Yerwood Center five major programs -

 

Yerwood Scholars Program

 

The Yerwood Scholars Program is an after school program for grades K-5 with a focus on academic improvement, life-skills training, computer literacy, and recreation.

The Yerwood Scholars Program curriculum includes –

·    Student homework assistance- Staff are available to provide increased one-on-one daily support with homework.

·      KnowledgePoints tutoring program – Some of the children enrolled in Yerwood Scholars will participate in KnowledgePoints, a tutoring program that offers individualized instruction in reading.

·      Achievement Tech – Students in grades 3 through 5 will participate in a computer based tutoring program, Achievement Tech which focuses on both reading and math.

·      Close coordination with schools - The Yerwood Center has worked with the Stamford Community Center Coalition to develop close links to the Stamford Public Schools.  Plans are in place to enable the Yerwood Staff to have information from the schools regarding what type of special tutoring each individual student needs.

·      Report card review and individual student counseling – Report cards will be reviewed with each student and parent to ensure proper support from both our program and parents.

·      Computer Literacy Training – Students will receive training on computer fundamentals, and 4th graders will receive training on word processors in the Yerwood Center Computer Laboratory.

·      Enrichment activities – Enrichment activities will include a chess club, environmental education sessions with Soundwaters, and trips to museums.

·     Life Skills Training – The KYDS life skills training program taught by The Human Element will teach various life skills and address topics of importance to youth.

·      Monthly Parent Meetings – Each month a parent meeting will be held to discuss current program plans, near term activity schedule, and parental support requirements.

·      Recreation – Students will have time each day in the gymnasium for physical activity programs.

·      Schedule – Our program will be run Monday through Friday from 2:30 to 6:00 PM to accommodate working parents.

 

L.E.A.D. Program

This program focuses on developing middle and high school students to become outstanding students, leaders, and citizens. 

What Is It?

L.E.A.D. stands for Leadership, Enrichment, Acceptance and Development.  The program, which focuses on building the total person, incorporates both the YMCA's and Yerwood Center's missions to provide programming that builds a healthy mind, body, and spirit.  The L.E.A.D. program engages in activities that develop young adult's self-esteem, sense of civic responsibility, physical and mental capacities, and motivation.  The activities range from weekly meetings and volunteer hours, tutorial services, community service projects, P.S.A.T. and S.A.T. preparatory classes, academic monitoring, recreational activities and family support.  This in turn builds student leadership skills, enriches the individual's mind, teaches acceptance of others and develops the total individual.

Who Is It For?

The L.E.A.D. program is for young adults grades 5-12. The students are selected based on an application process.  Selections are based on need and potential.  Parents are required to attend an OPEN HOUSE or an individual meeting with the program director.  Parent(s) are required to be part of the application and program process, because regular attendance and participation are necessary if the student is to be successful in the program.

The cost for the program is a $250 annual registration fee.  Occasionally, nominal fees for certain recreational activities will be necessary.

Certifications are awarded to participants who successfully complete a program year with a satisfactory evaluation.

Program Requirements:

Members are required to do the following in order to maintain an active membership in the program:

  1. Attend weekly group meetings

  2. Submit a copy of their report card at the end of every marking period and mid-quarter progress report.

  3. Maintain a C+ and better in all core courses (Math, Science, English, Social Studies and Foreign Language).

  4. Participate in Fund Raising Activities

  5. Complete two hours of weekly volunteer services

  6. Participate in community service projects.

Computer Program

The Computer Literacy Program runs year around at the Center.  It has six major components – 

  1. Earn-a-Computer Program - This program is focused on students in grades 4-7 who do not own a personal computer.  Students attend a six week, two day a week class in computer fundamentals and also receive tutoring in basic writing skills.  At the conclusion of the class they get to take their computers home for free.  These are computers that have been donated to the Center and then “fixed-up” by volunteers and through collaboration with a local high school (Wright Tech); modems are installed to provide Internet access and software is added to provide word processing capability.  In addition students are given new color ink-jet printers. Over the past seven years 650 students have received their first computers from this program.

    Class sessions begin with a basic introduction to computer operations.  The students are taught how to connect the major components together (keyboard, monitor, system unit), and how to start applications.  They are then taught the basic functions of a word processor.  Each session they are required to write a story using the word processor.  The class instructor and an adult volunteer work with each student, teaching them writing skills even more than computer skills.  Some classes are also conducted in our computer laboratory, where students are taught Internet basics including how to surf the Net, and how to search for information for homework assignment.

    Six sessions are held each year, each with 10-15 students. Outcome measurements for this program include testing students to ensure the following –
    1. Students can connect the major computer components without adult involvement
    2. Students have basic word processor skills including editing documents, saving documents, basic format control, and use of spell check
    3. Students demonstrate a basic knowledge about how to search the Internet.

