5 minute read
Horizons
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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 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 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 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. Supply distribution day at NCCS 2. Second grade student Amir engaged in virtual learning. 3. Third grade class on a “Wacky Wednesday” 4. Noelle at the fifth grade Moving Up Ceremony
Horizons Reimagines
SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAMMING WITH TEAM-BASED MODEL
This fall, Horizons implemented a new team academic support model to provide academic instruction to students in Grades 1 through 8 who needed additional support. Each grade has one or more instructors who work with a small group of students on their academic skills to help them perform at or above grade-level. Teachers are using the Connecticut prioritized grade level standards to guide instruction. Group instruction is supplemented with one-on-one tutoring and homework help as needed.
The Horizons High School Program provides students in Grades 9 through 12 with services and support to help them succeed in high school and prepare for a successful transition to college and career. The program includes academic coaching, tutoring, a five-week Saturday Winter Program, peer and group learning, SAT prep classes, college readiness workshops, and student internship and volunteer opportunities. The team model approach is being implemented in the high school program as well. Teams of three to four coaches, each with an academic and a social-emotional specialist, support a grade of students with small group and one-on-one instruction. In addition, Horizons is working with a number of college readiness and admissions consultants to develop a five-part college readiness series for our students and families to help with all stages of the college process.
—Nancy von Euler, Executive Director
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Offer a Chance to Try Something New!
Horizons intentionally presents students with new and different activities and experiences to broaden their horizons and learn through doing. Students in Grades 2 through 12 tried out art, chess, comic book creation, hip hop dance, photography, fashion design and science during fall virtual enrichment programming. This year families were invited to participate in virtual classes as well, including Zumba, art and English as a Second Language. Classes are being offered in six, four-week cycle blocks giving students and families the choice to participate in the same thing for all 24 weeks or the option to try out a variety of activities.
Above: Enrique in Grade 4 shares his artwork. Below: Isabella in Grade 3 shares her colorful creation.
Read more: www.horizonskids.org For more about Horizons and ways to get involved
We’re in this together,
so that our students may thrive today and every day.
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Your partnership has helped us keep students and teachers on campus this year.
The Annual Fund is our yearly appeal for financial support from all school community members — parents, trustees, alumni, faculty and staff, grandparents, parents of alumni and friends — to help cover day-to-day expenses and enhance the curriculum and student experience. It is our school’s top priority among all fundraising efforts. Annual Fund gifts ranging from $10 to more than $50,000 each year immediately make a difference in our students’ and faculty’s lives and help NCCS be responsive to unanticipated needs and challenges.
This year we face extraordinary COVID-19 costs
for health and safety accommodations and emergency financial aid, which have amounted to $1.5 million over and above the budgeted Annual Fund goal of $1.5 million. Each gift helps us fulfill our promise to provide a high-quality and uniquely NCCS academic experience at all times.
To read about the specific costs of COVID-19 at NCCS, please see page 11.
