Make It Happen

Students in Mr. Judson's AP Physics class at Sarah T. Reed High School in east New Orleans recieved AP test prep books this week, thanks to the generosity of the Make It Happen Team and their supporters. Communities In Schools, through its ScienceREACH program, is working with students at Reed to prepare them to pursue a college degree and careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. Brittany Morgan, CIS' ScienceREACH coordinator, said "There are not enough textbooks for the students to take home, thus it is difficult for them to put in the extra study time needed to do well on the test. In addition, Mr. Judson uses the Test Prep book as one of his tools when teaching. Now, each student will have his/her own book to follow along and to use to study outside of class."

CIS will also use some of the Make It Happen funds to provide tutoring for the students. AmeriCorp member Jon Larson, assigned to CIS this school year, is tutoring two days a week at Reed. A recent graduate and holder of a Tulane University Masters of Neuroscience degree, Jon will be entering Tulane's medical school in fall 2009. Until then, he is spending a year providing valuable tutoring support to New Orleans area students.

Sarah T. Reed High School is operated by the Recovery School District and is located in the heavily devastated area known as New Orleans East. Recovery from the floods and damage of Hurricane's Katrina and Rita has been markedly slower than other areas of the city. CIS New Orleans coordinates additional support to Reed's students with a CIS Site Coordinator who is a social worker.

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