Category Archives: After-School Starfish Program

Interview: High Fives, Homework Help and Spending ‘CY Bux’

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By Diana Mai, City Year AmeriCorps Member serving at the Holland Elementary on the Harvard Pilgrim/PTC Team.

After almost eight months of service, most of us know all of our “Starfish” after-school students pretty well. However, there is one student in my homework room who I felt I could stand to know a little more about. During my conversation with Peter*, not only did I hear him gush about Minecraft, but I watched as he fell off his chair in total excitement! Read the interview below.

What’s your name and who’s your City Year corps member?

My name’s Peter and Mr. McCabe is my City Year corps member in class.

Peter, what’s one of your favorite things right now? (a book, video game, movie, etc.)

Minecraft! It’s a game where everything in the world is made of blocks and you use the blocks to build sandboxes or anything else you want! Monsters come out at night so you have to build something to protect yourself before that happens.

So what do you like about City Year?

That you guys help us in class every day, and that you give us high-fives every morning before school starts!

[Rewind: Diana Shares a Personal Connection with her Students]

What’s one thing City Year has helped you to accomplish?

I get all my homework done in after-school so I don’t have to worry about it when I get home.

That’s great! What’s your favorite part of the Starfish after-school program? And what makes it special to you? Continue reading →

Wordless Wednesday: Our ‘Starfish’ Defying the Odds

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By Nicole Chandler, City Year AmeriCorps member serving on the MFS Investment Management Team at Dever-McCormack Lower School

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City Year has founding stories that resonate into the work we do as corps members. The Starfish story is about a young girl who stands up for what she believes regardless of her situation by saving washed up Starfish. Addressing the many challenges that our students face are at the heart of the Starfish Morning Enrichment Program at the Dever-McCormack Lower School. So every morning we enthusiastically greet our students with a power greeting, we teach them about social justice, and we lead games where students can enjoy being kids. Some of the joyful moments at Starfish:

Students writing positive words about themselves as a warm-up activity

Continue reading →

“City of FOOD” – A Lesson Plan That Resonates With Fourth Grade Students

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As part of our service in schools, City Year AmeriCorps members create lesson plans to guide before or after-school enrichment activities.  We strive to make our activities as entertaining and educational as possible, and I can tell that most of the fourth graders at the Blackstone Elementary School enjoy our lessons, although hearing the occasional grunt or complaint is not out of the ordinary.

My team member India Cobb (on the National Grid Team serving at the Blackstone School), however, thrilled students with her “City of  FOOD!” lesson plan:

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This activity allowed our fourth graders to create miniature cities out of food.  Students separated into teams and picked and traded food items with one another (or ‘barter,’ as one of our fourth graders observed).  These food items were glued to a long strip of green paper to create unique miniature cities. The students also created structures out of Styrofoam cups and decorated them with Fruit Loops, markers, pretzels, and gummy worms that stuck out of the rooftops of these buildings. Students sketched roads and parking lots for their cities as well.

It was one of the simplest, yet most successful lesson plans to date for our fourth grade team. Students enjoy tapping their talents to build things out of random items, working together as a team, and having the freedom to see their creative visions through.  I will keep this in mind when creating my next lesson plan.

Smell the Flower, Blow Out the Candle

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Inspiration is a catalyst that moves individuals to stand up for something they believe in, to make a difference, or to simply keep going. At City Year, the most inspirational moments are often those that reveal the sometimes unexpected ways in which we have impacted the students and the communities we serve. Below, senior corps member Lilah Rossi, team leader at the Harbor School, shares a particularly Inspiring Moment from her corps year in Miami, Florida.

Last year, I had the unique experience of being a Boston native who chose to serve my corps year at City Year Miami. There, I spent 10 months in a community called Liberty City at Lenora B. Smith Elementary School. One of the most exciting initiatives that my team implemented at the school was our extended day program, Starfish Corps.

During one particular Starfish Corps unit, we talked a lot about different stress relievers and anger management. One method that we taught the students to employ to when they felt angry and wanted to fight consisted of a breathing technique. The technique we practiced with them involved making their right hand into a fist that holds an imaginary flower and inhaling as they pretended to sniff it. In their left hand, they would hold an imaginary candle that they would then pretend to blow out with an exhale.

