The Center for Talent Development's Project BLAST
CTD's Project BLAST
What to Expect

 



Academic Challenges
Project BLAST provides challenging academic experiences that help participants see themselves as smart kids capable of achieving great things Project BLAST provides challenging academic experiences that help participants see themselves as smart kids capable of achieving great things. By taking interactive, mind-expanding courses taught by master teachers with the Center for Talent Development’s Saturday Enrichment Program (SEP), Project BLAST participants build their identities as scholars and increase their motivation to excel. Students choose courses of interest among a wide variety of options, from Superhero Science to Wham Bam Poetry Jam! To learn more, please visit What to Expect from the Saturday Enrichment Program.

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Cultural Experiences
Plays. Concerts. Museums, aquariums and architectural finds. Traditionally, exposure to a wide range of cultural experiences has been limited to students from financially advantaged families Plays. Concerts. Museums, aquariums and architectural finds. Traditionally, exposure to a wide range of cultural experiences has been limited to students from financially advantaged families. Project BLAST levels the playing field, enabling participants from low- to moderate-income families to enjoy these same opportunities and compete on more equal footing for future educational rewards. Through rich and meaningful cultural programming, Project BLAST increases students’ knowledge, broadens their worldviews and excites their sense of limitless possibility.

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Friendships
Project BLAST participants often become great friends – with each other and with Saturday Enrichment Program classmates Project BLAST participants choose to spend nearly half a year of Saturdays not sleeping in, hanging out or killing time, but learning. Perhaps because they have each made this same choice; perhaps because they all enjoy the thrill of discovery or perhaps, simply, because they are together a lot, Project BLAST participants often become great friends – with each other and with Saturday Enrichment Program classmates. These friendships with other high-achieving students help normalize being smart and ambitious. And the more “normal” academic achievement seems, the more likely kids are to seek it!

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High Expectations
Project BLAST is all about raising expectations – students’ expectations of themselves, parents’ expectations of their children and teachers’ expectations of their students Project BLAST is all about raising expectations – students’ expectations of themselves, parents’ expectations of their children and teachers’ expectations of their students. To accomplish this, the program has set its own expectations. Students must attend all 22 Saturday Enrichment Program classes each academic year, as well as all planned cultural excursions, and participate for the full length of the program. One student participant entering her second year in the program had to give up theatre workshops and dance group competitions to participate in Project BLAST, but, she says, it "was really worth it."

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Parental Involvement
Project BLAST advises parents and participants on courses to take in high school and college, helps resolve academic problems and empowers parents to identify educational and cultural opportunities for their children Parents, too, need to commit time and energy to transporting their children to classes and events. The rewards, however, are great. Not only do parents appreciate the challenging but nurturing programming and the growth they see in their children, they value the program’s parent and teacher meetings. Project BLAST advises parents and participants on courses to take in high school and college, helps resolve academic issues and empowers parents to identify educational and cultural opportunities for their children. “The program is phenomenal,” says one parent. "I would tell other parents that if it is at all possible for their child to be a part of it, they should consider it. It’s worth the commitment and the time."

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Fun
Peek into a Saturday classroom, and you might see Project BLAST participants ooh-ing and aah-ing over polymers, plants and mystery powders in a science class Peek into a Saturday classroom, and you might see Project BLAST participants ooh-ing and aah-ing over polymers, plants and mystery powders in a science class. Travel along with Project BLAST to the Shedd Aquarium, and you’ll find yourself laughing and clapping along with the students at the dolphins’ antics and the penguins’ struts. In both scenes, students are learning. In both scenes, students are having fun!


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