| Say Yes To Education E-Newsletter |
|
Dear (Contact First Name),
As we happily welcome Spring 2012, we would like to share news, events and activities that Say Yes has been engaged in over the winter months. We began the New Year with our first Say Yes Scholar Mix & Mingle in January to provide our college students an opportunity to network with our Say Yes corporate partners, as well as be first in line to apply for the Say Yes Summer Enrichment Specialists positions that we are currently hiring for. February was filled with many Martin Luther King celebrations during Black History Month, and we began March with our 2nd Annual Say Yes Day in the Dome event and donor reception. In addition, we've been making great strides in all areas of our student and family supports, raising much needed dollars for the Say Yes Scholarship Endowment and have been involved in many events and programs in our schools and throughout the community. Read all about it in this edition of the Say Yes Spring E-Newsletter!
Feel free to use any or all of our stories in your communications outreach if you'd like or simply forward this E-newsletter to colleagues,friends and family.
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions, email us at info@sayyessyracuse.org. If you would like to unsubscribe to this newsletter please click on the link below.
Enjoy!
The Say Yes Staff
|
|
|
Lockheed Martin, O'Brien & Gere announce leadership gifts for new Say Yes STEM Scholarship Fund
At a reception preceding the second annual "Say Yes Day" at the Carrier Dome March 3, officials from Say Yes to Education-along with representatives from Syracuse University, Syracuse City School District (SCSD), Onondaga Community College, Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse-celebrated commitments from Syracuse-based engineering firms Lockheed Martin and O'Brien & Gere to support a new scholarship fund for Say Yes students who go on to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields at one of the more than 100 Say Yes partner colleges and universities. Click here to read more
|
FAMILY SUPPORT
Huntington's Family Support Report Shows Big Gains
In 2011, 342 Syracuse City School District families, including 1038 children and 418 caretakers were assisted through Say Yes partner Huntington Family Center. Over 16,000 direct contacts, including nearly 3200 home visits were conducted. Prior to Huntington's partnership with Say Yes four years ago, only 200 home visits were handled each year and over 200 children were in foster care. Now only 50 children are in foster care.
"The collaborative spirit has made these gains possible," said Ann Rooney, Deputy County Executive, Human Services at Onondaga County. "We're meeting families right when their needs are the greatest, at the most critical times. That's what has made the difference." To read more, click here.
|
|
EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM
- Say Yes Young Authors Series: A Novel Idea
Four more children's books written by 52 students from Salem Hyde, LeMoyne, McKinley-Brighton and Bellevue Schools and illustrated by 46 Syracuse University illustration students have been completed under the direction of Syracuse University's College of Visual & Performing Arts Assistant Professor James Randsome. This brings the total number of books in the Series to eight. The students will take a field trip in May to Dellas Graphics to learn how their books will be printed. Plans for a public celebration of the young authors and SU illustrators are in the works and will include a premiere party and book signing. The project was made possible by a generous grant from the National Grid Foundation.
- USTA Grant Funds Tennis Program at Seymour
A Syracuse University/Say Yes to Education United States Tennis Association grant is supporting a tennis initiative at Seymour Dual Language Academy elementary school. The greater Syracuse tennis community, and in particular Gold's Gym, is partnering with Syracuse University, Say Yes to Education, the Syracuse School District, and Seymour to improve the health of children and their families. The tennis program is being offered through Say Yes to Education's Extended Day program to 35 students and will continue through Seymour's Say Yes Summer Camp.
- Zaira Meneses Classical Guitar Program Expands At the end of Session One of the Extended Day program at Frazer, students participating in the Zaira Guitar program entertained and impressed their peers, families and school staff with a guitar concert. Currently two spring concerts are in the works as the program has expanded due to interest. The expansion allows beginner and advanced level instruction to be offered to ensure that students will continue to be challenged and to welcome new students to the program. The program will continue during the 2012 Summer Camp at Frazer.
- Black History Month Activities Honor M
 LK
ITC/ Ed Smith:Terri J. Vaughn, an actress best known for her role as Lovita Alizay Jenkins on The Steve Harvey Show and former NFL player and actor Karon Riley, took part in Black History Month celebrations at ITC and Ed Smith Schools in February. Terri and Karon are founders of TAKE WINGS FOUNDATION, a non-profit organization that addresses social and life skills needs of at-risk teens and spoke to the students about their careers and their most important roles as African American role models. Click here to read more.
Shea Middle School: The 27th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. community event, "A Living Legacy: The Fierce Urgency of Now" held in January at Shea Middle School honored 15 elementary and K-8 schools for making a positive difference in the lives of others in their schools and who exemplify the teachings of Dr. King. The celebration of arts, culture, and education in the Syracuse community was presented through a variety of workshops, speakers, presentations and performances provided by community organizations. Click here to read more.
Frazer Pre K-8: Lawrence Williams, SCSD Mentor Coordinator kicked off a month-long Black History Celebration with a keynote presentation to Frazer K-8 staff, students and families, followed by presentations from various community leaders throughout the month of February. An 8th grade field trip to OCC to hear Mark D. Muhammad, minister of the Nation of Islam and an adjunct professor at OCC, rounded out the month of activities. Click here to read more.
