School in the Summer...
Read this article by Rachel Monahan who writes for New York Daily News.
A lot more kids need summer school this year, officials said yesterday.
This summer, 12,000 more city public school students than last year should hit the books harder, according to a Department of Education analysis.
In all, 34,069 students in third through eighth grades likely will be held back if they don't attend summer school.
"Before promoting any of these students to the next grade, we need to make sure they have mastered the skills needed to succeed," said city Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.
To be promoted, the city requires students to score a basic "Level 2" on state English and math exams.
Because the state exams are given in May, the city does not have the official results, but instead has projected which students have not met their standards.
City officials said they did not expect more students to fail the exam but had made a more accurate judgment of the need this year.
Last year, the city recommended 22,802 students for summer school, when in fact 31,000 bombed the standardized tests.
The summer term will cost the city almost $51 million - $4 million more than last year.
"It's good that more students will have the opportunity to improve. I think it's scary how many kids need to improve," said Advocates for Children Executive Director Kim Sweet.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Pitkin Ave BID Job Opening!!!
IMMEDIATE JOB OPENING
The Pitkin Avenue BID is seeking a part time temporary employee to help with the planning of its Summer Plaza events. This is a terrific opportunity for a community resident who is seeking supplemental income.
For three Sundays in July, a section of Pitkin Avenue will be closed to car traffic for the Pitkin Summer Plazas. The BID needs a summer employee to assist in programming the space with events, arts and crafts, and recreational activities.
The position will be 20 hours per week Monday through Friday, beginning June 20, 2011 In July, the week will be Tuesday to Saturday because assistance at the Summer Plazas is required. Please note that this does not include July 4th Weekend! The position pays $12/hr.
With the Director’s supervision, job duties will include the following:
• Meet with event partners to discuss programming
• Work with merchants to develop event programming and sponsorship
• Develop promotional materials
• Promote the summer plazas online using Facebook, Blogger and email
• Assist in developing press materials
• Supervise volunteers and block captains during the event
• Assist in setting up for the event, including lifting tables and chairs
• Assist in breaking down the event, including clean up
• Assist the director as needed
Requirements:
Excellent communication skills
Computer skills, including MS Word, Excel, GoogleDocs, and Picasa.
Students interested in urban planning and economic development are strongly encouraged to apply. Send cover letter and resume to Dan Murphy at execdirector@pitkinbid.org
The Pitkin Avenue BID is seeking a part time temporary employee to help with the planning of its Summer Plaza events. This is a terrific opportunity for a community resident who is seeking supplemental income.
For three Sundays in July, a section of Pitkin Avenue will be closed to car traffic for the Pitkin Summer Plazas. The BID needs a summer employee to assist in programming the space with events, arts and crafts, and recreational activities.
The position will be 20 hours per week Monday through Friday, beginning June 20, 2011 In July, the week will be Tuesday to Saturday because assistance at the Summer Plazas is required. Please note that this does not include July 4th Weekend! The position pays $12/hr.
With the Director’s supervision, job duties will include the following:
• Meet with event partners to discuss programming
• Work with merchants to develop event programming and sponsorship
• Develop promotional materials
• Promote the summer plazas online using Facebook, Blogger and email
• Assist in developing press materials
• Supervise volunteers and block captains during the event
• Assist in setting up for the event, including lifting tables and chairs
• Assist in breaking down the event, including clean up
• Assist the director as needed
Requirements:
Excellent communication skills
Computer skills, including MS Word, Excel, GoogleDocs, and Picasa.
Students interested in urban planning and economic development are strongly encouraged to apply. Send cover letter and resume to Dan Murphy at execdirector@pitkinbid.org
Monday, June 6, 2011
Are Healthy School Lunches Too Expensive For The American Economy?
Obesity amongst our youth across the nation, is a tough topic to debate about. We want our kids to be healthy, but the cost maybe too expensive...
Read this article from The Associated Press
Let's enlighten each other
Washington, DC (June 1, 2011) -- House Republicans are pushing back against Obama administration efforts to promote healthier lunches, saying the Agriculture Department should rewrite rules it issued in January meant to make school meals healthier. They say the new rules are too costly.
The bill, approved by the House Appropriations Committee late Tuesday, also questions a government proposal to curb marketing of unhealthy foods to children and urges the Food and Drug Administration to limit rules requiring calorie counts be posted on menus.
Read this article from The Associated Press
Let's enlighten each other
Washington, DC (June 1, 2011) -- House Republicans are pushing back against Obama administration efforts to promote healthier lunches, saying the Agriculture Department should rewrite rules it issued in January meant to make school meals healthier. They say the new rules are too costly.
