On a crisp Saturday morning (November 14, 2015), parents, children, friends, and supporters strolled to NOC’s Marsh Pointe Learning Center. This was a special day for the community and nothing would stop the children from participating. The atmosphere was festive.

Every day, more than 25 children come to this Learning Center, which operates outside regular school hours afternoons, weekends, and summer. NOC’s model of innovative partnership brings the school’s learning platform, curriculum, teachers, and technology, together with volunteers to improve children’s achievement, attendance, and behavior, and parent and family engagement. Children receive healthy snacks and juice as a component of this learning program. Incentives and regular consultations with parents and guardians are new features to improve academic performance.

Speeches were made by several leaders (Narendra P. Sharma, Founder & Chair, NOC; Jeffrey Moss, BSCD Superintendent; Bill Evans, Community Leader; Angela Childers, Director, Beaufort County Housing Authority; and Alice Howard, Councilwoman). Mayor Billy Keyserling led the ribbon cutting ceremony. He remarked that the children and parents ultimately will be the winners. Bill Evans noted that “the most essential and enduring piece of the NOC Model is the use of technology and local teachers who come into the child’s community to work with them.” Angela Childers said that she and her staff are already seeing evidence of the positive impact of NOC’s program on learning and behavior. Alice Howard remarked that we need to create similar opportunities for other children who come from a poverty background.  Narendra Sharma concluded that the future of our country depends on how we invest in our children and how we prepare them to meet the challenges of the 21^st Century.

 

Bluffton House Apartments, location of one of NOC’s two Learning Centers in Greater Bluffton, is in the process of being upgraded into a luxury apartment development. This move raises once again challenges to NOC’s efforts to meet the education needs of many children from low-income families currently residing the in the complex.

For more information, read the full article that appeared recently in the Island Packet.

http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/09/08/3915137_bluffton-house-affordable-housing.html?rh=1

 Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC) focuses on creating opportunities within distressed neighborhoods on Hilton Head Island, in Greater Bluffton, and in Beaufort by connecting resources, services, and technology to the people who need them most.

 NOC’s flagship program is an after-school tutoring program that brings teachers and volunteers into neighborhood “learning centers” to provide homework help during the school year, as well as a Virtual Summer Learning Program during the schools’ summer vacation.

Hiring teachers for NOC’s education programs is critical to the academic success of participating students. Your participation in the “Fore the Teachers” Golf Tournament — Saturday, September 19, at Bear Creek Golf Club — will enable teachers to continue their excellent work with students in the NOC after-school program.

For complete details see the registration forms attached below or call Gary Tauscher at 843-‎689-5712

2015 NOC Tournament

2015 PLAYER REGISTRATION

2015 Sponsor Opportunity  

 

 

 

 

 

August 13 was a special day.  The first cohort of NOC students from Parkview and Marsh Pointe Apartments in downtown Beaufort successfully completed their summer learning program with the help of dedicated NOC staff, teachers from Beaufort Elementary School, committed parents, and the management team of the two apartment complexes.   NOC, BCSD, and the Beaufort Community can be proud of this program which has given hope and opportunity to children and families in need of support.

John Leadem, Program Manager, Beaufort Program, said:

 The final week of the Virtual Summer Learning Program was marked by much enthusiasm and a drive to finish the program on a positive note. Fourteen students achieved perfect attendance; seven at each center. Each of the fourteen perfect attendance students received McDonald’s gift cards. For their high academic performance and attendance,  Zymere Davis at Parkview and Ja’Niah Milledge at Marsh Pointe won bicycles. Six other children received Walmart gift card and the remainder chose from some “premium” gifts in the Pirate’s Treasure Chest. The celebrations were highlighted by a visit by Dr. Sharma who spoke passionately to the children about education, the value of hard work, and their bright futures. We also were honored by the presence of Principal Melissa Holland and the new Beaufort Elementary School Principal Vickie Goud. Ms. Holland greeted the students warmly and shared some special words about the value of NOC in their educational plans and our partnership with the kids’ school and teachers. A special moment at Marsh Pointe occurred when one student’s (Omarion Cohen) grandmother Linda appeared at the door of the classroom with four pizzas for the kids in thanks for the great summer Omarion has experienced. The children were delighted as they ate pizza and made their own-ice cream sundaes, including whipped cream, crushed cookies, and flavored syrups. In addition, the lunch program sent each child home with a bagged lunch. Many hugs and “see you in Augusts” were exchanged and the children left the centers with certificates, progress reports, gifts, and other items in hand. A fine ending to a successful summer campaign.