From Reading to Robotics – The College Crusade of Rhode Island Launches Fall 2010 Programs

Providence, R.I., September 22, 2010 – The College Crusade of Rhode Island today announced the start of its 2010 fall schedule, which includes dozens of free programs and activities designed to increase educational and career success for students in Rhode Island’s low-income urban communities. College Crusade programs are offered weekdays after school, on weekends, and during school vacations. Programs range from academic enrichment and science workshops to college visits, career exploration, and adventure education.

Approximately 3,500 middle school and high school students in Rhode Island are members of The College Crusade. The majority of them attend public schools in Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket. Membership in The College Crusade provides each student with sustained adult advising and college-readiness programs and services from grade 6 through high school graduation. Upcoming fall 2010 programs for College Crusade members include the following:

•  Passageways – September to December
A 10-week afterschool program that gives students the skills and social support they need to survive and thrive in high school. Held weekly in 12 high schools in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket.

•  Robotics Club – September to June 2011
A robotics team that offers high school students the opportunity to participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge, a robotics competition hosted by New England Institute of Technology. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Meets weekly at The College Crusade office in Providence.

•  CAAP (Crusade Adventure and Academic Program) – October 9 to December 18
A 10-week program in adventure education for middle school students that improves self-esteem and develops skills in problem solving, team building, and healthy risk taking. Includes a writing component. Held on Saturdays at Roger Williams Middle School, Providence, and Veteran’s Memorial Elementary School, Central Falls.

•  Saturday Academy – October 9 to December 18
A 30-hour academic enrichment program that helps middle school and high school students build reading, math, and English skills. Held Saturday mornings at Bishop McVinney School, Providence.

•  Getting to College Conference – October 16
A daylong conference that helps high school students master the various elements of the college admission process. Includes workshops in writing the personal essay, led by guest college admission professionals.

•  Annual Regional College Fair – October 17
Customized information session and orientation for College Crusade families and students who are attending the 2010 Annual Regional College Fair. The College Fair is sponsored by the RI Association of Admissions Officers and will be held this year at Rhode Island College, Providence.

•  URI Discovery Days – October 23 and November 6
A Saturday visit for middle school students to the University of Rhode Island, Kingston Campus. Includes a campus tour and scavenger hunt, informational meetings with URI students, and a football game.

•  Junior Achievement Economics for Success – October to December
An afterschool program in financial literacy for middle school students, using curriculum from Junior Achievement. Held weekdays in 14 RI middle schools.

•  Media Literacy Writing Workshop – October to December
A ten-week writing program that teaches high school students how to analyze a broad spectrum of media messages, from music videos to MySpace. Participants will engage in critical thinking, writing, and discussion in a computer-interactive environment. Held Saturdays at the Providence Academy of International Studies, Providence.

•  Afterschool Science Workshops – October to December
A series of afterschool science workshops for middle school students, provided in partnership with the University of Rhode Island’s “Pathways for Success in Science and Technology” project. Students develop skills in math, science, and technology and learn how science is a part of everyday life. Workshops this year focus on astrophotography, basic physics, and rocket design. Held weekly at Nathanael Greene Middle School and Roger Williams Middle School, Providence.

•  The Write Stuff & Math Matters – October to May 2011
Saturday morning workshops in writing and math for middle school students. The 8-week writing workshop focuses on media literacy and is designed to give students whose critical thinking and writing skills are still emerging the strategies they need to become more confident in their expressive abilities. Held at Johnson & Wales University Harborside Campus, Providence.

•  Adventures in Literacy – October to May 2011
A computer-assisted learning program for sixth-grade students called ReadAbout, created by Scholastic, Inc. Includes quiet reading, writing in response to text, and teacher-guided sessions. Held Saturdays at The College Crusade office in Providence.

•  Cru Club – October to June 2011
A series of college-readiness and career-exploration programs provided to students after school and on Saturdays. Featured programs include college advising, adult mentoring, homework help, financial literacy, language arts enrichment, science and engineering workshops, study-skills and life-skills workshops, book clubs, writing workshops, career speakers, career decision-making activities, and service learning projects. Held weekdays in 33 Rhode Island middle schools and high schools and on Saturdays at Johnson & Wales University Harborside Campus, Providence.

•  College visits – November and December
Specially arranged visits for high school students to a variety of colleges in New England. Participants tour campus, talk to college students, and learn firsthand about the opportunities and challenges of college life.

About The College Crusade of Rhode Island
Now celebrating its 20th year, The College Crusade of Rhode Island is the state’s most comprehensive college-readiness and scholarship program for middle school and high school students in low-income urban school districts. It serves approximately 3,500 students per year and rewards their efforts and achievements with up to four years of college scholarships. From grade 6 through grade 12, Crusaders experience the steady, nurturing presence of caring adults and participate in activities that focus on academic enrichment, social and personal development, career awareness and exploration, and readiness for college. Since 2001, The College Crusade has awarded over $22 million in college scholarships to more than 2,800 graduates from Rhode Island high schools. For more information, please visit www.thecollegecrusade.org. The College Crusade is a nonprofit organization funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP program, by the State of Rhode Island, and by private corporations, foundations, and individuals.

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Contact:
Karen Donovan
Marketing & Communications Officer
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