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Passages Academy
April 26, 2013
PASSAGES POST
Principal’s Message
Quote of the week
Hello Passages Academy – Thank you all for your continued flexibility and dedication to supporting our middle school students in taking the NYS Middle School Math exams. Last week we administered the ELA exam to over 100 middle school students across Passages Academy where 53% of them were students with a disability. We provided testing environments that met our students’ needs and provided counseling for those students with test anxieties. Thank you for pulling together to support and care for our students. At this point I believe that everyone has had the opportunity to meet Ms. Tanishia Williams-­‐Minor or at the very least read her entertaining and informative e-­‐mails. Ms. Williams-­‐Minor is supporting us for the remainder of the year in five main areas: (1) Increasing professional development opportunities for teachers and support staff; (2) Planning, creating and implementing professional learning team sessions for our Assistant Principals; (3) Developing a testing preparatory program that is implemented with fidelity; (4) Developing an orientation structure that allows for 100% activation of a student’s ILP within 10 days; and (5) Decreasing level 4 & 5 behavioral infractions. Ms. Williams-­‐Minor is working directly with me to accomplish these goals to ensure the continued positive development of our program. On Monday preference sheets will be sent out and they will be due back on Thursday, May 2nd to your site AP. There will be unknown sites to be opened as a result of Phase II of Close to Home as we open limited-­‐secure placement sites. More information will be provided as it is received. Have a great weekend! “I’ve learned that no matter what
happens, or how bad it seems today, life
does go on, and it will be better
tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a
lot about a person by the way he/she
handles these three things: a rainy day,
lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree
lights...I’ve learned that making a
“living” is not the same thing as making
a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes
gives you a second chance. I’ve learned
that you shouldn’t go through life with a
catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to
be able to throw something back. I’ve
learned that whenever I decide something
with an open heart, I usually make the
right decision. I’ve learned that even
when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
I’ve learned that every day you should
reach out and touch someone. People love
a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the
back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to
learn. I’ve learned that people will forget
what you said, people will forget what
you did, but people will never forget how
you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou
“The best way to predict the future
is to invent it.” – Alan Kay
Facts, Thoughts, and/or Questions for the Week
Of the 510 special education students at Passages this year, 309 (61 percent) have been classified as being emotionally disturbed. 50 (59 percent) of the 85 NSP special education students are emotionally disturbed. Students classified as emotionally disturbed are among the highest risk student groups. Nationally, among students aged 14-­‐21 served under IDEA in 2006, students classified as ED have the highest dropout rate, 45 percent, compared to 26 percent of all students with a disability. How can you use this information to plan your classroom management and instructional practices? 1
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Passages Academy
April 26, 2013
The Pursuit of Excellence
I would like to start by thanking Jennifer Osorio, social worker at Belmont, and Josephine Tsatsakos (AKA Ms. Tee), social worker at Crossroads, for taking the time on Tuesday to go to our D79 GED Plus site in Queens to support the staff and students with bereavement counseling. District 79, and specifically the Queens GED Plus community, lost a special friend who will be missed by everyone who knew him. Thank you Ms. Osorio and Ms. Tee for continually being there for others in need. Next, I want to thank Mr. Rashid, Julia Weber, Patrick Hurley, Lauren Gent, Daniel Kupec and the other team members at Belmont who supported the opening of our new site in partnership with Good Shepherd Services in Brooklyn. We continue to work to provide our students with the greatest opportunities for success and we believe that this new configuration can result in greater student outcomes. Thank you Julia, Patrick, Lauren, and Daniel for accepting the responsibility to develop this new site to create success for our students. At Bronx Hope we visited Jennifer Bentley’s ELA classroom and saw evidence of significant progress in investing a particular group of students in their learning who just a few months ago were strongly opposed to participating. Jennifer Bentley and Cecilia Asare have worked together to develop a positive learning environment resulting in all students engaging in their learning and completing their tasks as Ms. Bentley and Ms. Asare circulated the classroom providing guidance for each student. We also visited Troy Sill’s classroom and observed Troy using technology to provide students with an array of learning opportunities that succeeded in helping students learn necessary knowledge of history. Using images of persons, places, and items to teach content is a strategy well supported by brain-­‐
based research that leads to increased retention and recall when those images are either shown or referred to later. He also maximized the use of time when he found himself with a few extra minutes while the students were waiting for lunch by showing a relevant video clip and infusing discussion. “It’s surprising how much
you can accomplish if you
don’t care who gets the
credit.”
Abraham Lincoln
Supporting Our Students who are Classified as Emotionally Disturbed
And all of our students who struggle behaviorally
We serve a special student population who have demonstrated challenges with managing their behaviors appropriately. This is an area that we as a community of professionals must continue to develop our skills in addressing effectively because the statistics from the first page are too staggering and we know that our kids can be successful in school. There are at least two ways to respond to inappropriate behaviors that can keep you in control of your response and allow you to be proactive. •
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Before inappropriate behaviors occur in your classroom, take the time to clearly state and allow opportunities for students to practice your expectations regularly. Check out The Essential 55 by Ron Clark for strategies. Although the strategies are written for younger students, it is clear that our students would benefit from the strategies. When inappropriate behaviors are occurring and following an inappropriate behavior, approach it as a skill deficit where the student has not learned or internalized appropriate behaviors and then teach them. Read Technique 37: What To Do in Teach Like A Champion by Doug Lemov for more information on this. Passages Academy
April 26, 2013
Bronx Hope Highlights
Provided by Allison Trevaskis
When approaching the teachers of SCO Cottage 2, I could barely state the purpose of
my inquiry before unique qualities and interactions of the staff with students and
teachers were being rattled off at a pace far too quick for my pencil to capture.
Youth
Specialist
Shout
Out!
It was more than easy for each person to describe what makes the staff of
Cottage 2, Mel Williams, Clinton Philips, and an occasional Maurice stand
out among other Youth Specialists. These staff are clearly dedicated to
supporting the children they work with in becoming fully educated;
academically, socially, emotionally through positive interactions. Mr. Petty
noted their presence starts right as they enter the classroom. They greet
him daily with a handshake, such a gesture is one of the ways they
consistently model positive social interactions for their boys. As well, Mr.
Petty states that the staff is strongly involved ahead of issues occurring and
encouraging the class in positive way of making choices and being involved.
From my own observations in Art and Math, not only are Mel and Clinton aware of their students educational levels
but keep the teachers informed of new students’ educational background, strengths, and challenges. They place a great
emphasis on the boys performing to their best academically, which leaves little room for off task behavior and
disruptions as they rise to these expectations and set new goals for themselves.
English Teacher, Mr. Lauf notes their willingness to get involved in class and enthusiasm in the upcoming poetry unit
as a strength of the duo. They interact during the lesson with the materials, which demonstrates to the students the
importance of the concepts and assignments. In addition with their focus on the lesson, they too acquire the skills and
knowledge to explain material to the students if the teacher is with another.
In math they have even further assisted by asking to demonstrate a concept on the board and describe why it happens
a particular way. Maurice has done this so clearly that his strategy was able to clear up some confusion that several
students had at the same time.
This staff is continually circulating the room, knowing what is going on with each child and encouraging the class to
put their personal best effort into their work. Mel and Clinton’s positive energy and teamwork has greatly impacted
their boys. In math class several students in the group slowly came around. They have begun to engage in class work,
when they once pretended to sleep or refuse to write anything. Then on Monday, April 22, 2013, two students of the
class went up to the board to answer at least one question. A very proud moment for all involved, bringing the room
to applause. By the next day, all of the students to the class were alertly engaging in class work and each had gone up
to the board to complete a problem. Mel and Clinton’s efforts are not without reward, and knowing the two, seeing
their boys excel is reward enough for the tireless efforts of each day.
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Passages Academy
April 26, 2013
Crossroads Highlights
Provided by Crystal Waiters
On Friday April 19th, Passages Academy
celebrated its annual Career Day at
Crossroads. Professionals from all sectors
came and visited our students to talk about
careers, how to accomplish goals and be
successful in life. The students were
amazed because this was a great
opportunity for them to meet and speak
with successful professionals that impact
their community and an up-close and
personal view of a wide variety of jobs. We
had professionals from
corrections,
nursing, finance, law, fashion and beauty,
cosmetology, politics, ministry, media,
education, social work, and public safety.
One of the highlights was a presentation
by a hairstylist who gave students an
opportunity to braid and weave hair on a
head
mannequin.
The
hands-on
demonstration not only added to the
presentation, but it captured and held the
students' attention as they learned about
that field of business. Other highlights
were nursing, media and law.
Teachers prepared students to ask
meaningful questions about careers that
would assist them to understand their
interest and had them fill out self
assessment forms that would help them
understand their personality, interests and
skills, for better clarity with employers,
expectations, and most importantly
education. We had two sessions – morning
and afternoon – and had lunch with our
guest. They commended us as a school on
an amazing job we as teachers are doing to promote student success in education in this type of population that we serve. We at
Passages Academy Crossroads would like to thank our special guest for attending:
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Sarah Ball – Corrections
Our own Mr. Seth Patton, Simone Lomax, Cynthia McKie- Addy – Nursing
Melissa Harvey – Hair Specialist, Beautician
Shawn Govan – Barber
Fatima Moore – Stylist
Bernard Waiters – Executive Director of East New York and Brownsville &
Director of ARCHES Probation
Valencia Henderson – Entrepreneur and Nail Technician
Dominique Sherron – Reverend
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Allan Allssopp Bey – Media
Trenise Barnes – Medical
Keith Gill – Firefighter
Miali Mekelele – Criminal Lawyer
Glenn Herbert – Finance
Christopher Durosinmi, Prince Lewis – Politicians
Our own Ms. T – Social Work
Renee Richards – Business
I would like to thank all teachers, social workers, Ms. Scott, Ms. Mack, Principal Mr. Wilder, Assistant Principal Mr. Daly, all
presenters, staff at Crossroads, Mr. Holmes, Ms. Tally, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Watts, and Ms. Hancock for your generosity and support to
help make this remarkable event possible. A special thanks to Ms. Addy, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Waiters, and Ms. Whitaker, for their
outreach, decorations, planning and smooth transitions for this special day. We are looking forward to next year!
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Passages Academy
April 26, 2013
Belmont Highlights
Provided by Patrick Dorfer
This Week
The week of April 15-19 was a very busy time for Belmont, marking two major events that were a positive reflection
on the learning and valuable experiences that are taking place on a daily basis.
Middle School Testing: Hard Work on Display
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday marked the administration of the ELA New York State exams for our middle
school population. Thirty two students sat for the exam in total, as proctors diligently assisted with their needs during
the sessions. The scene at Belmont was very busy with Mr. Rashid and Ms. Steward hastily preparing exams, directing
teachers and social workers with instructions, and supporting student needs when they had the chance. As for our
proctors, each classroom exhibited dedicated team members hustling from one student to another while monitoring
progress, clarity, and time management. As for the success of the exams, the daily scene told the story at Belmont.
Most students remained on task the entire week, while others resumed their exams after being prompted back on task
by proctors and a wonderful supporting cast of staff. “The students worked hard, were enthusiastic, and as a whole
we are expecting great results,“ said Ms. Stewart, who played a valuable role in overseeing that the testing week
would be an overall success. Whether it was a pencil, test booklet, eraser, or a word of encouragement, she went above
and beyond to support our kids. As a team, we are expecting positive results for the ELA exams based on the positive
experiences during testing week.
Belmont Student Shines in the Big City
On Friday April 19th, one of Belmont’s bright young minds received an academic honor from the Museum of Modern
Art in New York City. High school student Jeffrey, under the guidance of art teacher Ms. Bespalova and social worker
Mr. Kupec, had applied to Community Partnership Teen Internship Program. His successful admission into the
program meant that Jeffrey will also be participating in a summer internship opportunity as well as the “Playing with
Materials” workshop during the remainder of this school year. Jeffrey had the distinguished opportunity to have his
artwork, a handmade scorpion-like sculpture, displayed at the Museum during the MOMA Teen Workshop held at
5p.m. Mr. Kupec, Ms. Krieger, Ms. Osorio, Ms. Rosenthal, Ms. Bespalova and Mr. Sawaya all took the time to attend
the event. This achievement was a milestone for Jeffrey and displayed his motivation to fulfill his educational goals,
even though he was hesitant to apply to the program in the beginning. “Jeffrey was reluctant to believe in himself,”
said Ms. Bespalova, ”but the team of Belmont teachers and social workers encouraged him to apply, especially myself
and Mr. Kupec. He did an excellent job in his work and we are all very proud of him. “
Brooklyn Pride Highlights
Provided by Julia Weber
Introducing Passages Academy's newest site: Brooklyn Pride! The Good
Shepherds Services placement students have moved with teachers they had at
Belmont to a new site. Mr. Bent, Mr. Hurley, Ms. Weber, and Ms. Gent will be
there full time, with Mr. Kupec frequently visiting from the counseling
offices. Students discussed the symbolism of a name, and what a name
represents to others. We generated twenty names between the two classes, as
well as possible mascots for the site. The students and staff whittled down
the vote between "Future Leaders" and "Brooklyn Pride," the winning
name. The mascot that represented the qualities our students wished to
project to others was determined to be a lion. As a nod to our urban jungle,
our lion is also going to be wearing Timberland boots. We'll submit an
illustration as soon as we can. (Note: no actual lions will be present at
Brooklyn Pride.)
In our inaugural week, we're also pleased to announce our Student of the Week and students on the Road to
Success. Both Carlos and Tyasia have shown a lot of growth this week, earning a spot on the Road. Heaven clinched
the highest honors, despite temptations to do otherwise. Keep it up, guys. We're proud of you.
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Passages Academy
April 26, 2013
Upcoming Events
April 30 – Café Poet at Bronx Hope
May 3 – Poetry Slam at Belmont
May 4 – Origami at Crossroads
May 6 – Bronx Hope NSP class
scheduled for a field trip to the
Intrepid
May 10 – End of Unit 4
May 27 – Memorial Day (schools
closed)
June 6 – Chancellor’s Conference Day
June 7 & 10 – Regents Prep
June 10 – End of Unit 5
June 21 – Rating Day
June 24-26 – Promotion Ceremonies
May 15 – Meeting for Brooklyn and
Staten Island Counselors, AP’s, and
Transition Coordinators from
8:30AM – 10:30AM
“I am what I am today
because of the choices I
made yesterday.”
May 17 - Meeting for Bronx
Counselors, AP’s, and Transition
Coordinators from 8:30AM –
10:30AM
Stephen Covey
May 24 – Career Day at Horizon
Important Links
Passages Academy Website: https://sites.google.com/a/passagesonline.com/staff/
Passages Academy Handbook: https://sites.google.com/a/passagesonline.com/staff/documents
Passages Academy Library Website: www.passagesacademylibraries.org
Passages Academy Library Blog: www.whatsgoodinthelibrary.blogspot.com
Chancellors Regulations: http://schools.nyc.gov/RulesPolicies/ChancellorsRegulations/default.htm
ELA & Math Middle School Testing: http://engageny.org/content/just-released-2013-test-guides-for-elamathematics
Our mission is to provide each student with the academic, social
and emotional skills they need to be successful in life.
Passages Academy