Community Connections Newsletter |
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Inside this edition of Community Connections, you'll find an update about CIS supports for students both on campus, and for those learning remotely. |
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IN SCHOOLS AND BEYOND, A SCHOOL YEAR REIMAGINED |
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Communities In Schools of Central Texas continues to adapt and innovate in order to meet the needs of students and families. Two of the exciting new initiatives implemented this school year are Campus Climate Pathways and Micro Grants. |
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In support of healthy campus climates, CIS of Central Texas created four climate pathways for the 2020-2021 school year: family engagement, social emotional learning, school engagement, and restorative practices. Each of our 96 Program Managers consulted with their principal and identified one specific focus area to target in order to measurably impact the school climate. They were trained in their focus area, and have a collaborative team to share best practices with throughout the school year.
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CIS Introduces
Micro Grants
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It is critical that our practices, services, and staff continue to innovate so that students and families always receive the quality services they need and deserve. CIS Micro Grants will fund small projects proposed by campus-based staff. Community Member Andrew Esparza is helping to fund this initiative. He says, "I really like the concept of putting funding directly in the hands of program managers and students in the schools to see what they can do to create new programs or enhance existing offerings."
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Meeting Student Basic Needs During COVID-19 |
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Since campuses closed in March, Communities In Schools of Central Texas has provided substantial direct assistance for students and their families impacted by the pandemic. $913,989 in assistance has been provided, including gift cards for food, hygiene items and medical expenses, bus and ride share passes, technology, and emergency housing.
These are examples of assistance requests submitted by our campus-based staff that illustrate the challenges faced by many students and their families:
- "This student's family is experiencing homelessness and currently hopping from place to place. One of the parents was recently diagnosed with cancer. They are in need of groceries until they can regain stability."
- "Grandpa recently passed away of COVID and mom just tested positive. The whole household is under quarantine. Money was already tight, but now it is an urgent crisis."
- "Mom lost her job because of COVID and got into a bad car wreck last week which sent her to the ER. She will not get her next paycheck from the last job she had for several weeks and is worried about getting her student winter clothes and groceries."
- "The entire family contracted COVID. Mom and dad were hospitalized, but only mom recovered. Father passed away and he had been the primary financial provider for the family. Mom is working again, but rent assistance is requested due to lost wages."
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Thank you to all our supporters. You make it possible to provide critical direct assistance to students and their families. |
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SEAL Reading Buddies Adapt to Virtual Volunteering |
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Andrews Elementary students reading with SEAL volunteers |
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Students Expanding American Literacy (SEAL) is a non-profit and student service organization that helps young people get excited about reading. Hundreds of college-aged volunteers work with small groups of students weekly. The University of Texas at Austin SEAL chapter partners with Communities In Schools of Central Texas to provide reading buddies on CIS campuses. In a normal semester, SEAL would be volunteering in-person at twelve CIS locations, with 5-20 volunteers at each site. Due to the pandemic and safety protocols, this year SEAL volunteers are offering virtual reading buddy supports. In the fall semester, they worked with students from two campuses - Andrews Elementary and Wooten Elementary, with a total of 28 volunteers.
SEAL President Katy Roberson says, "Our goal here is to make reading, even if it's over Zoom, fun and engaging so that students love books and want to read for pleasure. Also, having a reading buddy creates a safe space for the students to practice reading with one-on-one attention. Reading is a building block to every other aspect of education, so it's so important that students have the support they need."
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Update |
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In August, 2019, Communities In Schools of Central Texas formalized its commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and embarked on a three-year plan to operationalize that commitment into every facet of our work.
2020 DEI Work
- Creation of DEI Key Performance Indicators for every department
- Multiple approaches to monitor and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of DEI goals have been implemented, including a Diversity Dashboard
- Expanded recruitment efforts for hiring a diverse staff
- Inclusive representation and DEI integration into trainings and events
- Affinity groups and DEI dialogues for staff
- A Learning and Development Coordinator was hired to play a leadership role in developing and implementing a DEI training plan for staff
Staff experience survey data and Human Resources data show increased staff diversity, more diverse candidates from recruitment efforts, decreased staff turnover among People of Color, and a more diverse group of employees advancing at CISCT in 2020.
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Compass to Life Event for Postsecondary Success |
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In December, the CIS Compass to College Program offered a virtual event for families living in public housing and their K-12 students. The Compass to Life event was an opportunity for participants to engage in goal-setting and self-exploration activities designed for future postsecondary success. Former CIS student Ivis Garcia shared about her own personal journey, and offered advice for navigating the transition from high school to college. Our friends at H-E-B donated gift cards used as raffle prizes. The CIS Compass to College program raises awareness of higher education and career opportunities, develops pre-employment skills, promotes leadership skills, and provides scholarship and financial aid application assistance for high school students who live in public housing. Normally program activities happen on campus or on field trips to job shadow and visit colleges. This year, Compass to College supports are provided to students who are learning on campus or virtually from home via Zoom meetings and virtual events.
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CIS Expands to Serve San Marcos CISD |
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This school year, Communities In Schools of Central Texas expanded to serve ten new campuses, and began serving San Marcos CISD. The CIS coverage area for the 2020-2021 school year includes 7 school districts in four counties, and a total of 96 campuses. |
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CIS Program Managers work closely with teachers and counselors to identify students with the greatest obstacles and need for additional supports. Each school year we host teacher appreciation events on campus. This uniquely challenging school year, we wanted to make our appreciation efforts visible to all, so we launched the CIS Appreciates Teachers campaign on social media to highlight the work of teachers and administrators who are going above and beyond for students. During the pandemic, teachers had to pivot without any forewarning to remote teaching, and then continue to adapt and adjust as the new school year started, supporting students both in-person and virtually. We are grateful for our strong partnerships with teachers, counselors, and administrators, and together we are going above and beyond to help students through this challenging time. You can find us on social media, we are @ciscentraltx.
Save the date for Teacher Appreciation Week May 3-7, but remember, you don't have to wait until then to say thank you to a teacher for being #AllinforKids!
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Thank you to our 2020-2021 Campus Boosters |
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The CIS Campus Booster Program partners individuals, corporations, or foundations who make unrestricted or programmatic gifts of $25,000 or more with one of our CIS campuses so that they may better experience their generosity at work. For more information about the CIS Campus Booster Program, contact Chief Development Officer Carmine Salvucci at [email protected]
2020-2021 CIS Campus Boosters:
- 3M Foundation - Wooten Elementary, Austin ISD
- Buena Vista Foundation - Walnut Creek and Pickle Elementary Schools, Austin ISD
- Burdine Johnson Foundation – Uhland Elementary and Johnson High, Hays CISD
- EGF Charitable Fund - Manor High, Manor ISD
- Norbert H. Hardner Foundation - Oak Springs Elementary, Austin ISD
- Tapestry Foundation - T.A. Brown Elementary, Austin ISD
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A Special Message from Shaq |
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