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Posts by lyfeprogram

December 2018

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Congratulations to the 2019 Big Apple Nominees for the LYFE Program – Ms. Mignon Callender and Ms. Jodi Kaltner! Both Mignon and Jodi embody all of the criteria for being a Big Apple nominee by inspiring families, modeling professional excellence, and enriching the LYFEcommunity! 

Ms. Mignon Callendar

LYFE Teacher, Ms. Mignon Callender, has been an exemplar teacher leader who fosters high-quality early childhood education, effective family empowerment and engagement, and strong collegial relationships focused on ‎children’s learning and family success for 19 years. Mignon consistently engages in data-informed planning, ensuring learning experiences are aligned to children’s interests, strengths, and needs. Mignon is fully present while interacting with children, resulting in meaningful social-emotional connections and children’s learning being extended.

Mignon’s experience as a teenage mother, who was once herself enrolled in LYFE, enables her to draw on her personal journey to ‎provide extraordinary support and care for student parents and their families. She empowers student parents to advocate for themselves and their children, invites students to enhance their parenting abilities, and creates a safe and trusting environment for families to develop their goals and achieve success. Last month, Mignon was leaving work in the evening (after staying late to care for children while student parents attended additional academic classes) when an unsafe situation emerged in front of the school building. Mignon physically shielded a student parent and their child from the danger to keep them safe, irrespective of the danger it may have posed to her. This is one of many heroic actions Mignon has taken for the families LYFE serves, and it is certain not to be the last.

Mignon’s teaching effectiveness, and her capacity to form strong family partnerships, ‎serve as an inspiration to her colleagues and leadership alike. ‎

Ms. Jodi Kaltner

LYFE Social Worker, Ms. Jodi Kaltner, has been a significant source of support for student parents, serving as a  social worker for the last 14 years in the NYC DOE. Jodi models the way by empowering student parents to recognize their own strengths, interests, and growth areas. She uses this data to inform planning with student parents to ensure they graduate from high school and develop a quality post-secondary plan.

 Jodi provides student parents with several hands-on opportunities to explore the post-secondary options available, helping them recognize that post-secondary success is attainable. She initiates college tours for student parents across LYFE, arranges for student information sessions at D79’s Co-Op Tech, and encourages students to attend career fairs across NYC.

Outcomes of Jodi’s exemplary work include a 16 year-old student parent, who experienced serious life challenges, that Ms. Kaltner helped graduate early from high school, as well as gain acceptance to 11 colleges, and is currently an Engineer major at Brooklyn College; a student parent who was homeless, along with her child, who graduated from high school while enduring a number of traumatic circumstances, is now enrolled in a career training program to become a medical assistant, all due to Jodi’s relentless advocacy; and a student parent Jodi helped with overcoming her fears of being undocumented, supported the student’s path to citizenship, and is currently helping her pursue her career goal of being a diplomat.

Jodi’s profound leadership is contagious and inspirational to all. 

Congratulations to LYFE‘s 2019 Big Apple Nominees

Ms. Mignon Callendar and Ms. Jodi Kaltner!!

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November 2018

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For the 2018-2019 school year, LYFE Family Groups have expanded across the program, with a total of 7 different groups being facilitated and with all LYFE Bronx social workers facilitating a Family Groups! Special shout out to the following social worker peer partners who are leading the way in this innovative and empowering work: Darie Martin & Melissa Mora, Diane Whitaker & Jennifer Schwam, Robert Olivacce & Laverne Grimes, Sherelle Parker-Marks & Gina Abitable, Susan Farrell Laplant, Sarah Kourouma, & Jacqueline Broady-Blackett, Jodi Kaltner & Auressa Simmons, and Elijah Tax-Berman & Xaxia Sanchez. The first Family Group of the year for each set of peer partners was facilitated during the month of October, focusing on Parenting Styles! All peer partners came together as one cohort to have intentional time to debrief and reflect on their work with families, as they considered their beginning assessments of their groups and of individual families, as a well as considering how such assessment data will inform their work with both families and individual student parents. There were many inspiring moments as social workers shared thoughtful insights and special highlights about their peer partner’s facilitation skills and the ah-ha moments regarding student parents that they were able to have via their group work with families. What an true example of fostering a LYFE’s core value of a Supportive Environment for families across NYC!

 

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On October 24th, LYFE’s 3K class at Beach Channel High School hosted visitors from the NYC Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood Education, Superintendent Robert Zweig, and LYFE Leadership for a collaborative Learning Walk. The LYFE team, Peggy Diercks, Caterine Lugo, Betty Passik, and Rose Millsap effortlessly and effectively facilitated rich learning experiences for all children! All of the visitors commended the team for their energetic and enthusiastic morning greetings to each LYFE family, their innovative and interactive group learning experience, and their seamless and meaningful transitions between routines! The team’s collective and individual teaching practices, combined with their intentional, advance, and collaborative planning, exemplifies a high-quality early childhood classroom within the DOE and certainly exemplifies LYFE’s core values of High-Standards and implementing Strengths-Based Programming!

