November 2008
2009
Annual
Fund Campaign
Everyone
Can Help
7/1/08-6/30/09
GOAL
$60,000
CONTRIBUTIONS
$18,194.27
as of 11/21/08
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
Thanks to All Who Give!
Our Most Recent Donors:
The Goldsmith Family Foundation * The Verizon Foundation * Ken & Paulette Bancroft * John Vanhorn * Carole & Ronald Coleman * Marcia Wolfson * Christy Wyskiel * Maverick Capital Fund * Christy & Matt Wyskiel * In Memory of Wes Ulin * Aduke & Risasi Hubbard * Mark Miller * W. L. Gore & Associates * The Appian Society * Ruth Baer * Tom & Jacque Iacoboni * Richard Pearlstone * Matt Craven * Alex & Debra Hooke * Dr. Stanley & Mary Miller * Sherry Welch * United Methodist Women of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church * Quinn Gordan & Wolfe * Peggy Lashbrook
“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 what they are learning.”
Dr. Andres Alonso, Superintendent
Baltimore City Public Schools 2/18/08
NOTE: The Sunpapers did an interview with Dr. Alonso where he expressed his excitement about visiting our school. You can see the interview by clicking on this link. The part on our school is at 9 minutes on the video and you can fast forward to there. CLICK HERE
Fast Fact:
The attendance average for the school
as of 11/21/08 is 99.7%
Students Kris Watt, Lindsay Bigham, & Ebony Love reading the Honor Code of the School before everyone at the Sponsor meeting signed individual copies of it.
Susama Agarwala helping student Sara Ciulla during math class.
2008 Holiday Evergreen Sale
Thanks to our Sellers:
Dave Bayer, Chris Mazzulli, Mary James, Aduke Hubbard, Ernie Lindley, Lisa Gavin, Samantha Sloat, Jackie Bales, Barbara Foltz, Shannon Minnick Suzanne Allen, Larry Kearns, Amanda McCarty, Alvan Green, & Tom Culotta.
Pickup:
Wednesday, Dec. 10th 6:30-8 pm
Items Still Available:
25” Victorian Wreath $22.00
Classic Door Spray $15.00
Victorian Door Spray $18.00
Center Piece $20.00
Call Dave 410-467-4920 to reserve
Demographic Breakdown of 08/09 Class
Age Last grade Completed
14 12.5% 7th 12.5%
15 12.5% 8th 43.8%
16 31.3% 9th 37.5%
17 31.3% 10th 6.2%
18 12.5% 11th
Male 50% Female 50%
White: 62.5% Black: 25% Biracial 12.5%
Live within 2 miles of school: 81.2%
Take 2 or more buses to get to school 12.5%
as of 10/10/08
Newsflash 11/3/08 The school was invited to speak by Dr. Michael J. Klag, dean of the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University today. Tom Culotta and student Steven Martin had a chance to speak to a group of specially invited staff as part of a United Way leadership meeting. Everyone listened intently as Steven talked about his personal story in public schools and then at The Community School. In that audience was a Nobel Laureate, Dr. Peter Agre, who Steve was especially excited to meet. We deeply appreciate the invitation from Dr. Klag and the support from Jeff Pratt the Director of Faculty, Staff, & Retiree Programs at JHU.
Newsflash 11/10/08 Advisory Board member Ken & Paulette Bancroft brought in lunch today to share with the students. During the extended lunch period, Ken & Paulette shared their stories about growing up in Remington and their own journeys in education and career. The students were particularly moved by the heartfelt and candid comments of Paulette as she talked about her own struggles with education. The students shared their own thoughts about school and their plans for the future. It was a terrific lunch and a thought provoking discussion. The school is fortunate to have the active involvement of both Ken & Paulette and their care for the students.
Newsflash 11/11/08 The school hosted a meeting sponsored and chaired by Jane Sundius of the Open Society Institute today. The purpose of the meeting was to “discuss the need for, barriers to, and desirability and characteristics of very small, recovery-type transformation schools for students who have already left school, are on their way out, or are DJS involved and who need a very small, very different environment to succeed.” Peggy Lashbrook and Tom Culotta represented The Community School. Over twenty people attended including two representatives of the Baltimore City Public Schools: Jonathan Brice, the Executive Director of Student Services and Laura Weeldreyer, Director of Charter and New and Innovative Schools. Several alternative education programs were represented and gave reports including The Chesapeake Academy, Independence School, Learning Inc., and The Learning Bank of COIL. We were honored to host the Director of OSI-Baltimore, Diana Morris, as well as the other educators and guests at our school. We look forward to continuing dialogue with all of them in the future toward the improvement of educational opportunities for Baltimore youth.
Newsflash 11/20/08 Each school day the students watch CNN Student News and spend 30-45 minutes discussing current events from the community to the world. There has been much discussion about the financial crisis. To help understand the way it affects autoworkers and the big companies, the students invited Dave Miller to speak to the class. Dave is student Amanda McCarty’s grandfather and a retired 30 year GM autoworker. The students listened attentively and learned about what it was like to be an assembly line worker and also about the concerns of someone who is receiving a pension from a company that is in financial crisis.
