EDUCATION
Date Posted: 11/17/2014
Subject: Scholarship Opportunity (Bramwell Group Legacy Foundation)
PS Youth is pleased to announce this scholarship opportunity:
The Circle of Friends Foundation has made available the $500 Bramwell Group Legacy Foundation Scholarship Award to an eligible high school student who plans to attend college during the 2015/2016 school year but may face financial hardships.
Please see eligibility requirements and a link to the full announcement with Scholarship Application Form and Essay Form below:
Application Form and Essay Form - The Bramwell Group Legacy Foundation
Due date for application submittal is December 6, 2014. Share with a youth who may benefit. $500 could go a long way!!
Please contact PS Youth, the scholarship administrator, with any questions regarding this scholarship! Contact Us!

Date Posted: June 2nd, 2014
Subject: Summer Youth Activities - Middle and High School Youth
Contact PS Youth to RSVP!

Date Posted 10/9/2013
Subject: Rise in Charter School Support
View the followin State Impact article about Governor Rick Scott's support of charter schools versus district run public schools.
Grading Florida Governor Rick Scott on Education
(Article does not express opinion of PS Youth)
Date Posted: 6/5/2013
Subject: NO MORE FCAT?
Florida Department of Education has decided --> No More FCAT??
"Florida teachers and school administrators will get help this summer understanding how to implement Common Core State Standards.
The new standards are designed to make sure high school graduates are adequately prepared for college or the workforce.
The standards are based on international benchmarks at each grade level. Common Core assessments will be given at least twice a year, and students must be able to explain their answers.
But teachers are still trying to figure out how to teach the standards."
The Common Core is not a new concept and schools have been gradually incorporating these standards into their teaching. However, now teachers/administrators have a summer to fully integrate the Common Core curriculum for 1st grade through 2nd graders. 3rd - 8th graders have until the 2014-2015 school year. The Common Core is really designed to take the guessing out of testings while ensuring that teachers are no longer teaching for a test. Students will be encouraged to think more critically and no more will they be able to "wing it". For younger students especially, this will be good. Being tested twice per year will provide a great gauge for teachers/administrators/parents and organizations such as PS Youth (that work to provide assistance to students in areas of weakness).
The Common Core is nothing new to PS Youth as we have already incorporated these standards into our curriculum. We welcome the change and look forward to the fear being taken out of testing.(Sometimes, the way the students act towards the FCAT makes one want to rename the "FCAT" as the Fear Comprehensive Assessment Test). This change should also help to cultivate students' confidence levels as wel
Date Posted: 6/5/2013
Subject: Summer Update/Safety
So, here we are -- the last week of school for Broward County.
We had a great year at PS Youth in our tutoring and after-school programs and are eagerly awaiting parents' reports of final report cards (to be issued on June 26th)... However, most of us proactive parents already know how those grades stand. We are also eager to find out those FCAT scores. So far, 3rd grade Reading and Math scores are available. 4th and 8th grade Writing scores are also available (via Virtual Counselor).
PS Youth always strives to provide excellent services to the students we serve, and we are quite confident that we will maintain our rating of "EXCELLENT" from Florida Department of Education.
REMINDERS:
Thursday is the last day of school for Broward, which is also an Early Release Day. PS Youth will be open from 12pm - 6:30pm in order to accommodate students.
Friday is an Employee Planning Day for Broward Schools. PS Youth will also be closed.
Please note, PS Youth will be closed on Saturdays during the Summer Break!
SAFETY:
**Parents, please ensure that students avoid any form of trouble during this last week of school. Most schools ban book bags for safety concerns. Your child should know to walk away/report to adult if they face danger at school.
PS YOUTH'S SUMMER SESSION:
PS Youth's Summer Session begins on Monday, July 1st and ends on Friday, August 2nd. Please contact us at 954-358-0625 if you need more information/registration forms.
