CONTENTS

2012

Huntington Viking Power…………………………..

o Vikings in training

Hines Spartan Success……………………………………

o Total Commitment to the Total Child

o Community Sponsors Help Spartans Soar

Crittenden Cougar PAAWS………………………………

o Scratching the Surface

o Tech Talk

Newsome Park Navigators……………………………….

o Lynn Bacchus Takes it Personal

o Ashe Knows Academics

Hidenwood Huskies……………………………………...

o A Community Connected

o and A Little Child Shall Lead Them

o Majors’ Mastermind

Sedefield Soaring to Success…………………………….

o Tag Teaming With the Coordinators

o Tech-Talk

Hello 21st Century Parents, Community Partners, and Students!

I am pleased to announce our newest publication “i-Century”, which will illustrate the wonderful

components of our Newport News Public Schools 21st Century Community Learning Center programs,

and share with you just some of our many successes. As the Program Administrator, I am honored and

truly humbled by the contributions, collaboration, dedication, and support from the participating

schools, parents, partners, and students! I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with you

during the second half of this school year, and sharing the many more successes that are sure to come.

A thought to remember: Parents, it takes a village to successfully raise a child, and WE, the 21st

Century staff, thank you for allowing us to be members of your village.

Sincerely,

Corey L. Gordon

Mr. G’s Corner

“Kids are not only our future; they are also our right now.”

Click here for Mr G’s Message

CLG

Isaiah Stevens, freshman

soccer player from Warwick

High School, is not only

scoring on the field, but also in

the classroom. A self-

proclaimed rule follower,

Stevens models the importance

of a focused mind both in the

classroom and on the field.

Isaiah demonstrates his

scholarship by previewing all

assignments before students are

given the task in order to

troubleshoot possible

challenges. Once he does this,

Isaiah works with teachers and

tutors to devise the most

comprehensible teaching

strategy to ensure students are

successful. When asked why he

goes the extra mile, Stevens

declares, “I know what it’s

like. I’ve been there.”

The quiet and reserved 6th

grader who entered Huntington

Middle School with uneasy

trepidation over four years ago

is no more. Now confident and

carefree, Serenity Abdullah-

Muhammad saunters through

the halls beaming, eager to

assist current Viking students

who now sit where she sat only

a short while ago.

Serenity maintains perfect

attendance and is a contributor

to Menchville High School’s

writing club, MHS Writes.

When asked why Serenity is

the tutor she looks for, LaKira

Nicholson simply states, “She

listens,” proving that Serenity

Abdullah Muhammad is indeed

a calming force to the students

in Huntington Middle School’s

21st Century Program.

Vikings in Training, or V.I.T.s, is

the next tier of mentoring and

tutoring in the 21st Century

Community Learning Center. The

high school program was started by

Corey L. Gordon & Mrs. Marcia

Little, who realized that Viking

alumni were not ready to go to the

next level without a support

system.

V.I.T.s are students who have

successfully graduated from the

Viking Power program and were

selected based on their academic

performance and mature behavior,

to go through a training course.

Huntington Viking Power’s Vikings in Training

Are Viable Parts to This Successful Program

This course is designed to develop

the communication and career

readiness skills that will best

prepare them to assist the program

participants with literacy,

mathematics, technology, and social

competencies.

Serenity Abdullah- Muhammad and

Isaiah Stevens are high school

freshman who know from

experience the difficulties students

have balancing social and academic

life. Honor Roll students,

Muhammad and Stevens have

committed themselves to giving

back to help current Vikings

accomplish the right balance.

V.I.T.s are responsible for assisting

teachers and senior tutors with

small groups and one on one

tutorials around academics and

homework assistance. They also

serve as bus monitors to ensure

safety, and providing

companionship to current Vikings.

Hines Middle School

The 21st Century Community

Learning Center at Hines Middle

School may be the new boots on

the middle school circuit, but it is

certainly holding its own. With

enrollment for the sixth grade

only program booming at an

average daily attendance rate of

65 students, the Spartan camp is

more than showing promise.

Teaming with community

partners like Newport News’ Parks

and Recreation gives program

participants access to a wide

selection of enrichment activities

from Art, Technology, Fitness and

Zumba. Enrichment classes are

offered as a complement to the

literacy and mathematics based

academic classes in the after-school schedule.

Total Commitment to the Total Child

The total child concept is the

foundation of the success of the

program. Focusing on the mental,

physical, and socio-emotional

wellness of each student ensures

measurable success found in

each 21st Century Learning

Community division wide.

