Community Learning Center Bridge Program Student Handbook

Academic Year 2013 2014

Welcome to the Community Learning Centers Bridge Program! Congratulations on taking the
next step toward your goals for a better life through higher education. From now until June 2013, you will be involved in an exciting, intensive course of study designed to prepare you to enter college next year. You will review and expand your skills in reading, writing, math and computers, as well as gain an understanding of college survival skills: how to choose a college that meets your needs, to apply for financial aid, and to use your colleges resources to best advantage. This Student Handbook contains essential information you will need during your time here and as you make the transition to college later this year. The handbook should answer many of your questions. Please read it carefully and refer to it often.

Overview of the Program

The Bridge Program serves Cambridge and Greater Boston area adult learners who have a high school diploma, a GED, or foreign college credits, and who intend to go to college next year. The Community Learning Center (CLC) runs the Bridge Program. CLC is a division of the City of Cambridge, Department of Human Service Programs. Bridge Program classes are held in the CLC building in Central Square, and teachers and counselors also have their offices in this building. Funding for the Bridge Program comes from various sources, including the Cambridge Housing Authority and private grants and donations through the Friends of the Community Learning Center. Other organizations also contribute to the program's success:
Bunker Hill Community College and the TERI Higher Education Information Center help by providing our students with tours, guest speakers and the opportunity to observe college classes in action and talk to actual college students. Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experience (SCALE) assists us by publicizing the program to graduates from their GED testing center. The City of Cambridge DHSP Multi Service Center (MSC) helps by letting us use their conference room for class on Tuesday and Thursday. The National College Transitions Network provides support and professional development to the teachers, counselors and administrators of the Bridge program and presents occasional workshops for Bridge students. Thanks to JVS Bridges to College for sharing ideas and handbook content with us

BRIDGE TO COLLEGE PROGRAM CALENDAR ACADEMIC YEAR 2013 - 2014 Fall September 23, 24, 30 October 3 October 7 2013 Bridge Intake/Accuplacer First class/Orientation! Regular Bridge classes begin: Monday Advising class and Coaching appointments Tuesday - College Reading and Writing; Thursday Math Bridge coaching with Karen and counseling with Kate by appointment Thanksgiving Holiday NO CLASS Winter vacation NO CLASS Back to Class - Happy New Year! Last class of Fall semester Teacher Planning Days NO CLASS Spring Sunday January ___________ (Date TBD) January 29 Feb 18 - 22 Apr 15 - 19 May 28, 29 May 29 June 3 - 13 June 20 - Thursday 2014 FAFSA Day Students strongly encouraged to attend, fill out a FAFSA with experienced counselors, and learn about the TERI center for college planning. Bridge Spring Semester Begins Orientation for January-admission students Vacation - NO CLASSES Vacation NO CLASSES Bridge Final Accuplacer testing LAST CLASS Bridge in-class Q & A, + PARTY! Bridge end of term conferencing/advising GRADUATION

(1 3 nights, as needed to complete testing)

November 22- 23 December 21, 2012 January 2, 2013 Wednesday, January 2 January 23, 2012 January 24 & 25

Remember to check this calendar first if you have a question about the class schedule. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE WHETHER A CLASS IS HAPPENING, CALL: 1. Kate: 617-349-4482 ~and/or~ the CLC front desk: 617-349-6363 2. Your study buddy Use this space to record your study buddies phone numbers: S.B. 1 _____________________________ S.B. 2 ____________________________ S.B. 3 _____________________________ S.B. 4 ____________________________ 3

Bridge Staff Contact Information The main CLC phone number is 617-349-6363. If you are unable to reach a Bridge staff member, please leave a message with the CLC receptionist at this number. This is also the number to call after 4 PM on snowy days if you suspect class will be cancelled but havent heard a radio announcement to that effect. Bridge to College Team: Name and contact information Kate Hallen 617-349-4482 khallen@cambridgema.gov Position Teacher College Writing Advisor/Counselor (counseling is available by appointment; counseling is confidential, and you can discuss anything you want, from goal-setting and career research to personal issues or problems) Teacher Math Bridge Coach/Tutor in class and by appointment (the Coach provides resources and support as you work toward your college and career goals, as well as tutoring) Teacher College Reading

Judy Hikes judyhikes@yahoo.com Karen McCabe Kam704@mail.harvard.edu Mina Reddy 617-349-6358 mreddy@cambridgema.gov

Bridge to College Website, Class of 2014 http://bridgeclass2014.weebly.com/ TEXT/Description: ?????????

