Saturday, October 1, 2016

 

CHIPS Learning Services will celebrate the grand opening of its new CHIPS Learning Center with a free open house on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.  The center is at 104 North Tuxedo Ave., off Brainerd Road, in the Belvoir area--inside the Highland Enrichment Learning Programs (HELP) building (formerly 21st Century Academy).  

The new "hot-spot" will offer 21st century academic enrichment and technology education for K-12th grade students of all abilities.  It will function like a one-room schoolhouse and computer clubhouse, where students can come for camaraderie as well as to receive academic and career coaching.

​

 A catalog of classes, camps and clubhouse events can be found online.  Along, with the low teacher-student ratios, the center will feature technology education, code programming, Google apps, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) project based learning, virtual classrooms, hands-on activities and academic, vocational and technical curriculum.  Guest subject-matter-experts; homework helpers; a computer lab with library, and INTERNCHIPS co-operative learning services will also empower the program. 

 

Rolling out with the center will be the new CHIPS 2.0--Comprehensive and Holistic Interventions Personalized for Students, designed for cradle-to-career success. CHIPS 2.0 will offer PreK-12th grade students tutoring, academic interventions, progress monitoring, research-based instruction; IEP support and advocacy for families, homework help, and social-emotional support services.  It will be headed by Director Rachel Kelly, a licensed school psychologist with an Education Specialist degree in School Psychology.  Ms. Kelly is a former school psychologist with Hamilton County Schools and helped pioneer Chattanooga’s Baby University.  She has worked as a teacher, mentor and program coordinator for organizations such as St. Nicholas School, E-Kids and Girls Inc; and has supported students of all abilities from childcare to college.  A Ronald McNair Scholar, Ms. Kelly was honored with the Exemplary Scholar Award for her research work at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's Trio Program.  She is pursuing a doctorate degree in School Psychology; and is a contract school psychologist with Stellar Therapy Services.

 

Together, Ms. Kelly and her mother, Tekelia Kelly, founder and owner of CHIPS, will offer education enrichment similar to that they delivered at the Chattanooga Autism Center over the summer.  In debut of their new CHIPS STEAM Computer Camp, four young men with Aspergers, from high schools in Dalton and Signal Mountain, engaged in rigorous game design, code programming, 3D graphics, animations, and music production.  Campers coded computer games with multimedia stories and music, using programming languages such as Java Script, Scratch and Ruby.  They also piloted Tekelia Kelly’s new CODA music programming curriculum; a “whole-brain” learning framework that teaches music, art, history, social skills and coding, while students learn how to play music on a device like a Makey Makey Arduino microcontroller.  Each camper’s project was pitched as part of their electronic portfolio at the end of camp and awarded with certificates for innovation and technology skills. 

 

CHIPS offers students new ways to create, consume and capitalize on technology; including tech toys that help students learn about robotics, engineering, art, music, marketing, communications and more.  Lessons are designed to develop students’ transferrable knowledge and skills for building resumes, work portfolios and career opportunities.  

 

Tekelia Kelly says, “We are happy CHIPS is moving full-STEAM ahead to integrate academics, art, business and industry for better school-to-work and school-to-college success!  We also want to bring back the kind of learning this school building was known for when it was Brainerd Jr. High and 21st Century Academy; and showcase students’ talents and work as part of Chattanooga’s new Brainerd MidTown culture.” 

Homeschoolers, afterschoolers and all other learners are welcome.  To register, volunteer, teach, speak, sponsor, tour or learn more, contact Tekelia Kelly at tekeliakelly@comcast.net or 421-5646; or visit www.chipslearning.com.

​

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/9/23/332599/CHIPS-To-Offer-New-Learning-Center-And.aspx