Forty-two students from Boston's Citizen Schools are visiting Hamilton this week as members of 8th Grade Academy. Citizen Schools is a growing national network of after-school education programs for middle school students. Its programs complement classroom learning by engaging students in hands-on learning projects led by adult volunteers after school and supported by a staff of professional educators.
This is the fourth year the Boston-based middle schoolers are visiting Hamilton to get a taste of college life. During their three-day visit, students will spend time with Hamilton student athletes; they enjoyed a "Science Circus" with Hamilton faculty; took a campus tour and visited Hamilton classes; and participated in small group talks with multicultural ambassadors.
Hamilton alumnus John Werner '92 is one of the founding leaders of Citizen Schools, and is currently managing director and chief mobilizing officer.
Students who participate in the 8th Grade Academy commit to spending Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, as well as Saturdays and school vacations, developing writing, math, leadership and study skills. In addition to visiting colleges, they research and apply to Boston district, charter, pilot, and independent schools, work with writing mentors from downtown Boston law firms, take apprenticeship classes in a wide variety of subjects, publish a magazine, and more. All of the apprentices are graduates of Citizen Schools' after-school middle school programs at Boston Public Schools around the city.
Citizen Schools uses the out-of-school hours (80 percent of a child's waking hours) plus a high quality apprenticeship learning model to change life trajectories for low income, middle school children. Twice a week, they participate in apprenticeships—hands-on learning projects led by volunteer Citizen Teachers. Each semester culminates in public presentations of the projects the students have created with their Citizen Teachers.
According to its Web site, every Citizen Schools campus "is suffused with messages and activities proven to build a community of achievers who know that hard work pays off and learning is cool." Citizens Schools also has programs in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Texas. Citizen Schools is supported by Americorps, Bank of America, the Goldman Sachs Foundation and Microsoft.
This is the fourth year the Boston-based middle schoolers are visiting Hamilton to get a taste of college life. During their three-day visit, students will spend time with Hamilton student athletes; they enjoyed a "Science Circus" with Hamilton faculty; took a campus tour and visited Hamilton classes; and participated in small group talks with multicultural ambassadors.
Hamilton alumnus John Werner '92 is one of the founding leaders of Citizen Schools, and is currently managing director and chief mobilizing officer.
Students who participate in the 8th Grade Academy commit to spending Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, as well as Saturdays and school vacations, developing writing, math, leadership and study skills. In addition to visiting colleges, they research and apply to Boston district, charter, pilot, and independent schools, work with writing mentors from downtown Boston law firms, take apprenticeship classes in a wide variety of subjects, publish a magazine, and more. All of the apprentices are graduates of Citizen Schools' after-school middle school programs at Boston Public Schools around the city.
Citizen Schools uses the out-of-school hours (80 percent of a child's waking hours) plus a high quality apprenticeship learning model to change life trajectories for low income, middle school children. Twice a week, they participate in apprenticeships—hands-on learning projects led by volunteer Citizen Teachers. Each semester culminates in public presentations of the projects the students have created with their Citizen Teachers.
According to its Web site, every Citizen Schools campus "is suffused with messages and activities proven to build a community of achievers who know that hard work pays off and learning is cool." Citizens Schools also has programs in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Texas. Citizen Schools is supported by Americorps, Bank of America, the Goldman Sachs Foundation and Microsoft.
