Connections Newsletter
Upper Dublin School District
"We can take these children where they want to go"
The District Ensemble Performing at MLK Day of Service
January 8th- HS Connections Update
High School midterms are right around the corner. Click here to view the lesson given to our 9th grade group. It's filled with helpful information on how to best prepare for them. It was put together by our Connections team and brought together in a presentation by Mrs. Lyons.
A special shout out to Mr. Alston and Mrs. Carter for bringing in snacks for the groups.
I HAVE A DREAM
Diversity Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2015, 03:30 PM
UDHS in the cardinal Room
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
FWES Connections Meeting 12/9/14
Our Next Session at the High School...
- Connections is occurring on a day when AM parent/teacher conferences are occurring at the Elementary level. This means that Connections teachers Peter Alston and Shareese Nelson cannot attend. It also means that some of our Connections parent volunteers with elementary age children will be attending these conferences.
- In addition, there is a collaboration meeting for Health and Physical Education teachers during Enhancement which means that Dee Cross and Kim Schuler cannot attend.
However, the show must go on…and it will…but just for FRESHMEN this time. Why just the freshmen?
- We have a limited amount of facilitators
- The freshmen are further behind the other groups
- The freshmen could most benefit from smaller group instruction
So the schedule will look like this:
8A: 9:18-10:03 Room #212 ( 9th Grade last name A-Mc) Ortiz, Kaplan, Sanchez-Peck, Jackson, Carter?
8B: 10:07-10:52 Room #212 ( 9th Grade last name M-Z) Kaplan, Lyons, Jackson, Carter?
Each group will consist of about 15 freshmen. If you are available and would like to be assigned to a group above please let Kim Schuler know at kschuler@udsd.org! All resources for the lessons will be given to anyone interested in helping.
Thank you for all you are doing to support the Connections program!!!
UDHS Connections November Update
Connections Update
Greetings!
On Thursday, November 6th students attended their second (first for 9th graders) “Connections” meeting of the 2015-15 school year. All meetings were highly successful and produced some great dialogue around some important issues.
Our 9th grade students met for the first time as a group. Students defined what it is to feel “Connected”. We also identified the purpose of our “Connections” group and participated in an icebreaker to build connections within the group. The primary focus of the lesson was centered around the quote:
"I am where I am because of the bridges that I crossed. Sojourner Truth was a bridge. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Ida B. Wells was a bridge. Madame C. J. Walker was a bridge. Fannie Lou Hamer was a bridge." - Oprah Winfrey
Information was shared with students about each of the important pioneers mentioned in this quote. Students identified the meaning behind Oprah’s quote. They also completed an exit ticket which required them to identify people in their own lives who have created bridges for them and how. Some examples identified by students were as follows:
· “Martin Luther King- a black activist who helped bring equality so I can go to school”
· “Jackie Robinson- showed that black people can be good at sports”
· “Morgan Freeman- showed that black people can do great things”
· “My Dad- came to the USA, pushes me and works hard for me”
· “Allen Iverson- hard work pays off”
· “My Uncle- he got me into liking different things…like art”
· “My Dad- told me never to let anybody bring me down”
· “My Uncle-not to spend my money to quick”
· “My Mom- she always tells me to keep my head up”
· “Stephen Curry- people said he was too small”
· “My Dad- teaches me to be a better man”
· “Eleanor Roosevelt- proved that women can be just as powerful as men”
It was a great session!
10th, 11th and 12th grade students met for the Second time and explored the topic “What Makes Up Your Identity?”. This lesson sparked some great discussion around the following topics:
o How do I see myself?
o Black, African American, Bi-Racial, Multi-Racial, None of these?
o How do others see me?
o Stereotypes
o Who and what influences how I am perceived?
o In the media
o At UDHS
o What factors shape my identity?
o Race, culture, values, gender, personality, interests, roles, goals…
On Thursday, November 20th
Connections lesson #3: Does Racism Exist?
Questions and topics discussed during this session were:
- What is racism?
- discussed examples of racism, including forms of microaggressions
- determine ways to overcome and/or fight racism
Arthur Ashe's life and accomplishments were highlighted. As well as...
What challenges did he face?
How did he overcome them?
“Racism is not an excuse to not do the best you can.”-Arthur Ashe
What did he mean when he said this?
Is this quote relatable to you? Or someone you know?
How can YOU or others do the best you can when dealing with racism?
UDHS Connections October Update
The “Connections” program is off to a fabulous start!
We had our first meeting with 10th, 11th and 12th grade students on Thursday, October 2nd!
The theme for our first “Connections” lesson, focused on building “bridges” and setting goals for the school year. It included a team building activity where students had to work cooperatively to build a bridge. The lesson also included a discussion of the following quote:
"I am where I am because of the bridges that I crossed. Sojourner Truth was a bridge. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Ida B. Wells was a bridge. Madame C. J. Walker was a bridge. Fannie Lou Hamer was a bridge." - Oprah Winfrey
An open discussion occurred with students and teachers around this quote. Students received a picture of a bridge (or they will during the next lesson if more time was needed) and were assigned the following tasks:
o Write your name at the beginning of the bridge.
- Write what the quote means to you underneath the bridge.
- Write down 5 names of people who formed a bridge in your life on top of the bridge.
- Write down where you would like to be and what you would like to accomplish by the end of the school year at the end of the bridge.
The 9th grade “Connections” students did not meet at this time, as they were involved in additional activities to further orient students to the high school and to promote involvement in extracurricular activities. These activities included the annual Freshmen/New Student Club Fair, A Guidance Orientation Program and a tutorial on selecting “Enhancement” opportunities on block days. “Enhancement” periods allow students to choose from a menu of educational opportunities offered by teachers. These offerings include opportunities for both academic help and enrichment.
We look forward to our next “Connections” meetings which will take place on Thursday, November 6th. All grade levels will meet at this time!
Empowering, Inspiring, and Uniting Our Community
Email: fsanchez@udsd.org
Website: www.udsd.org
Location: Upper Dublin School District, Upper Dublin, PA, United States
Phone: 215-643-8800
Here is an example of a “Wordle” for Oprah
An activity that we used to extend on the topic of Identity was a wordle. The students created a “Wordle” which depicts their individual identity.
Carol Moseley Braun
Bridges and Connections
"I am where I am because of the bridges that I crossed. Sojourner Truth was a bridge. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Ida B. Wells was a bridge. Madame C. J. Walker was a bridge. Fannie Lou Hamer was a bridge." - Oprah Winfrey