Kit Murdock, received a “Points of Light” award from the Points of Light Foundation for her creation of and implementation of this program. 

  1. After-school Program Student Computer Training – the Yerwood Center has over 200 students daily participating in after school programs.  The Yerwood Scholars program has 40 elementary school students, our joint L.E.A.D. program with the Stamford YMCA has 120 middle and high school students, and the Haitian Community Center at Yerwood has 50 elementary school students.

    Elementary school students from the Yerwood Scholars Program use educational software to help them learn basic reading, writing and math skills. We find that this software not only teaches the basics, but also helps motivate the students to enjoy learning.  The older elementary school students also receive an introduction to the Internet, using the computer laboratory.  UBS Warburg employees periodically run an “Internet Scavenger” program at the Center to help teach students the basics of using the Internet to find research information.

    Middle and high school students from the L.E.A.D. program receive a variety of computer literacy training. This year we are implementing a formal program to teach Microsoft Word and Excel. Middle school students will attend training which culminates with a test to ensure they understand how to effectively use these programs to support their schoolwork.  Also, we will offer these students refurbished computers if they currently do not have a computer in their home. In addition, students will be taught how to effectively use the Internet to do research and prepare school papers.  High school students will be shown how to evaluate colleges they wish to attend, apply for scholarships, and prepare their college applications.  SAT and PSAT preparation and career planning software is installed on the computers for their use.  Additional funding will enable new more advanced classes to be added to our curricula.  Our plan is to add classes in web site design, Java, and networking.
     
  1. Tutoring of After-school Students in our Computer Laboratory – the third element of the program is tutoring students as they use the computer systems during open computer laboratory time.  Our laboratory has eighteen high-speed Internet connected modern computers.  The laboratory is open daily for student use from 2:30PM-7:00PM, and on Saturdays from 10:00AM-4:00PM. The computers are all configured with Microsoft Office, Typing tutor, career counseling, SAT preparation and ESL software.  Students use the laboratory for homework and research.  We recently hired a technical coordinator who speaks both English and Spanish; he has a BS in Industrial Engineering.  He works in the laboratory during the after school program hours assisting students as they use the systems.  Specific areas of student tutoring include –

a.       Homework Research

b.      Word Processor Use

c.       Spreadsheet Use

d.      Typing Tutor operation

e.       Web Site Design

f.        ESL Training

  1. Summer Camp Computer Training – The Yerwood Educational Summer (YES) Camp hosts 75 elementary school students for eight weeks during the summer. Each day includes time in the computer laboratory with students learning computer and Internet skills.  In addition, older students learned to use a software design program to design their dream homes!
     
  1. Adult Computer Training Programs – While student education is Yerwood Center’s primary focus, we also have adult computer literacy programs.  We feel these programs also benefit students because they build family knowledge of computers and technology. Our basic adult program lasts two weeks and teaches fundamentals (i.e. email, Internet use, and word processing).  Approximately 40 seniors participated in this training in the past year.
        
  2. Computer Programs in Spanish – The Yerwood Center recently embarked on a major Hispanic Outreach program.  Almost half of our local population is Hispanic.  Our technology coordinator, Omar Garro, is also leading our Hispanic outreach effort.    In June, 2002 he began teaching adult computer basics programs on Saturday mornings; similar programs are planned for students.  These programs offer our standard basic computer training including Microsoft Word and Excel, email and Internet basics. 

    In addition, we have installed ESL software to help local residents (both youth and adults) learn English. 

Yerwood Educational Summer Camp

This camp for over 60 Yerwood students is being run at the Center.  Daily camp activities include drama, computer literacy, writing, and recreational activities. Once a week adult volunteers sponsor a reading program with our youth.  The program was sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County and highlighted in the July 31, 2002 Stamford Advocate. Also, field trips each week take students to local parks and other recreational facilities.

Community Basketball

The objective of the Yerwood Community Basketball Program is to provide a safe place for children on the West Side to congregate and participate in recreational activities.  As identified in the Community Needs Assessment, historically, young people prefer a place to "hang out".  This program provides this with a healthy recreational component.

Children under the age of 13 are allowed in the gym from 4:30-5:30 weekdays.  Older teens participate twice weekly from 5:30-7:00.  Children are aware of the Center's rules and usually are very good at policing themselves.  Additional adult supervision would be beneficial, and is one area where Yerwood expects to expand its program as additional funding is obtained.

This program is of utmost importance.  The attendance, close to 75 every night, is generated entirely by the neighborhood young people.  In all weather you can set your clock by them!  This is what gets them into the building where other programs are also available to them.