| Citizen Schools at Grady Middle School |
Spring 2010 is here!
Due to Houston-wide Professional Development Training, Citizen Schools at Grady will be closed Friday, March 5th.
Citizen Schools will have extended program on Friday, March 12th, due to early dismissal! Look out for Exploration permission slips!
Applications for the Spring 2010 Semester can be found in Parent's Corner.
Let's work together to finish a truly awesome school year!

About Us

Since 1995 Citizen Schools has built a creative and effective learning model that addresses
community needs while building student skills through hands-on experiential learning activities. Citizen Schools operates a National Network of apprenticeship programs
for youth that connects middle school students with adult volunteers in hands-on learning. The campus sites nationwide are located in California, New Mexico, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York City, and Texas. At Citizen Schools, students develop the academic and leadership skills they need to do well in school, get into college, and become leaders in their careers and in their communities.
Our goal is to prepare students for leadership roles in the 21st century. To achieve this goal, Citizen Schools has identified four important objectives for students' success:
- Strengthen academic skills
- Develop personal leadership skills
- Facilitate access to resources
- Build community connections
Our learning model includes Apprenticeships, Explorations, AIM (Homework help), and Team-building Activities. Citizen Schools focuses on skill development such as oral communication and links closely to school activities and learning standards.
Why Citizen Schools?

Citizen Schools has a dramatically more optimistic point of view - based on the exciting results of our unique "apprenticeship" approach that allows kids to learn by doing, and by teaching others, too. Research shows that kids (and adults) learn faster and more deeply from "real-life" experiences that challenge them to be active earners. That's why Citizen Schools students don't just learn how to protect environment spaces - they actually build a camp site that is environmentally friendly. And they don't just take pictures - they create a photo story that expresses their innermost thoughts and feelings. The result is a kind of confidence, self-discipline, and mastery that many children don't find anywhere else. Citizen Schools helps strengthen the community by building strong links between parents and schools, between neighborhoods and institutions, and between kids and adults.
What's more, Citizen Schools turns children into community heroes by teaching them the necessary skills to become leaders in the 21st century. |
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Parent Volunteers Needed! updated February 17, 2009 What will YOU teach?
Attention Parents:
As you know this year we are focusing on college preparation. As a result we have structured aspects of our program to reflect... more >
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8th GRADE ACADEMY
8th grade is a crucial year in a child’s education. Research shows academic achievement in eighth grade opens doors to high school success, college attainment, and rewarding careers. While many of their peers struggle, students in Citizen Schools’ 8th Grade Academy learn the skills, build the relationships, and discover the confidence they need to navigate their educations and lives.

This year, the Grady Campus proudly offers 8th Grade Academy to your child. Building on our previous success, we will provide:
- High School and College Visit
- Assistance with Application to High School of Choice
- Leadership Development
- Advanced Lessons
- Working Towards Positive Life Choices
Join us and provide a unique experience which challenges your 8th grader and helps him or her reach their potential!
Link to 8th Grade Acadamy |
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During our daily hour of academic support time, known as AIM — Aspire, Invest, Make the Grade — staff members check students' assignments in their school agendas, and read feedback from their teachers about how they are doing in a given subject. Citizen Schools Team Leaders serve as academic coaches, providing:
- Time, space, resources, and tools to complete assignments
- Coaching by peers and Team Leader to ensure students complete homework correctly
- Opportunities to review and practice essential skills, including those taught during Learning Labs or 8th Grade Academy lessons
- Support for increased self-direction in students' learning
- Structures that maximize and encourage effective effort from every student, thus promoting a culture of achievement
Link to AIM: Aspire, Invest, Make the grade |
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We're looking forward to an exciting spring semester filled with some really awesome apprenticeships!
Make sure your student is IN CLASS on Mondays and Wednesdays!
Monday Apprenticeships
Planning for a Star
Getting to Know Me
Def Poetry Slam: Grady Edition
Mad Science Labs
Carbon Footprint
GCS Kids, Inc.
Wednesday Apprenticeships
Concert for a Cause
Prepared4Life's Lemonade Day: Pucker Up!
Make a Difference
Citi Steppers
Kidz Talk
Art Car: Trick Grady's Ride
Houston Public Library's Grady in the Works
Link to Apprenticeships - Spring 2010 |
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A parent's first stop for information on Citizen Schools at Grady. Here, you can find information on upcoming events, forms that need to be filled out, etc.
All necessary documents (applications, permission forms, fliers, etc.) will be stored below.
Link to Parent's Corner |
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Welcome to the Staff Page. Match faces to the names of your Citizen Schools Team Leaders, Teaching Fellows and Campus Director.
Soon, we'll have pictures and bios! Until then, say "Hello!" to your Grady Citizen Schools staff:
Karen Sweet-Angel, Campus Director
Megan Quinn, Teaching Fellow 2, Citizen Teacher Liaison; Campus Floater
Melissa Dunkley, Teaching Fellow 2 and 8GA Curriculum Lead; 8th Grade Team
Shareta Green, Teaching Fellow 2; 7th Grade Team
Patrick Waters, Teaching Fellow 2 and Academic Program Lead; 6th Grade Team
Brian Chavez, Team Leader; 7th Grade Team
Josh Mouton, Team Leader; 6th Grade Team
Deborah Wiggins, Team Leader; 6th Grade Team
Roger Diaz, Team Leader; 6th Grade Team
Link to Staff Page |
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Grady Middle School
Citizen Schools
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Parent Volunteers Needed! posted on February 17, 2009 |
Parent Orientation posted on February 2, 2009 |
Donations for a New Father In Need posted on January 26, 2009 |
Photo Album Update! posted on January 16, 2009 |
Friday Exploration & Spring Start Date News posted on January 16, 2009 |
Calendar Update posted on January 13, 2009 |
Family Surveys posted on December 15, 2008 |
Check Out the New Photos! posted on December 15, 2008 |
Get Your Grady Book Cover! posted on December 15, 2008 |
Updated Photo Albums! posted on December 15, 2008 |
Continued Opportunites to Serve! posted on December 15, 2008 |
Superhero University Lock In posted on December 15, 2008 |
Calling All Parents! posted on December 15, 2008 |
Join Us For Lights On After School & A Dessert Potluck! posted on December 15, 2008 |
Dance, Dance, Revolution! posted on December 15, 2008 |
Teacher Appreciation Breakfast posted on December 15, 2008 |
Parent University: High School of Choice Night posted on December 15, 2008 |
WOW! Kids Invest posted on December 15, 2008 |
Rebuilding Houston Photo Album Uploaded posted on November 3, 2008 |
Upcoming Events posted on August 20, 2008 |
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