Newsflash 11/20/08 Students Sara Ciulla and Desmond Carter along with staff Justin Switzer and Tom Culotta represented the school at the annual B’More Fund Celebration. This fund is a giving circle created by local emerging leaders and honors local “unsung heroes” each year with an award and a grant of $5,000. Tom was honored by the group in 2006. This year’s honorees were Nzinga Oneferua-El and Nargas Hyman, both of whom work with youth in Baltimore. You can learn more about the fund by checking out their website: www.bmorefund.org.
Newsflash 11/17/08 A delicious lunch of homemade barbeque chicken, red beans and rice, and cheesecake pie was provided by Mary James, parent and Sponsor of student Kevin James. Thank you Mary!
Newsflash 11/17/08 Representatives from the United Methodist Women of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Hampden came for their monthly visit to the school today. Again they came bearing gifts of delicious food including homemade pies, ice cream, apple juice, and other goodies. They gave a card to the students that read in part: “When we at Good Shepherd Church count our blessings - you all are at the top of our ‘thanks list’.” We want these fine people to know that they always bring a smile to the students and are on our thanks list as well.
Newsflash 11/20/08 AMAZING! We just received our webpage report for October. We had 74,598 hits!! That is 3 times the number of hits in October 2007. Thank you web visitors!
Newsflash 11/23/08 Through the combined efforts of volunteer and neighbor Jesse Warford, Trustee Lisa Gavin, and Eddie Gavin and his crew at CSC Construction, the school is now fully wired for internet. The back classroom building is now networked with the rest of the facility and there is a computer for each student in the school. We appreciate the ongoing efforts of Jesse & Lisa in setting up our network and keeping it and the computers operational
Newsflash 11/24/08 The students kicked off Thanksgiving week with a special lunch given for members of the Boards of Trustees and Advisors. There was plenty of good home cooking and great conversation as the students and Board members spread out in groups of tables around the classroom. Advisory Board members Paul Coates, Ken Bancroft, Tom Iacoboni, Sherry Welch, Felix Dialosio, Chris Mazzulli, Jim Riley, Tony Culotta , Ruth Daiker and Peggy Lashbrook were joined by volunteer staff Susama Agarwala, Don Riesett, Dan Berger and special guest Jacque Iacoboni. Each of the students presented their goals and plans for the future with special reports presented by Steven Martin, Desmond Carter, Samantha Sloat, and Kris Watt. A great time was had by all.
Newsflash 11/23/08 Through the combined efforts of volunteer and neighbor Jesse Warford, Trustee Lisa Gavin, and Eddie Gavin and his crew at CSC Construction, the school is now fully wired for internet. The back classroom building is now networked with the rest of the facility and there is a computer for each student in the school. We appreciate the ongoing efforts of Jesse & Lisa in setting up our network and keeping it and the computers operational
Newsflash 11/24/08 The Advisory Board met today after the special luncheon given by the students. Sherry Welch was elected as the new Chairperson of the Board. Paul Coates and Ken Bancroft were recognized for their service as the leadership team that served during the rapid growth of the Advisory Board these last 2 years. Sherry spoke about her personal commitment and the great contribution that the Board members have made in spreading the word about the school and building an external network for it. The Advisory Board will meet again in mid-winter.
Newsflash 10/24/08 Student Update: Thomas Magaha completed his entrance tests for attending Baltimore County Community College today. He aced all of his tests and will start with full college credit courses in January. 71% of all students attending CCBC need to take remedial level courses when entering, but Thomas is not in this number. Congratulations!
Newsflash 11/25/08 A general operating funds grant arrived today from the Goldsmith Family Foundation. This group has been supporting the school since 2006. In the letter to the school, the President of the foundation, Beth Goldsmith, stated, “We take pride in supporting organizations such as yours, and we wish you continued success..” Out thanks go to Beth and the Goldsmith family for your important and continued support of our program. Thank you also to foundation representative Wendy Samet, for her ongoing relationship with the school and concern for our students.
Newsflash 11/26/08 The first stage of student Kris Watt’s special Boy Scout project was completed today. Three maple trees were planted on the West 30th Street side of the building. Kris designed and is implementing a beautification project at the school as the last part of his bid to obtain the honored rank of Eagle Scout. Kris has enlisted the support of many people who have been critical to this project. They include Basil Matthews and Jahmilla Wilson from the Forestry Division of the Baltimore City Bureau of Parks and Betty Robson from the Asplundh Corporation. Special thanks go to Advisory Board member Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and Tim Shive, also from the Forestry Division, both of whom have given an enormous amount of time to see this project through. The trees look great and we are looking forward to the rest of this project.
Newsflash 11/25/08 The latest in technology is coming into our classrooms! Today, we received a letter from Diane Miles, Assistant Vice President for External Affairs of the Verizon Corporation. Diane wrote, “The Verizon Foundation is delighted to support your program, and we thank you and your organization for your dedication and contribution to our communities.” This grant will enable the purchase of interactive “Smartboards” for both of our classrooms allowing for a multimedia approach to learning. This support further improves the already high quality education available to our students. Thank you Diane and to everyone at Verizon for supporting our students in such a great way.
Above: students with members of the Baltimore City Forestry Department in front of a newly planted red sunset maple tree
Left: student Kris Watt with Tim Shive