The bill, approved by the House Appropriations Committee late Tuesday, also questions a government proposal to curb marketing of unhealthy foods to children and urges the Food and Drug Administration to limit rules requiring calorie counts be posted on menus.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Bobkatz BikeRoll
Last Saturday, May 28th, 2011, Brownsville Partnership and the Brownsville Bobkatz put their bicycles in motion as they trekked around the Brownsville community for the Bobkatz BikeRoll. 30 kids from the Brownsville Bobkatz and other teams in the community, Brownsville Partnership, Brownsville Recreation Center Staff along with volunteers from local community organizations rode throughout the neighborhood. After the Bike ride, the kids had the chance to indulge in some healthy barbecue food.
Here are some pictures:
(The Bikers getting ready to ride throughout the Brownsville streets)
(Grilled Turkey Hot Dogs)
(Brownsville Partnership Staff: L to R- Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Brian Goldblatt (GrowNYC), Nupur Chaudhury & Greg "Jocko" Jackson)
For more photos from the Bobkatz BikeRoll check out the slideshow!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Terror in Brownsville: Survey finds Brooklyn neighborhood grappling with "serious issues" like guns
(Courtesy of NY Daily News)
Brownsville resident James Kinard, 50, worries about crime in his neighborhood.
Brownsville is a neighborhood filled with unique individuals. Our qualities and our characteristics genetically bonds us to become a rare breed in society. Center for Court Innovation volunteers last fall, conducted a survey about what are the "serious issues" in Brownsville. Jake Pearson and Al Barbarino complied the results into a great article. This is a must read!!!!
A whopping 80% of Brownsville residents say these are the biggest problems plaguing their community, according to a new survey.
Volunteers from the Center for Court Innovation spent weeks last fall asking more than 800 Brownsville residents questions about their neighborhood - and this month released the troubling results.
"This survey paints a portrait of a neighborhood with some serious problems," said Greg Berman, director of the Center for Court Innovation. "There are social problems and public safety problems...and it's a neighborhood grappling with some serious issues."
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Brooklyn Salons get training, medical devices to help clients stay well
Read this article written by Jake Pearson for the New York Daily News. Jake Pearson goes into a Beauty Salon... but he comes out with something better than gossip!
Check this out!
For women, the hair salon has long been an intimate place for private conversations, gossip and advice between stylists and clients.
From neighborhood news to Arnold Schwarzenegger's secret family, no topic is off-limits - and in some Brooklyn neighborhoods, obesity, diabetes are now on the list of sacred topics.
Trained by public health experts last month, 16 salon owners in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and East Flatbush have begun slipping health advice into conversation with their customers - suggesting healthy meals, exercise routines and doctor visits.
"No I don't need the scale, I've never used it," said city worker Alison Fulford, 43, after Crown Heights salon owner Samantha Brown mentioned there was a scale in the bathroom as Fulford got her hair pressed and dried last week.
The scale, a blood pressure machine, and DVDs with exercise routines, healthy food options and weight-loss tips have also been supplied to the salons.
Check this out!
(Courtesy of Robert Mecca)
Samantha Brown (c.), owner of Women's Hair Care Center in Crown Heights, works on hair of Raicine Terry as stylist Modestina Bell looks on.
For women, the hair salon has long been an intimate place for private conversations, gossip and advice between stylists and clients.
From neighborhood news to Arnold Schwarzenegger's secret family, no topic is off-limits - and in some Brooklyn neighborhoods, obesity, diabetes are now on the list of sacred topics.
Trained by public health experts last month, 16 salon owners in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and East Flatbush have begun slipping health advice into conversation with their customers - suggesting healthy meals, exercise routines and doctor visits.
"No I don't need the scale, I've never used it," said city worker Alison Fulford, 43, after Crown Heights salon owner Samantha Brown mentioned there was a scale in the bathroom as Fulford got her hair pressed and dried last week.
The scale, a blood pressure machine, and DVDs with exercise routines, healthy food options and weight-loss tips have also been supplied to the salons.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Photo exhibit at Brooklyn's Atlantic Terminal fosters hope for 50 beautiful kids looking for homes
(Courtesy of Mark Bonifacio of the New York Daily News)
Photographer Rayon Richards with foster child William, at 'Heart Gallery' exhibit now on at Atlantic Terminal.
Photographer Rayon Richards has a good heart! He help facilitate a photo shoot, along with HeartShare Human Services, for Foster Child who are looking to be placed in a home. The "Heart Gallery" is at Alantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn. Read this article written by Erin Durkin of the New York Daily News.
Check this out!
For the next month, commuters passing through downtown Brooklyn's busy Atlantic Terminal will be greeted by the smiling faces of 50 foster kids searching for permanent homes.
Life-sized portraits of the kids taken by renowned photographers were unveiled yesterday as part of a "Heart Gallery" on display in hopes of enticing potential parents.
Malik, 14, moved into his latest foster home in Canarsie a week ago - his sixth since he was taken away from his parents at age 6 after they left him home alone for weeks, he said.
"I never found the right place," said Malik, an eighth-grader who has had to change schools four times while being shifted among foster homes all over the city. "I don't feel like a normal teenager.
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