Program Co-Leads, Juanita El and

Yolanda Oliver, know all too well

that academic success is directly

impacted by social and emotional

factors. “Students don’t care

what we know unless they know

that we care. 21st Century gives

students that opportunity to

interact with adults without their

guards up in a warm learning environment.”

“In every community, there is work to be done. In every

nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is

the power to do it.” Marianne Williamson

Community Sponsors Help Students Soar

When schools and community affiliates

work together, students benefit. The

partnerships forged with Sonya Silverio

from One Life Fitness and Marhonda

Williams from Parks and Recreation allow

21st Century students to benefit from

sharing and maximizing resources with the

collective goal of promoting healthy

behaviors today that will foster productive

citizens tomorrow.

Cougar PAAWS:

Doing More than

Scratching the Surface

Crittenden Middle School’s

Cougar PAAWS has started off

its sophomore year in the 21st

Century Family with a bang!

With enrollment spiking at over

110 students, there is plenty to

be proud of. Crittenden PAAWS

is the forerunner of the S.T.E.M.

(Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Math) and

social studies initiatives, which

provide additional academic

support for achievement and

cultivates an atmosphere of

advancement.

S.T.E.M. STUDENTS:

Touching Tomorrow Today

“Kids are not just our future; they

are also our right now! We don’t

know what the future holds. I love

dealing with the young folk. They

are like sponges, absorbing

everything we teach them. They

all have different personalities

and since 2007, I have the

pleasure to watch them mature

from 6th

graders to mature

students ready to progress into

high school and beyond.”

~Miss Angie

PAAWS’ students participate in

courses such as Culinary Arts,

Drama and Dance Corp, Cougar

Creations (News Crew), and

STEM with an emphasis on

financial literacy as well as a

host of exciting physical fitness

activities that strengthen their

minds and their bodies.

The dedicated tutors provide an

exceptional example for our

students as they mentor and

encourage our PAAWS students

to achieve their dreams.

Community partners Joe Clark,

owner of A Perfect Style beauty

and hair salon in Newport

News, and Angela Martin,

owner of Angelica’s Beauty

Salon in Hampton, have been

21st Century partners since the

program’s inception. These

successful business executives

have touched the heads and

hearts of children from the all

over the city, tip to tip. With

over a decade of collective

entrepreneurial expertise, Mr.

Joe and Ms. Angie provide more

than shape ups and styles; they

are committed to equipping

tomorrow’s leaders with pride

and purpose today.

“Being able to build positive relationships and equip

(the students) as they progress into high school ensure

a positive them and the community in which we live and

work.”

~JOE CLARK

21st Century Tech Talk

21st Century is committed to surpassing the

technological expectations of the division by standing

out as an innovator in computer science. Aiming to

close the achievement gap, 21st Century Learning

Communities are equipped with onsite TCIS expert,

Mrs. Bonnie Adams.

“Technology doesn’t replace solid classroom

instruction. It enhances it.” Corey Gordon, 21st Century

program administrator ,explained to the Cougar

PAAWS staff during the roll-out talks for the new iPad

labs. He wanted to make sure that the students

maintained access to the research proven best practices

that have set Newport News Public Schools apart from

other divisions.

Danielle Treiber, newcomer to the 21st Century family,

has brought a fresh approach to applying understanding

in the classroom. Her 7th

graders explored the web-based

zooming presentation application phenomenon, Prezi.

“Technology labs and small groups allow me to solidify

instruction and extend the learning without borders.”

~DANIELLE TREIBER, TEACHER

A COMMUNITY CONNECTED

The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank

is a longstanding partner with

Newport News Public School

Division and the 21st Century

Program. Last year alone, the

Foodbank distributed 9,243,449

pounds of food and related

products, with the largest

percentage going directly to the

families within the city.

Virginia Peninsula Foodbank aims

to eradicate hunger and promote

healthy eating through community

partnerships and education.