Senior corps member Lilah Rossi and Darryl

Senior corps member Lilah Rossi and Darryl

One afternoon, after the program had ended for the day, I was outside with Darryl*, a child who had difficulty managing his anger and who fought constantly with other students. He was playing around with one of the other students when he started to get mad because the other student, intending to be playful, had hit him. He wanted to attack back, but I told him not to. He was angry and clenched his fists and I asked him to not do that. He unclenched them, but when I turned to look at him again, I saw that his fists were re-clenched. I looked at him sternly and asked him why he was still clenching his fists, and his response was: “Ms. Lilah, I’m not!” He followed up by demonstrating the inhaling of the “flower” and exhaling of the “candle,” the technique we had taught him just the other day.

As you can imagine, I was so impressed that this normally frustrated young boy was using one of our techniques. It is something that I hope he continues to use, especially to help keep him from getting into fights. It was one of the most inspiring moments of the year for me; it was then that I realized that our students had really been listening to us and were trying to work to change their behavior.

*Names have been changed to protect student privacy.

The City Year and Agassiz Hearts

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Inspiration is a catalyst that moves individuals to stand up for something they believe in, to make a difference, or to simply keep going. At City Year, the most inspirational moments are often those that reveal the sometimes unexpected ways in which we have impacted the students and the communities we serve. Below, Emily Bekenstein, team leader at Orchard Gardens K-8 School, describes how she experienced a particularly Inspiring Moment as her first year of service came to a close.

Last year I served at the Agassiz Elementary School and I loved every second that I was there. However, as the end of the year approached, it was sad to think that with the closing of the Agassiz, it would be especially challenging to visit the students and teachers I had grown close to during the year. I knew that my team had made a great impact on the students and I wished that I could return to the school to see how they were doing the following year, but sadly that wouldn’t be a possibility.

On the last day of our Starfish extended day program, our team hosted a huge graduation ceremony and celebration with the 60 students that attended the program, their parents, and their siblings. The event was the culmination of our entire team’s effort to finish out the year strong and give the students the best graduation ceremony that we possibly could. It was a complete success! Parents and siblings flowed into the cafeteria in waves and within no time the room was completely full. The students were called up individually by their peer MCs to receive diplomas and have their pictures taken, and as the final names were called, the room filled with graduation caps as the students joyfully threw them into the air.  It was a great moment and I was so proud of all of them.

Students celebrate their graduation from the Starfish program with senior corps member Jackie Levine ('10-'11)

Students celebrate their graduation from the Starfish program with senior corps member Jackie Levine ('10-'11)

Following the ceremony, students and families were invited to eat a potluck meal and enjoy their time together. As they celebrated, parents paused to appreciate our support and share with us how much their child loved Starfish. One mother came up to me teary eyed and thanked me for working with her daughter all year. She noted the improvement and growth that her child had made and asked if we could take a picture together.  Seeing all of the students and parents so full of joy that day was truly inspiring.  After all of our hard work, endless hours of planning, and complete dedication to the students, it was wonderful to be able to see the impact that we’d had during our time at the Agassiz.

Shortly after the graduation ceremony, I received a note from Jane*, a student who had attended Starfish and was also in my third grade classroom. Next year she will be attending the Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot K-8 School. The note read as follows:

Dear Mrs. Emily,

I will miss you and Mrs. Grace.  I am going to bring the Agassiz heart and the City Year heart to the Y.A. school. 

Sincerely,

Jane

As I read this, I was struck by how much love Jane felt from both City Year and the Agassiz school. I realized that as she makes the difficult transition to a new school, she will bring with her everything that she’s learned from City Year and her teachers at the Agassiz. Knowing this, I’m confident that Jane will excel at her new school this fall, and I find comfort in the fact that there will be a City Year team at Young Achievers too.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of students.

Can’t Wait To Do It All Again

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By: Stephen O’Connell

This is a re-post from August 2010 by 2010-11 Team Leader Stephen O’Connell a couple weeks before he began his service year with his team. As we are gearing up for the 2011-12 corps to begin service in August, we senior corps members are all reflecting on last year and getting more and more energized for the year to come.

