The Cross Bridge Scholars Program is an academically rigorous enrichment program committed to building an extended community in Philadelphia through a uniquecollaborative program between the Honickman Learning Center Comcast Technology Labs and Episcopal Academy. Encouraging a cooperative learning experience between students from both institutions, the Cross Bridge Scholars will design multi-media projects and an on-line magazine that combines the strengths of the students and institutions. The students will use their projects to promote open discussions about these difficult issues within their respective communities.
The projects the scholars worked on in the fall of 2006 were video debates on issues in the state of education in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the United States. The Cross Bridge Scholars thoroughly examined the state of education's many facets and debated how to create solutions for the problems and celebrate the successes of education today. Some of the topics debated: the merit of affirmative action, grading school's grades, lengthening/shortening the school year, social problems in schools, same-sex classes, and more.
Print versions of two of the debates were published in the North Philly Metropolis. Elizabeth Thompson wrote an article on same sex versus co-ed classes and Ted Hall, Isaiah Smith, and John Steele collaborated on an article on grading school’s grades. The North Philly Metropolis is written, edited, and published by the teen program at the Honickman Learning Center’s Comcast Technology Labs, in conjunction with project H.O.M.E.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
NEWS & EVENTS
The
CrossBridge
Scholars have competed their program for the 2007-2008 year. The Cross Bridge Scholars culminated the work they finished this year with their end of the year celebration at Warmdaddy's, a restaurant on Delaware Avenue. The scholars thoroughly enjoyed their evening which ended with a performance by Magic Slim and the Teardrops. Magic Slim is a blues guitarist and well known for his abilities.
This year, the scholars focused on different forms of medie and persuasion. The scholars composed and designed blogs focused on a myriad of topics relating to our theme of race and culture. Some of the issues tackled this year range from the legality of wearing hijabs in license photos, comparing Hurricane Katrina with the California wildfires, birth control for middle school students, to Philadelphia's proposed "stop and frisk" solution to curb the violence and murder rate. The blog weblinks will be online soon, on each scholar's profile page.
The
Cross Bridge Scholars also completed writing, shooting, logging, and editing public service announcements (PSAs) on race and culture issues relevant to the surrounding Philadelphia communities. Four groups worked extremely diligently on their PSAs which will be available on this site shortly. Each group was composed of a producer, a camera/audio person, and the on-screen talent. The topics the PSAs cover are the "No Snitching" problem in Philadelphia, the murder rate in Philadelphia, obesity and getting active, and teen pregnancy.
Pictures have been added of two recent Cross Bridge Scholar Events. To see pictures from the end of the year celebration for the 2006-207 Cross Bridge Scholars, click here. To view pictures of the meeting of the program founder, Mr. Haas, with some of last year's Cross Bridge Scholars, click here.