Among the many outreach

programs sponsored by the

Foodbank is the annual Harlem

Wizards exposition. On May 18th,

2012 at 6:00pm, the Peninsula

Foodbank will welcome the

Harlem Wizards at Heritage High

School, in Newport News. The

Harlem Wizards offer a unique

brand of Harlem-style basketball,

featuring high-flying slam dunks,

dazzling ball-handling tricks, and

hilarious comedy routines. While

much fun will be experienced at

this event, we are also hoping to

The United States Tennis Association Partners with the Newport

News Public Schools 21st Century Community Learning Center

Programs

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has partnered with the

Newport News 21st Century Community Learning Center programs to

bring 10 and under tennis to our school division. With the enthusiastic

support of USTA Virginia Tennis, our 21st CCLC students have been

given the opportunity to get involved with the game of tennis through the

new Quick Start program. Quick Start allows beginners to learn the

game using smaller rackets, sponge balls, and shorter tennis courts.

Many thanks to Janine Underwood, Executive Director of USTA Virginia

Tennis and her staff for all of their support in helping to bring Quick Start

to our 21st Century programs. Parents are asked to please take advantage

of a new USTA promotion to provide free memberships to 10 and under

kids across the nation. Just complete the application and have your child

return it to his/her 21st Century site coordinator. The free USTA 10 and

Under membership is a $20 value, so make sure your child gets to

participate!

raise funds to continue on with

and grow our Child Hunger

Programs. Save the date, tickets

on sale soon!!!

YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Police Advisory Board

Newport News high school students meet weekly to plan an annual project that will have a positive impact on young people in

our community of Newport News. Students meet regularly with the Chief of Police to provide input for youth focused

solutions and updates on annual project progress. Field trips and hands on knowledge of the NNPD are part of this youth

leadership program.

Mayors Youth Commission

Selected Newport News high school students meet on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month to work on policy and procedures

affecting youth. During the year, students have the opportunity to present their work to the Mayor and discuss outcomes.

Mentor Task Force

Task Force meets every 3rd Wednesday and is open to any youth mentor organization. Task Force members share resources

and best practice information on current mentor initiatives.

Application and interview process are required for all.

Youth Programs is a division of Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism that provides fun, quality and supervised out-of-

school time experiences for youth ages 3-16. We currently have 19 afterschool locations in Newport News and have been a

staunch supporter of the 21st Century program since the beginning. So, if you are looking for an exciting summer camp or a

special event for your child and family, check us out! For more information about Youth Programs, visit www.redefiningplay.com

or call 926-1400.

A COMMUNITY PROTECTED

Our parenting courses utilize Developmental Assets ™ research from the Search Institute in Minneapolis, MN; Ruby Payne’s Framework for Understanding Poverty; current research on the development of the “Teenage Brain”; and other prevention and personal growth information for adults, children, youth and the family.

As a member of the City of Newport News’ “Keeping Our Kids Safe” Initiative, the office offers quality parenting programs to help fulfill Goal II, of the initiative which states, “To increase the capacity of families to provide a safe nurturing environment.” [for children and youth ]

We also offer Anger Management for adults 17 years and older the last Saturday of every month. Teens as young as 13 to 16 years may also attend this 8 hour class, however, a parent or a designated adult over the age of 18 must accompany the younger teen. All of our programs are open to the community and there are no fees attached. To find out more information or to register for any upcoming program call Ms. Scott at 757.369.6807.

The City of Newport News has played a role in providing quality parenting education and other family friendly courses, workshops and presentations since 1993. We employ programs such as the Nurturing Parenting Programs®, Active Parenting of Teens TM, the Strengthening Families Program©, the Virginia Supreme Court Co-Parenting Seminar for parents or others seeking custody of a child and the International Association of Infant Massage classes.

21st Century Parents enjoy complimentary coupon in gratitude for your dedication to our program.

Crittenden Middle School was one of the many stops on

the Career Pathways Egg Competition, a Newport News

regional competition which features students in middle

and high school. Each school is broken into teams which

compete to construct a model that secures an egg during

each drop. Huntington Ingalls Industries, in partnership

with Newport News Public Schools, has created Career

Pathways “to mentor students and provide opportunities

to experience future careers” in the field of science,

technology, English and mathematics, better known as

STEM.

“This competition helps students with teamwork and

problem solving and allows them to interact with

professionals in the STEM related fields,”

Ann Ifekwunigwe, Career Pathways Instructional

Supervisor explained. “We are guided by the purpose

to get all students to become College, Career, and

Citizen ready, and it shows.”

Huntington Ingalls’ employees volunteered their time

to provide expertise to guide the event and make it

spectacular, adding the fun quotient the students

clamored for.

Get Ready…

For the competition, each team was given a $1 budget

to purchase the necessary supplies from the

volunteers. Prices ranged from five cents to twenty-

five cents and included materials such as rubber bands,

paper cups, newspaper, loose string, and more.