My team at the Agassiz and some of our Starfish!

I was not familiar with the term “burnt out” until I came to City Year Boston in August of 2009. I was well aware of the feeling of being physically exhausted after a season of a high school sport or feeling mentally spent after cramming for 72 hours for a college final. But until I  encountered Starfish, CYFK, Serve-a-Thon, Lunch Buddies, Heroes, Leadership Development Days, and small group tutoring, I had never before been close to being “burnt out”. Completing a City Year was without a doubt the hardest task of my life. I was challenged every single day and was pushed harder and harder by my peers and supervisors in every interaction. My patience, dedication and character were tested daily as I attempted to make a small difference in the lives of the children at  the Agassiz School. So you may ask, “Why am I back for round two as a senior corps member?”

I am back because I have  learned that being “burnt out” is a very small price to pay for all that I received from my first service year. The reward of watching a student learn how to read over the course of a year, and knowing that I was a big part of that, is nothing short of amazing. Becoming very close friends with many of the 140 people in the 09-10 corps, and returning for another year with 31 of them, is a gift. Learning that eating lunch with a group of third grade boys is hysterical, but that then trying to get them to focus on multiplication tables is near impossible. But seeing their faces after receiving a 100% on their next math test is priceless. Spending two weeks with 200 youth who are on vacation is chaotic to say the least, but downright fun the entire time. Watching a group of 150 volunteers completely turn a dejected park into a clean, beautiful play space is incredible. And the Starfish After-school Program is truly the best part of the day Monday through Thursday.

So I’ve come to decide that getting ‘burnt out” is a good thing, and I cannot wait to get “burnt out” again.

Young Achievers Tour Boston College

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Article written by Matthew Tow, Bank of America team, serving at Young Achievers Math & Science Pilot school.

Group of eighth graders and I posing on the BC campus.

On Saturday, May 14th, as a part of the after school program called HASP at Young Achievers, I led a group of eighth grade boys through a tour of Boston College Campus. Having visited BC’s beautiful campus before, I wanted to expose the students to a collegiate atmosphere that they may not yet have been introduced to.  The idea was that this experience would allow them to create a clear image of what their futures could look like.

The day started early at 9:30 at Forrest Hills and we made the long trek to Boston College on the T. It was a beautiful day for the tour.  The BC students were just finishing up finals and the eighth grade students were about to see what college life was really like.

Upon arrival we were able to tour the facilities of upper campus.  Here, we explored the Career Services building, the Admissions office, the library (full of students studying for finals) and even a classroom where students were just leaving from a final.  The eighth graders spoke with a BC student fresh from her final on the American Government and the Presidency. She gave them an overview of the final and then imparted with them the message to read more.  The eighth graders that morning, between witnessing the library full of studying college students, and an impromptu history lesson on the American Presidency got a strong taste of the academic rigor of college life. 



Then came lunch. The eighth graders, in comparison to the delicious school lunches served at Young Achievers, were wowed by the variety and quality of a college dining hall. Even better was when they sat down for lunch they were joined by BC students from The United Front Multicultural Student Organization.  The eighth graders were able to speak and listen to what college life was like with current students, many of whom were from the same neighborhoods they were from.  They were able to speak on almost every aspect of student life.  It was truly a revealing experience from them.  

After lunch came the fun, as a group we trooped out onto Alumni Stadium, the field where Doug Flutie, Mat Ryan and the rest of the BC football team plays.  We played a game of football on the field and students from The United Front Organization joined us, one of them even currently plays for BC Football.  Then our group was graced with a private tour of the football facilities including the locker room, weight room and meeting area led by a current player. They were able see areas where even normal BC student wouldn’t ever get to see.

All in all, it was an unforgettable experience for the eighth grade boys. Attending and graduating college should be one of many major goals in their young lives.  Exposing youth early to a collegiate atmosphere is essential in shaping the successful future for what I hope lies ahead of them.   

