Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy’s Post

City of San Jacinto, CA Boys & Girls Clubs of America John Whann Approved! The San Jacinto City Council made a major commitment to youth development, mentoring, and mom's and dad's on October 3, 2023, with the approval of the terms of an MOU to bring the Boys and Girls Club of Inland Valley to San Jacinto. Attempted a few times over the past 10 years or so without making it to the finish line, the unanimously approved new Clubhouse will be developed by the City and BGC, hosted in a City-owned park, and leased to BGC of Inland Valley for $1 per year. The City of San Jacinto made a three year financial commitment, as well as, agreeing to develop the new clubhouse, and assist with funding or identifying sponsorships to purchase two passenger vans to transport youth to and from school sites. Measure V, a 1% sales tax measure approved in 2020 by 68% of registered San Jacinto voters, identified youth programs as one of its top community needs through the Community Needs Assessment Poll. The outpouring of support began several years ago, but never really got the traction it needed. This time, the City stepped up and made a commitment to partner with the BGC on a long-term relationship to insure that San Jacinto Valley youth have options for before and after school programs, mentoring, life planning, college preparation, tutoring, a safe environment to gain enriching activities, and a transportation program to and from local schools. The sign was made by BGC youth from the neighboring clubs. Thank you to the San Jacinto City Council and the BGC Inland Valley Board of Directors for making this new club a reality for the youth in the San Jacinto Valley. Stay tuned as we update the community and get this club open! #GoSanJacinto 🔥 #LifestyleWorthLiving #GreatFuturesStartHere #youth #enrichment #mentoring #safeplace #partnership #collaboration #business #parenthelp #wellness #smiles #DoGood #Impact #PositiveChange #Learning #Leadership #teaching #PassionDrive #motivation #personaldevelopment #investing #socialmedia #creativity #innovation #future #culture #coaching

🧠Late Night thoughts of a #ChildWelfare Director 📝 I have been a long time supporter of #CommunityPartnershipSchools because of the strong work of CHS Florida and Andry Sweet!! As we are thinking about upstream prevention, I wonder the business case and a case study where this model is implemented at a school that averages high number of abuse calls and/or removals and over time see if there is a reduction in intakes to truly building the momentum for moving from #MandatedReporters to #MandatedSupporters.

Counting down to the new year, we're highlighting the release of new report, “Investments in Student Recovery: A Review of School Districts’ Use of American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Afterschool and Summer Opportunities,” that found that more than 8 in 10 school districts dedicated some ARP ESSER funds to afterschool and summer opportunities, most ARP ESSER summer interventions focused on academic remediation or recovery only, and more! https://lnkd.in/e9UrVM8S

Summer learning is critical for students and families across the state. Currently the system is unequitable, favoring families that have the ability to fund summer learning opportunities for their child while students in rural communities or from low-income backgrounds don’t have the same resources, access and opportunity. Funding HB 4082 would provide districts rescouces to provide this support with the flexibility to partner with community based organizations and Education Service Districts. Ensuring that students who need it the most receive the support they deserve. Districts are being asked to do more and more and they can’t do it alone. “Moreover, the grant funds available in HB 4082 incentivize our neighborhood public schools to establish strong and sustained relationships with other organizations in the community. These types of partnerships are critical to providing students with wraparound services that meet the needs of the whole child.” Click on the link to learn why Oregon School Boards Association, Coalition of Oregon School Administrators, Oregon School Employees Association, Oregon Education Association all support this bill.

7/8 It’s so important that every child attends school every day. That they’re supported to feel that they belong. Too many children are missing school regularly, or are persistently absent. More children are missing school more often than before the pandemic.  As I have said before, solving this is one of my top priorities. Because nothing would be worse than giving up on those children. I know that the challenge has grown since the pandemic and made your jobs more challenging. Thank you for the hard work you are doing to tackle the absence problem. It is slowly starting to make a difference but we know the size of the challenge. Only you will know how to best deal with the individual issues each child will face. But I am here to help you. Leora, through her membership of our attendance action alliance, rightly challenges me on what you need to support you. Attendance needs to be everyone’s business. So we have set out new stronger expectations to work together to improve attendance and a support-first approach.  We’ve also expanded our attendance hub programme. We have launched 14 hubs, supporting around 800 schools, and launched our attendance mentors pilot in Middlesbrough, Stoke, my home borough of Knowsley, Salford and Doncaster. We have to get this right. I believe that by working together and supporting families, we will build that sense of belonging and get children into school with the support and stability they deserve. But we do know it’s more challenging, we do know children have lost their confidence, they are more anxious and they need help to take that step back into school, to feel they belong. I truly believe that ability is spread evenly, but opportunity is not. I know that because I’ve lived it, it’s in my DNA. If you sat next to kids in a Knowsley comprehensive school every day and you see the outcomes of their lives 40 years later, you know that is true.  That’s why a high-quality curriculum matters, because we just can’t just let ourselves have the soft leadership of low expectations for those children. That’s what we had. We were not deemed to have as much potential because of postcode. We had that in the past, we had that when I was at school. It will not happen on my watch, on Nick Gibbs’s watch or Diana Barran’s watch. It’s why sports and activities matter, because they offer an opportunity to get involved, to feel like you’re part of something bigger and find something you’re good at. These are the things that boost confidence, improve mental health, and grow friendships. They’re the things that mean you live a healthier and happier life in the future. It’s about making sure kids, including kids with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), get the support they need. There’s a lot of children now with children who have an additional need. I’m pleased that next year, high needs funding will rise to £10.5 billion. That’s 60% more than it was just five years ago.  

