BUZZWORTHY aldwin-Whitehall
BALDWIN-WHITEHALL SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES REFUGEE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
Since 2011 , Baldwin High School has been the proud recipient of a career education program for refugee and immigrant students . The program , Refugee Youth Employment ( RYE ), was created by the Career Development Center and the Consortium for Public Education .
Fifth grade students at Whitehall Elementary participated in The Great Kindness Challenge , along with many other students around the nation . Students watched an introductory video that explained the challenge to complete random acts of kindness for the week of January 23 – 27th . Students were then given a check sheet of suggested acts of kindness and were asked to highlight the ones completed , as well as list the acts of kindness they created .
Then , students wrote papers to share their experiences . Through discussion , the students decided that the people that benefitted most from these random acts of kindness were themselves . One student
Hera Nepal , BHS junior , sums the program up in one word : “ helpful .” The program is designed for juniors and seniors and meets two days after school in the library . The students learn about colleges , career interests , resume building , and understanding the processes involved .
“ The program gives you lots of confidence ,” explains Alisha Pokwal , BHS junior . Alisha and others have learned the process of applying for financial aid , how to save money , and interviewing skills .
WHITEHALL ELEMENTARY ’ S GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE
84 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall commented , “ I never really paid attention to how good it feels to do something for someone else !”
Second graders in 133 created a Kindness Quilt with short , positive messages of ways that other students at Whitehall could spread kindness . Students were also challenged to work together as a class to complete 100 Acts of Kindness before the 100th Day of School ! Students had to be recognized by a peer or family member for completing their act of kindness . Simple things like helping pick up dropped materials or setting the table at home really helped to make others feel good !
In Room 132 , second-grade children also watched a video on the Great Kindness Challenge . After getting inspired by the video , they chose several ways that they could be kind from the check sheet . The kids wrote little kindness notes to each other and placed them on their desks or in their lockers . They also created posters highlighting ways to be kind . They especially enjoyed the little things like saying
These skills are paired with increasing exposure to native English speakers via field trips to Carnegie Mellon University and Google . Yamila Torres , twelfth grade , has been in the program for two years . She said she appreciates the people and how much they have helped her increase her English skills .
The program also offers a summer job . If the students complete the program during the school year , they have the opportunity to work for one month at local companies and organizations where they can put their new skills to the test .
The Guidance Department has been working for the past two years on curriculum focused on the academic , social , and career transition from one school to the next level , including college , work , and the development of skills . The Guidance Department shares a large role in this development and supports programs that offer hands-on skill learning .
RYE supports BWSD ’ s Guidance Department ’ s vision of making every student career-ready .
hi to their bus drivers , using their manners , complimenting each other , smiling at others , and making little gifts . By the end of the week they really understood that it doesn ’ t take much to make someone else ’ s day just a little bit brighter .