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STUDENT DEVELOPMENT CENTER ANNUAL REPORT ~ Student Development Center Annual Report January 30, 2007 I. Program overview The Student Development Center, located at 1250 Holt Avenue, serves students in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the North Greenwood area. The majority of these participants are from low income households, many of which are headed by single parents. A large number of these parents or care givers lack the skills and background to provide educational support for these students at home. These factors, when coupled with the economic status of a majority of the students' households, place these students "at risk" for academic failure. The after school program and the summer reading camp are designed to assist these students in overcoming obstacles to academic success. II. Programs and Program Results The calendar for the Student Development Center mirrors the calendar for the Pinellas District Schools. Program offerings were multi-faceted and included credit recovery, GED, after school academic coaching and tutoring and a summer reading camp. The teachers providing services to the targeted students were all certified public school teachers and school district and community volunteers. All services were provided free of charge to program participants. A. Credit Recovery The credit recovery program offers high school credit courses to students in grades nine to twelve who received an "F" grade in any high school course. This program component is on- going and meets two. Fifteen students are currently enrolled in this program. B. Summer Reading Camp The summer reading camp was a six - week program designed to improve the reading skills of 2nd and 3rd grade students whose grades and/or test scores indicated a likelihood of failure in school and the FCA T. Thirty - seven students participated in this program. Eighty- one per cent of the program's attendees showed improvement in reading comprehension and 83% improved in fluency. Additionally, 100% of the students were computer literate at the end of the class. C. Sewing Class This class met one night per week. There were twenty - two regular attendees. Sewing machines were donated and the instructor was a community volunteer. Program participants received instruction in Quilting, making drapes and curtains, home decorating and alterations. The class donated lap quilts made in class to patients in nursing homes.. D. Weight Loss Program This class also met one night per week. The purpose of the program was to change eating habits thereby improving health and prolonging life. Healthy eating would then result in healthy weight loss. Eighteen participants attended this class on a regular basis. F. After School Program The after school program is the center piece of the Student Development Center. One hundred eighty - seven students in grades K - 12 are currently enrolled. The students receive instruction in reading, math, and computer skills development. Home work is completed at the end of the prescribed curriculum and each student receives a snack. We review report card for grade improvement and students who excel receive rewards such as mMcDonald gift cards or Chick fi1 a redemption cards. We have also assembled a classroom library with over 1800 titles to encourage a love of reading. Program participants include after school program - 187, summer reading camp - 28, sewing class - 20, and weight loss class - 18 for a total of253. Additionally, Curtis Fundamental School held their orientation for kindergartners and their parents and the Even Start family literacy program holds monthly meetings at the center in addition to their normal daily activities. Even Start at the Clearwater Student Development Center Even Start is a Pinellas County Schools family literacy program. This free program provides education opportunities to eligible families countywide. Parents who need a high school diploma or need help learning English and have small children may qualify for this program. We work with parents to teach parenting skills and literacy skills to help their children be more successful in school. We also help parents overcome barriers with free transportation and child care. Our goal is to increase the reading skills of children and their parents. Clearwater Even Start at the Student Development Center offers programs under four components: Adult Education, Parenting Skills, Interactive Literacy Activities, and Early Childhood Education. The program meets Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday afternoons are team meeting and staff planning times. Classroom instruction is a combination of teacher prepared lessons for ABE and GED and individualized study using educational prescriptions based on special tests that indicate student grade level. The program also offers English as a Second Language. The program uses a variety of textbooks, computer software programs, experiments, videos, and games to accomplish learning. Even Start also teaches Parenting Skills. The Parent Educator gives Parenting lessons with a literacy emphasis. The program focuses on the four components of Reading, literacy skills for young children, and how parents can work with their children to improve reading skills and letter recognition. Even Start also partners with Head Start and attend some of their workshops and activities throughout the school year. Parenting Lessons also include Financial Credit Counseling with Lighthouse Financial Credit Counseling. Students receive a certificate at the end of the class. Survival Skills for Women will also be offered again this year by the Pinellas Opportunity Council.