West Buffalo Charter adds ‘Core,' expands

By Oliver Colbert and Kimberly Hylton

Bengal News West reporters

            West Buffalo Charter School has adopted the Common Core standards for learning and added more than 100 second- and third-grade students to its building on Lafayette Avenue.

            Third grade teacher Rachel Banas under the Common Core, student are not just solving problems, they're thinking them through and making connections.

          “It’s challenging but you see their thinking has changed,” Banas said.

            WBCS has small classes with a total of 24 students, a teacher and teacher’s assistant. In addition to the assistant.

A smaller classroom leaves room for teachers to help students more affectively. Teachers at WBCS can figure out what level each student is at and help them grow.  Principal Andrea Todoro  says smaller classes also make it easier to enforce the Common Core curriculum. 

            The support doesn’t stop with just teachers and students. Parents are also supporters of the new curriculum at WBCS. Todoro said that the school hosted parent nights where  the differences between thenew curriculum and the old were compared and explained .  Parents have also been invited in to see Common Core being taught.

            “I think once you empower them with knowledge they understand what it is and they can see it coming home in their child’s book bag and then they respond positively,” said Principal Todoro said.  

            Along with the new curriculum WBCS has recently added a class of second graders and three third grade classes of third grade. The  additional grades brought more than 100 students to the school. Todoro said the biggest impacts of the new students are space and budget.

            “There are more bodies in the school so traffic flow, use of the lunchroom and scheduling is all impacted by the additional students,” Todoro said.

             Todoro said planning for the extra classrooms, purchasing the furniture and the technology, and staffing has impacted the budget.

            WBSC’s had originally planned to expand out of the building creating a new wing, four floors total, and a new gymnasium. Those plans have been put on hold. Instead the school will add fourth grade classes and renovate the first floor. The original plans were denied by the State of Education because the charter school is too  new, Todoro said . The cost of the original expansion would have been $2 million. WBSC has worked out a new plan to renovate the first floor where the cafeteria is located along with a long corridor hall. The new project will add three new classrooms for the incoming fourth graders this  May. The project will cost WBCS $400,000 including furniture and technology.

            “We’ve made use of every inch of the building now that we’ve been in here for a couple of years. We know what spaces we’re utilizing and what spaces we’re not…so we’re reworking the interior,” said finance and operations officer, Elizabeth Sterns.

            Although school leaders were disappointed that the school  couldn’t expand the way they intended, they  are still excited to be renovating.

            “I’m really excited about it, it’s an opportunity for us to take what we already have and make it better. I think it’s more fiscally conservative to do it the way we’re doing it. It’s kind of like staying in your starter home longer than you would have normally,” Sterns said. 

            Sterns also mentioned that other successful charters have taken the same route. The original project wasn’t a complete fail. Sterns says the school  not has the opportunity to save money and tackle the expansion outside the building in a better financial footing.  

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn4402FQn-g

VERY GOOD JOB ON THE VIDEO. INFORMATION IS ADDED TO THE STORY,  RULE OF THIRDS NICELY APPLIED, TODOR IS SOLDLY IN THE LEFT VERTICAL, HEADROOM AND LEADROOM ARE PERFECT. AUDIO IS CLEAR. B-ROLL CORRESPONDS WITH AUDIO. 

           

           

           

           

Live comedy brings big laughs to West Side

By Matt Bove and Gabrielle Mediak
Bengal News West Reporters

Ricky Needham

In September, NBC kicked of its 39th season of the popular variety show Saturday Night Live, but at SUNY Buffalo State  the laughs start 24 hours earlier. 

Friday Night Live, better known as FNL, takes place in the Donald Savage Theater on the Buffalo State  campus  and provides entertainment to not only students, but anyone in the community looking for some laughter.  

“We provide our show every Friday night, and it’s a safe alternative to drinking and partying,” said Ricky Needham, a senior theater major at Buffalo State.  “It’s open to the public, so we draw in a lot of people from the community.”

Buffalo’s West Side isn’t known for is its comedy scene, but FNL could be changing that. 

