Middle Schoolers Engage in Battle of Words

March 13, 2007

Youth From Three Children's Aid Society Centers Compete in 1st Harlem Spelling Bee

Contact:
Ellen Lubell, The Children’s Aid Society, (w) 212-949-4938, (c) 917-854-6864
Emily Crossan, The Children’s Aid Society, (w) 917-286-1548, (c) 201-344-5742

When:
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Where:
The Children’s Aid Society’s East Harlem Center
130 East 101st Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues)
Manhattan

What:
For the first time at Children’s Aid, middle school students from three Children’s Aid Society community centers in Harlem – the Dunlevy Milbank Center, East Harlem Center and Frederick Douglass Center – will compete in a spelling bee. Competing for the first prize of clothing gift certificates, a trophy and certificate, as well as lesser certificates and trophies for other prizewinners, the youth will be challenged in an official spelling bee environment, using the rules of University of Wisconsin.

Who:
 Middle school students who are part of The Children’s Aid Society’s Project LIVE (Learning Through Industry and Volunteer Educators) one-on-one mentoring programming at the three centers listed above have been studying the spelling and vocabulary words of the Defined Mind learning program, a curriculum that uses popular, contemporary music to help students learn the words they will need to pass their SATs and to succeed in school, and life. Their mentors are dedicated volunteers, who commit to weekly sessions with the students to build their skills.

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The mission of The Children’s Aid Society is to ensure the physical and emotional well being of children and families, and to provide every child with the support and opportunities needed to become a happy, healthy and successful adult. Our services address every aspect of a child’s life, from infancy through adolescence, and include education, health, counseling, adoption and foster care, career readiness, arts and recreation, prevention and emergency assistance. Today, Children’s Aid serves more than 150,000 children and families each year, at over 45 sites, without regard to race, religion, nationality or socio-economic status.For more information, please call 212-949-4938 or visit www.childrensaidsociety.org.

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