| Miranda Restovic
Director
504.620.2486
Shantrell Adams Associate Director 504.620.2625 adams@leh.orgHolly Bell
Assistant Director/ Mahalia Jackson Center Project Coordinator
504.620.2627
bell@leh.org Christopher Robert Program Assistant 504.620.2639 504.620.2480
sartisky@leh.org |
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| Executive Summary of PRIME TIME 10-Year Impact Study Now Available | |
 Louisiana is now the source of the single most effective family literacy project in the country.
The Executive Summary of the Long-term Impact Study of PRIME TIME on at-risk children's educational progress is now available. This 10-year study shows the unprecedented impact eight to ten years after a child graduates from PRIME TIME in virtually every grade from third through high school.
It would have been impressive enough if PRIME TIME had enrolled half of a sample group of students and our half outperformed their peers. But think of how extraordinary it is that we targeted the at-risk children alone, the bottom 25%, and THAT group outperformed the control group! Please note that not only did our students outperform in the expected areas of language arts skills and reading, but across the board including mathematics, physical science, life science, algebra, number and number relations, geometry, etc. In other words, PRIME TIME not only impacts reading, it impacts ALL dimensions of learning, or as we have maintained: "creates the precondition for all future learning!"
Click here to view the full executive summary. |
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PRIME TIME Program Sponsors Attend Sessions in New Orleans and LaPlace | |
 Robert Boh Visits the Louisiana Children's Museum
On Tuesday, October 12th, Mr. Robert Boh of Boh Bros. Construction, Inc. attended a PRIME TIME program at the Louisiana Children's Museum (LCM). Funding from Boh Bros. Construction covered all program expenses at the LCM site which hosted students/families attending Arthur Ashe and John Dibert Charter Schools in New Orleans.
Accompanied by Dr. Jeff Hale, Mr. Boh had the opportunity to learn more about PRIME TIME by observing meal time and PRIME TIME storytelling and discussion, and by speaking with LEH/LCM staff members, the scholar and storyteller, and the families in attendance. All involved deeply appreciate Mr. Boh for taking time to visit PRIME TIME, and thank him and his company for the generous contribution.
 Rod Olson Visits the St. John the Baptist Parish Main Library
On Thursday, October 28th, Mr. Rod Olson and Ms. Fran Laiche of Zapp's Potato Chips attended a PRIME TIME session at the Main Branch Library in St. John the Baptist Parish. Funding from the Zapp's company fully funded the program, which hosted families from LaPlace. In addition to its financial support for PRIME TIME, Zapp's also donated several cases of delicious Zapp's Potato Chips to each Fall 2010 program in Louisiana as a compliment to meals for each session!
Also accompanied by Dr. Jeff Hale, Mr. Olson and Ms. Laiche learned more about PRIME TIME by dining with participating families, conversing with the implementing team, and observing the storytelling and discussion period. St. John the Baptist Parish Library Director, Randy DeSoto, also attended the program to help welcome Mr. Olson and Ms. Laiche. As it was the last program session for the St. John site, the Zapp's representatives also had the opportunity to aid the program coordinator (Ms. Roberta August) in awarding participating families with certificates of achievement and gift books.
TheLEH and PRIME TIME staff greatly appreciate Mr. Olson, Ms. Laiche, and the Zapp's Potato Chips for being so generous with their time and resources. |
| PRIME TIME Engages Families at the Mahalia Jackson Center in New Orleans | |
PRIME TIME Family Reading Time is now in full swing at the newly opened Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood Family Learning Foundation in Central City, New Orleans. This new model for PRIME TIME is a collaboration between the Early Childhood Family Learning Foundation and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, and involves providing year-round PRIME TIME programming for families at the center. At the onset, families seemed eager to participate. Twenty-two families have enrolled in the first program that is scheduled to conclude on November 16, 2010. Dr. Pat Cooper, CEO of the Early Childhood Family Learning Foundation, expressed his confidence in the program, "We feel like PRIME TIME is an integral part of what we are doing relative to community change. Without family literacy, the children we are teaching may be lacking the parental support they deserve."
Three more PRIME TIME programs are scheduled at the center within the next nine months, with additional programming scheduled for next fall. Other innovations to PRIME TIME are also planned as part of the collaborative venture, such as a family book club and newsletter, and teacher professional development based on the PRIME TIME methodology in the classroom. "This is an opportunity for PRIME TIME to explore new innovations, while offering sustained programming for the families in the Central City community. We are thrilled to be an integral part of this community-based and community-focused effort." said Miranda Restovic, PRIME TIME Director.
Visit the ECFLF website to learn more about the foundation and MJC. For additional information on PRIME TIME programming at MJC, contact Holly Bell. |
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PRIME TIME Participates in 1st Annual New Orleans Children's Book Festival | |
On Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., New Orleans First Lady Cheryl Landrieu and Ruby Bridges will host the 1st Annual New Orleans Children's Book Festival on the grounds of the historic Latter Branch Library (5120 St. Charles Avenue). The festival is intended to bring together children and adults to celebrate literature and the power of reading.
