2008

Annual

Fund Campaign

7/1/07-6/30/08

GOAL

$60,000

CONTRIBUTIONS

$32,782

as of 2/29/08

The Annual Campaign is the cornerstone of The Community School’s financial foundation.  It is how contributors from all backgrounds, from modest means to financially comfortable, assure that our students continue to have the opportunity to receive a rigorous academic education, improve their lives, and find success. Contributions to this campaign have ranged from $5.00 to $5,000 and every donation counts.

For more information:

Visit:  Ways to Give Webpage

Email: Donations@TCS-CAMP.com

Newsflash 2/6/08  Advisory Board member and longtime TCS supporter Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke brought Baltimore City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Andres Alonso to the school today.  Dr. Alonso sat in on class and then proceeded to spend an hour in discussion with the students about their experiences in city schools and the success that they have found at The Community School. The students were impressed with his insightful questions and commitment to improving opportunities for Baltimore City students.  Dr. Alonso expressed support for our school and said that he took lessons away from our experience.  He committed to staying in relationship with our students and returning to the school.

Newsflash 2/11/08  There was a meeting of the Board of Trustees this evening convened by Chairperson Dave Bayer.  The Board concentrated discussion on program changes and  development issues. Tom highlighted continued improvements in the academic program.  These include: 1) the extension of the school day to 5:00 with the extra time being used for an independent study period and one-on-one tutoring; and 2) the addition of a second grammar class and history class taught by Justin. He noted that students are now in the school on average 10 hours a day. The Trustees also elected Lisa Gavin as the new Treasurer for the organization.   

Newsflash 2/3/08  The school received a grant for the second year in a row from The Phase Foundation today.  We really appreciate their sustaining generosity.

Newsflash 2/13/08  Tom is holding individual meetings with each student and his or her Sponsors during the month of February.  The purpose of these meetings is to evaluate progress and adjust individual goals.  This is also the opportunity for students who are graduating this year to work on college financial aid and planning.

Newsflash 2/1/08  All of the students in the school signed up to participate in a Stock Market Competition sponsored by the Institute for Virtual Enterprise of the City University of New York. Our students will be competing with students around the country to see who can build the largest portfolio.  The students start with $10,000 in virtual dollars and perform trades online during the competition period from February 1st through March 25th.  In addition to the possibility of winning prizes from IVE, the TCS student who is most successful will be awarded a $100.00 savings bond.

Students working hard during class.  L to R: Erin, Sara, Steven, Jackie, Jarrad, Desmond & Jamaal.

L to R: Gary, Jarrad, Destini, Jackie, Steven, Justin and Sara.

Newsflash 2/5/08  A generous contribution was received from local business Monotype, LLC with a matching contribution from the company president, Karen Lange.  Monotype is located in Woodberry and has been a leader as an education publishing solutions provider.  A designer on their staff, Frank Pressia, attended our fall Advisory Board meeting.

Mary Pat Clarke with Dr. Alonso

5.9%

Adminstration

“I visited this extraordinary place last week.  I don’t know if you’ve been there, The Community School. It’s extraordinary.  It’s a one room school house….It has a remarkable teacher in front of the classroom. Some of the things that everybody says are the impediments to instruction are exactly what’s going on in that room and it is used as the trampoline to success….The key thing for me is that in that room there’s a key to success which is how a group of kids and an adult working together and the ethos, if I can use that word, is all about success and responsibility for the kids. Our alternative schools should be exactly that way. Our comprehensive high schools have to move from fixed notions of what should be going on in a class to highly flexible approaches to students based upon where they are in the learning.”

Dr. Alonso, Sunpaper Interview February 18, 2008

Newsflash 2/22/08  Special Appreciation goes  to David Gaudreau of Gaudreau, Inc architects and Steve Hulse from Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse along with Advisory Board member Felix Dialoiso who met today at the school to help develop a plan to complete improvements to

the building.

Newsflash 2/25/08  Advisory Board member Ken Bancroft introduced local businesswoman and civic activist Amy Elias to the students today.  Amy is founder and president of Profiles, a local public relations firm based a few blocks away in Hampden.  Ken & Amy observed health class and enjoyed a discussion with Tom and the class that included a presentation on her work.

Newsflash 2/28/08  A group of students attended an event tonight at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture to discuss the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Congressman Elijah Cummings was the keynote speaker and the students had a chance to talk with the congressman directly.

L to R: Desmond, Steven, Kenyon, COngressman Cummings, Ebony, Sherry, Thomas, Jarrad.