FSGWA Blog
Our March 7th event was packed with employment and college preparation activities! We were delighted to welcome our friends from Washingtonians for Children, a division of FEDCAP, to our March 7th event at the CFSA building. Also attending was our partner from Sara Start Fund, which serves older foster youth while they are in college. [...]
Students began their day with our nutritional routine of healthy juice and bananas and catching up with each other. Our students then focused on the task of studying vocabulary words and taking their two quizzes as part of their goal to increase their understanding and use of college level words, especially in various contexts. We [...]
Our latest Academy meeting on College Application Tips was on held on Saturday, January 10th, at the CFSA building from 9:00-3:00. We started our day with fresh orange juice, bananas, and hot chocolate with marshmallows to warm up our cold bodies and wake up our sleepy brains in preparation of our very full day of learning.
To begin, students reviewed their ACT/SAT vocabulary words that were introduced in September, followed by a quiz on vocabulary words from the summer session.
The Georgetown Chorale presented “A Mediterranean Christmas” on December 20th from 3:00- 5:00 at the First Congressional United Church of Christ located at 945 G Street, NW Washington, DC. Five of our students were able to attend this beautiful event of seasonal music along with several First Star Board members and staff. The program featured seasonal music from Italy and Spain, and the second half after intermission presented Ottorino Respighi's Laud to the Nativity, which was simply stunning in its beauty. The range of music ran our emotions from quiet meditation to complete crescendo celebration of the mysteries of life and faith. Beautiful paintings from the Renaissance and beyond accompanied the amazing choir, lending a lovely visual treat in addition to the auditory feast of full choir, soprano solos, keyboard, English horn, flute, bassoon, and piano.
Our December monthly meeting, set at Arena Stage was a huge success! First students learned basic theater terms and actions required for an original mini performance. One favorite activity leading up to the performance was where students anonymously wrote on “graffiti balls.” In this activity students wrote their thoughts on large poster board headlined with “I wonder...” and “I hope…”, and completed each sentence. This helped the students for their next step, which was writing and producing their own play. With the help of the great people at Arena Stage, our students produced and performed a short play.
The First Start Greater Washington Academy had a wonderful first monthly meeting at the Arts Club of Washington on Sunday, September 14th. Students and Mentors alike were ecstatic to see one another after the end the summer immersion in August. Smiles and warm embraces were abundant as we talked about our most recent gathering to take a photo with Director Donald, CFSA and how we occupied our remaining free time before school began.
Foster youth in the DC metro area need your help to overcome obstacles and circumstances so they can be successful, productive citizens. Help us by getting involved. Your support will turn dreams into reality for so many of our young foster students.
The Greater Washington Academy completed year two of their summer college program. Join friends of First Star as they celebrate the accomplishments of the Greater Washington Academy students during the closing ceremony and celebration.
The students did so many things and went to many different places. On Sunday, the students went to a Nationals baseball game. They received a free bobble head, as a collectable souvenir. The next day, they all dressed up for a formal dinner. All of the students looked handsome and beautiful! They were invited to have dinner at the Howard Theater to celebrate the success of high school and college graduates of students in the DC CFSA.
In the second annual First Star Greater Washington Academy Talent Show, students offer up their talents to an audience of friends, donors, educators, mentors and admirers.