Blackstone’s Grand Adventure to Head Quarters… In the Rain

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The culmination of a powerful first year of CYB service at the Blackstone Elementary School is just around the bend, and our team has been working tirelessly to put on some exciting end-of-the-year events. One such occasion took place this past week during our Starfish afterschool program. Nick and Mike, our after-school coordinators, had planned the event perfectly – and the entire team was looking forward to showing our starfish corps around the City Year office. It was supposed to be the perfect day, but things don’t always go as planned.

Ubuntu Umbrellas

Of course, after two weeks of pure sunshine, it decided to rain. One may think, “No big deal, just bring an umbrella!” But things get complicated when you’re escorting 62 third, fourth, and fifth graders through the streets of Boston in a downpour.

At first, when it started to drizzle, we tried holding the students in the cafeteria. But, despite our assurances, chaos and panic ensued.

“You’re all LIARS!” One fourth grader shouted, as we vainly attempted to calm everyone down.

“This is boring!” Another complained.

Finally, some of us came up with a brilliant plan. We would use trash bags to shelter the students from the storm, and march on through the rain! The trash bags would serve as Ubuntu Umbrellas, bringing the students together in the sprit of collective dryness.

As they say, “your umbrella is my umbrella”.

The small but mighty crew of scholars that did survive the storm had a fantastic experience. We began by learning all about the civic forum, and then proceeded to the second floor where we introduced our Starfish to some “special guests”. When they met the Civic Engagement team, David (a fifth grade student) wanted to know who designs the ideas for murals and art projects. When they met Team Leader, Kevin Dua, the Starfish received a mini dance lesson; Michael Jackson style. Finally, the students gave a big thank you to recruitment for choosing “good City Years”.

As we made the trek back to school, dodging puddles all the while, I felt satisfied despite having wet feet. I knew that our students finally had a more holistic understanding of what we do for them, and I was so happy to have been able to share our City Year home with some of our young scholars.

Express Yourself

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By Abe Fox, corps member serving on the CSX Greenwood team

This past month, the Starfish after-school program was themed around making healthy choices. Over the course of the month, students learned about different ways they could incorporate healthy choices into their daily lives, be that through physical activity, artistic expression, or learning how to use their imaginations.

On Tuesday, March 29, the students engaged in a self-expression activity.  The students first participated in a “four corners” activity where they moved to a corner of the gym that agreed with their favorite response to a given situation.  The corners were labeled dance, write, draw, or music.  The purpose of the four corners activity was to show how different students have varying emotional outlets. The lesson concluded with students illustrating self-portraits: artistic representations of what makes them unique.

Two days later, the students were able to experience first-hand the professional artwork at the Menino Art Center (MAC), which is located just down the street from the Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy.  Led by seven corps members and two volunteers, the Starfish after-school students walked the 15 minutes down the road to the MAC.  Upon settling into the main gallery, MAC employees presented the current exhibits to corps members and students.  The room was full of paintings from Haitian artists commemorating the last year’s earthquake disaster.

From realistic to abstract, the students were fascinated as they learned about the various kinds of painting techniques used by the Haitian artists.  Each artist uniquely expressed their grief, showing their interpretation of the tragic event through their canvas.  Leaving the MAC, students were reflective of the earthquake but also inspired by their newfound ideas of how they too could express themselves.

Fourth grade Starfish students proudly hold their stylish, individualized silhouettes. Photo by Alexandra Cogan.

Sign-Out Duty: A Blessing in Disguise

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 Article Written by Katie Brush, corps member serving on the Bain & Company team at the Agassiz, and returning 2011-2012 senior corps member.

If you visit the Louis Agassiz Elementary School in Jamaica Plain around 5:30 PM, I’ll be the one in red presiding over the cafeteria entrance. Most afternoons Monday through Thursday, I tackle our Starfish Extended Day Program’s sign-out process armed with nothing but a clipboard full of attendance rosters and a watchful pair of eyes. It’s a job that might seem dull to some people; while other corps members lead Starfish in enrichment activities that include everything from relay races and kickball games to arts and crafts and double dutch, I’m tied to my post at the cafeteria door. But as crazy as it may seem, sign-out is a responsibility for which I very willingly volunteer, for several reasons.

Here, I am flanked by two happy Starfish as we share our last goodbyes before I send them on their way home.