SUMMER COMMUNITY EVENTS, TO BE ANNOUNCED:
PS Youth has some fun community events planned during the summer months; we will be posting more information soon. We will have partnership/sponsorship/volunteer opportunities available. Please stay tuned for more information.
Happy Summer!!!!!!
PS Youth
Date: 6/5/2013
Subject: What Exactly is Summer Slide and How Can It Be Prevented?
PREVENT SUMMER SLIDE -- ENCOURAGE READING!
Parents/Guardians: Please ensure that your children read over the summer break!
"Summer Slide", the loss of reading skills over the summer break, accounts for 2/3 of achievement gaps between poor children and affluent children.
-Source: FirstBook
Did you know that children can lose up to three months of academic progress over the summer? Over 100 years of research continually shows this trend.
Encourage your children to read EVERY day! Read non-fiction, fiction, ebooks, poetry, newspapers and read out loud! For most children, twenty minutes is an appropriate amount of time to read for a child who is an independent reader. Most libraries have a wonderful summer reading program with incentives and rewards for books read over the summer.
-Source: Little Scholars & PS Youth
Date Posted 10/07/2012
Subject: FEE WAIVER FOR PSAT/SAT
Just a reminder that high school juniors (11th grade) who are deemed as low-income (receive free or reduced lunch) may qualify for fee waivers for the PSAT. Please inquire with individual schools for more informat
ion - the regular fee for the PSAT is $14. It is highly recommended that students sit the PSAT during the 11th grade -- or 10th grade, if at all possible. See the following link for further details:
Find more information here!
Date Posted: 10/5/2010
Subject: Anti-Bullying Resources for Parents and Teachers
The epidemic of our kids committing suicide as a result of bullying has gotten nationwide attention. Here is a link to some valuable resources to help parents and teachers address this touchy topic with our kids. Let's take a step to end bullying. It is not cute and it is not cool, it is now a killer among our fragile children, and we must now gain control, as a community. However, it all starts at home. Here is the link for a step by step approach of how to get the conversation started.
Date Posted: 5/14/2010
Subject: Teacher of the Year Finalists Named
Five outstanding Florida educators received a surprise visit from the Department of Education and representatives from Macy’s last week to find out their selection as a finalist for the 2011 Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year award. The statewide finalists were announced during Florida ’s annual Teacher Appreciation Week. This year’s finalists were chosen from a distinguished group of 72 district finalists for the prestigious honor.
Congratulations to the 2011 Macy’s/Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year finalists:
- Kelly Burnette, Yulee High School , Nassau County
- Zachary Champagne, Mandarin Oaks Elementary School , Duval County
- Cheryl Conley, Osceola Magnet Elementary School , Indian River County
Date Posted: 5/7/2010
Subject: Boyd H. Anderson High School Alumni Scholarship Fund
In 2008, a group of Alumni from Boyd H. Anderson High School joined ideas to create the Boyd Anderson Alumni Association. The group's mission is to “foster relationships among the school’s alumni and to enhance the scholastic growth of the student body.” The mission is supported by four core pillars or objectives, commonly referred to as A.C.E.S., they are: Advocacy, Connection, Education, and Service.
The group is currently raising money for their scholarship fund which is open to any Boyd Anderson Student going to a 4-year institution and demonstrates the characteristics that the alumni association promotes.
Below is a link to donate money for this great cause and help ease the financial burden of a high school student entering the collegiate world. They are a 501(c)3 organization.
http://boydhandersonalumni.ning.com/page/bahs-scholarship-donationSource: Boyd H. Anderson Alumni Association Treasurer, Kim M. Braxl
Date Posted: 5/7/2010
Subject: The Importance of Summer Reading
Just Read, Families! is a summer reading program which provides parents with information about actively reading with their children during the summer months. Governor Bush first proclaimed May 2003 as Just Read, Families! month.
