Shop for a Cause at Whole Foods Market TODAY!

We know first-hand the challenges that our students face, and we're grateful for the services from our volunteers and partners for all that they do to support CIS. Today, there are two additional opportunities where everyone is able to contribute, and in turn, help our students succeed. Whole Foods in both Arlington and Alexandria will be supporting CIS of NOVA with its 5% day. This means that Whole Foods will donate 5% of Wednesday’s total sales from both their Clarendon and Old Town stores to CIS of NOVA. Why not pick up some groceries mid-week and help CIS at the same time! Can’t make it to Whole [...]

2020-03-08T14:24:18+00:00April 20th, 2016|0 Comments

Full Circle: Reaching Back and Reaching Out

By Cathy Celestino, CIS of NOVA Outreach Coordinator If you were to find (or lose) yourself wandering the stacks of the Perry-Castañeda Library on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, you could dig up a bound report dated 1992 and titled, “A Gang Prevention Model for Communities In Schools of Texas.” It’s hard to believe that 24 years ago that was my Professional Report, the hard-copy product of the capstone experience of the Master of Public Affairs degree at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. One of the hallmarks of the LBJ School degree programs is the emphasis on [...]

2016-08-16T15:32:54+00:00March 11th, 2016|0 Comments

Leadership Arlington 2015 Reflection

By Dan Howard, Wakefield High School CIS Site Coordinator I recently finished the Young Professionals program through the Leadership Center for Excellence's Leadership Arlington. Over the past four months, I participated in workshops and seminars focused on developing leadership skills, learning about civic engagement in Arlington and interacting with my peers and regional leaders. On Tuesday, January 12th, I graduated from the program as a proud member of the Young Professionals Class of Fall 2015, ready to bring my new found knowledge and tools back to Wakefield High School and CIS of NOVA. One particular session focused on finding your "Why?", an idea [...]

2016-08-16T15:32:44+00:00January 25th, 2016|0 Comments

Partnerships In Service to Community: Abby Raphael & Arlington Public Schools

CIS of NOVA is a key partner with Arlington Public Schools in helping our students succeed. During the 2013–2014 school year, CIS of NOVA worked with more than a thousand students and family members, marshaling the Arlington community’s resources to provide tutoring, college and career counseling, and assistance with food, clothing, and health services. The results of these efforts are measured in students’ improved school attendance and academic performance. —Abby Raphael, School Board Member, Arlington Public Schools

2016-08-16T15:21:39+00:00June 5th, 2015|0 Comments

Partnerships In Service to Community: Dr. Jean Milliken

From the beginning of Communities In Schools 37 years ago, I have had the opportunity to see CIS grow and benefit hundreds of thousands of children and teenagers. I am so pleased that CIS has begun to serve young people in Northern Virginia, beginning in Arlington, where I live. My experience of serving on the CIS of NOVA Board and volunteering in one of the high schools this past year has confirmed for me the value this organization brings to underserved youth in the community. I look forward to our expanding into other school districts throughout Northern Virginia so that more young [...]

2016-08-16T15:22:33+00:00June 3rd, 2015|0 Comments

Partnerships In Service to Community: Koube Ngaaje & AFAC

CIS of NOVA was truly instrumental in establishing the [Arlington] Career Center as the first AFAC distribution site within a school for students and families. This partnership not only introduced AFAC’s services to several families suffering from food insecurity in silence, but has also provided a strong incentive for students to pursue their education and helped establish CIS of NOVA as a resource to students and to the broader Arlington community. —Koube Ngaaje, Director of Operations, Arlington Food Assistance Center

2016-08-16T15:22:38+00:00June 2nd, 2015|0 Comments

After-School Success At Wakefield High School

The 2014-2015 school year saw many great additions to CIS of NOVA at Wakefield High School. One new program that was launched, with the support and assistance of the Wakefield staff and dedicated CIS of NOVA volunteers, was an after-school study hall. By combining the principals of Communities In Schools Five Basics, CIS of NOVA was able to facilitate a safe and positive environment for personal success and growth. Along with the focus on academic success, students also met with partner organizations and Wakefield staff members to work on resume writing, summer job searches and setting personal goals. The consistent and long [...]

2016-08-16T15:19:52+00:00May 22nd, 2015|0 Comments

Maverick Voices: Sharing the Stories of Arlington Mill Students

While many students are worried about their end-of-year prom, SAT scores, or passing their driver’s tests, other students are focusing on balancing their schoolwork, full-time jobs outside of school, and even about feeding their families and children. Arlington Mill High School students are composed of members from around the Arlington community and come from around the world. And while many students county-wide face struggles every day, Arlington Mill students face unique challenges that have gone unnoticed and untold. To bring their stories out to the community, CIS of NOVA is beginning their new campaign titled “I Am Arlington” as a way to highlight success stories [...]

2016-08-16T15:19:29+00:00May 18th, 2015|0 Comments

Hyatt Regency At Crystal City With Wakefield Students

One of this year’s newest partnerships was with Hyatt Regency at Crystal City, with the hotel running its PENCIL college readiness program for students at Wakefield High School. Fourteen Wakefield students visited the hotel in late February to meet with Hyatt employees from all fields in hospitality. Students heard from one of the senior chefs, a building engineer, a marketing representative, event planners and human resource managers, with the take home message that even though there are numerous careers in hospitality, everyone has to start somewhere and that education is the key to opportunities. The day concluded with a complimentary lunch at [...]

2016-08-16T15:18:34+00:00April 13th, 2015|0 Comments

Phoenix Bikes Engages Students At Wakefield High School

The second semester of Phoenix Bikes at Wakefield High School kicked off on February 5, 2015, with twelve Wakefield students learning about bike mechanics and the importance of community service. Throughout the spring semester, students have learned bicycle mechanics and how to perform repairs, as well as work on bicycles that would be later donated to Arlington community members, and to a fellow Wakefield classmate. CIS of NOVA partnered with Wakefield staff members Debbie Polhemus and Joyce Kelly to recruit students and coordinate the club at the school. Each Thursday, Ms. Polhemus and Ms. Kelly meet with the Bike Club students during study [...]

2016-08-16T15:18:14+00:00April 1st, 2015|0 Comments
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