Archive: Around Town

Liberty Partnerships

Liberty Partnerships at Groton high school provides academic intervention and other services, operating through partnership with local schools, higher education institutions and community based agencies. Through the program students are supported in a variety of endeavors, including seeking post-secondary education or meaningful employment.  Now in his third year at Groton high school, Roy Pratt says the best part of his job is the positive impact he sees it making in each student’s life.

Employed through SUNY Cortland as Program Coordinator for Groton high school, Pratt collaborates with his students to help them stay focused and succeed in areas they are struggling in.

He commented, "I am amazed by how quickly I have to change gears sometimes, but it is well worth it."

Pratt enjoys getting to know each young person he sees and says it is very rewarding to witness their growth as they become more self-assured and confident. Once a student signs up for the program, Pratt helps them develop their personal goals and a plan of execution. He then keeps them up-to-date and on track with these goals, which he says are "really only limited by our imagination."

The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) began in the late eighties to increase graduation rates and better prepare students for post-secondary education or meaningful employment. From skills assessment, tutoring and counseling to mentoring programs and cultural enrichment opportunities, participants find support and learning opportunities that empower them to be proactive about their futures.

Teen Thing
 
The Groton Public Library 'Teen Thing' students, headed by Drew Montreuil, visited the high school media lab on Thursday, November 19th to learn how to create music on Garageband.  'Teen Thing' is an extracurricular activity space for young Groton teens that are not already involved in an after school activity through the high school school.

There were 22 participants working with Garageband that afternoon. This is the third year that Library Assistant Drew Montreuil and Groton Media Relations teacher Mick Levick have worked together building connections between the school and community.  High schoolers Mike Perkins, Abby Vormwald and Brooke Jackson, current media students, led the class by instructing and assisting the students to help them create music tracks. These music tracks will be a part of a larger video project that the 'Teen Thing' participants will complete in the Spring.
 
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