Madelon Brennan - Communities In Schools of NOVA

Senior Spotlight: Lilia’s Going Places

When our Site Coordinators evaluate their schools' needs, they develop a plan to provide support where needed. Individualized support is necessary for some students to give them a real chance to challenge the systems and barriers that stand between them and their success in life. The student progresses, graduates high school, and is better prepared for life. Along the way, our Site Coordinators establish one-on-one caring relationships with these students and become someone that the child can trust, depend on, and look up to. For our senior student Lilia, Wakefield High School Site Coordinator Jackie helped give her the extra dose of empowerment [...]

Madelon Brennan2022-11-15T19:03:47+00:00November 15th, 2022|0 Comments

Senior Spotlight: Juan’s Journey

Senior Spotlight: Juan, a senior at Alexandria City High School. When Juan came to the United States from El Salvador, he had questions about how things would go for him and his family. One thing he was sure of, though, was that his family would be better off regardless of how difficult things would be here. Juan and his family left their home country, seeking a better shot at life. Juan is set to graduate from ACHS at the end of this school year and has already surpassed his own expectations. He was the first person in his family to learn to [...]

Madelon Brennan2022-12-15T01:02:30+00:00October 25th, 2022|0 Comments

Celebrating Seniors: Hewan’s Success

We have much to celebrate with the school year having come to a close, especially when it comes to our high school seniors who have graduated and will be moving on to a new chapter. We have been highlighting seniors on Twitter through our Senior Spotlight to commemorate the challenges they have overcome and the well deserved rewards of their efforts. See more below or on Twitter Follow @cisofnova One student especially deserving recognition is Hewan from Wakefield High School! Having immigrated from Ethiopia, Hewan and her family knew little about the college application process. Luckily, with the help of her CIS [...]

Madelon Brennan2022-06-28T19:17:26+00:00June 28th, 2022|0 Comments

Communities In Schools NOVA included in Transformative Investment to Help Combat Inequities in Education

February 3, 2022 - Communities In Schools of Northern Virginia (CIS NOVA), an affiliate of a national organization working to ensure every student, regardless of race, zip code, or history of marginalization has what they need to succeed in school and beyond, today announced it is part of a unprecedented gift from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to the Communities In Schools Network and National Office. Earlier today, Communities In Schools, Inc. announced the unprecedented $133.5 million donation from Scott. In addition to the CIS National Office, 40 affiliates of the 110 organizations in the CIS Network were also direct recipients of [...]

Madelon Brennan2022-02-13T14:23:18+00:00February 3rd, 2022|0 Comments

In-Classroom Math Tutoring in the International Academy Adds up to SUCCESS

Perrin Keeler, a CIS of NOVA tutor at Hammond Middle School, worked with English language learners in the International Academy since the past school year. Although not a requirement to becoming a tutor for CIS of NOVA, Perrin has been involved in education for many years, and upon completing her Master's degree, she taught second grade in Washington, DC, as part of the DC Teaching Fellows program. In a meeting with the CIS of NOVA Outreach Coordinator, Perrin talked about why she volunteered with CIS of NOVA. "I have always enjoyed working with kids. I like making connections, personally and academically, particularly [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:18:59+00:00August 15th, 2016|0 Comments

International Academy Soccer Club at Francis C. Hammond Middle School

With support from Communities In Schools of NOVA, the International Academy Soccer Club at Francis C. Hammond Middle School had its inaugural practice in March 2016. 84 young men and women signed up to participate, with the leadership of four volunteer International Academy faculty and CIS of NOVA’s Outreach Coordinator, Candace Hill. This startup venture was supported by a partnership with the NOVA Gang Prevention Task Force, and the Alexandria Soccer Association, with enthusiastic support from International Academy Academic Principal, Tim Brannon, and Hammond School Principal, Pierrette Hall. It originated after a discussion regarding gang prevention amongst the faculty. The consensus was [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:19:41+00:00June 27th, 2016|0 Comments

Partnership Highlight: Arlington Food Assistance Center

The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) has been serving Arlington County residents in need of supplemental groceries for over 25 years. With the weekly assistance of a small army of volunteers, AFAC distributes nutritious food to over 2,200 county residents each week. About 35% of those who receive food from AFAC are children. Barcroft Elementary is the most recent school that AFAC has partnered with to provide students in need with supplemental meals. Through the Backpack Buddies Program, students may receive a bag of groceries to take home with them on Friday afternoons. Each bag contains two days worth of nutrition (six [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:20:14+00:00June 20th, 2016|0 Comments

Arlington Middle School Students Tour GMU

Over 40 students from Gunston Middle School and Thomas Jefferson Middle School took a trip to George Mason University for a school tour, and a chance to meet many multicultural student leaders on campus. The Office of Minority Achievement paired up with CIS of NOVA and GMU student organizations to introduce students to the life of a college student, while also encouraging students to consider college as a post-graduate opportunity. Many of the GMU students represented student organizations on campus that aligned with the Office of Minority Achievement’s mission to help students discover and utilize resources that would help them progress toward [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:20:39+00:00June 13th, 2016|0 Comments

A New Beginning: Outreach Efforts in Alexandria

By Candace Hill, CIS of NOVA Outreach Coordinator As the Communities In Schools (CIS) of NOVA Outreach Coordinator for Alexandria, I feel fortunate to be a part of a team that’s out there helping to educate our city residents and businesses on the needs of Alexandria City Public School’s students, and to find the resources needed to enable their success in school. The journey that led me to CIS of NOVA is one that has consistently involved working with youth, as I’ve always been fascinated with child development. My career began in research, managing the Temple University site for the NICHD Study [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:21:00+00:00June 2nd, 2016|0 Comments

Healthy Hammond Community Fair & 5k Color Run

By Candace Hill, CIS of NOVA Outreach Coordinator The forecast had predicted a torrential downpour with heavy winds and rain, but there was no turning back, as the already rescheduled Healthy Hammond Community Fair and 5k Color Run was going to happen on May 21st, rain or shine! Even with the unpredictable morning rain, there were many “shining moments.” I could talk about the girl that came to the event alone, walking 1.5 miles from home to participate in the 5k, only to walk 1.5 miles back home after running the 3+ miles. Or about the other student who showed up an [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:21:26+00:00May 27th, 2016|0 Comments

About Madelon Brennan