“It’s nice because people can let off some steam after a long week and just sit back and enjoy the show,” Needham said.

For West Side residents there aren’t that many places to go for live comedy that's free of charge.

“It’s nice to finally have something to do out here that’s free,” said West Side resident Jeremy Kroll.   “It had me in tears, I’ll definitely be back next week and after tonight I would go even if it cost money, the casts and skits are too good.”

In 2007 Buffalo State unveiled the brand new improv show, but you would have never known it.  

“It’s changed so much, back when we first started we used to draw in like 15 people a night but now we get around 200 every night,” Needham said.

Growing crowds is a testament to the format of the show, which keeps performers on their toes at all times.

“Nothing is [prepared], it’s all off the top of our heads,” Needham said. “If an actor is too comfortable with whatever scene they’re doing it won’t be as funny.”

For Needham, getting into comedy wasn’t the original plan. He originally intended on coming to Buffalo State College as a music major, but after getting denied entry from the department after his first audition, he had to make a sudden change in plans.

“I got into the theater department kind of by accident,” Needham said. “I had to kind of scramble, and figured I’d just do theater for a year, and just re-audition.”

It’s performers like Needham that make FNL so successful. But improv isn’t something performers are classically taught, making the experience not only rewarding for the audience but for the performers as well.

“FNL has been one of the best opportunities for me to explore improv and improve my acting,” said Jesse Tiebor, a junior in the theater department and first-year FNL member.  “It’s more than just doing something for a laugh or nailing a pun; it’s about telling a story with humor in a more organic way.”

Tiebor, like Needham, agrees that FNL is something that will continue to grow and have a positive impact on the community for years to come. 

“FNL is great for the local and [Buffalo] State community,” Tiebor said.  “It’s free, it’s funny, it’s engaging and is great alternative to sitting around or going drinking." 

West Buffalo Charter to add 4th grade

By Matt Bove and Gabrielle Mediak

Bengal News Reporters 
           It’s a crisp fall afternoon as you take a walk down Lafayette Avenue.  As you continue down you hear children laughing and then see something that looks brand new.  What used to be a 41-unit apartment complex, now has a sign in front saying West Buffalo Charter School. 
           The school at 113 Lafayette Ave., which includes kindergarten through third grades, is about to expand.
          Construction on a new wing to accommodate a fourth grade  is set to begin in the early spring 2014 and will be completed in time for the August 2014 start of school.  A gymnasium will be added as part of this multi-phase construction plan, said  Elizabeth Sterns, the school’s finance and operations officer.

          Two years ago, School Leader Andrea Todoro signed the papers and took ownership of what was an apartment complex. With the goal of making it into a charter school in just eight short weeks, the construction team got to work and finished just two days before the school year starting.

           “In the beginning it was a mad dash. Friday we got the keys and the kids started on Monday.  We had 48 hours to take this beautiful building we had, and turn it into a school,”  Todoro said.

            The first year went surprisingly smooth for the brand new school. It  offered kindergarten through second grade and began an expansion to add the third grade for the next year.  The expansion money was generated through enrollment.  As a charter school, it only gets $12,000 per pupil from Buffalo, while public schools get $29,000 per pupil.

             “What’s different about a charter school and typical public school is that most public schools do not pay for their facilities, we have to,”  Todoro said.

            Todoro noted how when typical schools do building projects they get back 98 cents per dollar spent, only costing the school around two cents.  The charter school has to pay full cost since they aren’t a public school. 

            West Buffalo successfully added three classes of third graders, and even an additional class of second graders, adding over 100 students.  New teachers and an additional teaching assistant per class were hired.  

            “Our charter says we are going to be K-4 so we do have to add 4^th grade.  At the same time expanding we don’t have any more room in our building.  It will be tight financially to get 4^th graders in while building for them at the same time,” Todoro said.

            Deborah Raiford, a mother and former teacher herself, just recently enrolled her seven-year-old son. 

