College Crusade Announces Winter Programs for Urban Teens

Saturday, January 22, 2011

GoLocalProv Features Team

The College Crusade of Rhode Island announced the start of its winter 2011 schedule, which includes dozens of free programs and activities designed to increase educational and career success for students in Rhode Island’s low-income urban communities. College Crusade programs are offered weekdays after school, on weekends, and during school vacations. Programs range from academic enrichment and SAT test preparation to college visits, career workshops, and adventure education.

Approximately 3,500 middle school and high school students in Rhode Island are members of The College Crusade. The majority of them attend public schools in Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket. Membership in The College Crusade provides each student with sustained adult mentorship and college-readiness programs and services from grade 6 through high school graduation.

Upcoming winter 2011 programs for College Crusade members include the following

Step Up Conference – January 22

A Saturday conference designed to help eighth graders prepare for the transition to high school. Workshops presented by invited speakers address the high school course load, time management skills, and social issues such as bullying. Held at Providence Academy of International Studies, Providence.

Robotics Club – Through February 5

A robotics team that offers high school students the opportunity to participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge, a robotics competition hosted by New England Institute of Technology on February 5, 2011. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Meets at Brown University.

College visits – January to April

Specially arranged visits for middle school and high school students to dozens of colleges and universities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Participants tour campus, talk to college students, and learn firsthand about the opportunities and challenges of college life.

Adventures in Literacy – January to May

A computer-assisted learning program for sixth-grade students called ReadAbout, created by Scholastic, Inc. Includes quiet reading, writing in response to text, and teacher-guided sessions. Held on Saturdays at The College Crusade office in Providence.

Cru Club – January to June

A series of college-readiness and career-exploration programs provided to students after school and on Saturdays. Featured programs include college advising, adult mentoring, homework help, study-skills and life-skills workshops, book clubs, writing workshops, math workshops, financial literacy, career decision making activities, career speakers, and service learning projects. Held weekdays in 30 Rhode Island middle schools and high schools and on Saturdays at Johnson & Wales University Harborside Campus, Providence.

Kids2College – February to April

A college-awareness curriculum created by the Sallie Mae Fund that introduces middle-school students to the value and accessibility of higher education and helps them understand the connection between education and careers. Culminates in a visit to a college campus. Held weekly afterschool in 13 Rhode Island middle schools and presented in partnership with the University of Rhode Island.

SAT Preparation – February 5 to April 30

A 12-week course in SAT preparation and practice tests for high school students. Held on Saturdays at Blackstone Academy in Pawtucket.

Career Day – February 12

A Saturday conference that introduces middle school students to a wide variety of career fields and career professionals. Students also learn about the educational requirements necessary for these careers. Guest speakers represent industries such as healthcare, finance, business, journalism, law and law enforcement, education, science, and technology. Held at New England Institute of Technology, Warwick.

Winter Vacation Club – February 21-25

Five full days of activities for middle school and high school Crusaders during February school vacation. Highlights for middle school students include a campus visit to the University of Rhode Island. Sixth graders will participate in Exchange City, an interactive learning environment in business and civics hosted at Johnson & Wales University. Featured activities for high school students include an interactive classroom seminar called Choices, hosted at Brown University, which teaches young people how to see into the future and recognize the importance of the personal and academic decisions they make today.

Afterschool Science Workshops – February to April

A series of afterschool science workshops for sixth and seventh graders, provided in partnership with the University of Rhode Island’s “Pathways for Success in Science and Technology” project. Students explore topics such as food chemistry, human health, and urban environmental issues, perform experiments and practice laboratory techniques, and learn about GPS mapping. Held weekly at Nathanael Greene Middle School and Roger Williams Middle School, Providence.

CAAP (Crusade Adventure and Academic Program) – March 5 to May 7

A 10-week program in adventure education for middle school students that improves self-esteem and develops skills in problem solving, team building, and healthy risk taking. Includes a writing component. Held on Saturdays at Roger Williams Middle School, Providence, and Ralph J. Holden Community Center, Central Falls.