 

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LYFE’s very own Ms. Maricour Altidor, educational paraprofessional at City As Schools, was an honorary guest at the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York’s Award Ceremony in October. Maricour received the Shining Star Award for her outstanding dedication to serving the the Brooklyn and Manhattan communities, specifically within the West Village area where City As School is located. Maricouer is acknowledged for helping various families within both communities by volunteering at the local churches’ food and clothes pantry before and after her official work hours, for over the last 15 years!

In addition, Maricour is recognized for paying several children’s tuition, who reside in an orphanage in Haiti, which ensures that children are given an opportunity to receive the high-quality education we provide in LYFE. Marciour, is also known to many of her past and present student parents as the “auntie” everyone loves because of her “kind, loving, and caring spirit.” Maricour, LYFE commends you for being a prime example of LYFE’s core value of Relentlessness, by extending the values of LYFE to others within the community.

 

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October 2018

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The LYFE team at Performance High School, laminated copies of Intentional Teaching Cards, from the curriculum, and strategically adhered them to the floor in each of the interest areas within the classroom, supporting all classroom staff in having intentional interactions with children each and every day. ‎In addition, each team member has a set of cards to use with individual children during the week, further fostering a continuity of meaningful learning experiences for all children.

High-quality early childhood education was exemplified by this simple, creative, and significant strategy by the LYFE team at Performance High School!

 

Brooklyn/Staten Island

During the summer school session at Aspirations High School, LYFE social worker Robert Olivacce, began to encourage a father, who had not obtained his High School diploma and was not aware of the various opportunities available, to complete his education. After a few meetings, the father began to express a desire to go back to school. The father received relentless support from Robert, who ensured that the father had enough information to make an informed decision about enrolling into a school and/or program.

At the start of the school year, LYFE social worker Laverne Grimes transitioned into the supporting role at Aspirations High School. Together, Robert and Laverne collaborated to provide continued support to the father. Laverne held a meeting with the father to discuss additional resources and supports for continuing his education. During one of the meetings with the father, the LYFE student mother, was moved with emotion and stated that she was pleased that the father was taking the initiative to return back to school. Both Robert and Laverne’s continuity of care exemplified a supportive environment, ensuring LYFE families reach their goals with maximum support.

 

Manhattan/Queens

Diane Whitaker, LYFE Social Worker at Harlem Renaissance High School, kicked off the 2018-2019 school year by launching a book club, in which each student parent received a copy of “The Skin I Am In” by Sharon Flake.‎

During weekly group sessions, Ms. Whitaker and the student parents have been discussing various topic that were highlighted in the book and used this opportunity to compare and draw on their own personal experiences.

As a culminating activity, the student parents and Ms. Whitaker will be taking a trip to the historical landmark, Langston Hughes’ home to participate in a Chat & Chew with the author of “The Skin I Am In.” In addition, the student parents will have a copy of their book signed by Ms. Flake. ‎

Diane’s initiative to connect LYFE student parents with an intimate and interactive reading experience exemplifies strengths-based programming within LYFE!

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January 2018

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The LYFE Program had the honor of attending Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Celebration Concert. The concert included lullabies written by parents, from different organizations across the nation, and sung by Carnegie Hall’s musicians. The hour concert provided a unique and inspiring treat to hear the universal language of music combined with the vulnerable experiences of parenting.

LYFE student parent Suad of Bronx Regional High School was one of the lucky student parents to have her lullaby chosen for a performance during today’s concert. Suad wrote a whimsical lullaby titled “Nowara” for her daughter Noor. Both Suad and Noor took to Carnegie Hall’s stage during their lullaby’s performance.

It was an inspirational evening of music, dance and a reminder that parenting is a very emotional lullaby that plays in every parent’s heart!Visit the #LullabyProject Facebook page for more information! Visit LYFE’s twitter page to learn more about the Lullaby Project in LYFE.

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December 2017

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LYFE teacher Nina Berman was chosen as LYFE’s nominee for the Big Apple Award! Nina exemplifies successful growth within the LYFE Program. Beginning as an educational paraprofessional, Nina worked hard and committed herself to her educational and career goals, eventually becoming a LYFE Teacher. Nina’s journey has been quite beneficial to the children, student parents, and the school community. She goes beyond her professional obligation to ensure student parents in the LYFE Program have the tools needed to be successful. She implements multiple family engagement experiences during the school year, engages in collaborations with the school community to support student parents, and outreaches to community-based organizations to support the Department of Education’s youngest learners and their families. Nina’s efforts have resulted in family success! LYFE applauds Nina’s high achievements and thanks her for her outstanding work! Congratulations Nina! 

