City students have a new “safe space” to go to for academic support and socially-distanced socializing, thanks to the launch of a new pandemic-era education hub by the Science Park-based Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT).
ConnCAT announced the new “Safe Space” project Tuesday morning in an email press release.
The email states that Safe Space will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and will provide select New Haven students with free “hands-on” educational and technical support, wifi, breakfast and lunch, and an 8 – 1 ratio of students to teachers.
“Safe Space is fundamentally and primarily about keeping kids safe, and giving them the tools they need to learn and grow,” ConnCAT President and CEO Erik Clemons is quoted as saying in the release.
The program will serve 32 students, grades 6th through 9th, and a third of the spots will be reserved for Newhallville residents.
The release states that ConnCAT, which is based out of 4 Science Park, launched the new program in response to the local Board of Education’s decision to have the first 10 weeks of the public school year take place entirely online.
Click here to apply for the program, and see below for the full press release.
ConnCAT Enters Next Phase in COVID Response, Launches ‘Safe Space’ Education Hub to Provide Support to Students during Distance Learning
New Haven, CT (September 1, 2020) – The Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT), today announced the launch of Safe Space, a no-cost education hub which will provide academic support, social engagement, and a safe educational space to selected New Haven students during distance learning for the 2020 – 2021 school year. This education hub is the next step in ConnCAT’s continued response to combat the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on New Haven’s Black and low-income communities.
Prior to the launch of Safe Space, ConnCAT hosted two focus groups with students and parents, to gain greater clarity on what was needed to best support families. Guided by those conversations, Safe Space will operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and will provide students with “hands-on” educational and technical support, reliable wifi, breakfast and lunch, and an 8 – 1 ratio of students to teachers. Meals will be provided through ConnCAT’s Orchid Cafe, which is run by students and graduates of ConnCAT’s adult Culinary Arts Academy.
“Safe Space is fundamentally and primarily about keeping kids safe, and giving them the tools they need to learn and grow,” said Erik Clemons, ConnCAT President & CEO. “Families in our community are facing a lot of uncertainty right now, and for many, distance-only learning presents a whole new host of difficult decisions to make. We wanted to do our part to solve for some of those uncertainties by providing a setting where students’ needs can be met physically, socially, and academically.”
The decision to launch the education hub was made in response to a vote by the New Haven Board of Education to start the 2020 – 2021 school year with 10 weeks of remote-only learning. Made possible through the support of Dalio Philanthropies, Safe Space is currently slated to run from September to January, but may be available for the entirety of the school year, pending the reassessment of remote-only, hybrid, or in-person learning by the Board of Education at the end of the 10 weeks.
“Education has always been at the core of everything we do. With the pandemic threatening to impact the educational opportunities of so many, we knew we needed to step up,” said Genevive Walker, ConnCAT’s Chief Operating Officer. “Safety is our top priority, but we also want to ensure that as the school year progresses students are able to progress academically. We will be physically distant, but socially engaged.”
In order to maintain social distancing standards, Safe Space is set to serve 32 students, from grades 6th through 9th. Students will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, with 33% of the spots reserved for students in Newhallville.
“ConnCAT’s Safe Space is God sent. When I received the invitation from ConnCAT to attend a meeting about the youth program, I was unsure what it would be about,” said Rosealee Reid, ConnCAT Parent. “As I sat there and listened, I felt a sense of calmness come over me. The weeks leading up to the ConnCAT meeting, I had many concerns. How were the children going to maintain social distance in school? How will they be able to keep up with their assignments if they are fully remote? How will I be able to help them? I am grateful for ConnCAT stepping up again and finding a way to help.”
“When I was in school it was a better experience being in the classroom where I was able to interact with my classmates and get help from my teachers. Then Covid happened all that abruptly stopped, I was not able to work at my best ability,” said Sayvion Sealy, 9th grade. “I like the program that ConnCAT told me about because it will make it so that I can get help with my school work and interact safely with my friends. I miss my friends at school and I miss my friends and the staff at ConnCAT. I hope that me and my brother get into the Safe Space school program.”
“The new program that ConnCAT is doing is very convenient and helpful, especially the tools that they offer, such as the teachers who will be able to help us with our studies and homework,” said Tajay Henlin, 9th grade. “I think that this program will help my school life easier. Overall I think the idea/plan is very good and useful to the community. I can’t wait to start the program and see my friends.”
ConnCAT is currently accepting applications for Safe Space a conncat.org/programs/youth-programs
This is a great solution to help the students in New Haven who needed support for their online learning. I hope they will consider adding southern Hamden students as well, as many students in that area are also struggling with online learning. Southern Hamden and Newhaville/Dixwell, Beaver Hills, West Rock/West Hills, upper State St in NH and lower State St in Hamden share not only a border on the map, they share in the struggles and disparities of income and resources.