Annoucements: Winter 2009-2010
Upcoming Events
2009-2010 Grants to Teachers awarded to 15 local educators (Read More....)
Save the Date - Reception for 2009-2010 Grants - MAY 27, 2010 - Watch here for more details in the Spring
2010-2011 Grants to Teachers Program - Information and Applications now available
BVYLA 2010 class has been selected and the program is underway
Save The Date: April 1, 2010 ~ Blackstone Valley Regional Career Fair for Sophomores @Northbridge High School
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Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy
The Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy is a unique leadership program for 9th and 10th grade students in Massachusetts high schools across the Blackstone Valley. The Academy seeks to enhance the leadership skills of young people and strengthen their connection to the Blackstone Valley.
BVYLA NEWS
Blackstone Valley Youth Leadership Academy 2009 Graduation
The BVYLA Class of 2009 received certificates of completion on May 19 at the GB & Lexi Singh Performance Center at Alternatives Whitin Mill in Whitinsville. Family and friends joined members of the board of directors and community partners in congratulating the new graduates.
2009-2010 BVYLA Program
The Class of 2010 marks the sixth group of students to participate in this unique leadership program, which now boasts 113 alumnae. The program begins in late fall and culminates with the May graduation, with a curriculum that focuses on leadership development and community stewardship. Over the course of the 6 months, students participate in 10 sessions covering a range of topics and skills areas, including team building, leadership styles, communication skills, community needs assessments, project planning, goal setting, decision making and consensus building. Students also participate in a mock town meeting where they assume various town meeting roles and act on a warrant under the guidance of a former town moderator.
Nine Blackstone Valley high schools are represented in the 24 members of the 2010 class.
The program got underway on Nov 7 at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge. Members were joined at the kickoff session by 8 BVYLA alumnae who facilitated several activities and hosted lunch for the class and their parents.
During November and December, each participant identifies two community leaders to interview and then completes a community needs assessment. Each student will plan and implement an individual community service project during the spring. Projects will be presented at the May graduation.
Click on the links below for more info:
Contact: Mary Lou Anderson mlanderson@blackstonevalley.org or 508.234.9090
Blackstone Valley School-To-Career Partnership
10 Member towns identify a school to career coordinator who participates in monthly Education Foundation meetings. Each month they learn more about career development, opportunity for internships, constructing work and learning agreements, and identifying best practices to guide their students from school to career satisfaction. This activity is funded by Workforce Central of Central Massachusetts with funds from the Commonwealth. The Foundation acts as the School to Career Partnership convener and administrator.
The Education Foundation hosts an annual Regional Career Fair, providing 900 Blackstone Valley high school sophomores an opportunity to talk informally with more than 75 representatives from a wide range of careers and professions. They also attend a panel program where they hear about career pathways and opportunities from professionals in the worlds of business and finance, health care, manufacturing, and STEM (science, engineering, mathematics, and technology). Students prepare for this experience by taking an online career interest survey and engage in follow up discussions and career planning in their schools. Often they pursue job shadows and internships as a results of the experiences they had at the career fair. The Education Foundation provides support to the schools with job shadows for students wishing to observe a work day in a variety of settings. Every year, several hundred students research careers that interest them, select one they would like to know more about, connect with a host employer, and spend a day in that workplace ‘shadowing’ a worker. Internships may follow this further piece of career exploration.
Contact: Mary Lou Anderson mlanderson@blackstonevalley.org or 508.234.9090
Blackstone Valley Internship and Externship Development
Taking advantage of the unique relationship between the Chamber of Commerce and the Education Foundation, the Foundation staff is responsible for developing internship position at local businesses for Member Town students. Participating students learn through paid and unpaid work hours the value of their academic preparation, they refine their career goals, and they define their next steps in career readiness.
Using this same opportunity, externships are developed for Member Town teachers who benefit from spending a few days to a week or more during the summertime working at paid or unpaid positions in area business, industry, non-profits, health facilities, etc. Their experience in these work settings impact the relevance of the curriculum they teach in their respective schools.
Internship and Externship placements (click for more info)
Contact: Mary Lou Anderson mlanderson@blackstonevalley.org or 508.234.9090
Grants to Schools and Teachers
Nearly $22,000 was awarded to 15 successful applicants from among the 11 members of the Blackstone Valley Education Foundation for grants that support the development of 21st century work and learning skills among our students. Many thanks to the businesses and individuals who contribute to the Foundation and who participate in the annual Golf Tournament, and particularly of the Lampin Corporation in Uxbridge for their generosity and consideration for a stronger community of learners.
Each year the Foundation raises funds from business and industry and through the generous donations of residents, friends, and golf tournament participants to support schools and teachers via grants up to $5,000. Teachers and staff are invited to check the website in late January 2010 for information about the 2010-2011 program.
LEADERSHIP BLACKSTONE VALLEY
Leadership Blackstone Valley is an important initiative that is currently on hiatus, refining its reach, resources, and implementations. For more than 5 years Leadership Blackstone Valley cultivated talented individuals who continue to thrive in and enhance this special place in Central Massachusetts.
BLACKSTONE VALLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION STAFF 508.234.9090
Susan Gately, Executive Director sgately@blackstonevalley.org
MaryLou Anderson, Program Coordinator mlanderson@blackstonevalley.org
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