Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School
2008-2009 | Athens, Georgia, USA
Program Coordinators:
Gianfranco (Gio) Carrion Fanning Undergraduate Fellow Sue単os Grandes Coordinator UGA Senior graduating in Economics
Danny Bivins
Fanning Institute Public Service Assistant
Carolina Darbisi
Fanning Institute Public Service Assistant Leadership Sin Limites Lead Faculty
Program Overview How many professions can you list?
This question was posed to a class of seventh graders last year at W.R. Coile Middle School in Athens. The list they generated follows: 1. doctor; 2.teacher; 3. poultry worker; 4. manual laborer; and 5. bail bondsman. This list of five careers compiled by these ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) students reflected the limited knowledge they have about options beyond what they live and experience daily. The youth at Coile MS are mostly minority students who come from economically challenged homes and are at a high risk of not completing high school. Twentyseven percent of the total 720 students at Coile are Latino. Over 20% of the student body comes from homes where English is not the native language. Furthermore,
Coile MS is a Title I school since 90% of students qualify for free and reduce lunch. In the midst of this challenged state of affairs are the students and families, who are in need of a catalyst that can synchronize their knowledge about their community into high pursuits. Thus, the Fanning Institute is pleased to have provided that catalyst in the form of Sueños Grandes (or Big Dreams).
Sueños Grandes is a project of the Fanning Institute created thanks the Hispanic Scholarship Fund’s (HSF) University Alliance Grant. It consists of UGA’s Fanning Institute faculty, headed by Danny Bivins, Carolina Darbisi, and Fanning’s first Undergraduate Fellow, Gianfranco Carrion (Gio), the main student coordinator for this effort.
This project has the main mission of increasing academic achievement and awareness needed to reach higher education among students at Coile. With such objective in mind, Fanning carries out its mission by exposing students to higher education opportunities, resources and contacts. During the 2008-2009 academic year, Gio has conducted educational workshops and brought influential guest speakers to Coile in order to broaden the students’ knowledge and aspirations in their future career engagements. In addition, the most outstanding students participated in campus visits to UGA and Athens Tech, as well as a Leadership Training Day at Fanning. This report documents Sueños Grandes in its first year.
1st Visit (October 3rd, 2008)
Students write down their names and info during ice breaker
Getting to know each oth
er
Gianfranco (Gio) Carrion
Fanning Undergraduate Fellow Sueños Grandes Coordinator UGA Senior graduating in Economics
The first visit to Coile Middle School took place on October 3rd, 2008. Fanning’s main contact at the school, Mrs. Kelli Bivins, selected her best students to participate in Sueños Grandes. Thus, Gio first visited the school in order to get to know the students. This session was slightly relaxed with informal
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conversation and ice-breakers. Gio, a graduation senior at UGA majoring in Economic, also presented his personal and educational background to the class and talked about his experiences as a Hispanic student going to college. Overall, this visit served as introduction to the program’s goals and aspirations.
Gio introducing
himself
Ivan, 7th grader at Coile Middle School
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
2nd Visit
Demystifying the High School Experience (October 17th, 2008)
This activity was focused on discussing the students’ experiences in middle school in contrast to what is to come, high school. The first step was for students to write down 3 things they knew about high school. Anything and everything was allowed. After coming up with an extensive list, Gio created a document recording their thoughts and complemented them with general commentary and more specific statistics about future school, Cedar Shoals High School. With this document in hand, the class had an opportunity to learn and ask questions in regards to the academic and social side of the high school experience. Furthermore, the need for taking hard classes and starting academic success early in order to enter college was very much stressed all through out this activity. Topic such as “doing your homework,” “teachers don’t care,” “it’s harder than
middle school,” and “lunch time dynamics” among others were discussed as the group dissected most aspects about being a student in high school. The students had a good time and appreciated the opportunity of talking one-on-one with a young student! Here are some of the beliefs and topics of interest the students wrote down: • Nap time • Army classes (JROTC) • It’s bigger • It’s hard … More classes • Teachers don’t care if you don’t do your homework • It’s “cool” … vs … It’s boring • Better facilities & resources • Different teachers • More sports • Different rules (walking) • All students go to lunch at the same time
Cedar Shoal’s High School mascot. All Coile students will attend CSHS
Where will I go? Satellite image of Cedar Shoals High School
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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2nd Visit (cont’d)
What I know about High School ROTC program in high school. This program was of great interest to the class Nap time
• Student might fall asleep during class. Some teachers care, some don’t. It is your responsibility to pay attention. • Nobody will babysit you!
Better facilities & resources • Football Field • 3 computers for ever student enrolled in Cedar Shoals HS
• • • •
Mobile laptops Baseball field Bigger library Nobody will babysit you!
