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September 2011 Newsletter
Preschoolers play at one of the local parks
Summer programs at East End House provide youth with academic enrichment, healthy meals and regular physical activity, field trips and fun! Take a look at how youth spent their summer:
Read what parents are saying about East End House's programs: "A lot of child development, intense for kids, helps them to develop their mind. A very good program." 56 students participated in the second annual Middle School Youth Opportunities (YO!) Summer Program this year at the Kennedy-Longfellow School. The program, which is free to families and operates for 50 hours per week for 8 weeks, engages youth in science, sports, arts, math, and literacy activities. This summer's program included a number of special partnerships. Girls LEAP taught self-empowerment, conflict resolution, and self-defense skills to the girls in the program. Students went on an overnight trip with Outward Bound on Thompson Island, where they climbed rock walls and high-ropes courses, learned about oceanic ecosystems, and developed valuable teamwork skills. In addition, staff members created their own classes and implemented some exciting new initiatives with youth. Youth explored novels such as Animal Farm and A Wrinkle in Time, wrote their own poems, learned about the chemical properties of water, and completed math obstacle courses. The East End House/Kennedy-Longfellow Middle School Program is currently recruiting youth for its free school year program. Please contact Caitlin McCormick at caitlin@eastendhouse.org or (617) 876-4444 for more information. You can also check out the flyer. 
Youth from the School Age Program showcase their new backpacks. Each backpack is filled with supplies including pens, pencils, paper, and rulers.
School readiness extends beyond academic preparation. For many of East End House's families, purchasing new back-to-school supplies for their children is a struggle. In order to ensure that all students start school feeling confident and prepared, the agency organizes a yearly backpack drive. This year, backpacks and supplies were given to 81 students in all three youth programs, Child Care, School Age, and Middle School. New England Development's CambridgeSide Galleria organized a drive at the mall and donated generously. Other donors to this year's drive include Equity Office Properties, the Residence Inn Boston Cambridge, Arrowstreet, Inc., Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., and several individual donors. Thank you to everyone who made this year's event a success! This August, 18 children graduated from East End House's Child Care Program. They wore their graduation caps and all received diplomas. After the ceremony, the group celebrated with a family barbecue. All 18 children received new backpacks filled with school supplies so they are ready to start kindergarten. Over the summer, students spent time gardening in the backyard. They learned about the life cycles of plants and insects. They even hatched and released their own butterflies. Although the graduates will be missed, teachers are busy preparing new learning experiences for the next class. 
Middle School Program Group Leader, Verlance Friar, helps youth learn how to program SPHERES robots.
On August 16th, students from the Youth Opportunities (YO!) Summer Middle School Program watched as astronauts on the International Space Station used their computer programs to race robots in zero gravity. Youth watched the race through a live feed to the space station at MIT. There was a feeling of excitement in the room, with MIT students quizzing youth about science in between races. 14 students participated in the Zero Robotics Summer SPHERES program with support from a grant through the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership. The SPHERES program, developed by MIT and NASA, engages summer groups across the state in computer programming, aeronautics, space science and engineering. East End House's signature program, Generating and Evaluating New Adventures in Science After School (GENASAS), provides Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning opportunities in out-of-school time to all youth at East End House. The initiative features research-based, interactive curriculum, field trips, mentors who are STEM professionals, and guest speakers. Partnerships with organizations like MIT and NASA further enrich programming. 
A School Age Program youth participates in a math competition.
East End House's summer programs formed several partnerships in order to bring youth superior math-based activities. These activities helped youth retain their math skills over the summer. The School Age Program partnered with the Young People's Project for four weeks. College students from the YPP worked with School Age Program youth twice a week on charting and reading graphs. The program culminated in a math competition. YO! Summer, East End House's middle school summer program, helped Enablelearning test its new learning tool, EnableMath. The tool challenges youth to complete math problems on an increasingly harder scale, helping them master key math skills. Youth practiced using the program for 12 hours this summer and will continue their work in the fall. 
Children at East End House's Annual Summer Block Party enjoy bubbles at one of the activity tables.
