Project Connect: a DoDEA funded project to support Travis USD military-connected students
Travis Unified is pleased to announce that we have received a grant from DoDEA to fund Project Connect, a five year project to address the socio-emotional and academic needs of military-connected students. We are looking forward to our final year of implementation which includes counseling services to students, building connections between students in grades 7-12 through programs called Student 2 Student, Link Crew, and WEB and improving student achievement in English language arts through participation in after school classes. The after school classes will integrate STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and math) with English language arts creating an engaging and fun learning environment. Watch for more information about Project Connect in the near future! In the meantime, contact Connie Green at cgreen@travisusd.org or (707) 437-4604, ext. 1202 to get more information.
Update 8/9/17: Travis Unified held its second STEM Summer Program in June, 2017. The STEM Camp Summer Program was held at Travis Elementary on base and at Cambridge Elementary in Vacaville. Over two hundred students in grades 1 through 6 participated in this 18 day summer program. Students in our STEM Camps became Backyard Scientists and engaged in activities focused on living things in the world around us. Students worked on improving English language arts skills through engaging, hands-on science and technology activities. Lessons and activities also included visual arts and problem-solving challenges.
Our Student2Student program at Vanden High School is off and running! Guided by two counselors at Vanden, the S2S program has increased its student membership and made plans for next school year to get even more students involved. At Vanden High's Welcome Week (August 14-17, 2017), students will be invited to connect with S2S and other high school activities through some fun activities. Additionally, the Student 2 Student group has planned a special welcome day for all new students and their families on Friday, August 18, 2017. There will be a DJ in the quad and free BBQ. Come check it out Vanden students!
After school programs for 2017-18 are in the planning stages. Plans are to offer Arts Adventures, STEM, and VEX Robotics again this year. Four sessions are planned for this school year at all five elementary school sites. Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact your child's school for more information.
Update 8/17/18: Our third STEM Summer Program was held at Center Elementary in June, 2018. Over 250 students participated in this program which included a STEM Camp, Camp Athena Robotics, and Jumpstart Kindergarten, a program for incoming TK and kindergarten students. Our theme for STEM Camp and Jumpstart Kindergarten was aquatic ecosystems and shoreline science. Camp Athena Robotics students worked on programming and coding skills culminating in a robotics competition at the end of the program.
Vanden High School has adopted a new program called Link Crew to supplement Student2Student activities. Staff at Vanden received intense training last Spring so that they would be prepared to implement Link Crew this school year, 2018-19. Orientation day for freshmen and all new students was held on August 15, 2018. Link Crew student leaders were there and helped to lead the new students with some fun activities leading to making connections to other new students and to their Link Crew Leaders. What an exciting day!
Golden West Middle School has also adopted a new program to supplement Student2Student at the middle school. This new program called WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) is the middle school version of Link Crew. Staff at Golden West also received intense training last Spring. Golden West held an Orientation Day for incoming 7th grade students on August 16, 2018. On that day, parents received important information about middle school while the 7th graders participated in fun activities with other 7th grade students and their WEB leaders. Another fun and exciting day!
Update 2019-20 School Year: We held our fourth STEM Summer Camp in June 2019. This summer camp was focused on math using the Mindset Mathematics curriculum. Students loved it and teachers enjoyed teaching this curriculum. 188 students participated, about half at Travis Elementary on base and half at Foxboro Elementary.
Vanden has continued to implement Link Crew to supplement Student2Student. A Leadership class has been added this school year to provide Link Crew Leaders with training that will help them support their Link Crew team. An Orientation day was held the week before school started. It was a great start to the new school year!
Golden West Middle School has made great progress in implementing WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) to supplement Student2Student. Middle School student leaders are enthusiastic and prepared to lead and offer many activities at Golden West. An Orientation Day was also held at Golden West complete with a BBQ!
