PA State GEAR UP - News & Events

Update of Philadelphia's 2004-05 PA State GEAR UP Activities

Educational Action Plans
September 2004 – May 2005

Direct Services Coordinators Calvin Mayo, Veno Leigertwood and Kenyon Whittington are helping the seventh graders in PA State GEAR UP schools to start their Educational Action Plans (EAPs), beginning this fall. The DSCs began visiting classrooms in September and will meet with all 7th grade students throughout the year to talk about setting educational and career goals. Students will also complete a Holland Assessment to determine career interests which will help in their self-directed education plans.

PA State GEAR UP Student Surveys
December 2004

7th and 9th grade students will complete a PA State GEAR UP student survey about college and career awareness this month, facilitated by the direct services coordinators. The surveys help program staff in their development of activities to address students’ academic and college and career awareness needs.

PA State GEAR UP Parent Surveys
October - November 2004

Parents of 7th and 9th grade students in the PA State GEAR UP schools in Philadelphia will be completing a PA State GEAR UP survey as an introduction to college and career awareness programs their children will participate in this year and throughout their secondary education.

Tutoring Program
October - December 2004

Thirty-five students from West Chester University are currently tutoring students in PA State GEAR UP schools working with classroom teachers to provide supplemental instruction for students and provide one-on-one tutoring to students who will benefit from this service. The university students attend four training sessions at West Chester throughout the semester learning about tutoring strategies, diversity issues, urban education and meeting the needs of a diverse classroom.

College Visits
September 2004 - June 2005

All 7th grade students in PA State GEAR UP schools will have an opportunity to have an enhanced visit to a university or college campus during the school year. The schedule for visits is listed below:

Date	College Visiting	School
10/1/2004	West Chester University	Leeds Middle School
10/5/2004	Saint Joseph’s University	E.W. Rhodes Middle School
10/6/2004	Eastern University	Blaine Middle School
10/6/2004	Penn State Abington Campus	Leeds Middle School
10/13/2004	Holy Family College	Leeds Middle School
10/13/2004	Lincoln University	Turner Middle School
10/14/2004	Cheyney University	E. W. Rhodes Middle School
10/15/2004	West Chester University	Turner Middle School
10/18/2004	Lebanon Valley College	Wagner Middle School
10/19/2004	Penn State University	L.P. Hill Middle School
10/20/2004	Holy Family College	Wagner Middle School
10/20/2004	Penn State Berks Campus	Turner Middle School
10/25/2004	Lebanon Valley College	Wagner Middle School
11/1/2004	Lebanon Valley College	Wagner Middle School
11/3/2004	Eastern University	L.P. Hill Middle School
11/3/2004	Lincoln University	Turner Middle School
11/8/2004	Lebanon Valley College	Wagner Middle School
11/10/2004	Holy Family College	Wagner Middle School
11/10/2004	Lincoln University	Blaine Middle School
11/12/2004	West Chester University of PA	Douglass Middle School
11/15/2004	Kutztown University of PA	Turner Middle School
11/17/2004	Lebanon Valley College	Lewis Middle School
11/17/2004	Lincoln University	L.P. Hill Middle School
11/17/2004	Penn State Berks Campus	Turner Middle School
12/1/2004	Holy Family College	Lewis Middle School
12/2/2004	Haverford College	Wagner Middle School
12/3/2004	West Chester University of PA	Douglass Middle School
12/6/2004	Lebanon Valley College	Lewis Middle School

Healthcare Awareness Week
November 8-12, 2004

One hundred 8th graders from Leeds, Lewis and Wagner participated in Health Careers Week by visiting the Health Career Fair at the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) and by hosting health care professionals from Thomas Jefferson University and Jeannes Hospital. This program focused on increasing student awareness of the variety of health care career options available to them. Among the careers represented by speakers from Thomas Jefferson and Jeannes Hospital were cytology, radiology, radiography, nursing, and medical technology. An employment specialist linked the students' interests to the many opportunities in the health care field.

A panel discussion at the Health Career Fair at CCP highlighted careers in nursing, medical laboratory, imaging, respiratory therapy, and pharmacy. Hands on demonstrations of how to operate various machines and equipment followed the discussion.

"Workready Philadelphia" Shadow Day
November 18, 2004

Ninth grade students from PA State GEAR UP schools will job shadow at hospitals, universities, banks, law firms, and small businesses. The students will accompany employee mentors through their workday, allowing students to explore career options.

Shadowing Day is sponsored by the School District of Philadelphia's Secondary Education Movement, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia Youth Network and One to One/The Greater Philadelphia Mentoring Partnership at United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Urban Field Experience
October 2004 - May 2005

State System of Higher Education university students are working directly with students and classroom teachers in the School District of Philadelphia's PA State GEAR UP schools to provide academic support and to assist with daily lesson activities. The students perform various activities with students, including help with daily assignments, teaching a lesson plan, providing information about academic and social environment on college campuses, and encouraging students to explore college options.

Links to key partners: