Breakthrough receives award

Breakthrough Manchester was honored as the Manchester Community College President’s Community Partner Award recipient at the Campus Compact for New Hampshire Presidents’ Awards Luncheon on April 13th.  The award was given to Breakthrough for “Enhanc[ing] the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with a college or university.”

Eighth graders enrolled in the Super Saturday program collaborated with student leaders at Manchester Community College to design a workshop entitled “Lessons In Leadership.”  The partnership allows the MCC students to practice their skills as leadership coaches to help meet the needs of the eighth grade Breakthrough students who are developing their own leadership skills and will, in turn, pass leadership skills onto sixth and seventh graders through a series of workshops and activities at the final Super Saturday in May.

More information about the award and a list of other recipients may be found on the Campus Compact website.

Breakthrough Video Contest

Get out your video cameras and webcams and start them rolling!  This is your chance to share your love of Breakthrough with the world!  Make a 30 second video about your experiences with Breakthrough and submit it to our contest.  We will be using the best videos in a project to raise money for Breakthrough.  Our goal is to clip together the many voices and experiences of students and teachers to tell the story of Breakthrough.

Use the following questions to prompt your thoughts for your video (but you can take your video in any direction):

• What does Breakthrough mean to you?
• What is something you will always remember about your time at Breakthrough?
• How have you or your family been affected by Breakthrough?

Be creative, but there’s no need to be fancy – we just want to hear your stories and your thoughts!  Think of it as a Breakthrough attendance via webcam.

Entries must be submitted by Monday, April 5.  To submit your entry:

You can either burn your video file to a CD and mail it to Breakthrough Manchester, 2108 River Road, Manchester, NH 03104 OR upload your video to Youtube or another video share site and share it with us (instructions below)

1. Upload your video to Youtube (you will need a Youtube account).
2. As your video is uploading add the title: “Breakthrough Video Contest”
3. Click “Private (Viewable by you and up to 25 people)”
4. Click “Save”
5. After the video has completed upload, copy the URL (the link beginning with “http://”) and paste it into an email to Trevor: tmunhall@derryfield.org
6. All set!

STAR Academy Applications are HERE!

Breakthrough Manchester is proud to welcome back Striving Toward Academic Readiness (STAR) Academy for the 2010 Summer session.  This optional program is a special opportunity for those students who choose to continue with Breakthrough along their path to college through a third summer session.

STAR Academy is a four-week commitment (June 28 – July 23, 2010) that will incorporate leadership, service and academics.  STAR Academy students will focus on developing writing skills while exploring the theme: What does it mean to be a leader? Classes will focus on the writing process and developing the organizational skills required to be successful in high school and college.  The leadership aspect of the program will include off campus experiences to allow students to apply their skills in the community.  As with all Breakthrough programs, STAR Academy will be led by college students who will teach and advise students throughout the session.

To be a part of STAR Academy, students must complete the enclosed application and submit teacher recommendations to Breakthrough Manchester office, postmarked by March 26, 2010.  This opportunity is open to all rising 8^th and 9^th graders and space is limited to 16 students.  Priority will be given to rising 9^th graders.  Students will be selected for STAR Academy based on their commitment to Breakthrough, their desire to challenge themselves to be on the path to college, and their positive attitude towards their academics and their role in the community.  This is a special opportunity for Breakthrough students and we are happy to share it with you.

Eligible students and families are invited to come to our Coffee, Cocoa and Conversation about STAR Academy on Wednesday, March 10^th, 6-7pm at The Derryfield School, Room 209.

Please contact Tina White if you have any questions about STAR Academy at 641-9426 or twhite@derryfield.org.  We look forward to reading your application!

Eighth Graders: High School Planning Meeting Information

Hello Breakthrough eighth graders!  This is for you.

Believe it or not, it’s time to begin thinking about classes for ninth grade and planning your next four years in high school  In our efforts to support you during this process, we expect that you will meet with us to discuss your high school plans.  This meeting is required for all Breakthrough eighth graders and a parent/guardian.  During this individual session, we wilkl help you select your classes and the level that is most appropriate for you.  We will also talk about your goals and aspirations on your path to college and set an action plan to help you achieve them.

Please call Tina in the Breakthrough Office at 641-9426 or email twhite@derryfield.org to schedule a meeting after school.  All meetings will be about 30 minutes and will take place in the Breakthrough Office.  Meetings will begin January 19 and run until February 19.  Please contact Tina by February 1 to reserve your meeting time.

Hang a Poster – Spread the Word

You can help us recruit awesome high school and college students to teach this summer.  Download our recruitment poster, print it off, and hang it up in a place where you think people will see it.  Community centers, places of worship, high schools, college campuses… wherever you can think of.  Thanks!

Incredible Opportunity: Exeter Summer Programs

What are you doing this summer?  Statistics show that students lose 1.5 months of learning over the summer!  Don’t get caught in the “summer slide.”  Here’s one great opportunity for seventh through tenth graders:

Phillips Exeter Academy Summer Programs – Study global warming, modern language, forensic science, creative writing, photography, biology, and much more!  Take class field trips.  Go for a polar bear swim.  Celebrate cultures.  Meet students from all over the world!  (It’s kind of like an international Breakthrough for older students.)  Lots of BTM students have participated in this program and they all give rave reviews!

Come find out more at a special workshop just for BTM students and families on Wednesday, December 9th, 6:00-7:00pm, at The Derryfield School.  Please call or email Tina White to RSVP: 641-9426 or twhite@derryfield.org.  Financial aid is available for Exeter’s summer programs.

Take the SSAT with Breakthrough

Take the SSAT with Breakthrough in a friendly and familiar environment!  While this test is required for students applying to independent schools, we encourage every Breakthrough student in grades six through ten to take the SSAT.  The practice you get from taking this test will be an invaluable aid for future testing (like the SAT and ACT college entrance exams).  Please call the Breakthrough office at 641-9426 for more information and to register.  The test date is Saturday, December 5, from 8:30am to 1:00pm at The Derryfield School.  A limited number of fee waivers are available for Breakthrough families.

First Super Saturday Photos

Click photo to view full album.

Fall Issue of The Bridge available for download

Read all about the exciting things happening at Breakthrough!  In this issue of The Bridge:

• Imagining College
• Walker Fund Supports Curriculum Improvements
• Feedback and Data from our Summer Session
• Selecting Teacher Interns
• Funding Update
• and lots more!

Click to download.  If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive a print copy of future issues of The Bridge, please contact Kate Erskine at (603) 641-9426 or by email.

College Financial Aid Workshop for 11th & 12th Graders

Are all the college admissions and financial aid applications causing you stress?  No need to worry.  Breakthrough is here to help.  This has been one of our most popular and successful workshops for Breakthrough families.  Come learn how to fill out all of the financial aid paperwork with us.  A representative from the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) will walk us through a sample form while you take notes and see how it’s done.  So, bring your questions and a pencil and together we will work on the forms.

At the workshop you will complete your CSS Profile and learn about the FAFSA Forms.

Join us on Wednesday, October 28, 6:00-7:30pm at The Derryfield School.  Parents/Guardians are strongly encouraged to attend along with their students. To RSVP, please contact Tina White at 641-9426 or by email.