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Save the date!
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New Jersey SEEDS will be hosting our 2nd Annual
Benefit on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at Park Savoy
in Florham Park.
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Programs Department Prepares for Summer Sessions
Dear Friends of SEEDS,
Summer is a critical time for the academic growth of every student in SEEDS' programs.
For our Scholars and Young Scholars, their 14-month journey with SEEDS begins and ends with an intense summer session -- our Scholars with three-week residencies at The Hill School in Pottstown, PA and our Young Scholars with five weeks of daily classes at Delbarton School in Morristown, NJ.
Our College Prep (CPP) scholars also first experience SEEDS with a summer unlike any they've spent before -- two weeks on the beautiful campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Geneva, NY) immersed in rigorous coursework, stimulating electives and all of the resources of a top-tier liberal arts institution. It's no wonder that they love to return for two additional summers following their sophomore and junior years.
Shaping SEEDS' summer sessions to maximize the concentrated time we spend with students takes months of preparation -- and the SEEDS staff is already deep in the planning process. From continually improving and updating our curriculum, to hiring SEEDS alumni to serve as student advisors, to coordinating logistics with each site school, specifics will be finalized far in advance of our scholars' arrival.
This year, we're enormously excited to launch a restructured final component of our Scholars Program. Previously known as The Boarding Experience, the second summer students spend with us will now be called The Capstone Experience, with a new curriculum that diverges sharply from the work in the first summer residency our Scholars attend -- The Summer Challenge Program.
To provide exceptional preparation for transition to the independent school community, we've developed an integrated curriculum that allows our Scholars to immerse themselves in one of four tracks: Arts and Culture; Business and Finance; Law and Society; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM).
After a morning of in-depth study in four core subjects (English, math, history and science), afternoons will focus on seminars, independent and team research, and active presentations related to their chosen track theme.
It is our expectation that these intensive courses of study will not only prepare our Scholars for the next phase of their education in independent school, but also give them an opportunity to shape their thinking about the relationship between education and career goals.
There is a remarkable exhilaration that SEEDS' students share as their summers progress: the joy of accomplishment, the spirit of camaraderie, and a sense of optimism about their futures. We thank you - our friends, donors, parents and alumni - for making their journey possible through your tremendous support.
Best regards,
Ronni Denes
President
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SEEDS Completes Admissions Season
Applications for New Jersey SEEDS are now closed. After launching a new, online-only application, SEEDS received over 1,200 inquiries with more than 800 applications for our Scholars, Young Scholars and College Preparatory Programs.
This year SEEDS also provided an opportunity for applicants to apply for Early Decision with a deadline in late 2012. From this applicant pool, 32 students were invited to interview and test with SEEDS in mid-February.
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SEEDS staff and volunteers interviewed potential Scholars and Young Scholars last month.
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Special thanks to the 14 volunteers who interviewed potential Scholars and Young Scholars at The Pingry School, Dwight-Englewood School and the SEEDS office.
Of the students selected for early consideration, 19 were accepted into the Scholars and Young Scholars Programs, and were notified of their acceptance earlier this week. SEEDS also accepted 10 students into CPP during our Instant Decision Day at Orange High School.
The admissions process will continue through April, as we select finalists for interviews and notify applicants of our decisions.
Congratulations to those students who have already been accepted into the SEEDS family!
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CPP Launches Advocacy Program,
Hits the Road for College Tours
After finishing up a four-part series on communication led by the Young Leadership Committee and Alumni Alliance, CPP is adding a new element to Saturday classes for seniors. This spring, CPP scholars will be working with several attorneys from SNR Denton, participating in an advocacy program focusing on "State Rights v. Parental Rights."
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CPP scholars visit Dickinson College.
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The first of the four sessions kicked off on February 23. Students will engage
in two workshops this month before presenting final arguments at SNR Denton offices on April 13.
CPP also recently visited Dickinson College and Gettysburg College, giving students the opportunity to tour campuses and meet with admissions staff. Photos from the event can be found here.
