2009

Annual

Fund Campaign

Everyone

Can Help

7/1/08-6/30/09

GOAL

$60,000

CONTRIBUTIONS

$12,875.07

as of 9/30/08

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 9/2/08   The Community School passed all the requirements for a new occupancy permit just in time for the first day of class tomorrow.  This monumental task is an effort that took several years and the support and volunteer services of so many people.  This last phase of work was completed thanks to school co-founder Eddie Gavin and his company CSC Construction, Advisory Board member Felix Dialioso and his company LAI Construction Services, Risasi Hubbard, Mark Miller, Bob Watt, John Weber, Kris Watt, Steven Martin, Dave Bayer, Joshua Mooney, Potchak HVAC,  Justin Switzer, & Tom Culotta.

Newsflash 9/3/08   We welcomed the class of 2008/2009 today for their first day of school. The returning students are Lindsay Bigham, Desmond Carter, Sara Ciulla, Erin Foltz, Jarrad Gladden, Ebony Love, Steve Martin, Sam Sloat, and Kris Watt. New students include: John Crawford, Evan Green, Kevin James, Larry Kearns, Amanda McCarty, and Ashley Minnick. We wish you a year of steady personal growth and academic progress.

Newsflash 9/10/08   The Community School held its first Sponsor Meeting of the new year.  Every student attended and was represented by sponsors. It was an overflow crowd with participants stretching out into the streets. There was a presentation on changes for the new school term and discussion about the importance of sponsors to students success. Student Kris Watt also presented the school project that he is doing as part of his effort to reach the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts.

Newsflash 9/11/08   Peggy Lashbrook convened a  group for the Development Committee at the school this evening.  Discussion by Peggy, Ken Bancroft and Tom Culotta focussed on the annual campaign and building support from local businesses and organizations. Look for more information on this campaign when it is fully developed later in the fall.

Newsflash 9/22/08   A new effort in underway to expand the number of people who provide one-on-one assistance to our students during Independent Study daily from 2 to 5.  This organizing is spearheaded by our volunteer math teacher Susama Agarwala. Susama is a Ph.D. candidate at Johns Hopkins University and has approached her colleagues about volunteering at the school. Sarah, Joel, & Bobby have joined Dan Berger in committing to weekly sessions. Their talents, knowledge, and skills are a real gift to our students and we deeply appreciate their commitment.

Newsflash 9/17/08   The students had several surprise visitors today. Longtime friend of the school Brother Frank O’Donnell visited the class and shared some of his experience working in all 3 branches of state government with the students.  Later in the day Advisory Board Co-Chair Ken Bancroft stopped in to meet the class of 2008/2009 and wish them success in the new year.

Newsflash 9/24/08   Advisory Board member Felix Dialioso came by the school today to look over all the recent renovation work and to greet the new class. Felix brought by the new vice-president from LAI Construction, Roger, and is already talking about the next building project for the school.

Newsflash 9/23/08   Advisory Board Co-Chair Paul Coates brought his son, author Ta-Nehisi Coates, to visit the school today.  Paul welcomed the new class and expressed the pride that the Advisory Board has for each of them. Student Desmond Carter was especially excited to meet Paul’s son because he is reading Ta-Nehisi’s just published book: The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood. Ta-Nehisi shared his passion for writing and the journey that he took to become a published author who has also written for the New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Village Voice and Time magazine. He encouraged the students to express themselves and find their voice in their own experiences. The students were left feeling inspired by this very special father and son visit.

Newsflash 9/9/08   The class welcomed writing mentor Don Riesett back today.  Since last spring, Don has been giving his time, talent, and comment to help the students develop their writing skills. This year Don is committed to two afternoons a week which gives him the time to meet with each student in individual sessions. Don is also spearheading an effort to Chronicle the experiences of the Class of 2008/2009 in words and pictures. The goal is to produce a professionally bound book to be published by the End of Year Ceremony in June.

Newsflash 9/2/08   The Community School is honored to announce that Advisory Board member and Development Committee Chair Peggy Lashbrook has become a part of our staff.  Peggy recently retired from the Delaware school system where she was the State Coordinator for Deaf-Blind Programs. Peggy earned her Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University and has been committed to philosophy of education that includes the empowerment and inclusion of all young people. Peggy will be volunteering at the school on Wednesdays and Thursdays as a Developer to bring in both human and financial resources to support our students.

Newsflash 9/19/08   Graduating student from the class of 2008, Kenyon Paye, received word that he had passed all the requirements and earned his high school diploma.  Kenyon joins fellow ’08 graduate Jackie Bales at Baltimore City Community College and is part of our College Support Program.  This makes the 3rd student, starting with Thomas Magaha, who has earned a High School Diploma this year

Kenyon registering for college with his proud mom.

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.

Newsflash 9/30/08   The Community School welcomes a familiar face as our new Receptionist/Office Staffperson.  Shenika Covell will be in the office on Monday through Thursdays.  In addition to being the friendly voice at the end of the phone, she will also assist with clerical work and some direct help for students. Shenika graduated from The Community School in the Classs of 2005/2006. Welcome aboard Shenika!

Students Desmond Carter and Jarrad Gladden compare the old grammar text that the school has used for more than 20 years with the brand new text purchased through the kindness of the workers at Johns Hopkins University through the JHU Neighborhood Fund.