LYFE social worker Jennifer Schwam was selected by the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers to receive the Mid-Career Social Work Leader Award! Ms. Schwam was chosen for her dedicated career as a social worker. Detailing all of Ms. Schwam’s accomplishments in her successful career as a social worker, including joining the LYFE Program in 2016, she was honored at the 11th Annual Leadership Award Dinner in the presence of over 200 guests!  Ms. Schwam shared that the experience was amazing and she ensured that information about the LYFE Program was shared within the event’s program for the evening! LYFE congratulates Ms.Schwam on receiving such an honorable award!

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November 2017

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Tiyanna M. at LYFE at James Monroe is a kind and reserved student parent of an almost two-year-old child. Tiyanna’s attendance rate on average has been 100% since 2016!  Absent only 3 times during the 2016-2017 school year, Tiyanna expressed how she achieves perfect attendance –I don’t want to miss school because then I will miss learning. Missing any work will affect me with reaching graduation.” 
 
When Tiyanna was asked how she keeps herself motivated to attend school every day, through rain or shine, she stated: The moments when I don’t want to go to school, I stay calm and repeat to myself that I have to get up and go get what I want!” Tiyanna also credits LYFE Teacher Mignon Callendar and LYFE education paraprofessional Monique Pearson for always checking in on her, “If I looked upset or sad, Mignon would pull me over to have a talk. When the new school year came and Mignon wasn’t the teacher (at this site), Monique would see I wasn’t happy and would talk with me. It helps to know that people care that you are ok. It also helps that the LYFE social worker Ms. Sanchez makes sure I am doing well in my class.” 
 
Tiyanna, when asked what message would she give to LYFE staff supporting student parents whose attendance needs to increase, shared this heartwarming reminder, “Don’t give up on a student parent who doesn’t want to talk to you or seems angry. Just keep asking ‘are you ok?’ because that is how we learn that you really do care.The attendance will get better when they feel cared for.”
 
Congratulations to Tiyanna for her resilience and motivation to succeed! What an inspiration!
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October 2017

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Collaborations within the LYFE Program ensure student parents and their families are receiving maximum support. Whether the partnership is external or internal, the benefits of support enhance successful outcomes. The highlights in LYFE this month all showcase how Teamwork makes the LYFE dream work!


Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project

What’s more fun than singing with your child? How about creating a one-of-a-kind lullaby with your child! The LYFE Program @ Bronx Regional High School and LYFE @ Hillcrest High School are currently participating in Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project. After school, student parents meet with Carnegie Hall Musicians to compose their own lullaby all about their child! The project provides an opportunity for a unique interaction between student parents and their child and enhances bonding through a creative learning experience. LYFE at Hillcrest student parent Kimberly D. shared that “Ally (her daughter) loves our song so much. I sing it to her at bedtime and as soon as she wakes up she wants me to sing it again!”.  At the end of the year, student parents who participated in the project will be invited to a concert and lucky winners will hear their lullaby played at Carnegie Hall! LYFE at Aspirations will also participate in the program in January 2018.

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Teamwork in Action

Teamwork makes the LYFE dream work! Multiple LYFE staff collaborated to foster family success when a family inquired about childcare for their twin 6-month-old boys! The student mother, along with her mother, attended the LYFE Summer Open House at Central Office in July. During this time, the student parent expressed an interest in attending LYFE @ HillcrestHigh School. 

  • LYFE’s Engagement & Partnership Manager, Nyesha Greene, who facilitated information during the open house visit, connected the LYFE student parents to LYFE @ Hillcrest social worker Melissa Mora, who was already familiar with the student parent. 
  • LYFE @ Hillcrest was at capacity and as the student parents expressed concern about travel with twin boys to other LYFE site options, LYFE Data and Technology specialist Roy Reyes supported the family, who only speaks Spanish, with navigating the travel challenges. 
  • LYFE Principal Dr. Kara Ahmed supported the family by ensuring that LYFE could support travel accommodations to and from alternate LYFE sites and offered to supportcommunications with the student parents’ home school. 
  • LYFE Assistant Principal Mirva Jean-Pharuns took an extra step, offering to escort the student mother, whose school schedule differed from the student father to the alternative LYFE site each morning. The student parents, who were determined to attend school, enrolled at LYFE @ Franklin K. Lane, traveling from Queens to Brooklyn back to Queens to attend school. 
  • Within two weeks, space became available at LYFE @ HillCrest High School and LYFE Social Worker Melissa Mora connected with LYFE social worker Natasha Gray to facilitate a seamless transfer. 

