FREEDOM YOUTH ACADEMY, INC.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MRS. MARY ANN GASKINS
1600 MORRIS ROAD, SE
WASHINGTON, DC 20020
(202) 889-1682 OR (202) 584-3012 FAX: (202) 610-1519 OR (202) 584-3012   

OVERVIEW OF SUMMER PROGRAM 2003

FREEDOM YOUTH ACADEMY/OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

CHURCH AND SCHOOL

The Freedom Youth Academy operated and maintained two sites this summer in the church portables, located at 1600 Morris Road, SE, and at the lower school located at 1409 V Street, SE. The programs were highly successful in accomplishing its objectives in an outstanding manner. There were 129 students registered in the two sites, 91 at the portables, and 38 at the lower school. The interest and average daily attendance consistently ranged between 85-100%. The following synopsis reflects the outcomes achieved with each segment of the program.

The curriculum was exciting and innovative. There were courses in English and Spanish, reading, writing, arithmetic, and arts and crafts. Students participated in our chess program, computer training, science projects, basketball and cheerleading activities. Each of the students received a math workbook, a reading comprehension guide, a journal for daily writing exercises, and a library book that required them to read on a weekly basis. Many of the students also received lessons in canvas sewing and crocheting.Our informative guest speakers enlightened the students on various cultural and academic enrichment subjects. One exceptionally rewarding presentation was that of Father James from Kenya who provided the students with a wealth of interactive information detailing life on the continent of Africa. The participants were further engaged in this presentation with an opportunity to construct their own flags and mementos of the country. One of our interns added to the captivated interest of the participants by drawing a map of Africa as the Father described specific geographical details of the continent. Last year we were fortunate to have eight interns from Senator Edward M. Kennedys Office. This year we were even more fortunate to have had 14 interns from Senator Kennedys office for the entire six-week period. They arrived and participated Monday through Thursday for three hours. The majority of the interns were students attending Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania and enhanced their ivy league academic experience by participating in an inner city program that by all expressions was mutually beneficial. The interns imparted assistance that made positive impacts on the participants while providing them with one-to-one consistent attention and educational support.

Mrs. Wanda Aikens, the Arts and Crafts Director, worked with the students three days per week developing the childrens creativity and expression skills via this medium. Listed are some of the items the children completed. The children worked with gimp and made bracelets, anklets, and necklaces. They also made pigs out of toilet tissue holders, cut out paper dolls and made doll clothes for them, made fans out of Popsicle sticks and designed them with paint and other arts and crafts materials. Jewelry was made out of different colored beads, velvet paintings captured the interest of some, stained glass paintings, and most personal they made autobiographies of themselves, and they did a wealth of other arts and crafts projects. This has proven to be one of the highlights of the program because it gives the students a way to express themselves creatively, positively and openly, which too infrequently is not the case with this population.

Chess became an integral part of our program because it was implemented to assist the students with reading, math, and socialization skills. Since chess involves all levels of critical thinking (knowledge, comprehension, analysis, and evaluation,) we noticed that the program improved the academic skills for all the students in Grades 2 and 3. The participants were so enthusiastic with having learned this skill that at the Academys summer closing ceremony students with four chess sets willingly opted to demonstrate their ability to play chess.
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Mr. Molver Fieffe was the Computer Teacher. Each child spent 20 to 30 minutes daily on the computers. He introduced them to the Internet and found educational websites where they pursued the basic research skills for locating pertinent information for class assignments and personal interests. He installed educational software such as beginning phonics, Jumpstart for PreK through 3, Jumpstart Spanish, and Mickeys Word Adventures. The students frequently requested additional time in the computer room to satisfy their curiosity, zeal, and enthusiasm for computer training. Many students requested additional computer time in order to fulfill their personal demands for the future enhancement of education and knowledge. Mr. Molver would consent to their requests only when all students experienced the opportunity to receive training. This was indeed a desirable, beneficial, and favorite endeavor for the students.

