Communities In Schools of NOVA In Action

A Migrant Family Thrives Within a School Community

It’s not an easy thing migrating to a new country. Having to adapt to a new environment; navigating your way through language barriers, learning new norms and wanting to feel included all at the same time is challenging. And of course thriving is a whole other story. Sahar and her family escaped conflict in Syria as asylum seekers, in search of a better life in America. We met the family in 2016 when two of Sahar’s children attended Gunston Middle School. Our CIS coordinator at Gunston, Rula, worked with Karim (a 6th grader at the time), Sahar’s youngest son to ensure he felt a [...]

Grant Harper2020-03-08T14:17:38+00:00October 24th, 2018|0 Comments

Barcroft Elementary’s Day of Service

One of Communities in Schools Five Basic principles is to provide students with a chance to give back to peers and community. Involving young students in service projects helps them see themselves as agents in solving societal problems. It is an empowering act to give back, and it helps children value themselves as active and engaged citizens who can make a difference. It also generates character traits such as responsibility, leadership, and compassion. Barcroft Elementary participated in the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, 2018. This nation-wide day of tribute to those who serve and protect our communities afforded [...]

Grant Harper2020-03-08T14:18:06+00:00September 26th, 2018|0 Comments

The Power of Connection

We often talk about the power of connection and how Communities in Schools works to build connections with individual students to support their success. But it’s also powerful to see how connections within our organization can facilitate student success. In reviewing the list of new students who were enrolled in the International Academy on the first day at Hammond Middle School, I noticed a new student, Edwin, was coming to us from Barcroft Elementary School, another CIS of NOVA site here in Northern Virginia. I immediately contacted my colleague at Barcroft and was able to set up a conference call between the [...]

Grant Harper2020-03-08T14:18:26+00:00September 24th, 2018|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

Nursing Students Provide Nutritional Facts for Arlington Mill & Career Center Students

For 6 weeks, nursing students from the Chamberlain College of Nursing provided and displayed nutritional tips and information during the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) weekly food distribution at the Arlington Career Center. Every Wednesday during the AFAC weekly food distribution, 4 nursing students set up a table with a display on a topic that covered health-related facts that our students read, while also giving out free samples using some of the related foods. It was a unique and efficient way to promote healthy eating, while also introducing students to nutritious (and delicious!) food they can easily make at home. “This opportunity gave us a different experience than with [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:21:48+00:00May 10th, 2016|1 Comment