             “He loves it. He adjusted the first day and felt comfortable; we are new here in town.” Raiford said.  “He’s doing very well, the teachers work with the kids and it’s just great. I really do love this school.”

           Todoro describes the school as a "big, happy family, where everybody knows every child's name."

           "I think we have a school here, that really gets to know everybody on a personal level which helps because then you have that relationship, and with that your willing to work for each other," Todoro said. "And I think the kids can sense that we really do care about them.  We’re not just here to be their teacher, but to be a support to them in and out of school. “

            Not only is West Buffalo different because of the family atmosphere, but for what its charter entails.

           “What makes us different from other Buffalo schools is our charter was founded on the idea we would offer the language to literacy program as part of our school day.  We still abide by common core standards, but put focus on literacy and building literacy skills,” Todoro said.

            According to the school’s website westbuffalocharter.org  “WBCS is a place where students come first, individual differences are accepted, and student learning is maximized.”   

 “In the next few years I see our school in the new expansion, more classrooms and staff in place.” Todoro said. “The vision still stays the same, I’d like to be full, K-4 with a very long wait list, showing that our students are making progress and growing.” 

International School 45 teaches the world

By Shari Ingles and Maureen Vitali

BengalNews Reporters         

            To someone who is just walking by, International School 45 is nothing more than a dark, brick building. But to the several hundred refugee students that attend school there, it is so much more than that.

 A walk through the doors of School 45, located on 141 Hoyt St., reveals a bright and welcoming interior. A sign near the cafeteria teaches students how to say a new word from a different language each day. A colorful mosaic features a sign that says, “We educate the children of the world.” To the refugee students, who come from refugee camps from over 30 different countries, the school is a symbol of acceptance and hope.

And hope is just what these students are looking for. Oftentimes they come to America after spending most of their young lives in the refugee camp. The resettlement process alone can take up to three years. When these students arrive in America, they often speak little or no English. As a result, School 45 administrators must take special steps to ensure that the students maintain the pace of other students in the Buffalo School District. This is because classes are taught in English.

Teacher Karen Kane, on language proficiency of School 45 students:  

A large map of the world showcases where different students are from and what languages they speak. Some of the popular languages spoken at the school include Karen, Arabic, Somali, Burmese, Kirundi, and Vietnamese, according to the school website.

             “There are over 800 students in the building and approximately 470 are considered limited English proficient,” said Karen Kane, English as a second language teacher (ESL) for 6^th grade. “Many students are living with parents that do not speak English as a first language.

            “We are very lucky to have a lot of resources. We have 14 ESL teachers that work with the K-6 population. We also have a partnership with Journeys End where bilingual academic coaches come in and provide translation services that help families and teachers communicate with the parents.”

            Students are placed in classes based on age, rather than academic or language proficiency. In other words, refugee students are expected to keep pace with their American classmates, despite language barriers. There are 200 faculty and staff members many of which are multilingual as well as four parent facilitators, according to the school website.

Journey’s End is interested in the refugees’ progress during the school year, as well as over the summer with its “Jump Start Academy.”

“The program focuses on English language acquisition, classroom orientation and introduction to American curriculum, schedules, and activities,” said Development Coordinator Brian Brown Cashdollar. “The program is run in conjunction with the Buffalo Public Schools Jumpstart Program and also in partnership with WNY Americorps and Houghton College.” Edited by Kristin Ritch

             

           

Buffalo high school grads can 'Say Yes'

By Mhairi Moorhead and Joe Losito
BengalNews Reporters 

West Side high school graduates that are applying for colleges in the upcoming months will be the first to have access to the Say Yes tuition program. 

Say Yes Buffalo is an educational program that partners with colleges, universities, Buffalo Public Schools, the City of Buffalo and many other institutions. It provides those students attending Buffalo Public Schools or Buffalo Charter Schools, a chance to receive college scholarships.

“There are no academic requirements to receive a Say Yes scholarship,” said Scholarship Director, Allison Newman. “The main criteria for receiving the award are that the child live in the City of Buffalo and has attended a Buffalo Public or Charter school since the beginning of 9^th grade.

