Youth Newsletter

CITY OF NEW BEDFORD INVEST IN KIDS NEWS

Elementary After School ProgramKeeping New Bedford Kids on Track The New Bedford Youth Court was established in 2002, the first of its kind in Massachusetts. The program provides at risk youths with a second chance at amending their crime. A juvenile diversion program, Youth Court seeks to reconnect all offending young people to their community, school, and family. Participants must take accountability for their actions and make every effort to redeem themselves. Since its organization in 2002, Youth Court has processed over 600 cases from schools, police departments and Bristol County Juvenile Court. The program runs with various supports from the surrounding communities. Respondents involved with Youth Court must complete a broad list of sanctions given to them by their peers. One sanction geared toward younger participants has met with great success. The Elementary After School Program is designed to provide Elementary After School students with intensive academic and interactive help. The program runs between the four magnet schools ( Pulaski, Hayden McFadden, Carney Academy, Gomes), with students from all elementary schools in groups of between 15 and 20 children. The after school program runs in conjunction with the New Bedford Police Department and the New Bedford youth Court Behavioral Modification Camp. Every Friday for twelve weeks from 1:00pm to 3:30 pm, Elementary Youth Court respondents have a secure place to go during otherwise unstructured time. Academic support and homework help provide the students with an excellent opportunity to improve their grades and minds during the program. The other main component provides the children with an opportunity to take what they have learned in the four weeks Behavioral Modification Camp and expand it. As the after school program is a reward for the students, they must complete the BMC without major issues. From there, the after school program helps reinforce respect for self and others, self control, proper behavior and social skills. The students enjoy the opportunity to advance their skills through team-building activities, arts and crafts, and field trips.

The Teacher Apprenticeship Program Takes New Bedford Kids by Storm Students are given the opportunity to learn more about the people and cultures in their community. The apprenticeships vary from campus to campus, but the ultimate goal is to provide students with a fun and eye-opening first look at the working world, as well as an opportunity to participate in high energy, team building activities. The Community Teacher Apprenticeship program offers homework help, apprentices, team building, and field apprenticeships. The program runs on Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30 to 5:30 at Keith Middle School. Students and community leaders have the chance to connect and interact with each other in an interactive environment. Kids also have the opportunity to connect with their community through the WOW. The WOW is the piece of the program in which students show their friends, family, and members of their community all that they have learned and accomplished the previous semester. Will Gardner, Campus Director says, “Fall 2008 is off to a great start, with a lot of new faces bringing a ton of energy to program!” Not difficult to imagine with the variety of apprenticeships available: “Safe Zones,” “Working Waterfront,” “Junior Achievement-Restaurant Design,” “Break Dance,” “Sailing,” “Recycled Fashion,” “From Two Sticks and Some Thread,” “Rock band,” “Newsletter,” “Running Club,” “Health and Fitness,” “Buttonwood Park Zoo,” and “Hip Hop Shop.” - By: Carmen Burgos and Ashlee Aguiar

City Girls Developing Into Young Ladies through “Girls Rule” New Bedford’s “Girls Rule” Program takes preteen and teenage girls from our community and instills etiquette, positive behavior and confidence. Transportation to this free program is provided through the city of New Bedford. On Wednesdays from 3:00 to 6:00pm the girls meet at Brick by Brick to work with music. The girls learn the different aspects of music, how to write and record a song, and how to produce a track. This provides them with an excellent way to express themselves, not only as young women, but as artists. On Thursdays at the Unitarian Church, same times, the girls receive the behavioral aspect of the program. Here the girls learn the ins and outs of etiquette and exemplary social behavior. On our visit to this outstanding program we observed the girls learning how to crochet. Usually crocheting is not thought of as a young girl’s hobby, however these girls put some excitement into it and even taught several of the visiting male interviewers how its done!. Program Coordinator, Monica Castro explained that the girls receive help in academic areas as well, in hopes that the program will develop well-rounded young women. As a part of the program, the girls go out on a field trip once a year in order to demonstrate all they have learned about social etiquette. Participants Alexis, and India say they love the program and have always enjoyed the experience. Deja, Mahalia, Faviannha, and Brandi say the like having the opportunity to learn better manners and etiquette. All the girls agreed they loved to show off their new etiquette skills when they go on their field trips to nice restaurants.

New Bedford Youth View City Through New Light “Exploring My City Through Art” Fourth and fifth grade students from Gomes Elementary School who participate in the “Exploring My City through Art” program have the opportunity to see our city in a new and interesting light. The program meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school until 5’oclock pm. Students are bussed to and from each program location, and then finally brought home. The students go out into the community on trips and excursions on Tuesday, and then take what they have seen and put it on paper on Wednesdays at ArtWorks. The basis of the program is to link the community to art through partnerships with organizations and businesses throughout New Bedford. After learning about the community, the students learn how to relate it to expressive art. Partnerships include the waterfront, the National Park, and the Zeiterion Theatre. Jennifer Pires, the program’s art teacher, says she enjoys teaching the children and being busy with art for extended periods of time. Participant Latisha Rodrigues says she loves learning different ways to draw and color, and “wants to be a teacher and artist” when she grows up. Recently the students went to the National Park to learn about whales and other sea creatures. The next day at ArtWorks, they learned how to color and then paint over it to make the colors pop in their depictions of whales, dolphins, etc.