Teams were tasked with designing and building their

model in 30 minutes or less.

“Make sure the egg is protected, but not wrapped too

tight,” volunteer Martin Givens advised the eager

engineers-to-be. Givens brought 52 years of

experience to the competition and told the students

about the importance of precision and “sharp math

and English skills”.

Students in the Green Group listen intently

as the rules are laid out.

Cougars analyze and strategize.

Go!

“5,4,3,2,1…” Each team shouted their

launching orders as they ascended the

ladder in preparation for the egg drop

competition to begin. Students

assembled in small groups in anticipation

as they watched their egg drop from 6

feet in the air, ensuring triumph or

termination. “I can’t watch,” one student

covered his eyes as he heard a powerful

crack. It was the moment of judgment,

evaluating preparation, strategy and

cooperation. The winning team’s egg

from Crittenden dropped two and a half

inches away from the target. The green

team’s main focus was to protect their egg without

spending all of their money.

“The students have a greater drive and are focusing on

the opportunity and experience to test out their design,

knowing the competition is at the end,” Shauntel Foster

said.

Get Set…

After each team completed their task, it was time for the

competition. Students raced to the testing area, each standing

proud of their creation. To gain points from the drop, a

volunteer measured the distance the egg landed from the

target. Point totals are awarded in increments; such as 20 points

were given for on target, 15 points within 6 inches, 10 points

within 12 inches and zero points for more than 12 inches away.

This score was added to the other data collected, which

included how much was spent on material and egg integrity.

Each team could earn up to 30 points for spending less than

eighty cents and 30 points for a single crack to the egg.

“I’m focused, maaaaan!”

Huntington Ingalls representatives

pause for a photo op.

Intervention Done Right

Ch

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Beyond the Basics with Lynn Bacchus

Servicing nearly 800

students and their families

is no easy feat, but that is

the task Newsome Park

Elementary School is

Lynn Bacchus Takes it Personally

Students Take Notice

Ashe Knows Academics

Visitors to Newsome Park

Elementary School would

never guess what lies just

beyond the array of print

and digital media. Just

keep walking to the back

room of the library and

there, Mrs. Arlene Ashe

sits with her students,

moving the theory of small

group instruction from a

theoretical best practice to

an applied strategy.

Student engagement is

the first observation made

in this 21st Century

classroom, yet equally

remarkable are the

invisible instructional tools

charged with. Thankfully,

the 21st Century

Community Learning

Center partnership makes

the assignment attainable.

Site Coordinator, Lynn

Bacchus, started as an

intern with the 21st

Century family over three

years ago. When asked

why she remains

connected and

passionate, she beams, “I

love knowing that I am

making a difference.”

Bacchus attributes making

a difference to the

opportunity for

individualized instruction

and personal touch the

11:1 teacher/student ratio

the learning community

provides.

5th grader, Nashawn

Crittle, has been with the

program since the third

grade. He verbalizes the

personal touch Ms.

Bacchus speaks of when

he states, “A family takes

care of me, and 21st

Century is like my family.”

.

The community of care

that is obviously

established creates a

forum of trust whereby

students are not

concerned with making

mistakes. They

understand the process of

thinking aloud and use it

openly as they analyze

text on their road to

discover intellectual

responses.

In this class, thinking is

respected and expected.

Students use Kagan

strategies to process

internally and then aloud

with their peers. Students

understand that the “right

answer” is not found like a

word in a word search

puzzle, but like a

scavenger hunt, where

each clue is equally

important to finding the

ultimate prize.

Students know this

because Mrs. Ashe knows

how to meet them where

they are and guide them

to where they want to be.

Newsome Park Navigators: Charting a Course for Success

Page 2 of 3

21st Century training and

support transformed a

terrific teacher into an

exceptional educator.

Students are not the only

people that have

reservations about new

quests. Mrs. Deborah

Roberts also spoke

candidly about her

apprehension. “I was a

K-2 special educator, and

I didn’t know whether I

had what it took to teach

the 21st Century students.”

That was over a year ago,

and Mrs. Roberts is now a

star teacher and innovator

at Hidenwood Elementary

A Community Connected

Tekavia Breaux, has been

a 21st Century student

since the third grade.

Citing the use of digital

media and technology, the

bright eyed fifth grader

discusses the highlights of

committing her after

school hours to the 21st

Century Program. “I like

creating projects on the

computer that help me

with science and math.