Community Learning Center Policies, Expectations and Requirements Safe and welcoming learning environment The Community Learning Center welcomes adult students regardless of age, race, ethnic and religious background, ability, and sexual orientation. The CLC is committed to helping adult learners to achieve their goals, and also encouraging them to demonstrate a generosity of spirit, decency, and respect for the rights of others. For this reason, no form of harassment whether student-to-student, student-to-staff person or staff person-to-student - will be tolerated in this school. The CLC does not tolerate offensive behavior including harassment that is based on a persons gender, appearance, age, ability or disability, race, ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. How to get the most out of your classes at CLC The Community Learning Center aims to create a welcoming learning and working atmosphere. Students and staff are expected to behave in an appropriate and respectful manner. Here are some ideas to get the most out of your classes and to support your classmates: Respect your teacher and your fellow students Cooperate with your teacher and fellow students Listen to others Allow others to speak without interrupting Participate fully in classroom activities Ask questions Come to class prepared and with school supplies Keep your class materials organized Set goals for yourself Communicate your goals and achievements to your teacher and advisor Organize your time to study Do your homework Practice your learning outside of class Read as much as you can outside of class Come to class on time. If you have to be late, enter quietly to avoid disruption Do not miss any classes except in cases of emergency See your advisor if you have problems that interfere with your attendance Tell your advisor or teacher if you have complaints or suggestions for program improvement Attendance Policy Attendance in all classes is mandatory. You should not miss class unless you are very sick. We understand that sometimes there is a good reason to be absent. These absences will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis with your advisor. (Kate) If you need to be absent, call Kate. If you cant reach her, leave a voicemail and also call the schools main number to leave a message. (see information at end of this section) If you miss three classes in one month, you may lose your space in the class. If you have a schedule conflict, speak to your advisor (Kate). Sometimes the advisor can help you work out a better schedule with your supervisor at work, or help you with other scheduling issues. Snow/Bad Weather If the Cambridge Public Schools close because of bad weather we have no classes at the CLC for both day and evening students. Watch TV or listen to the radio in the morning for listings of school cancellations. If there are classes in the morning, but the weather gets worse later, evening students should call the Community Learning Center after 4:00 p.m. If the City of Cambridge declares a snow emergency, the CLC will not have any classes. Snow emergencies are announced on the Cambridge cable television stations and on the City website www.cambridgema.gov. 5

General Bridge Requirements HANDBOOK: Read this handbook in its entirety and keep it with you for reference (you can put it in your Advising binder so it will always be handy at home, and on your advising class nights at Bridge PREPAREDNESS: Schedule appointments so they do not conflict with class or coaching. Always have a backup plan for child care and transportation. Allow for heavy traffic and MBTA slowdowns so you can be here on time.

Coaching MEETINGS: You are expected to meet with the Coach regularly, attend regular small group and individual coaching meetings, and BE ON TIME for these meetings. You are expected to call the Coach IN ADVANCE if you need to re-schedule a meeting. The Importance of Communication If you move, change your cell phone number or change your email address, you must let your teachers and coach know as soon as possible. Also, please keep your cell phone voice mailbox and email inbox clear, so you can receive messages from us. You should check your email and voicemail at least once a day. You are expected to return phone and email messages from us as soon as possible. What Bridge Program Staff Will Do for You Teachers will be well-prepared for class. Teachers will start and finish classes on time. Teachers will work hard to help you improve your English, math and study skills. Teachers will deliver relevant lessons, explain things as clearly as possible, answer your questions, and make good use of class time. The Coach will meet with you regularly to help support you in understanding and completing assignments and carrying out your plan for your education and career. The Advisor and the Coach will work with you to submit your college application information on time and meet required deadlines. The Advisor will call you or meet with you if you want to discuss issues that are of concern to you and/or that may interfere with your ability to succeed in Bridge and in college All Bridge to College program staff will treat you with respect at all times.

