Carson Family Foundation Grant: Cultural Connections
- School Year: 2015-2016
- Applicants: Maria Genca, Lead Teacher Ryan Cronin (Whiting Lane)
- School: Hall High School
- Subjects: Other
This grant will give English Language Learner (ELL) students’ access to and knowledge of ways to be involved in the West Hartford Community. The high school ELL students at Hall High School will mentor the elementary students at Whiting Lane Elementary School. Each high school student will be matched with an elementary student from a similar background and they will participate together in a combination of community service and cultural activities including working in the community garden, volunteering at a soup kitchen and visiting local museums and parks. These monthly meetings and activities will support the ELL curriculum by challenging and nurturing their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Students will apply the knowledge they acquire from community activities to their personal lives and share this new information with their families. The program will conclude with student-run projects that emphasize leadership, creativity and literacy. These projects will be shared at the annual Hello! West Hartford event.