Week One: “Dream on” – Harry Hartfield

What a week!!! Teachers and students have hit the ground running and this summer is on track to be the best in memory. More than 100 students showed up to the Kennedy-Longfellow on Tuesday morning ready for BTC. Our new 7th graders may have been a bit overwhelmed by that BTC spirit, but by lunch they were cheering right alongside their 8th grade counterparts. Of course BTC is about a lot more than spirit. Teachers this week had their first taste of what it means to be a teacher. So far they have all commented on how rewarding just this week has been. I for one as a returner was thrilled to see how my students from last year had grown and matured. It has been great teaching a new grade level. I have been able to give them more challenging assignments, and see them rise to the task. Also, as a literature teacher I have loved watching our students response to the first book they are reading, When I was Puerto Rican. My students have fallen in love with the book. One student even asked me, “is it OK if I read ahead in the book?” Nothing is more satisfying than hearing your students excited about reading. Students in other classes have been equally as excited about school. In science and social studies kids learning some of the most interesting subjects you can imagine. One science class is about the physics of roller coasters, while a social studies class teaches kids about revolutions. Overall week one has been thrill. Hopefully the fun and learning of week one can be repeated for 5 more weeks. I am sure it can.

• Breakthrough Sparks Career
• 8th graders referred to independent schools
• Equal opportunity for SAT prep
• Family shares commitment to educational equity
• You’re invited to Springfest on April 8, 2010!

Breakthrough Community,

It is with great enthusiasm that I join Breakthrough Cambridge as Executive Director.  I am honored to serve an exemplary organization undertaking the vitally important work of inspiring a love of learning, making college a reality for Cambridge youth, and developing the next generation of teachers.  This past year I have had the pleasure of serving as Interim Executive Director and Board Member at Breakthrough Cambridge.  In those capacities I developed a deep respect for this organization and its impact.

My entire career has been in the field of education, reflecting my passion for ensuring that all young people have access to high quality education.  I received my B.A. in education at Boston College and my M.A. at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  Dual certified in elementary and special education, I taught at Neighborhood House Charter School in Dorchester, BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life), and in various other settings.  Since leaving the classroom, I have continued working with children as a volunteer at Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence and in the Boston Public Schools.

My most recent professional role was as Director of the Wellington Management Foundation and Wellington Management Company’s Philanthropy and Community Engagement Office.  The Foundation’s sole area of funding was academic programs for low-income youth, with particular focus on college access and out-of-school-time programming.  I was responsible for all aspects of the Foundation’s work, but certainly one of the most enjoyable elements of the job was visiting and getting to know dozens of top quality education programs across the country (including Breakthrough Atlanta and Philadelphia!).

I am excited to take an expanded role in the exceptionally strong Breakthrough community of talented staff, dedicated board, generous supporters, and fabulous students, teachers, and families.  I look forward to connecting with many of you individually in the near future.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me at espelman@cpsd.us or 617-349-6647 with any questions.

Best,

Elissa G. Spelman

Executive Director

Math superheroes (Breakthrough Cambridge teachers in their alter-egos: Private Perimeter, Admiral Area, Lieutenent Logic, and the Numerator and Denomintor twins) were at each station to give the student teams creative math challenges to be solved as a group.

Once each group correctly solved the problem using teamwork, they received a piece of the Math Trails map and could could move on to their next station.  When all the map pieces were found and assembled, the students used the map to find where Captain Math was trapped and to rescue her!

Upon her rescue, Captain Math exclaimed, “Thank you Mathmateers!  Your hard work today has guaranteed my safety and the defeat of The Impossible!”

The main goal of the weekly Palante program excursions, like the trip to MetroRock, are to push the rising 9th graders students outside of their comfort zone and have them learn the value of taking risks in their lives.The Palante director and teachers trained at MetroRock beforehand, so that they were certified to belay the students climbers on their own and encourage their students to push their limits in climbing up to the very tops of the walls. The group was extremely supportive and cheered each other on for encouragement.  Lunches for the day were generously donated by All-Star Sandwich Bar of Cambridge.

Program highlights included a testimonial from former Breakthrough teacher Amanda Hillman, who now works for Teach for America. Hillman spoke of how her experience teaching for Breakthrough as a college student made her better prepared for the urban classroom and propelled her towards a lifelong career in education.

Breakthrough student and Baldwin 7th grader Dinah Tsegaye shared her powerful account as to how the program is helping her aim high, for an Ivy League education and a career in archaeology. Dinah’s father, Kirubel Tsegaye, echoed her sentiments, claiming Breakthrough provided the support and skills his daughter needed to reach her personal best and truly excel in school.

As Kirubel explained to the guests, “Breakthrough prepares students to be responsible, committed, and hard-working citizens. And Breakthrough’s spirit is infectious.”

The awe-inspiring testimonials were preceded by a unique award presentation for event sponsors by the pajama-clad Breakthrough Cambridge Spirit Twins. Representatives from sponsors Cambridge Trust Company, Berry and Sons and Agency 3, among others, were called up to the stage to receive the highly coveted Sprit Stick acknowledging their “rock star” status at Breakthrough.

Guests enjoyed an amazing culinary spread donated by Jules Catering, as well as terrific jazz music by the Bobby Tynes and Tracy Rose Duo, both of whom work at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, respectively, as the Assistant Principal and School Nurse.

Springfest was Breakthrough’s most successful fundraiser yet, raising more than $30,000 in support of the only tuition-free, year round academic enrichment program serving middle and high school students in the Cambridge Public Schools.

According to Stephen Labuda, Breakthrough Board member and owner of event sponsor Agency 3, “The fact that Breakthrough is meeting its fundraising goals in this challenging economy is a testament to its solid program that is clearly impacting students in Cambridge, and its measurable outcomes. Donors want to be aligned with such an impressive organization.”

Event sponsors include: Agency 3, William A. Berry & Sons, Cambridge Trust Company, Cambridge Savings Bank, Glacial Energy, East Cambridge Savings bank, Financial and Taxation Services, Paul Kroner Design, Shire Pharmaceuticals, ImprovAndy, Keane Chiuve & Company, Marci RC Nutrition Consulting, Roan Solutions, University Stationery, Yurva Virtual Assistant Services.