Thursday, March 20, 2008

After-School Learning Center Opening in Chavis Heights


RALEIGH - On the heels of a year that saw more passing grades among Communities In Schools of Wake County’s middle school students and increased tutorial help for at-risk students, Communities In Schools of Wake County is proud to announce an expansion of its after school tutorial program with the ribbon cutting and opening of the Chavis Heights Learning Center, Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 10 AM, 781 Brightcreek Way, Raleigh.

“Communities In Schools of Wake County has had a fantastic 2007 focused on raising the bar on grades, attendance, and behavior for all of our students, with a special emphasis on our middle school students. We now look forward to taking that success forward with the addition of a new learning center that will allow us to prepare more at-risk students for success in school and in life,” said Susan Hansell, executive director of Communities In Schools of Wake County.

The 2007-2008 school year brought an emphasis on an education-based case management approach for CIS Wake middle and high school students in after school tutorial. In addition to providing after school tutoring, CIS Wake County staff began visiting students’ schools during the school day to sit in on students’ classes, meet with parents, and plan for the afternoon’s tutorial time.

Furthermore, CIS Wake has reduced staff to student ratios from as much as 1:45 to 1:10. CIS Wake now hires certified public school teachers who spend up to three hours a day in the after school centers helping students with homework, classroom preparation, and studying.

Since December 2006, CIS Wake middle school students have, on average, raised their grades two letter grades, from F’s to C’s.

“We won’t stop motivating our kids and improving our methods until our students are getting A’s and B’s,” Hansell asserts.

Since 1990, CIS Wake has been working with at risk students in Wake County providing a safe environment for children living in public housing communities to spend time with caring adults.


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