Army classes (JROTC) • Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) • ROTC is an elective high school course • Cadets (students) are organized into units along military lines • Class taught by retired military personnel • Curriculum combines classroom instruction and extracurricular activities regarding citizenship; sense of responsibility; and leadership. It’s bigger
• Coile Middle School: total enrollment 555 students • Cedar Shoals High School: total enrollment 1650 students
Different rules (walking) More sports • Football • Baseball • Basketball • Wrestling • Volleyball • Golf • Cheerleading
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• Soccer • Track & Field • Tennis • Swimming • Softball • Cross country
• People don’t walk you to class … you are on your own • Fairly relaxed dress code … express yourself in your own style • 30 students per class on average • Boyfriends or girlfriends? No problem • Liberty to choose elective classes • Liberty to choose extra-curricular activities (clubs and sports)
Here are some of the beliefs and topics of interest we came up with last week about High School and the opportunities available:
It’s hard … More classes
• 4 levels of class difficulty: 1)Technical 2) College Prep 3) Honors 4) Advanced • According to your grades in middle school, you will be placed in one of the levels. • If you do well, you have the option to advance and learn more • Higher level of class difficulty gives you more chances to go to college
Teachers don’t care if you don’t do your homework
• Again, it’s your responsibility! • Usually teachers will give you a zero and move along
It’s “cool” vs It’s boring • Studio Arts: Clay, Painting, Drawing • Marching Band • Newspaper staff • Ping Pong Club • Piano (keyboarding) • Yearbook staff • Dramatic Arts • Theatre • Flag Line club • Modern Dance • Chorus
Successful grad
uation
Different teachers • Teachers: 110 • With Advanced Degrees: 72 • Average Years Experience: 12 • Make sure to develop relationships with your teachers as they will be a key resource if applying to college
All students go to lunch at the same time?
• Students have assigned lunches • Usually the entire school is divided in 4 lunch periods • Better food, more variety • Bigger cafeteria
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
3rd Visit
Guest Speaker: Fernanda Cornejo (October 24th, 2008)
Our first guest speaker of the year was Fernanda Cornejo, a senior at UGA graduating in journalism and former student at Cedar Shoals High School. Fernanda visited the program and talked about her own personal experiences at Cedar Shoals, including her friendships with teachers and staff, counselors, and more. She provided great advice to our students regarding how to stay involved Fernanda Cornejo with different clubs and activities at the Cedar Shoals HS Alumna UGA Senior graduating in school as well as sports. Fernanda also Journalism built up on the previous discussion about “Demystifying the High School Experience” by providing her own input specific to CDHS. From where in the cafeteria is a good place to sit to what career counselor is the best to speak to regarding college, Fernanda provided real-life knowledge about our students’ future environment. Further, our class was lucky to see another young student stressing the importance of preparedness and academic and social involvement in order to have a rewarding time in the high school years.
Students li sten about Ceda as they learn r Shoals HS and Fernanda’s experience s
Fernanda Cornejo and Gio Carrion facilitate the activity in front of the class
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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4th Visit
Community Survey Exercise Athens, Georg
ia
6th Grade
What places do you recognize around your community? The movies (Carmike), Skating Ring (Skate a Round), Neighborhood (Pine Wood, Country Corners, Library at Pine Wood, Bowling (Macon Hwy), The Mall, J&J (la Pulga), Atlanta (Plaza Fiesta), World of Wonder Playground, Soccer Field at UGA, Sandy Creek Park, Restaurants: La Parilla, Aqua Linda,
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Subway, Zaxby’s, Olive Garden, KFC, “Chinos”, Waffle House, IHOP, Cali n Titos, EL Paisano, Chuck E. Cheese, Airplane Park (Bishop Park), Botanical Gardens, Memorial Park, Aquariams, Rock Eagle, Jekyll Island (5th Grade), Birthday Parties, Talking on the Phone, Baby showers, La Vacita (on the way to Jefferson).
Soon there after, Gio engaged the class in a discussion about how the places they mentioned affect them socially and academically. Quickly, this activity turned into a discussion about how their environment could serve as a negative label on them and how they can overcome such stereotypes. Overall, this activity was a great discussion that sparked new thoughts and perspectives in the student’s minds, realizing that being a student and a citizen is directly related with one’s community.
7th Grade
Pinewoods, a trailer park community that houses many of Sueños Grandes students
Gio led a survey in which students were asked to brainstorm the places they think identify their community. When defining the term “community,” the class reached an understanding that community is the place, people and traditions that uniquely describe who you are. With this in mind, our groups from 7th and 8th grade jotted down markets, parks, sporting grounds, restaurant, houses, etc as they tried to paint a good picture of their community.
