Madelon Brennan - Communities In Schools of NOVA

CIS of NOVA Heads to Atlanta for the 2014 Summer Institute Conference

This summer, Communities In Schools of NOVA Site Coordinators attended the 2014 Summer Institute Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Hundreds of CIS staff, administration, and supporters from around the nation headed to The Peach State for a 3-day conference filled with workshops, networking sessions, and testimonials from CIS leaders and alumni. Many of the workshops were led by CIS staff themselves, with topics that would benefit all attendees. Breakout sessions, such as How We’re Changing the Picture: An Update on the Public Branding Campaign, concentrated on building the CIS brand to a larger level. Other sessions, like The Connection Between Early-Warning Indicators and Targeted Intervention, focused [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:17:53+00:00August 19th, 2014|0 Comments

Wakefield Students On the Job Hunt!

Earlier this month, 25 Wakefield students gathered to learn about the skills and knowledge needed to gain part-time and summer employment! Communities in Schools hosted Dave Remick and Chris Rieley, chairmen of the Arlington/Alexandria Workforce Investment Board, the Teen Network Board and Nadia Conyers of the Arlington Employment Center to learn about how to be successful in the application and interview process, as well as leadership opportunities available to teens in Arlington. Topics included where to look for teen jobs in the area, how to fill out applications, how to follow up with potential employers, and how to best prepare for interviews. [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:17:38+00:00April 29th, 2014|0 Comments

Check Out New Child Trends Report on Integrated Support Programs!

Click here to read a report from Child Trends, a national research nonprofit that affirms the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of integrated student supports (ISS) programs like Communities In Schools in improving education outcomes. These programs target both academic and non-academic barriers to achievement by identifying individual student needs and mobilizing community resources to meet them. Communities In Schools is the largest provider of ISS in the country, with a data-driven model that continues to prove effective in reducing dropout rates across the country. Key findings from Child Trends’ report, Integrated Student Supports include: ISS programs increase math achievement and student attendance and [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:17:26+00:00February 25th, 2014|0 Comments

Your feedback is needed: Feedback tools for Arlington Public Schools FY 2015 Budget

Arlington Public Schools (APS) is proposing several cuts in order to add on new programs or initiatives. This proposal is in an effort to balance the FY 2015 APS budget. One of the proposed ideas to balance the budget is to no longer offer a high school diploma for adults above the age of 22 in Arlington Public Schools and also move the Langston High School Continuation Program to The Arlington Career Center to merge with Arlington Mill High School (AMHS). The majority of students currently at AMHS are over the age of 22, and due to the huge impact this would [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:16:55+00:00February 13th, 2014|0 Comments

Saturday School Helps Students Succeed!

“There is no substitute for work.” - Vince Lombardi While the big game approaches this Sunday, CIS of NOVA is focusing on providing students with a safe place for students to learn and a healthy start to the new semester at Wakefield high School. While CIS provides tutoring throughout the week, one of the great resources that has existed at the school for several years is the Saturday School and Saturday Academy! Every Saturday in the new Wakefield High School library, students, teachers and volunteers meet to tackle everything from Catcher in the Rye to Trigonometric proofs. Teachers and tutors come together [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:16:11+00:00January 28th, 2014|0 Comments

Poetry Out Loud competition at Arlington Mill High School

Tuesday, January 7th, a 2-hour delay wasn't the only news happening in Arlington. Students from Arlington Mill High School participated in the school's first annual Poetry Out Loud contest. Earlier in the year, students in every English class participated in a poetry competition where students from every English class at Arlington Mill had to memorize and recite a poem, competing against classmates for who would win each class-wide competition. On Tuesday, January 7th, class winners then participated in a competition against each other. Arlington Mill High School's library was full to capacity as contestants competed against each other. Audience members were brought [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:14:59+00:00January 13th, 2014|0 Comments

Wakefield Students Compete in Arlington County Decal Contest!

Arlington County's annual Decal Design Competition to design the county's auto decal is in its final stage, and 3 of the 5 finalists are Wakefield students! Every year, high school students across the county compete in this competition, and Wakefield students are continuing their past success in competing for the winning design. Each finalist received $1000 for reaching the final stage. Voting for the final design begins December 12th and ends January 19th. Wakefield designs include: "Arlington Namesake", "Crystal Fountain" and "Arlington Landmark". Please support our students and vote for your favorite design today! http://www.arlnow.com/2013/12/10/decal-contest-finalists-announced/

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:13:41+00:00December 12th, 2013|0 Comments

Become an academic tutor at Arlington Mill High School!

Photo courtesy of Tulane Public Relations Are you looking for something fulfilling to do with your time on a weekly basis? Become an academic tutor at Arlington Mill High School for students who are really in great need of your time. Arlington Mill High School has a classroom specifically designated for tutoring students, which is referred to as the Arlington Mill High School Tutoring Center. The Tutoring Center is in operation from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is equipped with computers and serves students on a walk-in [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:12:05+00:00December 11th, 2013|0 Comments

Leadership and Culture on Display at 5th Annual Asian Summit

The ASCEND Pan-Asian Leaders and Wakefield High School Asian Student Leaders hosted the 5th Annual Asian Summit at Wakefield this past Friday, November 15th. The event saw several dozen students from the Northern Virginia area gather at Wakefield to develop team-building, mentoring and leadership skills in workshops and discussions facilitated by business leaders in the NOVA community. Students heard from CEOs, professionals and Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY 6th District), and conversed about leadership during breakout sessions and activities throughout the day. The Asian Student Leaders at Wakefield spent months planning the event under the supervision of John Clisham, the college and career [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:11:40+00:00November 19th, 2013|0 Comments

AFAC = Amazing

On Wednesday, October 24, 2013, the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) amazed 44 students and families at The Arlington Career Center through providing them with milk, eggs, vegetables, fruits, bread, canned foods, rice, pasta, chicken, beef and hot dogs. Students came--some with their parents and children--and left with groceries for the week. As the building's cafeteria turned into a true community space for the two-hour span of the event, volunteers from the outlying community also had the opportunity to get more connected to the school. There was representation from the student bodies of every academy present in the building, representing various households [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:11:25+00:00October 24th, 2013|0 Comments

About Madelon Brennan