KIDS AT COLLEGE

The Kids at College program is an innovative early awareness program introducing 4th graders of the Old Bridge Township Public School District to the concept of higher education. School counselors and teachers conduct classroom lessons and activities that focus on college, career awareness and the preparation needed for successful college entry. The program is designed to promote a college-going culture. A College-going culture refers to an environment that nourishes aspirations and behaviors that lead to preparing for, applying to, and enrolling in college. A strong college-going culture is made palpable in a school by its faculty, students, and families. There are key conditions that are important in turning the notion of a college-going culture into a tangible reality in a classroom. Classroom teachers, school counselors, administrators, parents and the colleges and universities are essential partners in this endeavor.

Each year, our college partners welcome students in the 4th grade onto their campuses. College faculty, staff and students work together to create a fun day of learning and exploration on the college campus for our elementary students. Young learners get a glimpse of their futures as they see themselves engaged in learning on a real college campus. Students tour various facilities and learn about the history, opportunities and offerings on each campus they explore. Often a professor or student organization will conduct a hands-on lesson in one of the many programs offered at the college. Elementary students get excited about their ability to engage learning and feel successful in a post-secondary environment. Students leave campus feeling empowered.

Fourth grade is a critical developmental time when students are becoming increasingly responsible for their own thoughts, feelings, behavior and academics. The program is introduced at a time when it is critical for children to learn how to plan their education and plan on learning in order to be productive, contributing citizens. They gain an appreciation for the educational foundation that they are currently engaged in at the elementary level and are able to make the connection that one day their hard work, determination and grit will allow them to flourish in a post-secondary environment.

The Kids at College program plants seeds of future opportunities and allows students to dream big. As our students aspire to become great learners, we show them the path and allow them to set their own course with the performance and ethical character traits needed to achieve their goals!

The Kids at College program is a community collaboration between the Old Bridge Public Schools and 18 institutions of higher learning. They include:

Princeton University
Rutgers University
The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
The New Jersey Institute of Technology
Seton Hall University
Monmouth University
Georgian Court University
Brookdale Community College
Middlesex Community College
Mercer County Community College
The College of New Jersey
Rider University
Berkeley College
DeVry University
Kean University
Ocean County College
The College of Staten Island
The College of St. Elizabeth

For more information click on the links below or contact Jean Czarkowski at jczarkowski@obps.org.

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