Arena – Dance club, Bishop Park (Plane Park) ….. soccer, basketball, J&J Flea market (la pulga), Walmart (Atl highway), Movies, St. Joseph Church, Pinewoods / Fowler Drive, North Place, Lake Sandy Creek, Georgia Square Mall, South East Clarke Park, La Parrilla, Calientitos, Agua Linda, Skating Ring.
t, Athens, GA
Little Five Poin
8th Grade
(October 29th, 2008)
World of Wonder Playground (S.E. Clarke Park), Movies, Skating Ring (Skate a Round), Bowling Alley, Restaurants, Telephone, Ga Square Mall, Neighborhoods: North Wood, Pine Wood, North Place, La Vaquita (in Pendergrass), J&J (walk around, buy: clothes, shoes, electronics, haircut, groceries, tires, vegetables, animals, goat, Haunted House, Haunted Trail, Parties (baby showers, El Paizano, the arena (near the mall/ Sam’s Club), Play on computers, Atlanta (to visit relatives), Play soccer, Bishop Park, Vincent Drive, soccer fields, Sandy Creek Nature Center & Park, Memorial Park / Zoo, Church: St. Joseph’s, Quinceañeras, Chuck E. Cheese, 6 Flags, Pine Wood Libraries, The Level, Downtown, Lay Park, Ryans, Cici’s Pizza, Loco’s, Chinese Buffet, Kmart, El huanaco.
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
5th Visit
Guest Speaker: Erin Thompson (November 7th, 2008)
Our second guest speaker of the year was Erin Thompson, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) Campus Coordinator at UGA. Erin’s main mission on campus is to contribute HSF’s efforts to provide educations for young Hispanics through retention projects as well Erin Thompson as outreach. At Coile, Erin HSF Campus Coordinator at UGA led a presentation about the importance of a college education, focusing her point in the projected income levels before and after a college degree. Erin, in her relaxed yet passionate way, engaged students to reflect and prioritize what is important to them. Furthermore, this session allowed many of our students to start discussing what they would like to study for the first time. Medicine, architecture, veterinary, among other were some of the responses. At the end of Erin’s visit, Coile students were whispering their career intentions for the first time; thus, she fulfilled an important role in the program’s mission.
Erin Thompson and Gio lead session titled: “Why is College Important?”
Students filling career interest worksheets as part of the activity
Coile students listen about the importance of education in their lives
From the ground up, Erin explains the importance of a college education
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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6th Visit
Guest Speaker: Dr. Geraldo Gutierrez (November 14th, 2008)
Dr. Gerardo Gutierrez, a Biotechnology Researcher at UGA visited our class in order to talk about his personal and professional experiences as a Mexican immigrant. Dr. Gutierrez led a very personal presentation in which he shared his long academic road that led him to our classroom that day. Being from Mexico, he was Gerardo Gutierrez Dr. Gutierrez speaks able to related to the students as one Assistant Researcher – UGA with Coile students Carbohydrate Complex Research of them, an new-coming student and Center about his professional individual striving to succeed in a and academic life new place. Dr. Gutierrez shared many of his family and cultural experiences of his hometown of Mexico while also introducing his career and past professional experience. Having studied in Mexico, France, and now UGA, he was able to provide a new perspective to education; moreover, Dr. Gutierrez exemplified how far education can take you. The students had a wide array of questions from their visitor, ranging from the French language to what biotechnology really means. Overall, Dr. Gutierrez brought a fresh outlook to education and was able to interest our students with his diverse experiences in many different countries. Further, as a Mexican professional, he embodied the values and ambitions many of our students posses and inherently reassured them that anything is possible through education. Pa g e 1 0
Discussion his experiences as a Mexican professional in the US
Watching a video about Dr. Gutierrez work with biotechnology resources
Dr. Gutierrez also took extra time to speak with a 6th grade class, future participants of Sueños Grandes
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
7th Visit
Pizza Party (November 24th, 2008)
After seven weeks of hard work, lectures, and speakers Gio organized a Pizza Party for all of our students! It was a time to take a break, relax, and feel proud of all the knowledge gained in the last weeks.
Students enjoying some pizza and drinks nd with his Luis jokes arou y g the Pizza Part classmates durin
Oscar, a bright student at Coile Peace and bunny ears after some pizza
y pizza and time to enjo k o ts to o ls a Gio the studen drinks with
2008-2009 | Sue単os Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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(December 3rd and 5th, 2008)
Increasing Academic Preparedness
at Coile Middle School
Interview #1 Name: ___________________________ Age: ______ Grade: ______ _______ Address: ______________________________
Birthday: _________________
Class Schedule: Monday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Responses from career brainstorming Questions 1. What country do you identify yourself 2. What country do
Friday
exercise:
with? Your country of origin?
your parents identify themselves with?
3. (If applicable) When did you arrive
to the US?
4. What do your parents do for a living? Dad:
Mom:
Ages? 5. How many siblings do you have? 6. Where do you live?
A main component of Sueños Grandes is the development of an individual strategic planning form for each of the students. The first step to such a goal was to interview the students one by one in order to gain a better understanding of their personal story as well as their academic goals. Thus, Gio interviewed all 7th and 8th grade, 27 students total, utilizing an interview instrument designed to document the student’s family background, academic strengths, and future career goals. Some of the questions included: • What country do you identify yourself with? Your country of origin? • What is your dream job/career? Why? • Do you know what it takes to become a “ ____” ? (Education level, training) • Is anyone in your family in that job/field? Who? • Please name some of the colleges/universities in the state of Georgia.