The program is funded by local private donors, foundations and organizations that help organize people, time, money and resources to provide year-round support to Buffalo Public School District students throughout their K-12 years and beyond.

For those eligible who can’t move away from home, there are schools located in the West Side that participate in Say Yes, including one SUNY school, Buffalo State and one private school, D’Youville College.

“For the SUNY and CUNY tuition guarantee, there are no financial requirements. Students who meet eligibility requirements can receive this award regardless of family income,” said Newman.

There are many private schools that participate in the program that students should consider as well. For the Private Partner colleges, as long as the household income is below $75,000 per year, they will pay any remaining balance that Pell and Tap grants don’t cover. Those students of households earning above $75,000 a year can still apply for the Say Yes Buffalo Choice Grant, which provides $5,000 per year in addition to other financial aid and the cost of full-time tuition.

 “One of the reasons that I am excited to work with Say Yes is that this is not a program of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” said Ellicott District Common Council Member, Darius G. Pridgen, who works on the Education Committee. “My opinion is that this can be a game changer when it comes to higher-level education of our students.” 

 David Rust explains how George Weiss developed the Say Yes program:  

“There’s about 15 scholarship programs in the country right now, but we’re the only one that comes with the services we offer,” said Say Yes Executive Director David Rust.

Say Yes Buffalo provides different types of support, including tuition scholarships to one of nearly 100 colleges and universities, mentoring, tutoring, school-day academic support to family outreach, social work and psychological services. 

“This is a total program that gets involved with the school life, education life, and student life in Buffalo Public Schools,” said Pridgen.

In 2008, Syracuse was the first community selected by Say Yes to apply the strategies and support to all 32 schools in the district.

“In the five years that Say Yes has been in Syracuse, they’ve seen a 20 percent increase in graduates go on to college, a 6 percent increase in high school graduation rates, and a 70 percent decrease in children placed in foster care,” said Newman.

In December of 2011, Say Yes announced it would create another charter in Buffalo and in the beginning of the fall 2012 school year, Say Yes will implement its programs and provide services to students and families throughout Buffalo.

“We are here to help, there’s no doubt about that, and we are going to be here a long time,” said Rust. “This is not just a 3 year in-and-out grant.”

For more information on the Say Yes program and for a full list of colleges and universities participating in the program, you can visit the website at www.sayyestoeducation.org Edited by James Wright

Say Yes to Education Buffalo brings relief

By Dayna Francis and Tyeisha Prior
BengalNews Reporters 

The stress of figuring out how to pay for college can become an expensive burden for high school students and parents. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics website for 2010-2011, the average cost of attendance for first and full time students living on campus and paying in-state tuition was $20,000 at a four year public institution. It was $39,800 at a private non-profit four year institution.

The City of Buffalo has implemented a program called Say Yes to Education Buffalo in hopes to alleviate and reduce financial stresses for students wanting to further their education after high school.

According to the Say Yes to Education Buffalo website, Buffalo is the second chapter along with Syracuse to cover an entire school district.

The program has recently been launched in numerous schools across Buffalo. Support for students can start as early as kindergarten and continue throughout high school and college.

Naomi Cerre, principal of P.S. 204 Lafayette High School at 370 Lafayette Ave., said that it is a great opportunity for students who wouldn’t or thought that they didn’t have a chance to attend college.

“Say Yes offers an opportunity for our Buffalo students to see themselves as college students and to see that they can have a journey to college, and really survive without the stress of finances,” Cerre said.

            Students and parents have also shown enthusiasm for the program through a grand kick-off celebration held by Lafayette High School two weeks ago. The school held a reception for parents and students with a representative from Say Yes Buffalo to answer questions about the college process.

Principal Naomi Cerre on how Say Yes gives students hope to have a future without worrying about tuition costs:

Say  Yes Buffalo has also created schoalrships and grants pertaining to specific colleges around the Buffalo area. Students must meet specific criteria to become eligible for aid.