- HW Smith Students Visit SU On Friday March 30th, 105 students in 7th grade and their teachers from HW Smith School visited SU Campus hosted by the Syracuse University Multicultural Empowerment Network (MEN). This shadow program is led by Darius J. Smith, Policy Studies Major, class of 2013. Over 50 Syracuse university students participated by showing the 7th graders what college life is like. The program is designed to highlight academics, campus activities, student groups and provide an opportunity for middle school students to interact with college students on a college campus. For information, click here.
|
|
DEVELOPMENT
 Say Yes Receives Outreach Gift from Mercy Works Say Yes to Education was selected to receive one of Mercy Works' 2011 Outreach Gifts in support of Say Yes' commitment to ensuring that all public school students can afford and succeed in college. Mercy Works gave Say Yes a gift of $2500 Say Yes Scholarship Endowment Fund and will be matched dollar for dollar by SRC.
The check was recently presented to Pat Driscoll, Operating Director for Say Yes Syracuse by Rev. John Carter, President Mercy Works; Gina Rivers, Program Director, Mercy Works, and Clarence Jordan, Director of Development, Mercy Works. Click here to read more.
ALLEN NAPLES has been named chairman of the Say Yes scholarship
campaign effort. Mr. Naples is the regional
president of M&T Bank.
|
|
SAY YES COLLEGIATE PREP ACADEMY
Learn to Be Foundation Partners With Say Yes
The Say Yes Collegiate Preparatory Academy (SYCPA) has entered into an exciting partnership with the Learn to Be Foundation, a national online tutoring organization that offers free online tutoring to students across the country. The Syracuse University chapter of Learn to Be and the SYCPA have hired and trained tutors who support the SYCPA's high school online tutorial model that began this Spring. Tutors are paired with SCSD students to offer free online tutoring in Math, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies. A flexible afternoon and evening tutoring schedule was designed to fit with academic and work schedules.
Bellevue Students Celebrate pi Day with Pie and Math Concepts
In celebration of National pi Day March 14th, Bellevue Elementary students made and then ate pies that they created, while learning math concepts throughout the process.Pi Day is part of a 6-week project on mathematics that began March 1 and sponsored by Bellevue and the Say Yes Collegiate Preparatory Academy (SYCPA). Click here to read more.
Say Yes and 100 Black Men Offer SAT Prep
The Say Yes Collegiate Preparatory Academy and 100 Black Men of Syracuse Inc. began offering SAT Prep courses this winter on Saturdays and will continue through May 26. Students taking the free course are offered proctored practice tests, academic instruction, test-taking strategies and tutoring for the core competencies measured on the SAT. In addition, students who elect to take SAT Subject Test(s) are offered additional support to master the content area. For information and schedule, click here. |
|
HIGHER ED COMPACT
Financial Aid Events Draw Hundreds of SCSD Families
Nearly 700 SCSD families sought out and received financial aid assistance at various Financial Aid events offered in January and February in partnership with Say Yes. Events included Financial Aid Nights, CSS Profile Events, College Goal Sunday, Senior College Nights and Junior College Nights.
Say Yes Opens Financial Aid Center
Say Yes is proud to announce the opening of the Say Yes Financial Aid Counseling Center (FACC) in the Say Yes office at 109 Otisco Street. Beginning Saturday, April 7th and continuing every Saturday through September 8th (with the exception of 5/26, 7/7 and 9/1) Syracuse City School District seniors and their parents can receive assistance with financial aid applications, respond to a 'verification' request, compare financial aid awards from different colleges, learn about student debt, interpret communications from colleges and understand Say Yes scholarship eligibility. The Center will be open 10 AM - 1:30 PM. Walk-ins are welcome. For further information, call 443-5300 or email
sayyescollege@syr.edu. |
|
SAY YES SCHOLAR SUPPORT PROGRAM
 Say Yes Scholar Mix & Mingle Offers Networking Opportunities
The first annual Say Yes Scholar Mix & Mingle, held in January drew over 42 current Say Yes college students, 30 family members, and 34 Say Yes staff and Say Yes corporate/SCSD/community partner guests to the Say Yes offices.
The Mix and Mingle provided the opportunity for Say Yes college students to meet one another and to network with local corporate partners and community supporters. To read more, click here.
Summer Success Academy at OCC Accepting Applications
Applications are now being accepted for graduating SCSD high school seniors who will be attending Onondaga Community College this fall. The Summer Success Academy (SSA) is a 5-week residential program that provides OCC bound students the opportunity to get a jump start on college. Up to 42 students will be accepted into the program and will take 3 courses, or the equivilent of 7 credits, while living on campus Sunday evening - Friday afternoon. The goal of SSA is to provide students with the opportunity to take required courses prior to the start of their fall semester, to familiarized themselves with their college campus, and to identify the supports that are available to them while in college. The SSA is fully funded by OCC and Say Yes to Education and is delivered at no cost to students.
Say Yes Scholar Launch Program Being Developed
In an effort to assist our Say Yes Scholars in their transition from high school to college and help to ensure college success, Say Yes and our partners are developing a Scholar Launch program to begin in late July/early August. During the Say Yes Scholar launch program, recent SCSD graduates will receive a crash course on college success, including defining goals, learning about time management and effective note-taking and study skills, and will obtain information about financial literacy. They will also meet key Say Yes HIgher Education staff members and representatives from the college they will be attending. Lastly, they will have an opportunity to get to know Scholars who are currently attending their college. |
|
SAY YES STAFF NEWS | 
Lavet Lorenz McClurg
has been promoted to Director of Higher Education Initiatives for Say Yes to Education in Syracuse. Lavet has been the Assistant Director of Higher Education Initiatives for the past 2 years, working with Christopher Walsh. Chris is now overseeing the Higher Education Compact for all chapters of Say Yes to Education. |
Stephanie Costner , Program Manager, Say Yes Collegiate Preparatory Academy will receive an Inspiration Award after being nominated by a student receiving a Chancellor's Award for Public Engagement and Scholarship as a special faculty, staff or community partner who helped them as they made their way into the community. She will be honored at a dinner held at the Goldstein Auditorium later this month. |
|
|
Watch for our next
E-Newsletter this summer!
|
|
|
|
Say Yes is Hiring | |
Say Yes is seeking current college students to work as leaders, teachers and friends to children from K-5th grade in the 2012 Say Yes to Education Day Camp.
For more information, click here.
To apply, go to: www.sujobopps.com. Click on temporary opportunities and fill out an application. | |
 | | |
Contributions to the Say Yes to Education Fund, administered by our partner the Central New York Community Foundation are matched dollar-for-dollar by the Community Foundation, Say Yes to Education, Inc. and SRC, Inc, up to $7 M before the end of 2013.
The fund provides full tuition scholarships to Syracuse City School District graduates who attend SUNY/CUNY colleges and universities.
For more information
click here to contact Lisa Moore
Director of Development
Syracuse Say Yes to Education |
 | |
Say Yes Shows Early Signs of Success |
- Nearly 2000 Say Yes students have enrolled in 2 and 4 year colleges (public and private) since the fall of 2009.
- Say Yes to Education has paid out a total of $2.5 million over 3 years in Say Yes grants.
- Currently 5100 SCSD students are enrolled in After School programs and approximately 2200 students are expected to attend Say Yes Summer Camp this year.
- An estimated 250 college students will be hired to work as Youth Enrichment Specialists in Say Yes summer camps this year
- Syracuse home values have risen 3.5 % since 2009
- 9th grade discontinuation rates have decreased by 44 % since 2009
- 31% more 9th grade students are passing the algebra regents exam than in 2009
- The number of Syracuse City School District children who were in foster care has dropped 45% since Say Yes began providing family supports through Huntington Family Center
- All elementary/K-8 schools now have social workers, providing a 200-1 ratio v. 500-1 prior to Say Yes
-
As part of the Promise Zone commitment, SCSD, Say Yes to Education, the Onondaga County Department of Mental Health and community based organizations are working toward their goal of having one mental health clinic in every school in the district by January 2013.
- 7 Say Yes legal clinics are now open in all four quadrants of the District and are staffed by five local law firms to provide free legal advice, service and referrals to families in areas such as housing, immigration, child custody and debtor rights
- Out of 315 students identified to not have health insurance since 2009, 286 (91%) have now completed a health care application through Say Yes in partnership with the Salvation Army.
- Over 200 9-12 grade students are provided tutoring and SAT Prep services each week through the Say Yes Collegiate Preparatory Academy
- Over 100 volunteers are currently engaged in Say Yes in various capacities
- More than $43 million dollars have been raised, during the worst economic downturn of a generation to create positive change in the lives of Syracuse urban students.
|
|
SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT | |
JAKIA DURHAM (RIGHT)
2009 CORCORAN GRADUATE SU CLASS OF 2013
CAREER GOAL: DEFENSE ATTORNEY | |
"Thanks to Say Yes, I am reaching my goals. Say Yes helped me with my tuition as an undergraduate, and has also given me a chance to give back to my community by working with kids in the Say Yes Summer Camps.
Thank you Say Yes for making it possible for hardworking students like me to reach our potential."
Jakia Durham
|
connect.
inspire. be inspired.
VOLUNTEER.
If you would like to join the hundreds of other college students and community members who are saying YES to making a difference in the lives of Syracuse children, please click here to volunteer! | | |
UPCOMING EVENTS
Music and Youth Convention
Syracuse University
May 24th-26th 2012
Say Yes to Education Inc, Syracuse University, and the Syracuse City School District will present the Music and Youth Conference (MY) in late May. The Conference will focus on the development of SCSD Say Yes ambassadors within neighborhoods, in hopes of emerging new leadership and educational drive amongst urban teens.
Approximately 200 high school students will spend the weekend
gaining the full campus experience by staying in the SU campus dorms, attending educational workshops, and attending a closing concert featuring gospel singer, Kim Burrell. | | For more information, contact Vincent Cobb, vecobbii@syr.edu, 315.807.8635. | |
|
|
|