Scholars Prepare for Hospital Day
On April 13, SEEDS Scholars will be participating in their annual Hospital Day. Students will visit Morristown Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center, where they will have the opportunity to shadow doctors in different specialties throughout the day. Students will also participate in a medical ethics case study with their peers. Stay tuned for updates on their trip!
Young Scholars Book Club Rescheduled
After being postponed due to snow, the first Young Scholars Peer Book Club will be held on Saturday, March 23. More than 30 volunteers and student mentors will join SEEDS' Young Scholars to discuss The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman and The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John.
Guidance Continues Visits to Middle School, High School and College Scholars
The SEEDS Guidance team has continued to visit Scholars and Young Scholars graduates in middle and high school and CPP graduates in college over the past few months. As of early February, SEEDS' four Guidance officers met with more than 280 students at 72 independent schools and 10 colleges across the country.
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Friends of SEEDS assembled care packages for SEEDS students in independent schools.
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SEEDS graduates in independent school can expect another visit this spring...in the form of SEEDS Care Packages! Thanks to Friends of SEEDS, students placed in middle school and high school will be receiving treats and a special surprise in the mail. Be on the lookout for yours!
Guidance is also preparing for its spring college tour. Kicking off on March 17, nearly 50 students will spend five days visiting several colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and in the Washington, D.C. area. Scheduled visits include: Dickinson College, Haverford College, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Lafayette College, Rider University, Swarthmore College, the University of Pennsylvania, and Villanova University.
Parents Committee Preps for Annual Luncheon
The SEEDS Parents Committee held its regular meeting
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The Parents Committee at their February meeting
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in February and spent time preparing invitations for the Annual Parents Luncheon. Scheduled for March 23, the luncheon is an opportunity for parents of current SEEDS scholars to meet and celebrate their children's successes.
For more information, contact Jamie McClintock at [email protected].
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Alumni Alliance Celebrates 21 Years of Impact
At the annual Alumni Holiday Spectacular this past December, the New Jersey SEEDS Alumni Alliance announced its NJ SEEDS Impact Fundraising Campaign.
To help promote its efforts, the Alliance launched a new blog to celebrate the positive impact of SEEDS on their lives and encourage other alumni to make a donation to support future generations of SEEDS students. The Alliance is also "Celebrating SEEDS: 21 Years of Impact" on Tuesday, March 19 at Martini 494 Bistro (Newark). For more information on how to purchase tickets, click here.
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SEEDS Alumni at the first Philadelphia-regional event!
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In addition to their own fundraising efforts, the Alliance members hosted their annual thank-a-thon last month to thank SEEDS donors for their continued support. The Alliance also hosted a regional get-together, with several Philadelphia-area alumni gathering at Public House in Center City Philadelphia to reconnect and network.
If you are a SEEDS graduate who has completed your undergraduate collegiate coursework and are interested in joining the Alumni Alliance, please contact Sarah Cassidy at [email protected].
Leading Change Benefit Just Five Weeks Away!
In January, SEEDS officially began ramping up for the upcoming Leading Change Benefit with a kick-off party for 15 guests hosted at the home of SEEDS Chair, Susan Present.
Interested in joining SEEDS to celebrate educational opportunities for students across the state? Then purchase your ticket today! The Benefit will be held Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at Park Savoy (Florham Park).
At the event, SEEDS will present the Leading Change Award to those whose initiative and commitment have enhanced the educational opportunities of young people throughout the communities we serve. This year's honorees are CHASE - with Robert St. Jean, President, Middle Market Banking accepting the award - and Laura Overdeck - Founder and President of Bedtime Math.
In addition to our strolling dinner and seated dessert, guests will have an opportunity to bid on live and silent auction items. The "Bucket List" auction will allow guests to bid on once-in-a-lifetime items. Check your email in the coming weeks for an overview of some of these auction items.
For more information or to purchase tickets or sponsorship, please contact Sarah Cassidy at [email protected].
New Jersey SEEDS
494 Broad Street, Suite 105 | Newark, NJ 07102
NJSEEDS.ORG | Main 973.642.6422 | Fax 973.642.5175
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