What Bridge Program Staff Will NOT Do WE WILL NOT SELECT AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM OR CAREER PATH FOR YOU. We will guide you through this process, but you must actively participate in it. This includes doing extensive career research, attending college information sessions, conducting yourself in a manner consistent with what is expected of a college student, etc. We will not do all the work for you concerning your applications for college and financial aid. We will tell you whom to call to get additional help. 6

Textbooks and Supplies We will give you textbooks and materials in reading, writing and math classes. These are yours to keep after graduation from the program. However, if you lose a textbook, you will need to pay to replace it. These textbooks will be excellent resources for you in your college career. The CLC will provide you with some supplies, such as a 3-ring binder and a flash drive. In addition, you will be required to buy some other school supplies for the program. Any student who cannot afford to buy these supplies should talk to Kate. Evaluation of your progress and achievement in the program: Students at the CLC, including those in the Bridge Program, do not generally receive letter grades. However, for many assignments in the Bridge program, you will be evaluated on a scale from 1 3, where 3 = Excellent, 2 = Acceptable, and 1 = Unsatisfactory (a score of 1 indicates the assignment needs to be redone). *You will be evaluated based on: attendance class participation maintenance of up-to-date class binders including class notes completion of homework assignments on time passing scores on quizzes, tests, and writing projects completion of a portfolio Oral presentations and writing assignments will be judged according to a scoring system that you will receive in class. In addition, to graduate from the Bridge Program, all students are required to take the Accuplacer exam at the beginning and the end of the program. To graduate from the Bridge Program you must: 1. Attend all Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday classes, from your start date through the end of the semester (see attendance policy ) 2. *Fulfill the criteria for evaluation listed above 3. Attend one or more college visits, and a visit to the ASA college planning center, which may happen on days other than Tuesday or Thursday 4. Complete a portfolio of work in all subjects PLEASE NOTE: You will be covering a lot of material in a relatively short number of in-class hours. As you progress in the program, you may begin to feel overwhelmed by the demands of the class and the amount of information. You may find you have lots of questions you feel youve already heard the answers to but cant remember what they were! In addition to talking with your Study Buddies about your questions, we want to encourage you to take time, at least once every week or two, to look over the materials youve already received. Some of the materials that may help you understand, remember, or figure out an answer: Bridge student handbook study skills handouts (e.g., instructions for notetaking) subject area references from English or Math (e.g., your textbooks, the Grammar Reference Guide handout, or websites) notes and homework from previous classes Keeping your materials organized and at the front of your mind can make a huge difference in how comfortable you feel with a large or unfamiliar workload! It is a good habit to get into, and it will be very valuable to you as you enter more demanding situations like college. 7

Bridge Program Incentives Bridge students who are in good standing in the program are encouraged to apply for several scholarships offered by the Friends of the Community Learning Center. Good references from your Bridge teachers and other people who know you through work or academic situations will heighten your chances of a scholarship award. Bridge graduates may also receive ongoing support from the Bridge Advisor in addition to the supports provided by your college.

Helpful Resources (to be filled in as you discover them during class activities)

Helpful Online Resources

The following websites will give you much useful information as you prepare to go to college. General Resources College for Adults: www.collegeforadults.org An essential resource that describes the many aspects of applying to and enrolling in college as an adult. Look here to find out more about the application process, how to apply for financial aid, and how to develop the skills you will need for college success. Adultstudent.com: http://adultstudent.com A terrific compilation of materials to help you develop study skills and the habits and behaviors of successful college students. Includes lessons on note-taking, listening, goal-setting, etc. Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL): http://owl.english.purdue.edu This is the best guide to college writing on the internet. You should bookmark this page and use it frequently, anytime you have to write anything for college. College Websites Bunker Hill Community College: www.bhcc.mass.edu Mass Bay Community College: www.massbay.edu Roxbury Community College: www.rcc.mass.edu University of Massachusetts Boston: www.umb.edu Bunker Hill Departments Allied Health: http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/inside/1289 Admissions & Financial Aid Status: https://onlineservices.bhcc.mass.edu/ Information Sessions & Campus Tours: http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/inside/852 Financial Aid ASA College Planning Centers: http://www.tericollegeplanning.org/ Great resource for learning about financial aid and private scholarships. You can get help filling out your FAFSA and lots of information about college programs and procedures FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ To apply for financial aid, you MUST complete this free application.

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