Submitted by Helen Weingart; HARTFORD
10 August 2008
The Hartford Courant
Copyright 2008, The Hartford Courant. All Rights Reserved.

As part of a $13.2 million National Math and Science Initiative grant, high school students from several Connecticut towns will participate in a summer program where they'll learn team-building strategies, acquire new study skills and get a taste of college life as they prepare for the rigors of their first Advanced Placement classes this fall.

"This three-day summer program, Aug. 19-21, is designed to help prepare high school students who are new to the demands of AP courses," said Helen Weingart, field program manager for the NMSI grant program called Project Opening Doors. More than 100 students representing Ansonia High School, Bulkeley High School (Hartford), Coventry High School, East Hartford High School, Putnam High School and Wilby High School (Waterbury) will participate in the Project Opening Doors' August program, according to Weingart.

On the first day of Project Opening Doors' August program, students will take part in special team-building activities that will introduce them to one another, build their self-confidence by focusing on communication and leadership skills, and engage them in group problem-solving challenges. Among other things, they will participate in high- and low-ropes courses. The students are junior and seniors. Students will spend their second day at UConn in Storrs, Weingart said, where they will get a glimpse of college living.

On the third day, Project Opening Doors students meet at Manchester Community College, where they will prepare for the challenge of AP courses by learning about time management, basic study skills, learning styles, study group participation and etiquette, types of writing and note-taking methods.

As an incentive, Project Opening Doors offers students cash rewards for every math, science or English AP test grade that is 3 or higher; students can score a maximum of 5 points. Project Opening Doors also offers a stipend to AP teachers.

Connecticut is one of only seven states to win a grant from NMSI, a non-profit organization created to help the U.S. maintain its global leadership position in technological innovation. Exxon Mobil Corp., the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation are also supporting the national initiative.

To learn more, contact Weingart at EASTCONN, 860-455-0707, or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .