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Education & Skills Focus
"A high school diploma is absolutely critical, absolutely attainable and key to future success in college, in the workforce and in life."
New York Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr.
We believe that education unlocks opportunities and allows people to realize their full potential in both their education, careers and communities. Our educational focus aims to support students to successfully graduate high school and prepare for college, careers and life.
Project Morry’s educational curriculum guides students through a critical period in their educational and social development. Each of our programs is designed to enhance skills and establish habits that will enable students to thrive throughout their education and beyond.
The Four C's of 21st Century Skills
Our curriculum emphasizes student outcomes involving the Four C’s of 21st Century Skills. Consistent focus on these outcomes empowers students in their education, helping them to understand its purpose and relevance.
1. Critical Thinker
Solving problems and taking action as appropriate
2. Communicator
Understanding and communicating ideas
3. Collaborator
Working effectively with others
4. Creator
Producing high quality work
Fundamentals
Team Work + Leadership+ Social Skills+ Positive Core Values+ Self-esteem+ Personal Responsibility
From the time students enter the Project Morry program, they are on the pathway to developing fundamental skills and qualities that contribute to positive educational outcomes, as well as positively impact their health and wellbeing.
Throughout their Project Morry journey, students are exposed to knowledge and activities specific to their current educational needs and developmental stage.
Grades 4-7
- Literacy
- Critical thinking
- Goal-setting
- Self-reflection
- Creating a ‘Passport to Success’ to track student’s progress through the School Year curriculum
Grades 8-12
- Time management
- Public speaking and interview skills
- Understanding your transcript
- Using your resources
- College and career preparation, including:
- Standardized testing preparation
- Resume and college essay writing
- College eligibility and scholarship navigation
Social Justice
Social justice is an important theme throughout our educational curriculum. Students discuss and explore inequalities and systems of oppression through group discussion, storytelling, historical analysis, films, workshops and creative writing. Within these frameworks, they identify and analyze disparities and discrimination in the world around them, and focus on their power to be agents of positive social change.
How Our Programs Reinforce Educational Opportunities
School Year
Our year-round program includes monthly meetings as well as on-going communication with students, their families and communities. School Year supports educational success in the following ways:
- Academic support and guidance
- Goal-setting and pathway workshops
- Essay writing
- Self-exploration exercises
- Team building and leadership activities
- One-on-one and small group tutoring
Morry's Camp
Young people benefit from an exceptional summer learning experience at Morry’s Camp which focuses on personal excellence. Depending on the student’s age, Morry’s Camp educational and recreational curriculum includes:
- Creative and journal writing
- Group projects and challenges
- One-on-one and small group tutoring
- Portfolio development
- Career and course guidance
- Educational workshops
- Educational, historical and cultural excursions
- Access to a wide selection of books and literary discussion
- College visits
Education Symposium
Project Morry’s Education Symposium took place from 2006 to 2009. It was an opportunity for community partners, policy makers, researchers, youth development experts, sponsors, friends and colleagues to focus on relevant topics within the field of out-of-school time and summer learning. Some of the "great thinkers" who acted as thought leaders at this event included, Dr. Irving Hamer, Jr., Edmund W. Gordon and Henry Levin.
Despite outcomes that prove summer learning, extended learning, and out-of-school time learning opportunities help young people succeed, there is a tremendous gap in the access children have to these services. The Symposium discussions acted as a guide to help all involved work toward program enhancements. These lively exchanges provided ideas and tools that helped the organizations delivering out-of-school time learning to better meet the challenges that occur while providing equal access to educational opportunity.
In each of the four years that the Symposium occurred, over 25 participants from around the Metro-New York area, enjoyed a day of thoughtful reflection and call to action. Attending organizations were invited to share information about their programs. Presentations included from: The Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning, Partnership for After School Education, Classroom Inc., Homes for the Homeless, the American Camp Association-New York Section, Trail Blazers, Fiver Foundation, Project Morry, and the Heart of Brooklyn.
Project Morry Education Symposium Follow-up Reports
Our Programs
“Simply put, we are with our youth – for 10 years. Through the year and during the summer: to teach, guide them and propel them toward a future of their own design, which may not otherwise be possible.”