Office of Experiential Learning partners with Bowe Elementary

Fawz Ahmad, Education ESL major, ‘24, instructs second grade students.

Experiential Learning - Bowe Partnership

Partnering for the Future

Does the journey to a career path or the working world begin at graduation? Does it begin when a student begins college or even high school? If we look at the larger picture, we notice that the journey starts from the time a child enters elementary school. And while the journey for every student is a complex one that is a combination of instructional strategies and teachers, it has been proven that the advantages of teaching methods such as students learning from hands-on experiences and the positive academic outcomes when they have mentors and also become mentors are substantial.

Therefore it is no small accomplishment that this year Elms College’s Office of Experiential Learning teamed up with Bowe Elementary to bring six students from Elms into the classroom to work with Bowe students. And the incredible benefits of this partnership have surpassed expectations. The children at Bowe relate to the Elms student tutors, the teachers benefit because the Elms tutors are a much-needed resource, and the Elms students learn from hands-on experience that gives them real-world opportunities to add to their resume and skills they can use as they become part of the community. It is this student-to-student interaction that makes this partnership special. There are incredible benefits of students working within the educational system to help teach the younger generation. The principal of Bowe Elementary, David

Drugan, knows how important this synergy is. “Our students like the Elms tutors and are revitalized because the Elms students bring a new type of energy into the classroom. The students are excited when they know their Elms tutors are coming in,” Principal Drugan said. “Also, when they go home, parents or guardians want to hear about their day, and when the student comes home and tells them about the Elms tutors with a smile on their face, then the parents or guardians are happy.” Bowe Elementary has 450 students ages 5 to 11. It is a neighborhood school. Family members meet the children and walk them home. “Having the student excited about the Elms tutors is a bonus not only for Bowe but the community,” Drugan continued, “Elms students serve as role models and have a positive influence on the Bowe students. Their mentorship inspires and instills a desire for higher education in the children at Bowe at a young age.” Drugan explained that Bowe is a melting pot. The families at Bowe are often immigrants or refugees, and English language learners. The Elms tutors are relatable to the young students at Bowe because Elms students share their diverse backgrounds. The Bowe students see themselves reflected in the Elms tutors. In fact, several Elms tutors were English language learners themselves which gives them a unique perspective when helping their students develop their reading, writing, and spoken English skills. The partnership with Bowe Elementary was made possible because of a special government program, the America Reads/America Counts Program. Alan Bloomgarden, Director of Experiential Learning, explained that this program made the partnership with Bowe possible because it is funded through federal work-study, making it possible to place Elms students into elementary schools. The students assist teachers to support the children in the subject areas of reading and mathematics, as well as their overall educational development. “The Office of Experiential Learning is committed to giving equitable and inclusive opportunities to all students,” Bloomgarden explained. This federal program allows students, who otherwise couldn’t afford to give their time to community service, to help at the elementary school. The school is within walking distance of the college which helps residential students or those who do not have easy access to transportation. Additionally, the work-study funding allows students who need a wage to participate during Bowe school hours when participating Elms students are not in classes. Because this was the first year of the partnership, there was a good deal of work the Office of Experiential Learning had to complete on the front end with many departments to complete the necessary administrative paperwork. But more importantly, the interest and needs of both Elms students and the Bowe Elementary School were taken into consideration. Their placement at Bowe was considered according to student languages, interests, and availability. Although the program is not exclusively for education majors—one of the tutors specializes in computer science—for sophomore Fawz Ahmad, a secondary education major, this was the perfect opportunity. Known as Ms. Fawz to her Bowe students, she helps with second and fifth-grade classes. Her assistance is a perfect example of the benefits the Elms tutors bring to the younger students. She is helping a second-grader from Afghanistan learn English. Fawz moved to the US from Syria at age 13 and although she and the young girl do not speak the same native language, Fawz knows what it is like not to understand English. “I remember what it was like to have to learn a new language when I first attended classes in the United States,” Fawz said, “ So I know how to teach her English. It is important for her, the school, and the community.” Fawz realizes the importance because she is part of the community. Her home is just a few blocks away from Bowe and Elms. She is the first in her family to attend a four-year institution and is not only a role model for her students but also her brother, who is a student at Bowe as well. When asked about the impact of experiential learning, Fawz replied, “You step out of your own classroom. It teaches you about the challenges that can arise. There are new situations and experiences each day. Also, the diversity of students expands your knowledge of the world.” There are 70 teachers at Bowe and they give the Elms tutors an authentic view of teaching and the world. The students at Bowe are the center focus for the tutors and working with the children brings a sense of fulfillment that the tutors cherish. “Every day is valuable to each tutor whether their major is in education or not because the children are accepting and always willing to be your friend,” Fawz said. “You forget about your own problems because you are there just for them. You focus on them alone.”

Left to right: Teacher, Mr. Harry Brandt, second-grade students, Fawz Ahmad, Education ESL major, ‘24.

5th Annual Black Experience Summit - Organized by the Elms College President’s Office and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the theme to this year’s summit was Stories of Our Becoming: The Shoulders on Which We Stand. The engaging virtual event featured two keynote speeches. The opening keynote address, “Freefalling and Finding Self: Meditations on Blackness and Rasanblaj,” was given and performed by Gina Athena Ulysse, a Haitian-American feminist and artist-anthropologist and professor of Feminist Studies at UC Santa Cruz. The closing keynote address, “Witness and Withnessing: the Archive of Black Freedom Struggles,” was given by Treva B. Lindsey, Ph.D., a black feminist historian and co-founder of the Black Feminist Night School at Zora’s House in Columbus, OH. She is also an associate professor at The Ohio State University. The summit also included two interactive panel discussions. The Art of Storytelling panel examined why the stories about black history are so central to black experiences. The second panel, Lifting as We Climb, was moderated by Elms President, Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA, and involved a discussion on the career paths of three presidents from colleges and universities in New England.

Thank you to everyone who donated to this year’s Blazer Blitz! Through your continued generosity, your contributions helped raise over $22,000 in support of our students and will have an immediate impact on our community to ensure a positive, lasting impact in their lives. “I want to send a special thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Blazer Blitz campaign. We are proud to include you among our family of benefactors who share your enthusiasm and commitment to our students and the college, and look forward to our continued connection in the year ahead!” said Bernadette Nowakowski, VP of Institutional Advancement.

OVER

$20,000

Your contributions support our students and our community to ensure a positive, lasting impact in their lives.

ANNUAL CAPE COD LUNCHEON

with President Harry E. Dumay, Ph.D., MBA Thursday, August 11, 2022 12 noon - 2:30 p.m.

The graduating class of 2022 shined at their commencement ceremony. Visit facebook.com/ElmsCollege/photos_albums to enjoy the photos of the celebration!

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LIFELONG LEARNERS WEBINARS

Just because you graduated, doesn’t mean you stopped learning. As an Elms College alumna/us, you have exclusive access to a variety of personal and professional development webinars. alumlc.org/elms