East End House held its Annual Summer Block Party on August 17th, 2011 on Spring Street. The community-wide event was sponsored by East End House in partnership with the East Cambridge Planning Team, East Cambridge Business Association, and the Cambridge Police Department. The Biogen Idec Band set a festive atmosphere and kept the crowd of 350 dancing. Kids of all ages enjoyed activities led by the East End House staff. The Cambridge Fire Department stationed a fire truck for kids to explore and Jungle Jim made balloon animals. Donors to the event included Christina's Homemade Ice Cream, Emack & Bolio's, J.P. Licks, and Whole Foods Market, Fresh Pond. Thank you to all the donors and all those who attended for helping to make the Annual Summer Block Party a huge success! |
 Save the DatesPowerful Parenting to Kickoff Fall Session Tuesdays, 10/04/2011-11/29/2011 6:00PM-8:15PM The next session of Powerful Parenting will be held every Tuesday night from 6:00-8:15 p.m., October 4th-November 29th. Powerful Parenting is a nine-week parenting technique workshop series that builds on the experience and knowledge parents already have while teaching new skills and connecting parents. Session topics include baby brain development, positive discipline, the stages of child development, health and wellness, and much more. For more information or to enroll please call (617) 876-4444. You can also check out the flyer and FAQ sheet. Weekly Playgroups Every Tuesday 10:00AM-11:30AM Bring your 0-5 year old for a fun morning of games, puzzles, and more. No need to sign up, just drop by. Playgroups are a great way for parents and children to socialize. When weather permits, playgroups will take place in the East End House backyard garden. Snack is provided. For more information contact Camille Imbimbo-Platt at 617-876-4444 or camille@eastendhouse.org. Crime Prevention Boat Ride 10/4/2011 6:00PM Meet your local police officers and enjoy a lovely boat cruise! The next Crime Prevention Meeting will take place on October 4th at 6:00 p.m. Sergeants Maureen Ford and Edward Frammartino will share information about recent crimes and crime prevention efforts. This event is sponsored by East End House, the Cambridge Police Department, and the Charles Riverboat Company and is provided free of charge. The boat will depart from the CambridgeSide Galleria. We hope to see you there! "Who Wants to Get Smart About Credit?" 10/27/2011 6:30PM-7:45PM Join East End House and Cambridge Savings Bank for a credit seminar, October 27th 6:30 p.m-7:45 p.m. at East End House. Topics include predatory lending, credit scores, lending vocabulary, and lending numbers. A light dinner will be served. The event is open free of charge to everyone 18 or older. Please call Diane Rego at (617) 876-4444 or e-mail diane@eastendhouse.org to register by October 20th. For more information check out the flyer. Cambridge School Council Candidates Forum 10/05/2011 7:30PM-9:30PM Come learn more about Cambridge's School Council Candidates. This debate will take place on Wednesday, October 5th from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at East End House and is sponsored by the East Cambridge Planning Team with support provided by East End House. Please call 617-876-4444 for more information. Smoke This! Rib Fest 10/09/2011 12:00PM-4:00PM The East Cambridge Business Association "Smoke This" Rib Fest 2011 will take place on Sunday, October 9th from 12:00-4:00 p.m. The Rib Fest and Street Fair will take place on Cambridge Street in East Cambridge, between Fulkerson Street and Fifth Street. Join local restaurants as they compete for the title of best ribs in town. East End House staff will be running games and activities for children at this family-friendly event. Enjoy a variety of ribs and cast your vote! Taste Tickets are available at www.EastCambridgeBA.com. Thanksgiving Turkey Basket Giveaway Thanksgiving is only a few months away! With the continued economic downturn, many families need extra help through the holidays. Last year, East End House distributed 846 baskets filled with food to families in need. We need your help to make this year's event another success! Please contact Sam Healy at (617) 876-4444 or sam@eastendhouse.org if you are interested in donating or volunteering. Mark your calendars! Ninth Annual Cooking for a Cause 3/30/2012  Volunteer &Mentoring News Mentor A Middle-Schooler 
East End House is looking for dedicated staff to fill a variety of positions. Check out the job descriptions below. If you have the skills and the passion, send your resume and cover letter to resumes@eastendhouse.org. 
This summer East End House welcomed Erin Gettens as the new Director of School Age Programs. Erin received a Master's Degree in School Psychology from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Regis College where she majored in Psychology. She has been working with children and families in a variety of settings for over ten years. Erin is committed to working with schools to link school-day learning with out-of-school time programming to support youth throughout the entire day.
Staff Contribute to
the Field Caitlin McCormick, East End House's Middle School Director, is now an evaluator for a National Science Foundation funded Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering (REESE) project. Caitlin is an expert in the tool that the Middle School Program has been using for the past two years to evaluate and improve programming. She is using her skills to evaluate other programs as well as to continue to improve quality at East End House. Sam Healy, Senior Director of Child and Family Services, has joined a working group sponsored by the Harvard Achievement Support Initiative (HASI) to test the implementation of Ellen Galinsky's 'Mind in the Making-The 7 Essential Life Skills All Children Need.' Michael Delia, President & CEO, was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Children & Families, a national organization that provides services to private nonprofit human service organizations throughout the United States and Canada. 
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For more information about East End House, please visit our web site at www.eastendhouse.org. |
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| East End House is a not-for-profit, multi-service community center and social service agency with an on-going commitment to a diverse population, providing programs and services to strengthen family and community. East End House is the center of community life, a safe haven welcoming, linking, and collaborating with individuals of all ages, their families, businesses, and community institutions to create innovative programs in pursuit of excellence on a sound fiscal basis. East End House will never request your passwords or personal information. |
 Copyright 2011 East End House, Inc. 105 Spring Street Cambridge, MA 02141 |