Running sign-out is a great opportunity for me to watch students interact with their parents. I get to watch students beg their parents to stay a little late with them to complete a service project, to join them in making pillows for sick children in hospitals. I get to see them hop up and down and plead to stay at school for a HASI (Harvard After School Initiative) Math Night, and most importantly, I get to witness many parents put off whatever other plans they had to sit down at a cafeteria table and spend time with their children. We often hear about the difficulties that our students face outside of school in their homes and communities, but it’s during sign-out that I am reminded every day that our Starfish come from families that love and care for them.

I particularly enjoy watching one Starfish during this time, a boy from my 3rd grade class named Ryan*. Ryan often seems like a teenager inside of an eight-year-old’s body – he struts through the hallways in his baggy pants, answers no when he knows you’re looking for a yes, and suffers from chronic eye rolling – and sign-out is one of the few times throughout the day when I’m reminded that he really is only eight. As soon as his stepfather arrives, Ryan’s face lights up and he charges towards him to tackle him with a hug and a cry of greeting.

Sign-out is also the time of day that I’m able to witness the important relationships that my fellow corps members have built with their student’s families. During sign-out, we often check-in with parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles about everything from their child’s rough day at school to what a great job they did on their multiplication quiz in class to how they might need a little more sleep or a pair of glasses to see the board. There are parents that routinely check in with us every day: “How did he do today?” or “I’m worried about her last math test – is there anything you can do to help during homework hour?” I get to watch their faces glow with pride when they hear about their child’s accomplishments, and even when the news isn’t always good, I am privilege to overhearing the following: “Thank you,” a grandmother recently said to one of my teammates, “I know you’re telling me because you care.”

Most importantly, I believe Starfish sign-out can be one of the most significant moments in a child’s day. Most afternoons, I am the last face our Starfish see on their way out of school. In spite of what went on during the day and what will happen when they leave the building, I’m always there to wish them good luck on tomorrow’s test, remind them to bring in that permission slip for next week’s fieldtrip, and to let them know that we’ll see them again tomorrow – same time, same place.

*Name adjusted to protect privacy

Voices of the Boston Renaissance

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The team enjoying some rare downtime.

At the Renaissance school, we believe that everyone has a right to be heard. So I decided to let my teammates share their experiences at the school and in their service. This is what they had to say:

“Have you ever been so proud of something that you wanted to see what you could do with it? Well that is how I feel about this little club called Renaissance Writers. The first night of printing we were anxious to see how the newspaper would come out….. When the first copy shot out of the printer we were ecstatic. Everyone was raving about it! We couldn’t wait to get it to the school the next day. When we handed it out to the kids they were thrilled to see what they had accomplished. They wanted more than one copy so they could give it to their families.”

– Katie Blanchette

“City Year for me was an answer to a higher calling. I became fixated on helping serve my country and the world as a whole since the age of fourteen…. I never felt more obligated and obliged to commit to anything of this magnitude or importance before. City Year for me became the answer to what I so desperately wanted to be a part of, and so, my journey began.”

– Lisamarie Indovina

“Upon entering City Year in August, I knew that I was about to embark on an amazing experience.   However, I didn’t realize that my expectations would be exceeded and that I would soon realize and find the thing that I am most passionate about in my life, that being service… time I have realized that this is something that I have never been so passionate about… City Year helped me find my calling in life.  It gave me the opportunity to realize and recognize my passions and what was truly important in life.  “

– Eliza Cassella

“In the midst of the wonderful chaos that comprises a typical day at the Renaissance, there is one part of my day that has become a particular joy: the science block… However, my joy does not stem from the content matter, but rather the reactions and excitement of my twenty-six fourth graders. They consistently amaze me with their insight and keep me energized at the end of a long school day.”

– Uma Venkatraman

“One difficult thing about our job is finding the balance between filling both the role of a teacher, and the role of a mentor… A person that can relate to the students, be there when they are needed, and also teach the youth new skills so they can grow as learners and individuals.  I try to come back to that story when the balance either tilts more to a particular side.   It’s all about the balance.”