The information collected was invaluable. Results showed most of our students identify themselves with a country other than the US. Also, job/field? Who? 9. Is anyone in your family in that most of them are very aware of their ethnic background and can Who? job/field? that 10.Do you know anyone else in relate to a city or place in their home country, even though they were Georgia. of state the in s universitie 11.Please name some of the colleges/ born here. Academically, most of our students did have an idea of a future career and in some cases, a family member or friend shared that profession. Therefore, the goal of this program is to educate the students in their future decision and raise awareness of the education level and training needed to achieve their goals. This information also helped tailor future guest speakers and the activities scheduled for the fieldtrips to UGA and Leadership Day.
Why? 7. What is your dream job/career? 8. Do you know what it takes to become
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a “ ____” ? (Education level, training)
7th Grade
Interviews – Strategic Planning
8th Grade
8th Visit
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
9th Visit
LEAD Athens – Career Trading Cards Project (January 7th, 2009)
In partnership with L.E.A.D. Athens, a community leadership program sponsored by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Sueños Grandes participants and 20 additional Coile Middle School students worked with four local leaders to design and produce Career Trading Cards. Delene Porter–CEO of Athens Area Community Foundation, C.R. Chisholm– Athens Clarke County Solicitor General, Aria Stubbs–Georgia Power Project Manager, and Chad Collins–Owner of Bone Delene Porter Fanning Institute – Public Service Dry Roofing, helped students Representative and Athens Area explore career fields that Aria Stubbs and Chad Collins, in Community Foundation – CEO sparked their interest. Students their first visit to Coile Middle School, worked with Gio Carrion and Coile MS Graduation Coach explained the Career Trading Cards Joe Jones to identify interests and match those interests Project to Sueños Grandes participants to potential careers. The L.E.A.D. Athens team then set up photo shoots at which each student dressed for the career they wanted to pursue. The photos became the action shots for the front of the Career Trading Cards, while the back of the card discussed “Quick Stats,” vital information about educational requirements, job duties, and salary for the job. In addition to each student receiving a complete deck of Career Trading Cards with his or her friends on them, a template for the cards was created so that teachers at all 4 of the school district’s middle schools could replicate the project with their students. Overall, Sueños Grandes’ partnership with L.E.A.D Athens was a crucial step into the strategic planning process created for the students. 2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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9th Visit (cont’d)
Big League: Career Trading Cards for the Future Background
How many professions can you list? This question was posed to a class of seventh graders last year at W.R. Coile Middle School in Athens. The list they generated follows: 1. doctor; 2.teacher; 3. poultry worker; 4. manual laborer; and 5. bail bondsman. This list of five careers compiled by these ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) students reflects the limited knowledge they have about options beyond what they live and experience daily. The Clarke County School District’s graduation rate is only 58.4% and 1 in 3 children lives in poverty in Athens. The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia’s program Food2Kids provides 108 students with bags of food to take home over the weekends because they would go hungry. There are multiple causes of poverty weighing on our community, but the burden is most felt by our children. Education and career opportunities go hand in hand as the only sustainable way to break the cycle of poverty. Getting students excited about their futures translates into getting them excited about learning. The 2009 Orange Team wants to help Athens’ students see the world that awaits them after graduation.
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Project Description
In partnership with Sueños Grandes, a new program developed by UGA’s Fanning Institute for 30 Coile Middle School students, the Orange Team will design and produce Career Trading Cards that can be shared with all 4 of the school district’s middle schools. As part of Sueños Grandes’ effort to exposing Coile MS students to higher education and stressing the importance of achievement throughout middle and high school, the Orange Team will help students explore career fields that spark their interest. These students will create a list of careers and the Orange Team will help them attract speakers from as many as possible. The speakers will be invited in and interviewed by the students with questions like “How did you get to where you are,” “What is your education level?,” “What are the daily tasks of your job?,” “What do you like the most about your work?,” “How much do you earn?,” etc. The speaker’s answers will be used along with US Department of Labor information to create the back of the Career Trading Card and a generic action photo of the professional will grace the front. Because the students will be involved in choosing the careers/speakers, the cards will be prevetted to resonate with youth. The Orange Team will then work with speakers and additional sponsors to get the cards produced. Our hope is that these cards can be placed in the Food2Kids weekend grocery bags and that enough cards can be produced to share with the other middle schools.
Expected Outcomes
We hope these cards will provide a fun way to expand horizons and give students a road map for how to achieve their dreams. Expanding what these students believe is possible will give them a reason to stay in school. For the Sueños Grandes participants, they will have been exposed to career options and potential mentors in addition to engaging in volunteerism by creating a product that will benefit their peers. For Food2Kids participants, we hope they’ll find inspiration in each bag of groceries. We also plan to create a “speakers log” of the business leaders on each card. This log will be distributed to middle school teachers and community programs so that they can use the deck to engage their students in picking speakers to visit for years to come. We would like to help teachers create a curriculum with a traveling display of the cards/materials that can rotate around the county. Using the cards as an educational tool will make this project live on beyond 2009. We hope that teachers, businesses, and youth group programs will see that they can add to the deck if they choose. Most of all, the Orange Team believes that these students have potential, but they don’t always hear it from the community around them. We hope this project will help students know they’re on the Farm Team now, but they are preparing for the Big Leagues.
