Communities In Schools - Communities In Schools of NOVA

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 [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:18:34+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 [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:18:14+00:00April 1st, 2015|0 Comments

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