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Who We Are & What We Do
WHAT IS AN NYC OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL?
Community School for Social Justice (CSSJ) is an NYC Outward Bound School. NYC Outward Bound Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates a network of public schools in partnership with the NYC Department of Education. All NYC Outward Bound Schools prepare students for college, citizenship, and the 21st-century workplace by bringing to life the central principle of Outward Bound: that combining intensive challenge with guided support leads to students achieving far more than they ever thought possible. Learn more about NYC Outward Bound Schools by visiting nycoutwardbound.org.
Like all NYC Outward Bound Schools, we implement the nationally recognized EL Education school model which is rooted in Outward Bound. This model features rigorous learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom, and is built upon a culture of high achievement and mutual support. CSSJ uses hands-on learning that has real-world application to ignite a joy for learning and discovery in our students. At our school, leadership, active citizenship, and character development go hand-in-hand with academic rigor and challenge. Learn more about EL Education at eleducation.org.
Family Group
Family Group is a safe space that allows students to build meaningful relationships with their peers and advisor. It is a place where students feel they belong and can be successful. Every student at CSSJ belongs to a Family Group, a group of about 15 students and advisors who meet daily and stay together through graduation. Family Group provides academic support, character development and opportunities for important self-reflection.
Restorative Practices
Our students are encouraged to value diversity, community membership, and respect one another. CSSJ has implemented a Restorative Justice (RJ) approach to fostering positive behaviors, building healthy relationships, and caring environments that reduce disruptive behaviors and that encourage success. RJ empowers students to take ownership over their community and promotes our school’s core community values.
Who We Are & What We Do
What is an Outward
Bound School
Community School for Social Justice (CSSJ) is an NYC Outward Bound School. NYC Outward Bound Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates a network of public schools in partnership with the NYC Department of Education. All NYC Outward Bound Schools prepare students for college, citizenship, and the 21st-century workplace by bringing to life the central principle of Outward Bound: that combining intensive challenge with guided support leads to students achieving far more than they ever thought possible. Learn more about NYC Outward Bound Schools by visiting nycoutwardbound.org (opens in a new window).
Like all NYC Outward Bound Schools, we implement the nationally recognized EL Education school model which is rooted in Outward Bound. This model features rigorous learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom, and is built upon a culture of high achievement and mutual support. CSSJ uses hands-on learning that has real-world application to ignite a joy for learning and discovery in our students. At our school, leadership, active citizenship, and character development go hand-in-hand with academic rigor and challenge. Learn more about EL Education at eleducation.org (opens in a new window).
PBATs, Not Regents
As a member of the New York Performance Standards Consortium, our students complete PBATs, or Performance-Based Assessment Tasks, which are written tasks that require students to complete extensive research, writing, and revision. Students orally present their grade level PBATs in 9th and 10th grades through exhibitions and roundtables. In 11th and 12th grades, students complete graduation level PBATs and publicly defend them before a panel of teachers and visiting experts. PBATs provide students with opportunities to have a voice and take ownership of their work. These graduation performance-based assessments meet the NYS requirements in lieu of students taking the NYS Regents exams.
Student Engaged Learning
Our curriculum values active and meaningful learning through project-based assessment, student choice and student-led learning, exploration of case studies, discussion and inquiry-based classes, oral presentations, debates, and field work throughout NYC.
Career Exploration and College Preparation
College Preparation Courses
We offer college preparation courses to our junior and senior students. Students do an in-depth exploration of various colleges, create their college master list, visit colleges, work with alumni, delve into the expectations of college recruiters and life on a college campus and complete their college and FAFSA applications.
College Now
11th and 12th grade students can take college courses at Hostos Community College and receive college credit for them, through the CUNY College Now program.
College Trips
Students in all grade levels take day-long college trips throughout the school year and we provide overnight trips to college campuses for students in upper grades.
Alumni Support
Our alumni support current students by leading college and career readiness workshops twice annually for students in all grade levels. Alumni also provide summer transition support from high school to college for our graduates.
Deloitte Academy
We partner with Deloitte to provide a career and college mentoring program for students from 9th to 12th grades. Deloitte staff members conduct workshops twice monthly at CSSJ for students in Deloitte Academy and take them on field experiences to visit colleges and engage in other career preparation experiences.
Meet the Administrative Team
Jaime Guzman
Principal
Email: jaimeguzman@cssjbronx.org
Hugh Bonnick
Assistant Principal
Email: hughbonnick@cssjbronx.org
