Summer Academy 2013 report

Summer Academy 2013

SUMMARY Research has shown that young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. The New Heights Summer Academy 2013 continued its mission to offer a great summer program to help reduce summer learning loss and foster a unique appreciation for school in young people. Student-athletes are exposed to a curriculum that mixes academics, athletics, and new experiences to create a great opportunity to improve basic skills - on the court, in the classroom and in the community. Our sports-based summer program also offers young people the additional value of learning critical leadership skills and developing a fundamental understanding and increased capability in their sport of choice. New Heights piloted the Summer Academy in 2005 for middle school boys and girls at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire by offering a one-week summer leadership development and athletic program, before moving to the Riverdale County School for 3 years. In 2013, for the fourth consecutive summer, New Heights partnered with the Loyola School on the Upper East Side in Manhattan to launch the program at the beginning of July. Student-athletes from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and other surrounding areas participated in the program.

The New Heights Summer Academy is now in its ninth year. We served 82 students this summer through our 6-week program for rising 5th through 9th graders, including our High School Transition Program. For a total of 6 weeks this summer, middle school studentathletes were provided with opportunities to practice literacy and math skills, participate in activities that promote critical thinking, socialize with peers, develop skills on the basketball court, and build self-confidence. Our comprehensive academic, athletic and leadership development program for middle school student-athletes serves as a vision of summer programming that is both fun and effective in addressing summer learning loss.

New Heights would like to especially thank the staff at the Loyola School for their generous support of this core component of the New Heights College Bound program.

STUDENT VOICES: Summer Academy helped me improve my skills in the classroom and on he basketball court.

– Maya, Grade 7 The field trips gave us a chance to learn something new.

– James, Grade 7 Having New Heights Alums as our team leaders was amazing! We got to hear stories about their days on the court and how they had to study hard. I also learned a lot about college and life.

– Kyle, Grade 8

PROGRAM GOALS & ACADEMIC CURRICULUM The New Heights Summer Academy continues to implement a unique staffing structure with an Academy Director, Athletic Director, and Academic Instructors who partner with New Heights’ college-age alumni. The New Heights alumni serve in Team Leader roles, working directly with teams of 10-15 student-athletes. The Team Leaders serve as peer mentors and role models for the participants and lead their groups through the day-to-day activities of the program, including team building activities, classroom, and gym support.

The structure results in a staff-to-student ratio of approximately 1:4, providing individualized support to all participants. Our academic/basketball staff consists of experienced educators and coaches who are committed to achieving our program goals and who work diligently to create and maintain an exciting, effective, and fun learning environment.

New Heights teaches Math, Language Arts and several elective courses through a curriculum, which use the game of basketball as the focal point of the lessons to engage the students (See Course Descriptions below). In addition to the academic content in the morning and the basketball instruction in the afternoon, participants also participate in weekly field trips including visits to Liberty Science Center and The Museum of Natural History.

PROGRAM GOALS

Course Descriptions: New Heights Live is an ELA course aimed at improving fundamental literacy skills.

Inside the Numbers focuses on the development and practice of basic math skills, including geometry and pre-algebra.

During

Next

Expose middle school students to the high school environment, academic classes, culture, people, opportunities, and resources Prepare participants for high school by addressing

test prep, school choices, and the high school application process -­‐ core components of the New Heights High School Assist program

Develop academic skills, mainly basic reading, writing, and mathematics, to bridge the learning gap that occurs during the summer months Cultivate students' character and leadership skills in

Level, rising 8th graders

the classroom and on the basketball court

explore high school options, engage in test prep, and review the high school application process.

Develop students' basketball skills and knowlege of

Outside the Lines addresses relevant

issues affecting the lives of our student-athletes, including individual and group projects on topics like sportsmanship, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Fueling Success is a nutrition course that is designed to help our student-athletes develop healthy eating habits and lifestyles.

the game

Offer new experiences including trips and immersion in prepatory school campuses

ACADEMIC CURRICULUM Students spend half of their day in the classroom and the other half on the basketball court.

Throughout each day, student-athletes review and discuss our core values, known as the - TREE of Success (see below). It is an essential part of creating and sustaining a productive learning community. At the end of each camp day, students reflect on the day in grade level groups.

Guided by Team Leaders, our student-athletes discuss what they learned, how successful they were in achieving the goals they set, and what they will seek to improve upon with respect to academic, basketball and leadership skills. Students are encouraged to speak loudly and clearly, and be true to themselves with regard to their words. A variety of assessments, including discussions, oral presentations and self-evaluations are given at the beginning and the end of the five-week period. Student-athletes are also asked to fill out a survey to determine the effectiveness of the Summer Academy experience.

BASKETBALL CURRICULUM

Basketball: Designed to help our studentathletes: develop healthy eating habits, focus on building character and work ethic, learn New Heights culture, strengthen ballhandling, passing and shooting skills, and master overall team concepts.

Student-athletes spent 90 hours in the classroom and 90 hours on court.

New Heights continues to use basketball to teach life skills that extend to the classroom and community during the summer.

Participating in sports offers youth opportunities to develop key life skills, including teamwork, cooperation and resiliency.

Throughout the basketball sessions, student-athletes participate in a fundamental skill development program, which include drills, small group workouts, and scrimmages. New Heights Team Leaders serve as coaches and mentors for the young studentathletes.

New Heights also partnered with E3Sports – a sports performance and training company—for the second year in a row.

E3Sports worked directly with New Heights’ staff and studentathletes to develop strength and conditioning programs for use at Summer Academy and beyond.

EVALUATION

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION 82 total students were served during Summer Academy 2013 72 students were rising 5th - 8th graders 10

were rising 9th grade students who participated in the HS Transition Program

35%

had a perfect attendance or were absent 2 or fewer days

100%

of our Team Leaders were New

Heights Alumni currently enrolled in college

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE th

7

0

12

Female

1

Total

1

Fall 2013

5

Male

th

th

9

7

24

7

50

5

9

14

3

32

17

16

38

10

82

6

th

8

th

Overall

ENROLLMENT BY LOCATION

ENROLLMENT BY SCHOOL TYPE

ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY

SUCCESS

75% of students improved or achieved the same score on pre and post Math assessments*

66% of students improved or achieved the same score on pre and post ELA assessments* *Based on NY State Academic Standards

STUDENT-ATHLETE SELF-ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES Statements

% of student-athletes who agreed

“Instructors made the class fun.”

“I learned a lot in my classes.”

“My writing skills improved.”

70% 74% 70%

“I improved my skills and understanding of basketball.”

100%

“I would come back to Summer Academy next year.”

84%

“I would recommend Summer Academy to a friend.”

88%