Education

The Herald News

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Atlantis Charter School in Fall River wins state grant for career prep

Atlantis Charter Public School has received $50,000 in state funding to support hands-on career training for its high school students. The funding comes from a $5 million grant initiative announced by Gov. Maura Healey to expand Innovation Career Pathways programs across Massachusetts, according to a community announcement. The programs help students explore careers in high-demand industries while gaining practical experience and preparing for college or employment. Atlantis, which serves students in kindergarten through grade 12, received its state designation for Innovation Career Pathways programming in 2019. “We are proud to offer a state-designated Innovation Career Pathways program to our students at Atlantis,” said Robert Beatty, the school's executive director. “Atlantis was founded on the principles of experiential, real-world learning. In practice, this means we teach every student the critical skills needed for both higher education and emerging regional industries. This generous funding helps us carry those principles forward and continue to serve as a model for what successful career pathway learning looks like in action.” How Atlantis prepares students for careers Atlantis offers five career-focused academies designed to connect classroom instruction with professional experience. Students can choose from: Business and Entrepreneurship STEM Media Arts Teaching and Social Services Medical and

Taunton Daily Gazette

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Taunton leaders use college lessons to help residents

Two Taunton human services leaders are drawing on their college experiences as they connect residents with help for health, financial and personal challenges. Charlene Bonenfant and Marc Dunderdale, leaders in the city’s Department of Human Services, oversee programs that include services for older residents, emergency and fuel assistance and case management, according to a community announcement. Bonenfant is the department’s director and Dunderdale is assistant director. Both graduated from Bridgewater State University, where they said their experiences helped prepare them for careers built around listening to residents and responding to their needs. Bringing health support to seniors at home Among the department’s initiatives is a partnership with Brewster Ambulance that brings staff to senior citizens’ homes for free, noninvasive care. The program also helps people who have recently been discharged from the hospital and is designed to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, according to the announcement. Bonenfant and Dunderdale have also worked to build connections between the department and Taunton public housing communities, helping residents access available programs and services. Bonenfant became director as the COVID-19 pandemic drove an urgent need for emergency assistance and community resources. A 1991 and 2009 graduate of Bridgewater State, Bonenfant earned undergraduate and graduate