Jamestown Community College, Jamestown City School District, Dunkirk City School District, and Chautauqua Striders have formed a partnership to improve the academic achievements, high school graduation rates, and college preparation and entry for a cohort of 550 students in the Class of 2011 in Jamestown and Dunkirk.  The partnership will focus GEAR UP, community, and district resources on the needs of students in the cohort to deliver mentoring, tutoring, and improved instruction in mathematics, and information, exploration and guidance to support students’ career planning and their parents’ ability to select the right college, make wise financial decisions and secure the maximum financial support.  Although an emphasis will be placed on high risk students, all students in the cohort will be included in GEAR UP activities and will be encouraged to take advantage of the services offered. GEAR UP funds will be used to improve instruction, provide college-based enrichment and career exploration activities, and to manage and direct local and state partners’ work with students and parents.

The partnership’s efforts aims to improve students’ math accomplishments, retention, and ability to pass Regents’ and other required exams, and graduation rates.  Graduates will be well prepared to select a college and to pursue a college degree. GEAR UP funding is awarded through HESC, the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation, which has established sector partners for GEAR UP sites to work with to help carry out their program goals.

For More Information on GEAR UP please contact:

Faith Graham, GEAR UP Program Coordinator: faithgraham@mail.sunyjcc.edu

Denise Pusateri, JHS GEAR UP Math Coach: 99dpusateri@jamestown.wnyric.org

Tracy Schifano, DHS GEAR UP Academy Teacher: tschifano@dunkirk.wnyric.org

Julie Wakelee, DHS GEAR UP Counselor:       jwakelee@dunkirk.wnyric.org

Lorraine Walker, Project ME Coordinator:       88lwalker@jamestown.wnryric.org

The Jamestown Community College GEAR UP partnership is made up of the following organizations:

JAMESTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DUNKIRK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

There are approximately 550 students in the Class of 2011 at Jamestown and Dunkirk. All of these students are included and encouraged to take advantage of the programs, activities and resources being offered through GEAR UP.

www.jamestownpublicschools.org

www.dunkirk.wnyric.org

CHAUTAUQUA STRIDERS

In addition to the family and student services already provided by the Chautauqua Striders, Project ME (Mentoring Experience) will be expanded through the GEAR UP partnership. Project ME is a school-based mentoring approach offering a combination of one-on-one interaction between mentor and mentee, group projects and activities, life skill workshops, and academic support.

www.chautauqua-striders.org

SUNY GEAR UP

As a sector partner the State University of New York will provide services that will give support to GEAR UP sites in meeting their program goals. In addition to SUNY publications and information being provided directly to students, SUNY GEAR will organize a campus tours and on-site college fairs, and will present grade-level specific Student Development and Skill Building Workshops. In addition, SUNY GEAR UP will provide The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens resources and training to the GEAR UP students and teachers.

www.7habits4teens.com

cIcu

The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities represents New York’s 100+ private colleges and universities. The cIcu will provide in-school workshops on admissions, financial aid, and opportunity programs, college visits for GEAR UP students, staff, teachers, and parents, professional development workshops based on school and student needs, and on-site college fairs. The cIcu also provides several publications for students, staff, and school counselors.

www.nycolleges.org and/or www.cicu.org

APC

The Association of Proprietary Colleges represents 26 degree-granting institutions of higher education located on 39 campuses, such as Jamestown Business College, Brant and Stratton, and DeVry Institute of Technology. The APC strives to ensure that the students served are eligible for the same public funding, based upon performance, as students in the other sectors of higher education and that there are no distinctions based upon their school of enrollment. For the GEAR UP cohort, the APC will provide on-site college fairs, campus visits, career exploration support, and student development workshops.

www.apc-colleges.org

COLLEGE BOARD

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more thatn 4,700 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. The College Board proved several programs for students and teacher use. College Ed is an academic, college and career planning curriculum that untilizes self-exploration, skill-building, and information in order to connect students to college. MyRoad is an easy-to-use, interactive website designed to help students explore majors, colleges and careers. In addition to these programs the College Board provide resources and support for Advanced Placement courses, PSAT and SAT exams, guidance publications, and counselor workshops.

www.collegeboard.com

NYSFAA

The New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association partners with GEAR UP sites to provide information and guidance on the process of obtaining financial aid funds, and to provide early awareness literature to students and families that will help them plan for higher education in their future.

www.nysfaaa.org

GEAR UP Program Advisory Board Members

JHS ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Dan Bracey, JPS Coordinator of Guidance & Business
Ellen DiTonto, JHS Parent
Pam Frangione, JHS Parent
Nelson Garifi, JCC Executive Director of Marketing
Grace Hackett, JHS Parent
Diana Ordines, JHS Parent
David Reinhardt, Chautauqua Striders Program Coordinator
Tina Taylor, JHS Parent
Joe Yelich, JHS Principal

DHS ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
David Pulley, DHS Principal
Jody Bomasuto, DHS Parent
Linda Guy, DHS Parent
Julie Wakelee, DHS GEAR UP Counselor
Jay Warren, DHS Special Projects Coordinator