The Freedom Youth Academys first Debate Team was formed this summer and it was both exciting and competitive. Special thanks go to Ms. Laura John-Toussaint who is an 11th Grader at Cardozo High School. Laura is ranked the number one debater in the DC Public School System. Laura has also volunteered with the Academy for more than three years and assumed the lead role in introducing this skill set as an early intervention strategy to assist the participants in the art of debate, public speaking and wholesome competition skills critical to formulating a successful Debate Team. The Debate Team started off by learning the basics of it and the general rules which included discipline. The debate class was a mechanism used to expose younger children to debate because thats the time when they learn the most. Most high school students do debate; however, we decided to change that rhythm and use our younger students. The children in the debate class chose for their topic Basketball, and they pinpointed a certain area of it that they wanted to debate. The topic of the debate was Women should receive equal rights, resources, and salaries as men in the game of Basketball. The Debate Team held their competition at the closing ceremony. After the judges had made their decisions, the negative team won the debate. We are looking forward to our participants engaging in future events across the city.

Ten students attended a writing program on Friday August 1 and Friday, August 8. 2003 held at the Anacostia Smithsonian Museum from 1:00 3:00. During the first session, they learned how to write a poetic picture of themselves, which was highlighted at the closing ceremony, and also how to write from observation. During the second session, the students were taught how to create their own writing journals. This added dimension to writing also opened another avenue of expression and comprehension for the participants. They further designed their own journal covers, which will be highlighted in the upcoming newsletter.

Mr. Maurice Scott, a tenth grader attending School Without Walls, performed science projects twice a week for all students. The children participated in the projects and wrote conclusions for all of his projects. This program feature reinforced the participants math, observation and comprehension skills. We anticipate that some of the students will use the science projects in the fall school year for their Science Fair projects or at minimum will have the basis for designing new and innovative projects for science presentations.

Maurice Scott also taught the students beginning Spanish. They learned to count up to 40, the days of the week, their colors, the months, and some phrases of greetings. During the closing program, Maurice and his team showed off their Spanish accomplishments.

The students participated in field trips to Ft. Dupont Ice-Skating Rink, Skate Palace for Roller Skating, Bowling, and several trips to Anacostia Park for outdoor Roller Skating, and Anacostia Smithsonian Museum (George Washington Carver Trail).

Through her love of crochet, Mrs. Gaskins has found a new way to teach the children some of the skills that they need to succeed in this world today. Crochet and canvas sewing teaches the students to be patient, the repetition reinforces memory and the ability to remain focused, to be organized and prepared, and increases confidence in their design and creativity skills. Finally, this art form gives them a sense of pride in completion of a task, as well as taking pride in their finished product. This new learning tool/strategy that Mrs. Gaskins created is one of the seven characteristics and learning styles identified in human intelligence by Dr. Howard Gardner in his book, Frames of Mind. The multiple intelligence theory provides educators with a way of thinking about individual gifts and how to accommodate teaching to them. It also is a way of teaching conventional subject matter in ways more accommodating to the different ways of learning and comprehension. A basic knowledge and understanding of these learning styles and characteristics can be highly beneficial in improving the academic performance of most children. Mrs. Gaskins has accomplished this through Heartfelt Stitches. Look for further details on this endeavor in our forthcoming newsletter and soon to be established website.

The boys learned how to handle the basketball and were shown various drills in Basketball while the young ladies participated in cheerleading. This recreational event was highly participatory and rewarding for the children. At the closing program, the young ladies were enthusiastic about demonstrating what they had learned by doing welcome cheers.

Mrs. Christine Holston was the Director of the Lower School Program. She and her staff provided a quality educational program for the students. It was a pleasure to have them as part of Freedom Youth Academys Outreach Summer Enrichment Program. We were able to assist 38 additional students through her summer camp. Each student received a Summer Bridge Activities Book. These books bridge children from the grade they just completed to the grade they have been promoted to. It reinforces lessons taught during the school year and gives a preview of lessons for the New Year. The subjects included in this book are Reading, Writing, Math, and Language Art skills. A summer reading book list was also included. The theme for the summer was Colors That Make The World Go Round. Each week we highlighted one color and did different activities for the various colors. (Example: Green Week Wear green on Scavenger Hunt Day, Green Pudding Eating Contest, and Plant Day). Every Thursday was Arts and Crafts day. Fridays were the official day for Water Play. Our field trips included Chuck E. Cheese, Bowling, Skating, Capitol Childrens Museum, Watkins Park, and several trips to the pool. This years accomplishments were very inspirational, outcome driven and rewarding for the staff, students and parents. We look forward to another outstanding year partnering with the DC Children and Youth Trust Investment Corporation to meet the challenging needs of the children/youth east of the river.

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