DBFA Helps Wolfe Street Families

Thank you to the Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance (DBFA), DBFA member families, and others throughout the area for holding the 2nd DBFA Annual Adopt-A-Family Program. DBFA received more requests from their adopting families than they were able to match with adoptees from their partner school, Wolfe Street Academy. In addition to their partnership with Wolfe Street Academy, with whom DBFA matched over 100 families, they also partnered with Healthy Start of Baltimore to match an additional 30 families. Thank you to all who participated in making Christmas merrier for so many area families this year.

To view photos of the event click here.

To learn more about DBFA visit: http://www.dbfam.org/

Calvert School Reaches Out to Hampstead Hill Academy

Calvert School teacher Mrs. Gilly Babb has launched the "Book Bonanza Project" to provide books for students at Hampstead Hill Academy. The project, part of Calvert's Community Outreach Program, is focused on kids helping kids. Mrs. Babb's students are making books for students in Pre-K and Kindergarten.

Their goal is to make a book for each student that allows them to practice the skills taught in school. Students will receive the books after the holidays. In addition, each child will be given a new set of markers, crayons, or pens and some books from the book drive.

Calvert students in grades 5-8 are responsible for creating the books, raising the money to buy the markers and motivating fellow students to bring in gently used books. "By all accounts we have had a lot of fun working on the books and look forward to giving them away," says Mrs. Babb.

We'd like to thank Mrs. Babb and her students for supporting Hampstead Hill Academy.

City Springs Students are Eager to Return to School

Due to inclement weather Baltimore City Schools are closed today, but one City Springs School student doesn't want a snow day. Here is the story in City Springs Principal Rhonda Richetta's own words:

"The school bell rang. I couldn’t see who it was except that it was a little person wearing a hood. So I asked, 'May I help you?' And he said, 'Ms. Richetta, school’s closed tomorrow!' I said I knew and he asked if he could come tomorrow any way.

I told him there would be nothing for him to do here tomorrow and I wasn’t sure how long I would be here. He also asked me if I got them a present this year (because last year I gave all the students City Springs beanie hats).

I told him yes, and he wanted to know when they would get their present and what it was. I told him that they would get it in January and that it was a surprise. I told him I would give it to him now if I had it, but they had not been delivered yet due to the snow.

He said okay and that he might stop back tomorrow. I said okay (as I was trying not to cry). It was one of my 6th grade boys. It was very heart-wrenching."

Happy Holidays!

BCP Schools Benefit from $12 million Grant

A program new to Baltimore is aiming to help nearly 500 families on the eastside suceed by focusing specifically on its young people.

City, school system and community leaders welcomed a $12 million grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies yesterday to implement Elev8 [pronounced elevate]. Atlantic Philanthropies is an international foundation with a focus on children and youth.

The East Baltimore Development Inc. (EBDI) will administer Elev8 Baltimore, that is designed to improve educational and social outcomes for middle-grade youth and their families. The grant is part of a national effort to prepare youth for high school and continue on to graduation.

"It is our strong belief that our redevelopment efforts in east Baltimore will be significantly enhanced by the Elev8 Baltimore initiative,” said Christopher Shea, interim President & CEO of EBDI. “With Elev8 Baltimore in place, our greatest contribution to this community will be the legacy of high quality learning, health and family supports that children, youth and adults in this neighborhood can rely upon for years to come.”

The grant will allow Elev8 Baltimore to transform Collington Square School for the Arts, Dr. Rayner Browne Academy, Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School and the new East Baltimore Community School, which opened in August.

Read more...

Duncan, Gingrich and Sharpton Visit Hampstead Hill Academy

Hampstead Hill Academy's outstanding student performance attracted the national spotlight on November 13, 2009 as Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and the Reverend Al Sharpton brought their "listening tour" to the BCP charter school. Hampstead Hill was one of only three Baltimore schools chosen for the visit because it is an example of a successful learning environment that is meeting the needs of a diverse range of students.

The school was proud to host dozens of neighborhood, foundation, political, public education and faith community leaders who came to talk with the visitors about public education in Baltimore. Honored guests included State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick and City Schools CEO Andres Alonso.

View NBC's Meet the Press video of the visit: http://hha47.org/calendar/events/edtour/.

BCP Principals Grow Mustaches to Raise Money for Schools

This month Hampstead Hill Academy Principal Matt Hornbeck and Wolfe Street Academy Principal Mark Gaither competed in a mustache-growing contest to raise money for their schools. Mark won, raising $3,553. Matt was fourth with $1,715.

Read the Baltimore Sun article from December 16, 2009 here.

The Jean & Sidney Silber Foundation Supports Hampstead Hill Academy Summer Program

We would like to thank the Jean & Sidney Silber Foundation for their gift of $7,500 in support of the 2010 summer program at Hampstead Hill Academy. The summer program will provide academic instruction, enrichment activities, and physical education for Hampstead Hill students.

Mr. and Mrs. Silber have been involved in charitable work in the Baltimore community for many years. You can read more about the Silbers in the Baltimore Community Foundation's Fall 2006 newsletter: http://www.bcf.org/content/files/edge/2006_Fall_Edge.pdf