Outreach News -- St. John's Bridgeport

St. John's Family Center in Bridgeport ~ Afterschool GAPP

Update from Scarlett M. Pipkin, St. John's Family Center Board of Directors (September 15, 2012)

The purpose of the parental-driven, St. John's Family Center After School GAPP (Generates Academic Progress Program) is to enhance reading, writing, and mathematical skills in preparation for the Connecticut Mastery Test. The Program was funded by the Rosemary Greer Foundation through Saint Matthew's Church in Wilton, CT.

Services were provided to three of the ten lowest performing schools in the state of Connecticut. The schools were Bryant School #522/530, Cesar Batalla School 523/530 and Curiale School 525/530. All three schools improved: Bryan School gained 7 points, Curiale School gained 9 points, and Cesar Batalla School gained 10 points. Cesar Batalla School is highlighted for being removed from teh twn worst schools in Connecticut list.

The enrollment was 56 4th and 5th graders. There was a total of 11 staff people: 1 literacy consultant, 1 principal, 2 mathematics coaches, 5 para-professionals, 1 director, 1 site/parent coordinator, and 6 volunteers including 5 students from Bassick High School earning community service hours.

Each school used different strategies of opportunities for a variety of learning experiences to implement GAPP, geared toward personal attention given to students.

1. Bryant School (5th grade) implemented a project based science strategy
2. Cesar Batalla School (4th grade) implemented an intensive technology based strategy
3. Curiale School (4th grade), meeting at St. John's Family Center, implemented small group / one-to-one and a technology based strategy

2012-2013 GAPP
Cesar Batalla School and Bryant School will be our GAPP sites for the 2012 school term, beginning mid-October. Curiale School is a Turn-Around School; 4th & 5th grade students are in school until 4:00 p.m.

Funded with money made possible by a generous gift to our endowment from Rosemary Greer, since Fall 2011 St. Matthew's has been a partner with St. John's Family Center's tutoring program.

Started by an associate rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Bridgeport, the Family Center has been serving the needs of Bridgeport families for fourteen years. When it first began, the Center provided playgroups and parenting classes. With a very limited budget, in 2010 they served over 7,000 meals to needy families through their community supper program, provided more than 70,000 meals from their emergency food pantry, touched the lives of 400 children through programs and holiday celebrations, and supplied food and clothing to 410 families in crisis. They also have a computer lab (soon to be updated, thanks to our grant!), and offer ESL and Citizenship classes.

To learn more about outreach at Saint Matthew's click on one of the menu options on the right.

St. John's Family Center September 24

A group of volunteers served lunch at St. John's church in Bridgeport

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Title ↑	Date
Outreach Endowment Grant Process	09/22/2011