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The Gardner Extended Services School
Brighton, MA
Founded on the idea that "it takes a whole village to educate a child," the Gardner School developed a full-service model in 1997, when the school's principal, Catalina Montes and nurse, Elsa Meuse, realized that their students were struggling academically because they had other needs that were not being met. They discussed the problem with Boston College professor, Dr. Mary Walsh. From these conversations, a partnership, a vision, and a plan emerged. After securing support from the Oak Square YMCA and the DeWitt Wallace Foundation to support their new full-service model, the school began to offer services to meet students' and families' multiple needs. Today, the Gardner Extended Services School proving that community partnerships play a key role in helping students learn.

Since 1997, partnerships with community agencies have enabled the school to make great strides in addressing student's health, mental health, and social needs—needs that when not addressed can severely hinder learning. With support from St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, the Gardner School opened a full-service pediatric health clinic in 2000. This year through a partnership with Children's Hospital, the school has been able to acquire a pediatrician to work at the school one day per week. In addition, with help from Brighton-Allston Mental Health, the Trauma Center and the Oak Square YMCA, the school has been able to aquire one school-based social worker and a group of visiting clinicians to meet with un-insured students and run group work. In addition, support from the Oak Square YMCA, Boston College and Harvard University has helped the Gardner School develop a comprehensive before and after school program that offers academic enrichment, homework support and recreational activities to students. All of these partnerships are working together to positively effect student learning at the school; since the birth of partnerships at the school, students are improving academically and achieving at higher rates.

In addition to benefiting students, partnerships at the Gardner School are creating a warm climate where parents feel supported and welcome. Through a relationship with the Joseph Smith Health Center, the school has been able to offer support groups and a comprehensive ESL and computer to parents. Also, the school encourages parent participation though a Parent Volunteer Program. While partnerships are a key component of the Gardner School's success, they would not be possible without the dedication, care and hard work of the school's staff. The school's principal, Erica Herman; Director of Extended Services, Julie Bott; and Student Support Team Coordinator and Nurse, Elsa Meuse, all work together to make sure that all of the students needs at the school are recognized and addressed.

For more information about the Gardner School, please contact Julie Bott, Director of Extended Services at jbott@boston.k12.ma.us.


	GARDNER SCHOOLLUCY STONE SCHOOLOTIS SCHOOL
	GARDNER SCHOOLLUCY STONE SCHOOLOTIS SCHOOL
	The Gardner Extended Services School Brighton, MA Founded on the idea that "it takes a whole village to educate a child," the Gardner School developed a full-service model in 1997, when the school's principal, Catalina Montes and nurse, Elsa Meuse, realized that their students were struggling academically because they had other needs that were not being met. They discussed the problem with Boston College professor, Dr. Mary Walsh. From these conversations, a partnership, a vision, and a plan emerged. After securing support from the Oak Square YMCA and the DeWitt Wallace Foundation to support their new full-service model, the school began to offer services to meet students' and families' multiple needs. Today, the Gardner Extended Services School proving that community partnerships play a key role in helping students learn. Since 1997, partnerships with community agencies have enabled the school to make great strides in addressing student's health, mental health, and social needs—needs that when not addressed can severely hinder learning. With support from St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, the Gardner School opened a full-service pediatric health clinic in 2000. This year through a partnership with Children's Hospital, the school has been able to acquire a pediatrician to work at the school one day per week. In addition, with help from Brighton-Allston Mental Health, the Trauma Center and the Oak Square YMCA, the school has been able to aquire one school-based social worker and a group of visiting clinicians to meet with un-insured students and run group work. In addition, support from the Oak Square YMCA, Boston College and Harvard University has helped the Gardner School develop a comprehensive before and after school program that offers academic enrichment, homework support and recreational activities to students. All of these partnerships are working together to positively effect student learning at the school; since the birth of partnerships at the school, students are improving academically and achieving at higher rates. In addition to benefiting students, partnerships at the Gardner School are creating a warm climate where parents feel supported and welcome. Through a relationship with the Joseph Smith Health Center, the school has been able to offer support groups and a comprehensive ESL and computer to parents. Also, the school encourages parent participation though a Parent Volunteer Program. While partnerships are a key component of the Gardner School's success, they would not be possible without the dedication, care and hard work of the school's staff. The school's principal, Erica Herman; Director of Extended Services, Julie Bott; and Student Support Team Coordinator and Nurse, Elsa Meuse, all work together to make sure that all of the students needs at the school are recognized and addressed. For more information about the Gardner School, please contact Julie Bott, Director of Extended Services at jbott@boston.k12.ma.us.