PARTNER PROGRAMS
BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM
The EOS foundation is an organization that is working to make schools a better place. Last year, Chestnut TAG was one of the first middle schools in the Springfield school district to partner with the EOS Foundation and implement BIC (Breakfast in the Classroom). Every morning, our students head to advisory and eat breakfast family style with grade level peers and a teacher in a small group. It helps students and staff alike prepare themselves for a productive day. The purpose of advisory is so that your student knows one adult in the building really well outside of an academic setting-- sharing a meal helps us to create those connections between our students and staff.
Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a unique 10 week (twice weekly) after-school program led by trained coaches who lead small teams through our research-based curricula which includes dynamic discussions, activities and running games. Over the course of the ten-week program, girls in 6th-8th grade develop essential skills to help them navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. Each season culminates with a Girls on the Run 5K event. This celebratory, non-competitive event provides girls with a sense of accomplishment and instills the value of goal setting at a young age.
K9S FOR KIDS & READ TO ROVER
K-9's for Kids is a nonprofit, volunteer organization whose primary purpose is to provide trained, evaluated, insured and qualified therapy dog teams capable of offering emotional learning and therapeutic support. As part of K-9's for Kids Read to Rover program, Diane St. Martin and her American Mastiff, lovingly referred to as "Baby Bull", have been involved with the Chestnut Talented and Gifted Special Education community for three years. Our goal for the program is to reduce stress and improve social and academic performance through interaction with this trained therapy team. This dedicated team comes twice a month to work with a small group at Chestnut Talented and Gifted. During their time together, the team and our scholars read aloud and discuss a pre-selected text.
S.T.E.A.M
“The University of Massachusetts’ S.T.E.A.M program is a club of hand-picked students. S.T.E.A.M stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. In the STEAM program, we do a series of hands on, messy activities to enhance our knowledge on a variety of topics. I think I could speak for all students when I say that it’s way more appealing conducting our own experiments rather than doing paperwork to learn about certain topics. Over the short amount of time in the STEAM program, you learn to develop a better relationship with not just the two amazing hosts of the program, but also your school mates of different grade levels. You begin to feel comfortable and able to be yourself without judgement. The STEAM program is an absolute bullying free zone allowing students to feel safe and secure. This program encourages students to take their learning to a new level by doing more than just trying to understand subjects visually but also physically. ” –Vy Vu (former 8th grade TAG scholar)
BOKS is a no competition fitness club that engages students in physical activity before the school day begins. Physical activity before a rigorous day of academics helps students wake up, focus, and be more receptive to learning. Participating in BOKS allows students to grow their physical strength, teamwork skills, and healthy eating habits. Since BOKS is a low stakes environment, students do not have to worry about beating the competition or being athletic. Students just have to try hard, have a positive attitude, and encourage one another during every session.