THE NEWS OF EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Young Teens Empowered to Create Website

Students from Eisenhower Middle School team up with United Way and a local web developer to create a website just for middle schoolers

Students at Eisenhower Middle School are teaming up with United Way of Northern New Jersey’s Youth Empowerment Alliance (YEA) for the Cyber Connections Web Project – a website designed by middle school students for middle school students.

In an effort to positively change the atmosphere and alleviate ongoing issues within the school, Eisenhower staff brought together students from all social groups to work with YEA and a local web developer on this unique website.  While learning about common business practices, these students are also learning about the importance of developing new, respectful relationships with one another.

As part of Phase I of the project, students have been working with YEA, web designers, and volunteers to design a website appealing to middle school students’ interests.  The idea is to create a virtual meeting space where young teens can link to community information, such as local happenings, school information, volunteer opportunities, and much more. 

With over 30 middle schools in Morris County, the website has the potential to network thousands of middle school students to one another to learn about what other kids their age are involved in throughout our communities.  The pilot website launched at Eisenhower in January 2011.  Click here to see what the students came up with!

The success of this project can be seen on the web and in the atmosphere at Eisenhower Middle School.  “The school was facing some challenges, but things have really turned around,” said Liz Warner, YEA Project Leader at United Way.  “The halls are now very energetic, warm, and friendly.  Everyone works together so well.”  The Cyber Connections Web Project is a true testament to YEA’s hard work to create positive change in Morris County’s middle schools.

Initial funding for the Cyber Connections Web Project was provided by a $5,000 grant from Jersey Central Power & Light.  Thanks to a second $5,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, YEA is embarking on Phase II of the project to sign on two additional Morris County middle schools to participate in this unique hands-on program.

Meet the team of students from Eisenhower Middle School who worked on this project!  Click here to view a video made by the students about their experience.