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
Photos (top) by: Peter Frey
10th Visit
College Life (January 16th, 2009)
In preparation for the scheduled UGA Campus Visit on February 20th, Gio led a presentation and discussion about college life and The University of Georgia. The nature of both components was fairly relaxed; nevertheless, it presented crucial information about college entry requirements, SAT testing, career planning, financial aid, time management, among other topics. The goal of this activity was to start a healthy discussion about anything related to being a college student. Having already presented participants with information and guest speakers focused on the importance of education, it was time to picture ourselves there. Therefore, students had many questions about class sizes, student-teacher interactions, homework assignments, schedules, tests, etc. In addition, some ventured to ask Gio the simple, yet taboo questions, such as: do you go out partying? How are the girls in college? Do you do homework at all? After a few laughs and smiles, the end of the discussion left students with a real-life example of a college student and his life at a university.
Gio speaks about his experiences as a student at the University of Georgia
2008-2009 | Sue単os Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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11th Visit
Guest Speaker: Carolina Darbisi (January 23rd, 2009)
Fanning’s Carolina Darbisi, director of the Leadership Sin Limites (LSL) Program, visited Coile to talk about leadership. Carolina engaged from the start with a very important question: What is leadership? Many students related such definition to power, order, even money. Though true at some extents, Carolina went on to explain Carolina Darbisi there are many kinds of leaders. Fanning Institute - Leadership Sin Limites Lead Faculty Further, one can be a leader without being the center of attention or the one giving directions. This concept was fascinating for the participants as they discussed the qualities and experiences that create a good leader. In addition, Mrs. Darbisi led a couple of written activities were students wrote down the qualities that made each on of them a leader and what is important in their lives. Some chose family, others chose intelligence, but most chose education. Mrs. Darbisi was able to reinforce the main message of the program while the students openly discussed the same concept. This activity was a huge success as Carolina and the student shared a great conversation about leadership and education. Pa g e 1 6
Gio Carrion and Carolina Darbisi lead discussion about leadership qualities
Carolina Darbisi talks about what it means to be a leader
Carolina engages students into expressing their ideas
2008-2009 | SueĂąos Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
12th Visit
Students captured the positive and negative stereotypes place on the Hispanic community (image below)
Guest Speakers: Celina Correa & Nelmaris Alvarez
Hispanic Student Association (HSA) at UGA representatives (November 7th, 2008)
Celina Correa HSA President
Nelmaris Alvarez
Member Relations Chair
Celina Correa, President of HSA, and Nelmariz Alvarez, HSA Member Relations Chair, visited Coile in late January in order to talk about cultural identity and the Hispanic community. Celina and Nelmariz are excellent students at UGA and remain very involved in campus activities through HAS and other organizations; thus, they were perfect role models for Sueños Grandes participants. They began their session by explaining the Hispanic Student Association at UGA, their mission, activities and events. Then, they lead a great exercise in cultural identity called the “Sticker Game.” In this activity, all Celina listens to the students were provided with a sticker of a certain color and student’s concerns with then told to group. However, they were never told to group cultural identity by the color of their sticker. Though most did the obvious, the objective of this activity was to show the importance of seeing above labels and colors in order to form a community. Once in groups, Celina and Nelmaris lead a discussion about the labels put in the Hispanic community. The students were very responsive as they listed all the stereotypes, good and bad, put on them because of their ethnicity. After writing an extensive list, the HAS reps closed their session by telling the group stereotypes are nothing and the best way to eliminate them is by raising awareness of their cultural identity. Celina and Nelmaris brought a fresh approach to the issue of culture as truly communicated with our students!