Research shows that children who do not continue reading through the summer can lose a month or more of progress made during the school year. By encouraging their children to read, parents are playing a critical role in achieving our goal of having every child reading at or above grade level by 2012. Now is the time to take advantage of the many activities and resources available on this website. Keep your children engaged in reading!
Children are a precious gift, and the opportunity to inspire a love of reading is both a great honor and an extraordinary responsibility. With your help, we can make Florida's reading goals a reality.
View the 2010 Summer Recommended Reading List!
Source: Florida Department of Education
Date Posted: 5/7/2010
Subject: Should Kids Be Bribed to Do Well in School?
Harvard conducted a study which found that "rewarding behaviors that lead to learning gains was much more impactful than simply rewarding the desired outcome" (uBoost).
As educators and parents, we know that students succeed more in an atmosphere of reward rather than punishment, but just how much is too much?
Read the TIMES article for more details on the findings of the Harvard study.
Source: uBoost, TIMES Magazine
Date Posted: 1/13/2009
Subject: Davie student honored for efforts, gets $3K award before Dolphins game
Davie student gets $3K award before Dolphins game
By Scott Fishman |South Florida Sun-SentinelJanuary 11, 2009
Realizing how fortunate he is, Chase Book, a junior at University School in Davie, started promoting the Neighbors 4 Neighbors Adopt-A-Family 4 the Holidays program.
For the past three years, Book would hand out fliers and go on the morning announcements to get classmates involved in the cause. His efforts, along with student volunteers he has recruited, have helped nearly 200 families in some way to make the holidays a little brighter.
"By the foundation of my parents, I realized I need to give back to my community because if I don't, I feel no one will," he said. "I feel like I have to make a statement that there are people who still care."
Book was recently recognized for his efforts and presented a check for $3,000 as the Junior Community Quarterback Award grant recipient in pre-game ceremonies of a Miami Dolphins game.
(Source: Sun-Sentinel)
DATE POSTED: 7/28/2008
SUBJECT: Broward Program Reaches out to High Schoolers - Play Regarding Youth Concentrating on Education and Career instead of Drugs, Sex, & Crime
http://www.blinkx.com/video/broward-youth-program-reaches-out-to-high-schoolers/nIGS-hbc3jZnuOgCSKsS_Q
(Source: Sun-Sentinel)
DATE POSTED: 1/24/2008
SUBJECT: Harvard Tuition Announcement
Harvard University announced on December 10th that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, 'When only 10 percent of the students in Elite higher education come from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution.'
If you know of a family earning less than $40,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free...no tuition and no student loans!
To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $40,000 a year visit Harvard's financial aid website at: http://www.fao.fas.Harvard.edu/ or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.
(Source: Broward Community College)
COUNSELING/THERAPEUTIC/HEALTH SOLUTIONS
Family Central is offering therapeutic solutions for children between the ages of 2- 11.

Date Posted: 10/16/2012
Subject: Healthy Kids/United Health Care has partnered with PS Youth to bring awareness to parents/guardians about affordable health insurance for children.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION
DATE POSTED: 5/7/2010
SUBJECT: National Youth Prevention Week
During the March 3, 2009 Broward County Public School Board meeting, the Resolution in Support of National Youth Violence Prevention Week, March 23 – 27, 2009, was approved. During this week-long national education initiative, their goal was to raise awareness and to educate students, teachers, administrators, resource officers, and the community on effective ways to prevent or reduce youth violence.
The violence prevention week includes the following focus days for prevention strategies:
o Day 1: Promote Respect and Tolerance, Sponsored by Teaching Tolerance
o Day 2: Manage Your Anger, Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association
o Day 3: Resolve Conflicts Peacefully, Sponsored by the Association For Conflict Resolution
o Day 4: Support Safety, Sponsored by the National Youth Court Center
o Day 5: Unite in Action, Sponsored by Youth Service America

Visit Broward Public Schools' Office of Prevention Programs website for more info.
Date Posted: June 2nd, 2014