Building Brighter Futures Since 1964 Hosted at New Canaan Country School
Rise Up with Hope HORIZONS SUMMER PROGRAM FOCUSES ON CONNECTIONS By Whitney Mallozzi, Horizons Development and Communications Coordinator
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Horizons transitioned our Summer Program to a five-week virtual format that included asynchronous and synchronous learning activities and featured many of our Horizons traditions and events in a virtual format. Prior to the launch of the program, we hosted a drive-up supply day and distributed grade-level supplies, grocery gifts cards and technology (when needed) to ensure families and students had all the resources they needed to fully access our online programming. The theme for the Summer Program, “Rise Up with Hope,” was woven into all curricula and events, and allowed students the opportunity to reflect on the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice surrounding them. Given the 1
stress and isolation we knew our families were facing, we shifted our Summer Program goals to focus on connection, student and family support and engagement, along with social and emotional well-being. We connected with families one-on-one and provided social work support when needed. We also conducted resiliency workshops for caregivers with tips and strategies on dealing with their children’s stress and anxiety over the pandemic and remote learning. This summer, Horizons brought back our Grade 9 Program for rising tenth graders to give them a productive learning opportunity, connection and
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support, which included a cumulative video project and financial literacy program with stock market simulation and competition. All students benefited from a daily schedule of classes that included journaling time, literacy and math, art, woodshop, theater, virtual lunches/social time and community assemblies. Teaching assistants provided real-time technical support to help students and the adult caregivers supporting them to access Google classroom and Zoom. The program concluded with a celebratory drive-thru Moving Up Ceremony to recognize the milestones of our Grade 5 and
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Grade 8 students as they transition to the next phase of the program. Horizons was successful in building a joyful and resilient community that truly demonstrated what it means to “Rise Up with Hope.” 1. 2. 3. 4.
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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Winter 2021
Supply distribution day at NCCS Second grade student Amir engaged in virtual learning. Third grade class on a “Wacky Wednesday” Noelle at the fifth grade Moving Up Ceremony