We don’t get to do that in

the daytime.”

Like most 11 year olds,

“And A LittLe ChiLd ShALL LeAd them…”

97% of the students who

attend Hidenwood

Elementary School receive

free or reduced lunch, and

21st Century site

coordinator, Terri Majors,

wants 100% of the students

to succeed. According to

Majors, 21st Century’s

Inside Majors’ mAStermind

School’s 21st Century

Community Learning

Center.

What made the

difference? According to

Roberts, it was the

training and support that

the program provided to

the staff. “I could talk

about anything,” Mrs.

Roberts declared.

The students in Mrs.

Robert’s class are

fortunate to be in her class

and they know it. Before

leaving for the evening,

after a long school day,

one student sauntered

over to Mrs. Roberts,

looked up to her teacher

and said, “Can I have a

math sheet to work on at

home?”

This small-voiced request

is a testament to Mrs.

Roberts’ instructional

expertise. The students

are not the only lucky

ones—21st Century is too!

Web site and post it.

Tekavia is full of energy

and eagerness to learn.

The extension of the

regular school day allows

her and the other 21st

Century Community

Learning Center students

the opportunity to expend

that energy in an upbeat,

social environment that

promotes healthy living

and rigorous academic

instruction. Along with her

classmates, Breaux

benefits from the small

group instruction

and collaborative

activities. “It doesn’t

matter if I get up out of my

seat to work with my

friends and no one gets

mad because, we are

allowed to work together

and it helps me

understand better too.”

Tutors, teachers, and a

team of talented

educators help to make

students like Tekavia

Breaux touch the tips of

their dreams.

curriculum based

instruction provides the

roadmap toward achieving

academic success and

much more.

“I believe in the program

and growth I’ve seen it

provide,” Mrs. Majors says

of the learning community

designed to remediate and

accelerate student

achievement. She strongly

believes that the rapport

built between students and

staff creates a community

of care that infects

everyone touched by the

21st Century Community

Learning Center.

Hidenwood Huskies

Sedgefield Elementary

School is one of the newest

additions to the 21st Century

Family. Eagles Soaring

toward Success is just what

the students needed as it

brings a unique opportunity

for learning.

Although it is an extension of

the school day, 21st Century

sets itself apart from other

afterschool programs. The

program is curriculum based

and child centered, to

provide the 21st Century

students an academic,

fitness, and enriching energy

boost for the mind and body.

When asked what makes

21st Century different from

alternate options, Mrs.

Tag Teaming with Regina Forrest and Shaundalyn Thomas

i-Journal: How do you

decide what the students

will create to synthesize

the learning goals?

Patricia Young: I consider

the performance

assessments built in to the

curriculum, and include

the tools and programs

available to the division. I

introduce students to

programs like Wordle,

Photostory, MovieMaker

and KidPix3 so they can

see how these programs

help them use their critical

thinking skills. Later in the

year, all students will be

working on their personal

blogs, using Thinkquest.org

as they move toward

Tech Talk with Patricia Young

“I like teaching students to use

technology as much as I like

learning how to use it myself.”

Regina Forrest, 21st Co-

Coordinator at Sedgefield

unapologetically states, “Just

look at the title. 21st Century

is geared towards training

students for the time we live

in now and preparing them to

be the community leaders we

will need for them to become

for the future.”

This assignment isn’t taken

lightly by either Mrs. Forrest

or Mrs. Thomas as they are

not opposed to stepping

outside of their Coordinator’s

role to make sure the

program runs smoothly and

students are equipped with

the necessary tools to

achieve the highest

academic honors.

becoming global

communicators.

What is the goal for the

students of 21st Century

as it relates to

technology?

Students need to have basic skills when it comes to using a computer. They must know how to use a variety of “tech tools” to create projects or complete assignments. Students also need to navigate the internet safely. My overall goal for our 21st Century students is that each will build their own tech portfolio, with tools they can apply to class assignments.

These are skills that our students will take with them wherever they go.

Sedgefield Elementary’s

fourth grade teacher, Ms.

Patricia Young, has been

teaching in Newport

News, VA for 8 years. The

self-proclaimed tech

advocate says she loves

learning new ways to use

technology for education

and enjoyment. Young

believes that networking

has helped her improve

her skills in technology

and aims to pass those

skills to students and co-

workers.

Sedgefield Elementary School

Soaring Towards Success