Wakefield High School - Communities In Schools of NOVA

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 Teens on the Summer Job Hunt

As the temperatures rise and the calendar approaches June, the hunt for summer employment is in full swing across Arlington County. On Saturday, April 23rd, the Arlington Employment Center hosted the annual Teen Summer Expo at Wakefield High School. Over 75 employers filled the Wakefield cafeteria to discuss opportunities and make connections with hundreds of students from all over Arlington County. Prior to the Teen Summer Expo, Arlington Employment Center coordinator Nadia Conyers dropped by Wakefield to work with students involved with CIS of NOVA’s after-school program at the school. Ms. Conyers discussed students’ motivations for seeking summer jobs, previewed the event [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:22:15+00:00May 6th, 2016|0 Comments

2016 Career Day at Wakefield Brings In Volunteers, Local Businesses & Community Organizations

On March 30th, 41 volunteers representing 31 local businesses and community organizations gathered for the annual Sophomore Career Day at Wakefield High School! This year’s event saw numerous volunteers return for their second Career Day at Wakefield, and many more join the morning’s activities for the first time. Speakers represented Arlington County, nonprofit organizations and businesses from all over the Northern Virginia region. Volunteers met with over 300 students to discuss their education paths and career backgrounds, as well as share tips and strategies for students to use in their own career exploration paths. CIS of NOVA would like to thank our [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:26:01+00:00April 6th, 2016|0 Comments

After-School Clubs Ramping Up at Wakefield

It is hard to believe that APS students began the second semester two months ago! As we enter the second half of our year, several CIS partners are returning to Wakefield to continue their work enriching the lives of students, and building key assets in the areas of community service, civic engagement and learning marketable skills. Below are a few updates from our two of our partners: Liberty’s Promise After working with nearly 50 students in their civic engagement program during the fall semester, Liberty’s Promise will return to Wakefield to begin work with their spring cohort. Students in Liberty’s Promise Civics and Citizenship [...]

Madelon Brennan2020-03-08T14:26:40+00:00April 1st, 2016|0 Comments

Empowering Students through STEM & Robotics

The Robotics Club at Gunston Middle School, part of the Emerging Leaders Program through Edu-Futuro and in collaboration with the Minority Achievement Office, entered two teams in their first competition this past Saturday, February 27, at the Arlington Career Center. The Adam Nesbitt Robotics Challenge, named in honor of the late technology teacher at Gunston, included morning workshops for the students and an afternoon of completing challenges against three other Arlington schools. As the date of the competition drew closer, the two Gunston teams competing in Saturday’s Challenge dedicated every single afternoon to practicing with their robots. One seventh grade student named Tania, who [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-15T15:07:31+00:00March 4th, 2016|0 Comments

Hyatt-Regency at Crystal City Explores Career Readiness, Hospitality

CIS of NOVA is partnering with Hyatt-Regency at Crystal City this spring to explore topics in career readiness, and careers in the hospitality field. During last year’s program, students created resumes, practiced interviewing skills, and visited the Hyatt-Regency in Crystal City to see what happens behind the scenes at one of the busiest places to work in Northern Virginia. During the February 11th session, freshmen students met with representatives from Hyatt to discuss personal branding, and the basics of networking. From identifying aspects of well-known brands such as Apple and Nike, to brainstorming ways that students can present their own “brand”, the [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-03-01T15:35:21+00:00March 1st, 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 [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:32:44+00:00January 25th, 2016|0 Comments

CIS of NOVA Accepting New & Gently Used Winter Clothing

As the weather is getting colder, many of our students are in need of extra articles of clothing to keep warm and arrive to school in proper attire. Communities In Schools of NOVA is in collaboration with their four partner schools to collect new and gently used clothing as a way to allow the community to give back and donate to students in need. CIS of NOVA Site Coordinators will be collecting the winter accessories, which will then be donated to our middle school, high school, and adult students for the cold weather. Examples of clothing that may benefit students are: Jackets Scarves Warm sweaters Gloves Ear [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:25:30+00:00January 18th, 2016|0 Comments

Wakefield High School Brings Developmental Assets To Student Groups

Student group meetings focused on the 40 Development Assets have begun at Wakefield High School! October and November were focused on introductions, establishing group expectations, exposure to school clubs and time management skills. The students, mentors, Ms. Pauline Jo and Dan have been acquainting themselves with one another. Activities have included: ice breakers, time management activities, and completing self-addressed letter that students will reflect on a year from now. Ms. Pauline Jo has high hopes for the freshman students. She has plans to bring in guest speakers into the after-school tutoring sessions and give the students a chance to discussion that week’s [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:24:52+00:00November 30th, 2015|0 Comments

Phoenix Bikes Returns To Wakefield High School

CIS of NOVA is excited to be teaming up with Phoenix Bikes again this year at Wakefield High School. This year, Phoenix Bikes is joining HILT teacher Debbie Polhemus’ classroom to teach students bicycle mechanics, the importance of community service and ultimately, earn a bike of their own! “Having Phoenix Bikes in the classroom is a great example of how Wakefield educators are incorporating creative and meaningful lessons for our HILT students. The Build a Bike program is service learning at its best,” said Site Coordinator Dan Howard, speaking about the in-class program. Recently, CIS of NOVA intern Pauline Jo, had the [...]

Madelon Brennan2016-08-16T15:24:24+00:00October 13th, 2015|0 Comments