David Forker, teacher at Coile MS, facilitates discussion on stereotypes
Celina and Nelmaris talk about the Hispanic Student Association (HSA) at UGA
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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13th Visit
Guest Speaker: Maritza Soto Keen (February 13th, 2009) photo by Robert Newcomb
Maritza Soto Keen, Director of the Latino Initiative at the UGA Office of Public Service & Outreach, was one of the most influential guest speakers that visited Coile. She is in charge of designing and implementing programs, activities, and project related to promoting outreach to the Latino community from UGA. At Coile, Maritza Keen gave a Maritza Soto Keen presentation about why it is important to UGA Office of Public Service & Outreach go to college. She first engaged students Director, Latino Initiative to describe themselves, their good and bad habits, goals and aspirations. Then Keen presented several profile of colleges around Georgia and encouraged students to look thoroughly when choosing a college. Lastly, Martiza asked the students to write down their future achievements within the next five years. Some saw themselves graduating from high school, others helping their family and others entering college. This discussion truly impacted the participants as they were faced with the passion and knowledge of Keen. Furthermore, the information provided was useful to broaden the educational horizons of Sue単os Grandes participants. Pa g e 1 8
Martiza Soto Keen explain
s the importance of colleg
e
Students listen as Keen shares her personal road to success eer
Calling for a volunt
2008-2009 | Sue単os Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
14
th
Visit
UGA Campus Visit
Carrion and a group of student prepare to travel around campus in a UGA bus
(February 20th, 2009)
One of the highlights of the year definitely was the Campus Visit to The University of Georgia. Having undergone months of training and informational sessions about education, it was time for Sue単os Grandes participants to see it for themselves. Gio Carrion and Danny Bivins organized and managed all the accommodations necessary for 30 of the brightest students to come on campus for an incredible day. Furthermore, Gio recruited 15 Hispanic UGA students to volunteer as personalized tour guides for Sue単os Grandes participants. In that manner, Coile students could attend classes, eat at the dinning halls, visit dormitories and more always accompanied by a real college student. Students first arrived at the Fanning Institute and heard from Fanning staff, Erin Thompson of HSF, and Patrick Winter from the UGA Admission office. All of the invited speakers presented crucial information ranging from scholarships to the specific requirements to
ain and met the group ag Erin Thompson rships la ho sc spoke about HSF
From left to right: Josefina, Grecia, Melissa and Jennifer traveling in a bus
Daisy, Manuel an d Jennifer walk by Sanfor d Stadium
Patrick Winter from UGA Admissions encourages student to excel in school
2008-2009 | Sue単os Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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14th Visit (cont’d) apply and enter UGA. Shortly thereafter, participants were paired in groups of two and started their day alongside their “college buddy.” The experience was incredible. The students were able to see and experience college in its entirety. Some went to a science laboratory, others actually stepped foot on the hardwood at Stegeman Coliseum, while others visited the broadcast center at Grady College. Thanks to the volunteers, Coile students got very incredibly rewarding experiences on campus. At the end of the day, the group met back at Fanning for a final reflection. Gio stood in front of the room with nothing but some words of advice. In a passionate way, he challenged students to reach all they have seen today. “Statistics say you will not get to college; that you will drop out,” said Carrion. However, he defied the room to kill the statistic and be the exception. Overall, it was an exciting day and the panicle of Sueños Grandes previous work since August 2008. Pa g e 2 0
Fanning Institute
Welcome! “Sueños Grandes” visit to UGA The Fanning Institute, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and volunteer UGA students would like to welcome you tot this campus visit at the University of Georgia. We congratulate you for participating in this event created for Coile Middle School Students part of “Sueños Grandes” and who are on the right path to higher education. Throughout the day, you will be following the UGA student who was assigned to you everywhere he or she goes. You will experience a UGA student’s life inside the classroom, during lunch, and during different activities. You will also be provided with information regarding academic preparedness, admissions, scholarships, and many more. Please feel free to ask any questions that you have as we will respond to them to the best of our ability. Today you will start the morning right, with a nutritious breakfast and admissions counseling. Throughout the day you will go in a tour around campus, you will eat lunch at one of UGA’s famous dining halls, you will assist to class with your mentor, and finally gather back together for a group picture! We hope you enjoy your day at the University of Georgia! Please remain with your mentor at all times unless indicated by one of the supervisors, keep the contact sheet handy in case of any emergency, but most of all enjoy your experience here at UGA! 2/ 13/ 09
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
Photo by: Dot Paul
Fanning Institute
February 2nd, 2009 Dear Parents: Monday, March 30th, your child is invited to visit the UGA Campus with a group of other students as part of the Sueños Grandes (or Big Dreams) project. We need your help in two ways. First, to sign the attached permission slip and second to make sure your child is at school by 7:15am on 3/30/09. If you can not bring your child personally, Ms. Bivins is helping the students work together to arrange rides. A full day is planned for students to learn about college life. They will arrive to the Fanning building on campus no later than 9:00am and will begin the day with breakfast. Soon after, they will listen to representatives from the Fanning Institute as they engage in a day-long leadership training agenda. They will be under the supervision of Fanning staff at all times during their time on campus. Lastly, the students will return to Fanning at 2:00pm in order to return to Coile. Complete cooperation and support from the Coile students and parents is needed in order for this activity to be the best it can be. Fanning staff are greatly excited about this visit. Sueños Grandes (or Big Dreams) is a project of the UGA Fanning Institute created thanks to the support of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Sueños Grandes consists of UGA’s Fanning Institute faculty, headed by Danny Bivins and Carolina Darbisi, and Fanning’s first Undergraduate Fellow, Gianfranco Carrion (Gio), who will become the main student coordinator for this effort. Fanning seeks to carry out HSF’s mission of advancing education in the Hispanic community by exposing Coile MS students to higher education opportunities, always stressing the importance of achievement and preparedness throughout middle and high school years in order to achieve more. To achieve this, Gio conducts educational visits and brings speakers to Coile in order to broaden the students’ knowledge and aspirations for their future career engagements. We’ll see you soon!
