Project EXTRA
Read All About It!
January 2015
Welcome to 2015!
We offer a variety of opportunities at each site with qualified teachers and staff who work as a community within and outside our school walls. We know that when students feel a sense of community it gives them opportunities to contribute and enables them to thrive.
Elm Street School
Happy New year! We currently have 77 students enrolled at Elm street School's Project EXTRA. The New year brings new classes this winter session. One of these is the Nutrition Club. In this club, students will understand the importance making healthy food choices. Our goal is to help students recognize the difference between nutrition for their bodies and just filling their bodies with junk food. To illustrate, students are building a "junk-food monster". The monster is constructed with packaging from processed foods students have identified as unhealthy with little to zero nutritional value.
World Explorers Club is back! Students are currently learning about India. We are exploring India's fascinating culture from their traditional foods to their rituals and its history.
Lastly, the 2015 City Wide Chess Tournament is April 4th and Project EXTRA is
ready with a full chess club! We have 12 students practicing each Thursday with Laconia High School student volunteer, David Ross. We appreciate David's time and willingness to mentor students.
Mrs. Montague
Site Coordinator
Laconia High School
The chill of winter has not slowed down afterschool activities at Laconia High School! Extended Learning Opportunities are flourishing despite the cold. Annie Dionne has been researching pharmaceutical science under the guidance of Lakes Region General Hospital, in their pharmacy. Up the road and around the corner from the hospital, Gillian Gorse has been volunteering at the Humane Society and is helping care for animals, in order to aid her in reaching her goal of studying zoology. Finally, Robin Friend and Elizabeth Davis have been observing elementary school teachers, and learning the craft of teaching from Patti Hines in the Huot Technical Center. The snow might be piling up, but the academic achievements of LHS students is piling up even higher!
Mr. Kaiser
Interim Site Coordinator
LHS English Department
ELO Coordinator
Laconia Middle School
A very Happy New Year from Laconia Middle School! This New Year has brought many new opportunities to our Project EXTRA students. Our winter session brings revamped club offerings with a little something for everyone. Students will work for the coming weeks to become Minecraft-ers with Mr. Morin, have a total overhaul of fitness from Yoga guru Ms. Schongala, become Farmers with Ms. Fleming, get their Computer Coding on with Mrs. Bean, have Poetry Jam sessions with Ms. Sims, survive the battles of a New England in Winter Survival with Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Theberge, and become proficient Drumline men and women with Mr. Cardin. Through all of these offerings, students are shining bright here at the middle school.
A new offering that we are also pleased to announce is our partnership with the HUOT Technical Center. Our eighth graders are being immersed into Career Exploration. This unique program shines light on the different class offerings the HUOT has to offer. Students are visiting businesses in the community to explore first-hand their profession. Ms. Woodbury and Ms. DeLaVergne are opening pathways for our students to explore the world of work.
Although so much has been new this year here at LMS, we still hold on to our roots. We take PRIDE in ourselves, our school, and our community every day. We are proud to learn, grow and explore with every new day!
Mr. Resca
Site Coordinator
PEAKS Afterschool Tutoring
PEAKS is a branch of Project EXTRA that provides extra instructional time with certified teachers (tutoring) for students in the areas of mathematics and literacy beyond the regular school day. Students enrolled in PEAKS attend one-hour sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
What are the requirements for a student to qualify for free tutoring?
Students at all three elementary schools and the middle school qualify based on assessment data and academic need. Building-level teams identify students in need. Parents are notified of their child’s eligibility by the Superintendent's office.
2014/15:
• Services now offered at Laconia Middle School, no cost for families of referred students
• 332 students referred at the elementary and middle schools
• Instruction began earlier this year- after first quarter assessments and marking periods
Current enrollment
- ESS: 31
- PSS: 32
- WHS: 46
- LMS: 28
Total enrollment: 137
Mrs. Vachon
PEAKS Director
Pleasant Street School
Pleasant Street School is excited to offer some new clubs this winter session as well as some old favorites! We offer a variety of clubs that support students’ academic achievement. From creativity, health and wellness and technology skills to problem solving, reading and writing strategies.
This month the Project EXTRA spotlight is on the MAKERSPACE club. This club allows students not only the space to make things in but provides makers with access to tools, supplies, and equipment needed to create and problem solve. This week, students had to write up a plan and illustrate their creations. Students worked together to make cars out of cans, bottles, duct tape, paper clips and other recyclable materials. We are looking forward to seeing what these Makers create next! Nice job Ms. Riendeau and friends!
Mrs. O'Neil-Viar
Site Coordinator
Winter Session at Woodland Heights School has begun! Our classes are wonderful, spanning the gap from Computer Coding to Cooking from earning belt stripes for respect and effort in Karate to Acting out and practicing social skills. We even have classes that are focusing on team building and cooperation. This winter we added, Eco Art, Lego Quest, Computer Graphics, and Project EXTRA Friends. The Project EXTRA Friends group is dedicated to building community and working together toward a goal. Currently, we are working on creating items for a fundraiser!
Another addition to our program is Reverse Engineering. This club allows students to practice using simple tools (screwdrivers, small hammers, pliers, socket wrenches) to explore at the insides of some simple electronics and mechanical devices.
Our talented staff are always looking to grow and improve. Our amazing students are engaged in activities and we are growing as a community.
Mr. Colby
Site Coordinator
Looking Ahead...
February 23rd-27th: Winter Break
Advisory Board
Korry Blake, Randy Brough, Sharon de la Vergne, Jennifer Dunleavy, Edward Engler, Chris Ennis, Jonathan Fecteau,Terri Forsten, Karmen Gifford, Christine Gingerella, McKenzie Harrington-Bacote, Sophia Joyal, Ron Kaiser, David Levesque,Victoria Makris, Christine Santaniello, Katie Theberge, and Beth Vachon.
Project EXTRA - Laconia School District
cgingerella@laconiaschools.org
603-524-5710 ext. 314
Beth Vachon: Assistant Program Director
mailto:bvachon@laconiaschools.org
603-524-5710 ext. 321
Email: rtheberge@laconiaschools.org
Website: http://www2.laconiaschools.org/projectextra/
Location: 39 Harvard Street, Laconia, NH, United States
Phone: (603) 524-5710 . 305
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-EXTRA/139898793654
Twitter: @ProjectEXTRA5
Project EXTRA is a 21st Century Community Learning Center Project. Funding for Project EXTRA has been provided in part by The Curran Foundation and the WLNH Children’s Auction.