One of the grants, called the Private College Grant, has a number of participating colleges such as D’Youville College. Participating colleges have agreed to cover any tuition besides what is covered through Pell and Tap grants for Say Yes scholars that have a family income of $75,000 or less.  Students must also complete grades 9-12 at a Buffalo public or charter school to be eligible.

The grant will also provide up to $5,000 per year based on other financial awards received and the cost of full time tuition.

The Say Yes Buffalo Tuition Scholarship covers only tuition fees. It is determined by how long a student has been attending a Buffalo public or charter school. If you begin from kindergarten, 100 percent of your tuition will be covered, and decreasing in percent from which grade you start off in with the Say Yes Buffalo program.

While the program is free, students must be aware that they still need to achieve high standards when it comes to academics.

“Kids can’t just assume that I just can’t do the work,” said Cerre. “They have to do the work and meet criteria, requirements, and expectations.” Edited by Shari Ingles

Pre-K program educates across borders

By Brian Alexander and Jennifer Waters

BengalNews Reporters

His name isn’t Eddie, it’s Edward.

That’s what the 4-year-old told Belle Center Early Childhood director Laurie Beck after learning how to spell his first name in the center’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program.

Edward started at the Belle Center when he was a baby. He has transitioned from the toddler room and early intervention program, through the 3-year-old room and into Universal Pre-K.

In June, Edward will graduate and move onto kindergarten in the Buffalo Public Schools, having gained the skills Beck said are necessary to be a successful life-long learner.

The Universal Pre-K program is in its second year. A Peter Towers Grant of about $3,000 was recently awarded to the program to provide technology in the classrooms.

“There are no computers or anything in here currently. This will allow for technological development and an upgrade for the early childhood development center,” said Marketing and Communications Director Callie Johnson.

Beck said the Peter Towers grants are a competitive grant awarded to different organizations focused on aiding children with learning disabilities. 

  

The Belle Center’s Early Childhood Director Laurie Beck talks about what the center has in store for its Universal Pre-Kindergarten program as it begins its second year:

She said the computers are necessary for teachers to assess their students’ development, input the results and send them off for research.

With the new possibilities provided by technology, Universal Pre-K will help 3-year-old students like J.J., Johnnie and Evan continue with the center’s program next fall.

Universal Pre-K has also started implementing a new program for learning outcomes called “Second Step,” a social behavior program in which the teacher plans lessons specific to a different emotion each week.

The lessons are meant to teach the children how to deal with their feelings and express them in a healthy manner when dealing with other children and adults, an important lesson for when they move on to kindergarten, Beck said.

“Kindergarten will have different rules they will have to follow. The goal is to give them all the skills they will need to succeed at an early age,” she said.

The UPK program day starts promptly at 8 a.m., or earlier for students whose parents need work accommodations, and runs until 4 p.m. Packed with activities to engage their minds and bodies, students participate in circle time for stories and activities such as letter recognition, exercise time, two meals a day and swimming every Friday.

Keeping the whole routine on track are 15 full-time daycare workers, along with AmeriCorps volunteers who teach early literacy to the three year-old group, work in the offices or volunteer in the community.

“Two year-olds, they just wake up running,” said AmeriCorps Volunteer Naomi Porter as the toddler group clambered into wagons for a morning walk.

Porter admits the job can be hectic at times, whether with paperwork or preparing meals for classes, but said the experience is rewarding.

Each classroom in the center is prepared with a bilingual teacher like Tasha Vega who has been with the 3-year-old group for three years now.

“My daughter also attends classes here. I think I’ve moved forward a lot working with the program,” Vega said.

The center provides educational programs for ages six weeks to senior citizens. This allows parents to be involved with the program as well.

Beck said one of the most amazing things to see is a Pre-K student and their parent learning English as a second language together.

“We have many parents who will drop their child off at daycare and head upstairs for their class,” Beck said.

Among the many first languages of those who attend the center are Burmese, Spanish and dialects native to Africa.

Noting the various cultures found at the center, porter said, “(The program) helps me develop my ability to work with such diverse groups. It will help me go anywhere in the world.” Edited by Jason Murphy