Fanning Institute 2 de Febrero, 2009
Gianfranco Carrion The University of Georgia Fanning Undergraduate Fellow gcarrion@uga.edu
Estimados Padres de familia: Lunes 20 de Febrero, su hijo esta invitado a visitar el campus de UGA con un grupo de otros estudiantes que participan en el proyecto Sueños Grandes. Necesitamos su ayuda en dos maneras. Primero, favor de firmar el Autorización, y segundo, vea que su hijo esté en la escuela a las 7:15 de la mañana el 30 de febrero. Si usted no puede traer a su niño personalmente, Sra. Bivins está ayudando a los estudiantes a trabajar juntos para arreglar transportacion.
Sueños Grandes
Un día completo se planea para que los estudiantes aprendan sobre la vida de la universidad. Las I n c r e a s i n g A c a d e m i c P r e pactividades a r e d n es s de a t este C o i ldía e Mdurarán i d d l e todo S c h oelo ldía escolar. Los estudiantes de Coile llegarán al edificio del Instituto Fanning a las 9:00am en punto y empezarán el día con un desayuno. Después, ellos escucharán a representantes de Fanning que los guiaran en preparamiento sobre liderazgo. Los estudiantes deberán y estarán acompañados por empleados del Instituto Fanning a todo momento durante su estadia en campus. Finalmente, los estudiantes retornarán a edificio de Fanning a las 2:00pm y se prepararán para regresar a Coile. La completa cooperación y apoyo de los estudiantes y padres de Coile Middle School es crucial para que esta actividad sea lo mejor de lo mejor. El personal de Fanning y yo estamos increíblemente emocionados acerca de esta visita. Sueños Grandes es un proyecto del Instituto Fanning de la Universidad de Georgia (UGA) creado gracias al apoyo del “Fondo Hispano de Becas” (Ingles: HSF). Sueños Grandes cuenta con distinguido personal del Instituto Fanning, encabezado por Danny Bivins, Carolina Darbisi, y estudiante becado Gianfranco Carrion (Gio). Gio es el coordinador de este proyecto en Coile Middle School. Fanning se compromete a ayudar la misión de HSF de avanzar el nivel educacional de la comunidad Hispana al comprometerse a exponer los estudiantes de Coile a oportunidades académicas, siempre estresando la importancia de la preparación educacional a través de middle y high school. Para lograr esta misión, Gio organiza visitas educacionales y trae oradores a la escuela con la misión de expander los horizontes académicos de los estudiantes e impulsar sus aspiraciones para el futuro.
15th Visit
Athens Tech Campus Visit (February 27th, 2009)
Coile Middle School staff organized and directed a visit to the Athens Technical College campus on February 27th, 2009. Though Sueños Grandes’ initial proposal contained a field trip component to Athens Tech, Fanning staff did not see the necessity to duplicate the same activity. Most of Sueños Grandes participants went on the visit scheduled by the school and learned about the opportunities Athens Tech could have for them.
Los veremos pronto!
Gianfranco Carrion The University of Georgia Fanning Undergraduate Fellow gcarrion@uga.edu
Sueños Grandes I n c r e a s i n g A c a d e m i c P r e p a r e d n es s a t C o i l e M i d d l e S c h o o l
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
Athens Tech Pa g e 2 1
16th Visit
Leadership Day @ Fanning
The balloon tower exercise
(March 30th, 2009)
Sue単os Grandes complemented its mission with a Leadership Day at the Fanning Institute. Having gone through the experience of visiting the UGA campus, Fanning sought to complement such experience with first-hand training on leadership. This time, only 20 of the brightest students were selected to participate. The students arrive at Fanning on March 30th with a full agenda of activities. After a short introduction by Gio Carrion and Danny Bivins, the students participated in the Outdoor Leadership Lab (OLL). OLL consists of ropes course exercises that, though simple in nature, are designed to train people in communal work and leadership enhancement. After each exercise, Pa g e 2 2
a Fanning staff member led a discussion about how leadership applied to the activity. The four stations used were: spider-web, log, teeter-totter and the island. These four stations forced students to communicate and work together in order to achieve group goals. During this part of the day, it was apparent that many student stepped forward in organized their group and leading ideas. It was very rewarding to see the confidence and self-assurance many of the participants showed. Moreover, the change in their attitudes witness by the organizers was undeniable. After completing the OLL, the group had lunch at Snelling Dining Commons. Then, Sue単os Grandes took the participants for a tour of
Students faced by the Spider-w eb
Danny chats with Melissa and Oscar by Sanford Stadium
2008-2009 | Sue単os Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
16th Visit (cont’d) the UGA Hispanic student organizations’ offices on campus. The grouped toured around Memorial Hall and the Tate Center offices, learning about the presence of Hispanic students on the UGA campus. Short after the tour, the participants were also brought to Oglethorpe Dormitories, were they got the opportunity to see their potential future housing. At the end of the day, the group met back at Fanning for a final exercise and reflection. Overall, Fanning achieved its mission of creating a sense of leadership among Coile’s brightest students. Danny and Gio closed the day by talking to the students about the great opportunities they have by participating in Sueños Grandes and how they now have the duty to lead their peers. Though filled by silence, the ambient in the room was one of learning. As students share their thought of the meaning of leadership, it was clear that Fanning accomplished its mission of establishing leadership skills on Sueños Grandes participants.