This event will provide attending children and parents with a unique opportunity to interact with exceptional writers and storytellers and to enjoy an inspiring variety of book-related activities, exhibitions, and demonstrations. Various community-based agencies will be on hand to offer participants resources for continued education, tutoring, and literacy programming. The book festival will also promote the many benefits of New Orleans public libraries and allow attendees to further explore them by distributing library cards.
The LEH will host a tent and facilitate activities and presentations based on the PRIME TIME methodology. |
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2010 C2E Event Update | |
 On Saturday, September 25th, over 200 community members and education professionals participated in a day of networking and family-friendly fun at the Mahalia Jackson Center! The C2E Collaborative thanks the 30+ community-based organizations who hosted information tables at this year's event and the 122 community-based organizations who supplied their profiles to the 2010 C2E Notebook! We are deeply grateful for these partnerships as the collaborative works to assist area schools in serving the youth, families and communities and connecting them to meaningful information. The Connect2Educate Collaborative thanks all partners, funders and attendees for making the 2010 event a great success!
The C2E event was part of "ONE STEP," a day-long educational event for all New Orleans children, families and individuals. ONE STEP was a joint project of four strategic partners: Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN), Connect2Educate (C2E) Collaborative, Early Childhood & Family Learning Foundation (ECFLF), and Central City Renaissance Alliance (CCRA). The event featured the Cohen Sr. High and McDonogh 35 High marching bands, entertainment by Young Audiences and Ashé Cultural Arts Center, food, family activities, prizes and more!
 Success Preparatory Academy Wins $500 Cash Prize!
The C2E Collaborative congratulates and thanks the leadership and staff of Success Preparatory Academy for sending the most attendees to the 2010 C2E Event. Collaborative members Miranda Restovic, Sarah Massey, and Sara Woodard presented the $500 prize to Success Prep Co-Principals/Co-Founders, St. Claire Adriaan and Niloy Gangopadhyay on Friday, October 22nd.
Other schools in attendance included: Walter L. Cohen Sr. High School, Lafayette Academy, O.P. Walker College and Career Preparatory High School, George W. Carver Elementary, James M. Singleton Charter, McDonogh 35 High, International High School, Priestley Charter School, Lagniappe Academies of New Orleans, Andrew H. Wilson Charter School, Sophie B. Wright Charter School, Sarah T. Reed High, Edgar P. Harney Elementary, and the host Mahalia Jackson School! Also in attendance were child care centers operated by Total Community Action and YMCA.
 C2E Notebook Now Available Online!
The 2010 C2E Notebook is now available online for all! Go to www.connect2educate.org to download the file. In addition, the published 2010 C2E Notebook is also available to the community for free at these distributions centers:
The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
938 Lafayette Street, Suite 300, NOLA 70113
PLEASE CALL FIRST: 504-620-2639.
The Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood & Family Learning Center
2405 Jackson Avenue, NOLA 70113
WALK INS WELCOME
Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans
3701-F Canal Street, NOLA 70119
PLEASE CALL FIRST: 504-486-8002
The2010 Connect2Educate Event and Notebook are sponsored by the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, New Orleans Kids Partnership, Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood and Family Learning Center, The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Greater New Orleans, Communities In Schools of Greater New Orleans, Louisiana Endowment for Humanities and Young Audiences/Arts For Learning. |
| Successful 2010 LALAMP Tour for PRIME TIME |  PRIME TIME's participation in the 11th annual Louisiana Library & Media Professionals (LALAMP) tour proved successful once again. During the week of September 13-17, PRIME TIME staff members joined the tour and its exhibitors in 5 Louisiana cities to interact with library and school media professionals and share information about the PRIME TIME program.
The LALAMP group was created 10 years ago to provide Louisiana librarians with opportunities to continue their professional development, and to offer additional resources through exhibits and workshops. Visit www.lalamp.org for additional information on the conference and the LALAMP group.
During the conference, the PRIME TIME staff surveyed conference-goers in an effort to gauge the level of interest in the PRIME TIME grant as well as capacity to implement the program across the state. Those who elected to complete the brief survey form were entered to win a prize of 10 PRIME TIME books. The PRIME TIME staff thanks the 180 participants who completed the PRIME TIME survey!
The winner of the prize is Catherine Lorenzi of Fairview Elementary in Lake Charles. Congratulations to Catherine, and thanks to all the library professionals who took the time to speak with us and learn more about PRIME TIME. |
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January 2011 Training Workshop Dates |
The next PRIME TIME Training Workshop has been tentatively scheduled for January 15 - 16, 2011. Updates and additional information will be provided as necessary. The workshop will be hosted at the Louisiana Humanities Center at Turners' Hall in New Orleans. Please contact Shantrell Adams with questions regarding the January Training Workshop. |
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