*STARS* [Schools Together for Arts ResourceS] wasformed in 1994 to offer New Haven school students
from a wide variety of backgrounds a way to find common ground, expand their horizons, experience wonderful arts opportunities, and have a great time! It also offers teachers
an important chance to work together.  

Foote's Saturday morning collaborations with neighbor -
hood public schoolsprovide elective drama, writing, multi-media, and singing programs and involve equal
numbers of students and teachers from participating
schools.

The programs culminate in a special community
event. The groups are small, stressing process and
interaction, and the experience has been meaningful
for students and teachers alike, broadening horizons
and expanding repertoires.

For winter 2008 three *STARS* programs were
offered.
Programs began Jan. 19 and culminated on Mar. 1.

Cooking with Stories (Ages 5-7)

Foote & King/Robinson School

Hello!/Hola! (Ages 6-8)
Foote & Timothy Dwight School

Africa! China! Mexico! (Ages 8-9
Foote &  John C. Daniels School

Major components of all *STARS* programs:

* The programs are free to all participants.
* The programs focus on the arts: drrans mixed
    media, singing, writing
*  Teachers from each participating school
    meet together before a program begins to
    establish goals and plan curriculum;  
    their collaboration is essential     and demonstrates cooperation of the
    participating students.
* There is an equal number of students from
    each school
* Saturday workshops alternate their meeting spaces                        *STARS* 2008
    between or among the schools involved, so that
    students can expand their horizons.
* There is some culminating activity or event to bring
    participants and community members together.
* The children are working together to create something 
    satisfying, but proces  is as important, if not more important, than product.

Teachers find it very exciting to work with these programs. Take a look at photos from *STARS* in Action 2008. There's an energy and enthusiasm involved with bringing school groups together.  Kids discover their similarities and barriers are broken down. The programs have also provided teachers and parents with opportunities and outlets for involvement and sharing of skills and development of new curricula.

Program Funding

Funding for these programs has come from grants.  Teachers receive a stipend.  We continue to look for funding sources and apply for grants; money has come from private individuals, The Barnes Foundation, Fighting Back [Robert Wood Johnson], Merrill Lynch, New Haven Road Race, New Haven Savings Bank Foundation, The Old School Foundation, The Foote School Board, the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative program of the New Haven Board of Education and The William Caspar Graustein Foundation. Atticus Bookstore-Café/Chabaso Bakery supplies refreshments.

Questions? Contact Laura Altshul or Dawn Walsh , *STARS* Coordinators

Rev. February 2008

The Foote School | 50 Loomis Place | New Haven CT 06511
Tel: 203-777-3464 | Fax: 203-777-2809

STARS 2005

STARS 2005 offered 5 programs, alternating Saturday morning sessions between New Haven public schools and Foote School, and serving 60 students ages six to 12:

*Cooking with Stories for 6 to 8 year olds

*Hello/Hola! for 6 to 8 year olds

*Writing for Third Graders

*Science Detectives for 4th and 5th graders

*Sing for Joy! for 4th and 5th graders

Collaborating public schools were Timothy Dwight School, Martin Luther King, Jr., School, and Prince Street School [which participated in 3 of the 5 programs]. See photos of  *STARS* in Action 2005.

Ten teachers and two coordinators facilitated the activities of the 5 small groups, fostering exciting learning activities, individual growth, and peer interaction. Barriers were broken down as children from different backgrounds discovered their similarities.  Sessions culminated in a festive reception involving families, friends, teachers, and administrators.  After a presentation of highlights from each program, adults and children joined in dancing a reel and celebrating with lemonade and cake.

We are especially proud of the role STARS plays in professional development — as teachers from different schools work together to plan and execute STARS activities they share skills, develop new curricula and class management techniques, and expand their repertoires.  The program serves as a model, involving parents, teachers, administrators, and community members working toward a common goal: bringing resources together to serve all children. 

Research has shown the importance of cultivating children's interests so that they stay involved with their schools and develop a long-term commitment to education.  STARS programs nurture the excitement of discovery in learning and enhance a child's chances of graduation.  The culminating event of each project involves a reception to showcase the children's work, publicly acknowledging their accomplishments, and bringing families from diverse backgrounds together. 

The program is free for students. The bulk of the modest budget ($10,000 to $12,500) funds teacher stipends; it also covers the cost of materials, the publishing of TreasureBox for the Writing collaborative, and some snacks (most come as a donation from Atticus Bookstore-Cafe/Chabaso Bakery.)  Funding this year came from the Foote School Board, the New Haven Savings Bank Foundation, and individual donors.  Although the STARS budget is relatively small, its reach is large.