Oscar leads stretch exercises before the Outdoor Leadership Lab a also warm Abby and Greci -hoops up with the hula
The whole group tries to find balance as a final challenge
Working together on the log exercise
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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17th Visit
Guest Speaker: Maria Navarro (April 3rd, 2009)
Professor Maria Navarro, from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, visited Sueños Grandes to present the scope of agriculture, environmental prevention, and education in the world’s problems of today. In a passionate manner, she first engaged her listeners by giving them paper and pencils; however, they were not all the same. Every single student had one piece of paper Maria Navarro and one pencil; but some got smaller, more UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences wasted pencils than others. Professor Navarro used this example of unequal endowment to exemplify the current inequality of resources in different parts of the world today. Intrigued by her opening message, participants listened closely as they related their own personal obstacles with Navarro’s talk. Then, she challenged the students with the possibility of solving the world problems if they were to be the presidents of the future. One participant proposed for the United States to give money to poorer countries. Another participant said it was best to eliminate environmental problems. Other also mentioned the importance of child healthcare for babies around the globe. Many great ideas surrounded the room that day; moreover, Professor Navarro was able to motivate the students minds into higher thoughts. Pa g e 2 4
Professor Navarro talks ab out agriculture and world pro blems
udents Navarro faced the st tions es with pressing qu
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
18th Visit
Parental Visit to UGA Campus (April 22nd, 2009)
One of Sueños Grandes most important components was parental involvement. Program coordinators kept student’s parents informed about their children’s activities with the program throughout the year by asking for their collaboration in the survey component as well as the fieldtrips to UGA and Leadership Day. In addition, Carolina Darbisi organized an official Parental Visit to the UGA Campus. Parent visited the Fanning Institute and learned about our mission and objectives for Sueños Grandes. Parents also got a chance to visit key spots on campus like the Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACSI) office, the Georgia Center, the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education (CLASE), and the Ethno Botanical Garden. And of course, they were also served to a great lunch at Snelling Dining Commons. The purpose of this visit was to expose the parents to a higher education setting and reinforce the notion of academic achievement in the household. Fanning staff understand leadership and academic success start in the household; thus, parental involvement is key for anything that we do. The participating parents had an amazing day. They were able to experience the campus and many of the resources available for the Latino Community.
SE, Gathered at CLA the current learning about A programs at UG
Paul Duncan (LACSI) led a tour of the Ethno Botanical Garden for Coile parents
Coile parents arrived at Fanning at the start of their day
Paul Duncan chats with the parents About LACSI and its program on campus at the “Yellow House”
The group walking on North Campus
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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19
th
Visit
Gio’s Goodbye (May 1th, 2009)
Dear Coile & Sueños Grandes, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I cannot say it enough times. It has been an amazing year for me and I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to enter the Coile community. My first day, I did not know what to expect as far as the people I would meet and the goals we would achieve. Today, I can say we have achieved more than I ever thought I could provide. The inherent talent in every single student at Coile has left me speechless. Along the way, I met future doctors, psychologist, judges and more. Moreover, I got to know the wonderful personalities and prospects the youth at Coile MS has to offer to the world. As I prepare to graduate, leave Athens, and enter the corporate world, I look back at this final year as a very special one. It is special because I did not only completed my learning at UGA, but I also learned the most in a small classroom at Coile. This program, the students, and the amazing teachers at your school have taught me that change is possible. That education and effort can achieve greater things than imagined; further, I can only say it has been a pleasure to learn from you. I will take everything I have learned and never forget that, even though it was a short time, I will remember my days at Coile for the rest of my time. So, for one last time, I thank you all.
On May 1st, 2009, Gio organized one final session to address all the participants. In this day, he shared all his experiences and personal lessons from the past year and said a final goodbye, as he prepared to graduate and start his career. Bellow is a letter by Carrion to Coile students and staff. Pa g e 2 6
Sincerely
Gianfranco Carrion
Fanning Undergraduate Fellow Sueños Grandes – Coordinator University of Georgia
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
20th Visit
Celebrating Our Future (May 5th, 2009)
Thanks to a joint effort from LACSI, the Fanning Institute, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) and the University Alliance, Coile Middle School held “Celebrating Our Future.” The evening of May 5th was a time to witness the wonderful work of Coile students throughout the entire year. Coile staff, UGA faculty members, students and parents got a chance to mingle and reflect on the amazing work the students had done the past months. This concludes the calendar of activities for Sueños Grandes in its 2008-2009 year.
2008-2009 | Sueños Grandes | Increasing Academic Preparedness at Coile Middle School, Athens, GA, USA
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G r a p h i c D e s i g n : E l e o n o r a M a c h a d o , U G A , C E D, C e n t e r f o r C o m m u n i t y D e s i g n a n d Pr e s e r v a t i o n