In partnership with the BCSD and with funding from the State of South Carolina, NOC has established two Program Centers in the underserved neighborhoods of Parkview Apartments and Marsh Pointe Housing (about 120 apartments with predominantly African American population) in Beaufort.  At Parkview, an apartment unit has been converted into a classroom and at Marsh Pointe, the on-site Community Center is used as classrooms.  Beaufort Elementary School teachers and staff are working at these Program Centers during the summer, leading sessions in math, language arts, and literacy skills for elementary and middle school students from the neighborhoods.  At the Centers, students are provided with personal laptops along with Internet access to Compass Learning, the same program used by the students in their classroom during the school year.  The team works with Neighborhood Liaisons who help enroll students and maintain support in the residential area for the program.  Open houses and parent meetings are planned to further the involvement of neighborhood adults and keep them engaged in the activities of the students. NOC currently has 68 students registered for the program – 43 at Parkview and 25 at Marsh Pointe.  The student population ranges from Kindergarten through seventh grade and is predominately African-American.  Registration and informational opportunities are held at the beginning of each session, but students can also join the program at any time.

The teachers come from Beaufort Elementary School (BES) and are prime examples of the excellent partnership that has developed between the NOC and the Beaufort County School District.  The teachers bring professionalism, enthusiasm, and a keen interest in the academic success of the students to the program. Many innovative ideas have been introduced to the classroom, thanks to the creativity of the NOC teaching team. Many of the children enrolled in the program have been or will be in the BES classrooms of the NOC teachers when they return to school in the Fall.  The BCSD also provides support to NOC with the Compass Learning program and consistent reporting on the progress of the students during the summer session.  The Principal of BES, Melissa Holland, and members of her team have visited the two NOC sites on numerous occasions, demonstrating their interest in and support of the program.

The future of NOC in Beaufort is bright as strong relationships are being grown in the community and the value of the program is becoming established.  The partnership between Beaufort Elementary School, Beaufort County School District, and Neighborhood Outreach Connection is building upon earlier successes to establish a thriving and sustainable program.

The Virtual Summer Learning Program runs through the end of July. When the Fall school term commences, the NOC Program Centers in Beaufort will continue to provide after-school programs at Parkview and Marsh Pointe.  John Leadem, the Program Manager for both Beaufort sites, can be contacted at 919-302-4347 or [email protected] for additional information.

Dr. Narendra Sharma, founder and board chair of Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC), has received national recognition with a “Daily Point of Light Award.”  The Daily Point of Light Award (DPLA) is a national presidential honor given to volunteers who go above and beyond in their efforts to help others. A DPLA spokesperson said that “awarding the Daily Point of Light to Dr. Sharma allows us to share NOC’s inspiring work with others.”

The Daily Point of Light Award was created more than 20 years ago by President George H. W. Bush, who said, “By giving so generously of themselves, these remarkable individuals show us not only what is best in our heritage but what all of us are called to become.”

Dr. Sharma said that “he is honored and humbled by this national award.”  He noted that “it is a testimony to NOC’s outstanding accomplishments over the past seven years, achieved with the help of NOC’s team, partners, and generous donors.  NOC’s model is unique and effective in combating poverty and lowering the achievement gap experienced by children living in underserved neighborhoods in Beaufort County. The NOC model can be replicated throughout the country.”

NOC is a 501(c)3 organization that currently serves 380 children through its preschool, after school, and virtual summer learning programs in four Beaufort County NOC Program Centers, all of which are located in underserved neighborhoods. Another 100 children will soon be served in the city of Beaufort thanks to a $163,500 innovation grant award given to NOC in partnership with the Beaufort County School District.

NOC also provides health screenings in collaboration with partners including Beaufort Memorial Hospital, VIM, and DEHEC.  The screenings serve families in underserved neighborhoods. Last year, over 300 people took advantage of these health screenings.

Daily Point of Light announcement: http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/recognition/dpol/awards/5460​

NOC is featured in the 2015-2016 capital campaign kick-off video of the United Way of the Lowcountry.  The campaign is targeting $2.5 million over the coming year.  Last year, 48 agencies, including NOC, benefited from United Way contributions for basic needs and community development.

To view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g54rp-sEJ-U

On Tuesday, March 31, 2015, BCSD and NOC received a one-year award of $163,500 from the 2015 South Carolina Community Block Grants for Education for innovation in public-private partnership. The grant will fund two new NOC Program Centers to provide learning opportunities outside the school day to at-risk students in downtown Beaufort.

 About 100 children, mainly African Americans, from high-poverty neighborhoods (Parkview and Marsh Point Apartments, both public housing complexes) in downtown Beaufort will receive after-school tutoring support, computer-based learning, and summer learning to improve academic achievement in math, reading, and language arts. This program is expected to begin in early May.

The Beaufort Initiative has raised $22,000 in funds to sustain the project. A $50,000 matching grant has been offered by an anonymous out-of-state donor if the Initiative raises $50,000 locally.

Key Quotes:

BCSD Superintendent Jeff Moss:  “NOC’s track record at HHI and Bluffton is a strong one.  The focus in Beaufort will be to increase student achievement and family engagement while reducing the achievement gap.  Our data indicate the NOC is successful at doing that.”

Board of Education Chairman Bill Evans: “This truly was a collaborative, community-wide effort. Our challenge now is to build momentum for continued funding so we can sustain the project.”

Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling: “The project fills an important gap in the downtown Beaufort area left by the closing of the Boys and Girls Club. The data from existing NOC programs clearly demonstrate that young people who get extra attention and help – and receive that help in a safe place – improve not only academically but socially, too. And that helps to build a stronger sense of community in our neighborhoods.  I can’t think of a better investment.”

The Education Oversight Committee noted that the proposed downtown Beaufort program, “which operates outside of regular school hours during the afternoons, weekends and during the summer, includes evidence-based practices aimed at improving achievement, attendance, family engagement and behavior.  An innovative part of the program is that it takes place in the neighborhoods where the children and families live, alleviating the need for additional transportation costs.”

For more information, see:

Island Packet: http://www.islandpacket.com/2015/03/31/3675797/tutoring-program-for-at-risk-kids.html

Beaufort County School District: http://www.beaufort.k12.sc.us/pages/BCSD/News/District_awarded_tutoring_gran

WTOC-TV: http://www.wtoc.com/story/28673458/lowcountry-schools-receive-grant-money-for-after-school-programs

In a recent announcement, Red Cedar was named a Palmetto’s Finest School by the SC Association of School Administrators, the state’s professional organization for school leaders.  According to the announcement: “More than half of the school’s population is still learning English and 70 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch.” The five-year-old school has improved its state academic rating from average to excellent.”

More than 80% of the students in NOC’s after school program at the Bluffton House and Simmons Cay Program Centers attend Red Cedar Elementary School.  NOC has served nearly 100 children annually from Red Cedar over the past four years.  Dr. Kathleen Corley, Principal of Red Cedar Elementary School, commented to Joan Deery, NOC Board member, “…our partnership with NOC is a big part of our success…”

NOC is making a difference!

Read news release: Red Cedar Elementary captures top South Carolina honor