I really appreciate this framework and the role it plays in our work at Barr - AND I keep thinking about how helpful it would have been in my previous roles. When you work in advocacy, you have to choose what you will focus on at any given moment. By laying out a comprehensive framework, the Indicators of School Quality can help advocates pinpoint how the issues they are tackling connect with others, and what else needs to move to drive impact for young people.

**Community-led partnership success** The recent collaboration between Leatherhead Trinity School, Howard Of Effingham School, and Age Concern Mole Valley exemplifies a commendable community-led partnership, showcasing the positive impact that can arise when educational institutions and community organizations join forces. Both Leatherhead Trinity School and Howard Of Effingham School expressed a genuine interest in engaging their students in local community projects, providing them with opportunities to grasp wider societal concerns. This collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to fostering a sense of social responsibility and community engagement among the student body. The decision to channel this collaborative spirit with the help of Sonia Hubbard with Age Concern Mole Valley's yearly Christmas initiative is both thoughtful and impactful. By contributing to the preparation of Christmas packs for residents in Leatherhead, particularly those who are socially isolated, the partnership addresses a pressing societal concern while bringing joy and festive cheer to those in need. Lizzie Nix's statement from Howard Of Effingham School encapsulates the heartwarming essence of this initiative. Her acknowledgment that "the students have really enjoyed it" not only reflects the positive experience of the participating students but also underscores the importance of incorporating community-focused activities into the educational experience. The hope to bring joy to those who receive the Christmas cards further highlights the empathy and compassion instilled in the students through their involvement in this community-led project. This partnership serves as an inspiring model for other educational institutions and community organizations looking to bridge the gap between academia and community service. It demonstrates that collaboration between schools and community groups can create meaningful, purposeful projects that benefit both students and the wider community. Ultimately, initiatives like these contribute not only to academic growth but also to the development of socially conscious and compassionate individuals within the community. #councilworker #communitypower #partnerships #localauthority #localgovernment Surrey County Council

UPCOMING WEBINAR Rural Afterschool Programs: Meeting the Challenge In rural communities, afterschool and summer programs are nothing short of treasures. These programs go beyond mere convenience; they're invaluable resources that adapt their offerings to fit the unique needs of local children and families. They accomplish a remarkable feat by not only making learning exciting but also nurturing the innate curiosity of young minds. Imagine a place where children eagerly delve into new areas of interest, all while parents breathe easier, knowing their kids are in the care of supportive mentors in a safe environment. For many rural children, these programs are lifelines, offering vital assistance with homework, opportunities to engage in enriching extracurricular activities, and chances to socialize beyond the school walls. This webinar will focus on the significance of afterschool and summer programs in rural communities, identify challenges faced by rural afterschool programs, explore strategies for tailoring afterschool programs to rural contexts, discuss the role of advocacy in supporting these programs and increase awareness of resources for the mobilization of rural afterschool programs. Hosted by Gloria Halley, Regional Lead, Butte County Office of Education. To learn more and register, click the link below. https://lnkd.in/gEnNydZT

Legislators should pass HB 4082 "House Bill 4082 would invest $50 million for school districts that have a developed plan for summer learning programs that provide a minimum of 80 hours of instruction or activities through tribal and community partnerships. "The programs would be required to focus on academic enrichment and youth development and must have plans for family engagement and accessibility. In short, to qualify for funds from the state, school districts must have a summer learning program that is focused on helping Oregon’s students develop the skills necessary to continue to rebound from pandemic-related learning losses." Read the full OregonLive op-ed signed by public education advocates, including Emielle Nischik, OSBA's acting executive director: https://lnkd.in/g4XR22ZD #oregon #osba #publiceducation #schoolfunding #legislature #government #publicschools #funding #educationmatters #forthekids #pnw #fyp #schoolboards #summer #learning

It's back-to-school season which means #studentathletes across the country are heading back to their college campuses for a new semester of education, competition, and community service. If you are a student-athlete or collegiate team looking for ways you can get involved in community service on your college campuses this fall, check out these four tips to help get you started! ⤵ https://bit.ly/3YwJXg7