Big Picture High School in Bloomfield, CT: Recent Events
Mentors and Interns Celebrate
 
  On Friday evening, May 2, 2006, the Big Picture High School had its first ever Mentor Appreciation Night. Students, parents, staff and mentors joined together at Birch Meadow Banquet Facility to celebrate the inaugural year of the high school’s Learning Through Internship (LTI) program which is the heart and soul of the school’s learning agenda. The LTI program places each student with qualified volunteer mentors who work in the specific occupation that the student wants to explore. Twice a week, the students go onsite with their mentor to learn about the occupation they have chosen by actually working at the occupation. This hand on approach developed and funded by the Bill Gates Foundation is not for everybody, but it certainly was for the students and mentors who attended the function. Hugs and kisses, laughter and tears were the main commodities of the evening as the students and mentors alike showed what their involvement with one another meant. Story after story was shared both at the podium and during the reception and dinner about the wonderful experiences that took place during the year.

Parents, mentors and students enjoy each presentation.

Ms. Ashleigh Duncan receive a hug from her mentor LTI coordinator, Jennifer Marshall-Nealy

All guests walk through the buffet style dinner line at Birch Meadow
 
  The evening’s program was simple. The social hour started at 6 p.m. and lasted to 7 p.m. Dinner was from 7 to 7:45 and then the ceremonies began. The evening’s mistress of ceremonies was Ashleigh Duncan, the student who, as her mentor Jennifer Marshall-Nealy said, “Organized and put together the whole event.” Ms. Duncan introduced the building’s principal, Ms. Patricia Hymes who briefly spoke about the school and thanked all for being there and especially thanked the mentors for their time and dedication. After Ms. Hyme’s words, Jennifer Marshall-Nealy, the school’s LTI Coordinator and Ashleigh introduced the attending students who then individually asked each of their mentors to come to the podium to receive a certificate of appreciation.

Ms. Jennifer Marshall-Nealy, LTI Coordinator

Ms. Patricia Hymes, Principal
 
  The mentors who attended ranged from landscapers to doctors and all shared their obvious enjoyment of participating in the mentor program. The students spoke effortlessly about their mentors and shared a bit about the highlights of their work. Kevin Harrell who was mentored by CT State Trooper, James Nealy, Jr. was named student of the year for the work he did with Trooper Nealy. Trooper Nealy was named mentor of the year at the same time.

Trooper Nealy & Kevin

 
When some of Bloomfield’s Big Picture High School students were interviewed and asked to share information about their experiences; the results were as colorful and interesting as the students. Below is a sample of the comments. Much of the below was shared with the gathering at Birch Meadow.

Tina Foster –
Tina’s first LTI was at the 4-H Farm where she quickly excelled as she learned about herbs and natural cures. At the Big Picture High School, Tina organized a Black History program which included excerpts from Attorney Thurgood Marshall, Carter G. Woodson, poetry by Maya Angelou and much more. Tina is a board member for the Connecticut Fund which is located at the 4-H education center. She does the fundraising, secures real estate appraisals for the properties on the farm. She learned how to extract mint oils to apply on her mother’s arthritic knees. As a high school freshman, Tina will be taking a 4-credit intro to Biology course at Capitol Community College in the fall.

Rakkim Johnson –
Rakkim’s first LTI was at Tony March Saturn of Hartford. Rakkim completed the sales training course, which is a requirement for any new hires. Although the internships are non-paid learning internships, Rakkim showed such dynamic aptitude for the auto sales industry, that he accompanied his mentor to auto shows at convention centers.

Felicia Powell –
Felicia’s internship at Kiddie Academy was filled with a lot of interaction with children from 6 months to one year old. She learned patience, how acid reflux impacts small children and what to do when this happens along with how a daycare facility is run.

Michael Reaves –
Michael’s LTI at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford panned out to offer more than the average internship. He was able to witness an open heart surgery operation where he observed a patient receive bypass surgery. Michael followed up with designing a brochure which explained the steps involved with bypass operations and grafting. His brochure is being used in the surgery department at St. Francis Hospital. Feel free to contact the Big Picture High School for a copy of the brochure.

Chassidy Swaby –
Chassidy managed to successfully complete two internships during the school year. One was at Metacomet Elementary School in Bloomfield and the other was with a midwife through Hartford Hospital. Chassidy’s passion is nursing, primarily midwifery. As a high school freshman, she has performed women’s exams, hosted a teenage pregnancy workshop which focuses on youth in the Hartford area and created a brochure on “Childhood Asthma” which will be used at Metacomet Elementary School. When Chassidy is asked “Why are you at the Big Picture High School?” she quickly responds: “I wanted to explore a different way of learning and I needed a change.”

Kevin Harrell –
Kevin’s passion is Law Enforcement. His internship at the Connecticut State Police Firearms Training Unit in Simsbury taught him that law enforcement is more than just a glorified ride in a police cruiser. Kevin’s mentor taught him how the various divisions within the CT. State Police work together. Kevin met the State Police Commissioner; Leonard Boyle. He spent time with the K-9 Unit, the Detective Division, Resident State Troopers, The S.W.A.T. Team, the Traffic Division, The Academy Staff, Selections & Recruiting, The Dare program, The motorcycle unit, Emergency Services, Rentsaler Field, The videographer as well as the Firearms Unit. When asked why he has this interest in law enforcement, Kevin states: “I believe I have something to offer the Connecticut State Police Department.”

Big Picture High School Students have passions which include, but are not limited to hair design, automotive repair, criminal law, law enforcement, surgery, pediatrics, acting, lawn care, education, childcare, nursing, midwifery, event planning, engineering, dentistry, television production, broadcasting and the list continues…

At Bloomfield’s Big Picture High School, students learn QR (quantitative reasoning), Communication, SR (social reasoning), ER (empirical reasoning) and PQ (personal qualities). Our three R’s include Rigor, Relevance & Relationships, and it all makes sense!
Bloomfield Public Schools
1133 Blue Hills Ave. Bloomfield, CT 06002
860-769-4200
Fax: 860-769-4215