–Jeff Parks

City Year is a constantly growing organization, with new staff members, corps members, and volunteers coming in every year.  Each corps member is given the task each year of finding someone to “fill their boots.”  This is the idea that you will introduce someone to City Year and get them to give a year of service.  The boots, of course, refer to one of the centerpieces of the City Year uniform, the Timberland boots.  The idea of filling someone’s boots is very personal to my relationship with City Year.  My older sister, Katrina, served last year as a Corps member and returned this year as a Senior Corps member. .  Eventually, I was accepted into City Year and I “filled” my sister’s boots.  This is a huge part of my service because I have to live up to the standards that my sister created for our family.  But not only am I filling my sister’s boots but also my Team Leader’s, Kevin Dua….. I feel like a daunting task has been laid out in front of me but just the fact that I know who else has walked before me has inspired me to push ahead.

–Graham Zinger

“I am one of two coursework point people for BRCPS that deals with all things literacy. It has been a whirlwind as we were faced with a new task for City Year and that is doing a ten- month research project based on a specific project that was based on concerns that were found in our schools and we hope to have this project grow to be rolled out to other sites with data that will better help sites all over the country. I was lucky enough to attend a brand new conference that was based around literacy at sites all over the northeast…         I am confident in saying that all sites took a lot of new things back to their sites to try out and the overall first WNLA was a big success. I personally think of those three days as eye opening experience as it was extremely beneficial to meet people from different sites and further my City Year mind’s eye, and knowledge of that fact that the sky’s the limit as to the support we can give the kids of the next generation. I will end with a quote from a speaker at the opening day that said, “These kids need your laughter.”

–Elsie Sutton

““Gasp!” This is the sound that every Boston Renaissance Corps Member hears when encountering Jayda. A running hug and a huge smile are always the first thing Jayda does when seeing any City Year Corps member, even if she should be in a quiet straight line… Jayda, has an amazing personality and does not remember a single corps members name but always sees a red jacket and makes sure she gives whomever it is a huge hug. She has reminded corps members in the past that eating chocolate might not be allowed in uniform and always makes sure to complete the rounds of hugs and smiles to each and every corps member when picking up her sisters from starfish. These three girls [Jayda and her sisters] embody what City Year is about, spirit, discipline, purpose, and pride. It makes it easier as a corps member to know that City Year will be a constant entity in their lives long after the service year is complete.”

–Kris Knapp

The CSX Team Serves Up a Break

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It has finally reached that time of the year when the sun still shines before the CSX Team leaves the building.  With this new found natural light, the City Year team at Elihu Greenwood Leadership Academy found within them, what some would call, a spark of light.  This radiance shines in the form of spontaneous volleyball games minutes before screaming children come rushing through the doors for Starfish, the after school program implemented by the City Year corps members.

The CSX Team enjoys the minutes between the end of their service in the classroom and their service at the after school program, Starfish.

Corps members are often asked how they manage the long hours and stressful situations.  Some use caffeine; others use food; the CSX team—they use volleyball (and food).

Recently, corps members take their stress to the gymnasium before the after school program begins at 3:50pm each Monday through Thursday.  All the day’s frustrations are released at the swift slap of the “Life is good” volleyball.  The ball, which was received during City Year’s Advanced Training Academy a few weeks prior, holds true to its label—Life is good.  Retreating to the court to reenergize for at least two more hours of strong service gives the corps members a chance to let the difficulties of the day bounce away.

Our Starfish Have Talent!!

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This past Monday,  the corps members serving at the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School held our monthly community meeting. We wanted the children to be able to showcase the talents they have that don’t always come up in the day-to-day routine of the school. The show had been postponed several times due to numerous snow days, but finally the show was ready to go on.

The students had practiced their acts for weeks and were ready to show off. The auditorium was set up and the parents were pouring in. Popcorn was handed out and the lights were dimmed. It was time to start!!

The show started with the corps members doing their rendition of “City Year State of Mind.” It was then student’s turn to show off their skills. They performed in acts such as “The Pretty Girl Rock“, “Teach me how to Dougie“and “Sweet Dreams” among many others. Parents were thrilled and many students expressed a desire to hold an encore performance later in the year. When all was said and done, it was one of the best events we’ve had at the Boston Renaissance School this year.

City Year members strut their stuff at the Starfish Talent show!!