The family is now successfully attending LYFE @ Franklin K. Lane!


 Student Success

During summer 2017 in LYFE, LYFE Social Worker Robert Olivacce began working with a LYFE student parent who resided in temporary housing. The student parent had been disengaged from school due to the many transitions in her housing status. Prior to Mr. Olivacce’s departure for summer vacation, he ensured that LYFE Social Worker Elezza Arce had been updated and introduced to the student parent. Ms. Arce had the opportunity to build a trusting relationship with the student parent. Resilient and determined to continue her academics, the student parent successfully attended summer school. Ms. Arce ensured that LYFE Social Worker Natasha Gray, who supports LYFE @ Franklin K. Lane’s YABC program, was aware of the student parents’ needs. Ms. Gray continued to network and support the student parent’s enrollment into YABC. The student parent is now attending school on a regular basis and receiving support from LYFE!

 

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October 2016

October was all about Hispanic Heritage Month and College Application Week in LYFE!



Hispanic Heritage Month

Among the many different celebrations across the program, student parents and their children at LYFE at Louis D. Brandeis celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by making cultural flags. Student’s hands were busy engaging in the arts as they created their native flag, while learning about the many cultures that make up the LYFE classroom thanks to LYFE Teacher Yvelisse Severino and the LYFE team at Brandeis!

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LYFE toddler at Louis D. Brandeis High School discovering the different colors that are in a flag for Hispanic Heritage Month.

 



College Application Week

LYFE celebrated College Application Week October 17th – 21st. Senior student parents completed their college applications with LYFE social workers program-wide! LYFE student parents at Bronx Regional, Jane Addams, and DeWitt Clinton attended the 2016 college fair at SUNY Bronx Equal Opportunities Center with LYFE social workers Elijah Tax-Berman, Jodi Kaltner and Susan Farrell-Laplant. Student parents were connected with over 40 Colleges, Universities, and Equal Opportunity Programs which provided valuable resources for applying to higher education.

LYFE student parents Paola Pareja from Julia Richman Educational Campus and Zakia Taylor of Louis D. Brandeis are examples of the high achieving student parents enrolled in LYFE and evidence of the reasons why College Application Week is so important to support student success!

Check out Paola’s and Zakia’s journeys to college on LYFE social media:
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/lyfenyc
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/lyfenyc/

(left) LYFE Social Workers Jodi Kaltner and Elijah Tax-Berman with student parents from Jane Addams and Bronx Regional High Schools at the SUNY Bronx Equal Opportunities Center College Fair! (right) LYFE Social Worker Susan Farrell-Laplante with student parents from DeWitt Clinton High school at the SUNY Bronx Equal Opportunities Center College Fair!

(left) LYFE Social Workers Jodi Kaltner and Elijah Tax-Berman with student parents from Jane Addams and Bronx Regional High Schools at the SUNY Bronx Equal Opportunities Center College Fair! (right) LYFE Social Worker Susan Farrell-Laplante with student parents from DeWitt Clinton High school at the SUNY Bronx Equal Opportunities Center College Fair!

 


 


View More LYFE Happenings on Social Media

 

 

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September 2016

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Take a look at what happened at LYFE in September:



Family Day and Dad’s Take Your Child to School Day

LYFE has begun for the 2016-2017 school year! For September, LYFE sites celebrated LYFE Family Day and Dad’s Take Your Child To School Day. LYFE classrooms were filled with families, food, and fun as students were accompanied to school by their father, step-father, uncle, older brother and anyone else that may serve as a dad in their life! LYFE staff planned activities that kept families engaged in meaningful learning experiences for all! Student Parents and their children were given LYFE shirts to foster the LYFE spirit! It was a great day of smiles as LYFE celebrated the start of family engagement for the school year!

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LYFE’s Family Day and Father’s Take Your Child to School Day 2016 was a success. Family members were all smiles as they engaged in activities throughout the day at LYFE sites!  

Check out more pics of LYFE Family Day on Facebook >

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June

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Take a look at what happened at LYFE in June:


Superintendent Recognition Ceremony

District 79 recognized staff and students from each program for their success in SY 15-16.

LYFE Award Winners:

  • Sherell Parker-Marks, Rookie of the Year
  • Susana Tlapanco, Excellence Award recipient
  • Nathalie Lobo, Workforce Achievement Award recipient
  • Joely Aybar, Leadership Award recipient
  • Stephanie Lahens, Spirit Award recipients
  • Natalia Cortes, Advancement Award recipients


Chancellor’s Conference Day 2016

On June 9th, LYFE staff from all 34 sites came together for PD. Staff were treated to a BBQ hosted by the LYFE Central Office team.


Father’s Day 

LYFE celebrated Father’s day in acknowledgement of fathers’ successes and contributions to their children.

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