| Cambridge Chapter |
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69 students entering third grade at the Harrington Elementary School comprised the new Say Yes group. The collaboration with Lesley University provided the Cambridge Chapter with access to varied human and institutional resources available through the University's broad spectrum of programs. Included were graduate and undergraduate student services for tutoring and counseling, academic resources, and special events. Lesley also designated Harrington a professional development school with a Lesley faculty member assigned to work with Harrington on an ongoing basis. Another important part of the Cambridge Chapter involved work undertaken with the dedicated support of eight local sponsors. The sponsors' faith in the capacity of these young people to mature and flourish when offered the right opportunity was an important factor in the success of the Cambridge students.In addition to the host of innovative academic and social support programs that are at the heart of Say Yes programs, the Cambridge Chapter played a key role in restructuring efforts at the Harrington School. This restructuring involved working closely with the Harrington administration and faculty to develop strategies for team teaching and grade level cluster development, interdisciplinary and thematic teaching, career weeks, portfolio assessment, and before- and after-school programs. At Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, Say Yes staff continued to work with school staff, administrators, and guidance counselors to provide resources, as well as to support programming and expand student services. Special emphasis was placed on enhancing students' future college acceptance rates, including providing services such as SAT courses and creating detailed inventories of each student's different academic and career interests. On June 20, 2001, the Cambridge Chapter sponsored its 10-year reunion in conjunction with the high school graduation of its students. All Say Yes students in Massachusetts, as well as from several other states, were invited to Cambridge for the festivities. Students and family members attended the event, some traveling from as far away as California. Also present were George Weiss, Margaret McKenna (Lesley University President), the eight local sponsors of the Cambridge Chapter, Mayor Anthony Galluccio (in company with other Cambridge dignitaries), representatives from the Cambridge Public School system, and local and national press. Successes Of the original 69 third graders in the Cambridge Chapter, 87 percent have earned a high school diploma or GED. Of those, 72 percent have completed a post-secondary education program. Since 2001, Say Yes students from the Cambridge Chapter have been represented at 47 post-secondary institutions across the United States. Four of these colleges made a generous commitment to provide free room and board for any Say Yes students accepted to their institutions: Lesley University, St. Joseph's College of Maine, Dean College, and the University of Pennsylvania. |
