The Computer Learning Center at 20 West Avenue is an after-school center committed to providing academic support to Norwalk's underprivileged youth population in grades 6-12. In this vein, the Center, with a 22-station computer lab and three diverse classroom settings, is staffed by eight professional staff members whose primary goal is to effect positive change in their students' scholastic performance by providing homework assistance and teaching successful study habits. In addition to offering direct assistance in the students' scholastic efforts, the Learning Center also offers the following weekly seminars and activity groups to foster strong academic and prosocial development.
Writing4Fun, Writing4Purpose:
Ms. Kimberly offers special seminars helping students to experience both the joy and utility in writing effectively. Through writing, students have, among other things: entered (and won!) poetry contests; lobbied their Congressmen and Senators for thoughtful legislation; and written essays for their websites.
SAT Math Prep Course:
Mr. Nemchek offers a free weekly course preparing any interested high school student for the math portion of the SAT college entrance exams.
The Algebra Project:
Mr. Nemchek is working on the development of a program adapted from a nation-wide effort out of Cambridge, Massachusetts which eases the transition from concrete arithmetic into the abstracts of Algebra. The program will target middle-school students.
BYTE (Becoming Young Technology Experts):
15 Students each year enroll in a 24 week course over the course of which they first build their own computers, learning hardware maintenance and troubleshooting along the way, and they learn website design and the more effective use of Microsoft Office software.
Hands-On Science:
Mr. Patrick offers a bi-weekly activity group in which students are encouraged not only to explore the workings of objects and phenomena that they encounter in their daily lives, but also to chart the course of inquiry themselves. The activities are intended to promote curious, inquisitive thinking and stronger problem-solving skills.
African Drumming:
An African Drumming group meets every Thursday, focusing on both the excitement and the discipline needed to perform in coordination with groups of budding musicians.
Vibe-Out:
Ms. Liles offers a weekly discussion support group for teenage girls. The group combines discussion and action to encourage higher self-esteem, better techniques for coping with adversity, and exploration of one's own interests and talents.
Weed-n-Seed Mayor's Subcommittee for Youth:
Student members of the subcommittee discuss and work towards solutions to violence, crime and drug-activity in their community. Their ideas and results are reported to the Mayor's Office of Norwalk.
