Suddenly Summer: How the best time of the school year is now upon us!

It seems like only days ago that we were bundling ourselves up in winter coats, hats and scarves - at least in the very seasonable state of Michigan.  But at the time, it also seemed like we would never get to the sun and warmth of our state's fabulous summer time period.  Now already into July, and only a few short weeks after the high points and exhilaration of graduation and promotion celebrations, the edtec Team is already preparing for engaging and enlightening summer school "journeys" across all of our school sites

This summer will be one of high intensity learning explorations for all students and creative collaborations between teachers, staff and specialized service providers made possible in part through our 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal grant. For what lies ahead, I asked Cathy Nowosatko, our Project Director for the MetroConnect-YMAC project, to fill us in on some of the exciting things in store for students. Here is what she shared...

 
The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers program is going strong!  We are in our fifth year of a 5-year grant for our five Cohort F sites: ACE Academy Lincoln Center in Highland Park, David Ellis Academy West in Redford, Hanley International Academy in Hamtramck, Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights and Woodward Academy in downtown Detroit.  We have entered into our 2nd year for our 5 Cohort G sites: ACE Academy Calumet Center and ACE Academy Woodward Center, both located in Highland Park, Capstone Academy in Detroit, David Ellis Academy Detroit and the Detroit Leadership Academy (a YMCA school).

We are very excited to be on the verge of opening ACE Academy Woodward Center!  Our students at ACE Calumet and ACE Lincoln, both Spectrum Juvenile Justice System (SJJS) adjudicated facilities, will now be able to continue their education at ACE Woodward once they have successfully completed their SJJS treatment program.  The afterschool program at ACE Woodward will be state of the art!  We will offer a culinary arts curriculum, as well as screen printing and ceramics instruction.  In addition, we will be able to offer students lessons in music and video production and robotics, which will enable them to get a taste in the field of engineering.  We will encourage our students to continue their education at higher learning facilities, which may mean a college, university, or a trade school of choice.

I and the entire MetroConnect-YMAC Team enthusiastically look forward to an exciting summer! 

Cathy Nowosatko

21st CCLC Project Director