“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE”
Contact: Maria Norcia Santillanes Development Director WISE Services 29 Old Tarrytown Road White Plains, NY 10603 845.596.4429 msantillanes [at] earthlink.net
WISE Program Adds the 5th C: High School Seniors find Confidence
WHITE PLAINS, NY – May 15, 2011
The American Management Association 2010 Critical Skills Survey confirms the 21st Century requires workers that are more skilled and suggests the 4 C skills, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication skills will become more
important in a fast-paced, competitive global economy.
For 37 years, the Woodlands Individualized Senior Experience (WISE), a program founded by two innovative teachers at Woodlands High School in Hartsdale, NY to ‘cure senioritis’ has been providing students with the 4 C skills and adding the 5th C, the vital ingredient to what today’s executives say are the needed skills for the 21st century worker.
“WISE levels the playing field. It enables kids to tap into motivators and acquire the experiences that will drive their success as adults.” ~ Mary Ann Masarech – WISE 1978
While the first four C’s: Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication are widely accepted, WISE strongly advocates the need for students to develop the 5th C, confidence. WISE co-founder and president Vic Leviatin says: “It’s the confidence of the individual to forge ahead that will make all the difference in the real world of work and college.”
WISE allows students in their senior year of high school to collaborate with a teacher-mentor and choose a project to study. The project is meant to be something they enjoy, have a passion for or something they think they are interested in pursuing. The program takes many forms including individual research and internships. Students work on their project, journaling along the way, meeting weekly with mentors and conclude with a confidence-building grand presentation of their project, expertise, and findings to a diversified audience from their school, family and community.
Students develop their ability to write through journaling, they develop critical thinking and creativity in defining project strategy, they learn to collaborate with mentors and guides and for most, this will be the first time they speak in a public forum, an invaluable skill. As each student builds a real world skill, with it comes the 5th C, confidence, knowing they can excel at adult level work. For many this program is a pivotal moment helping them to decide their place. WISE graduates gain the distinct advantage of having real world skills when they sit down for their first real world interviews.
“WISE improved my confidence. I went to college feeling I can do anything; I felt as though there always is a “WISE” way to do the things I have to accomplish. Also, I now have this uncanny ability to speak to anyone, anywhere and anytime.” ~ Jirkita Muhammadu – Brooklyn School for Global Studies, 2008
The WISE Program, now more than ever, serves as a stark contrast to the standardized test preparation emphasized in most high schools. Over 30,000 WISE graduates in 60 schools in several states have learned to collaborate and to work independently, developing organizational, research, writing, presentation and public speaking skills as they kick-start a lifetime of personal growth. As one of the founders of WISE and current president, Vic Leviatin is fond of saying, “What did you do your senior year in high school?”
For more information, contact Maria Norcia Santillanes 845.596.4429, and visit our website at www.wiseservices.org
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