will measure grade promotion, grade point average, behavior and attendance for students served by Achievers For Life. In addition, United Way will measure the dropout and graduation rates at Terry Parker High School, expecting to see improvement in these indicators as a result of Achievers For Life.
Partnering with United Way in Achievers For Life are Duval County Public Schools, State Attorney’s Office, Jacksonville Children’s Commission, The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, FCCJ and area social service providers.
Northwestern Middle School Students Have Published Poetry
Last year, students at Northwestern Middle School submitted poetry for Pine Tree Poetry's second annual poetry contest, a nationwide competition that challenged kindergarten through high school students to write a poem on their favorite subject for review and publishing consideration. Fourteen students from Northwestern Middle School submitted a written piece, and eight of them were selected to have their poetry published in the Pine Tree Poetry 2007 Collection.
Catherine Massey, the school’s media specialist, had been teaching a reference and research class about poetry.
"Their final assignment was to write a poem, so when I learned about this poetry contest, I submitted their work for recognition," Massey said. "I am so proud of the work these students have done and excited that their work is being recognized in such a positive way."
An overwhelming number of submissions were received from schools across the country. A group of editors read every submission and chose the best ones from all grade levels to include in Pine Tree Poetry Collection.
The following students and their poems were selected for publication:
Briel Quiannque Tashay Williams, My Dad Lenard W. Cross, Sr.
DeVaughn Bratcher, Our Flag
Deandre Denardo Kinlaw, The Library
Darius DeAngelo Harley, My Sports
Aaliyah Shanell Cooper, The Ballerina
Emone D. Tyler-Addison, Nobody
Terron Blackshear, Life of Basketball
Ra'isha M. Clark, Cute Flowers
Ms. Massey said that her students will be entering the poetry contest again this year.
Fish habitats and student art topics on next edition of ‘REAL School’
Building fish habitats in the St. Johns River, a special arts festival for students with disabilities and student art that sells coffee will be explored in the next edition of Duval County Public Schools’ student-oriented television program, “REAL School.” The episode premieres this Sunday, May 4, at 10 a.m. on WJCT-TV, Channel 7, Comcast cable Channel 8.
The program, which is hosted by DCPS’ middle school students Hannah-Maria Roder and David Emanuel, begins with an examination – from a student point of view – of Mandarin High School’s “Reef Ball” project. Students are learning about aquatic ecology while building concrete reefs that eventually will be placed in the river to become fish habitats.
Another segment takes viewers to the Very Special Arts Festival that was held recently at the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens in Riverside. The four-day event featured the artistic talents of DCPS students with disabilities.
The final segment introduces Quantum Mines and Joey Thompson of Southside Middle School. The two middleschoolers were first and second-place winners of a statewide contest to create the packaging for Javamo coffee.
“REAL School” is produced each month by WJCT-TV and the Communications Department of Duval County Public Schools. It premieres the first Sunday of every month at 10 a.m. on WJCT-TV, over-the-air Channel 7 and Comcast cable Channel 8. After each premiere, “REAL School” is televised each Monday at 9 p.m. on Comcast cable Channel 29.
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