Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Former President George W. Bush Pays a Visit to West Michigan Aviation Academy
The students at West Michigan Aviation Academy in Grand Rapids got the unforgettable experience last week of getting to spend the day with a former Commander in Chief. Former President George W. Bush spent time at the school on Wednesday, May 15, meeting with students and getting the inside scoop on their innovative, aviation-focused school.

In the evening, Bush then spoke at a fundraiser for the school.

The former president came away impressed with his visit, telling the crowd, “What matters is high standards and academic rigor in a way that encourages students. It’s important because it hopefully provides kids with the skills necessary to compete in a global economy.”

West Michigan Aviation Academy is authorized by Bay Mills Community College.

For more on President Bush’s visit, see the story here.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

MAPSA's New Parent Engagement Website Launches with Success - Be Sure Your School is Featured!

MAPSA's Parent Engagement website, which was launched on May 6, is proving to be an amazing success. With over 2,000 visitors in the past two weeks, it is evident that many parents are finding choicesineducation.com to be a valuable resource for researching educational options for their child.

The Parent Engagement website is an enhanced benefit that is now included with MAPSA membership. Your school has been given a profile on the new site which will be replacing our current website's "School Search" feature. The website will also offer many exciting and enhanced features, such as allowing parents to search by focus area, grade levels served, location, enrollment etc. The website is designed to be simple and user-friendly, and will also feature a mobile version.

The goal of the new site is to educate parents and drive interest in charter schools, ultimately resulting in increased enrollment for you, our member schools!

Be sure to submit your complete profile to ensure you are providing parents with valuable information about your school. Please contact Candace Embry at cembry@charterschools.org to find out how.

Northpointe Academy Students Record Original Hip-Hop Song and Video

Some musically inclined students from Northpointe Academy in Highland Park hit the studio recently to record an original hip-hop tune. The students then followed that up by turning the song into a video.

The group and the song are both called "Beasts of the Beat." The nine members of the hip-hop group are in grades 4-8, and music teacher Joe Vercellino says they're committed to producing music that is "relevant, authentic and creative - striving for excellence in hip-hop with honor and integrity." The group rehearses every morning before school.

The nine members of the group are Amari Hudson, Anthony Powell, Brian Sneed, Christopher Bibb, Deshawn Blair, Diego Brooks, Dwight Banks, Gianni Sneed and Keon Snadon.

For a look at the "Beasts of the Beat" video, click here.

Wall Street Journal Op-Ed Praises Michigan’s Charter Schools

Millions of Wall Street Journal readers were treated to this headline in their newspaper over the weekend: “What Michigan’s Charter Schools Can Teach the Country.”

The headline appeared atop an op-ed written by Michael Van Beek, director of education policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. In his column, Van Beek praised Michigan’s charter schools for their outstanding performance, citing research that shows charter school students learn at a faster pace, particularly in math and English.

Van Beek also praised Michigan’s system of charter school authorizing, oversight and accountability, saying, “If states want to create a healthy charter-school sector to boost outcomes for students, the Michigan experience offers valuable lessons.”

For the complete op-ed, click here.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Detroit Merit Charter Academy Wins Teaching Garden Grant
Detroit Merit Charter Academy recently held a “Planting Seeds for Mind, Body and Spirit” festival to mark the official start of the school’s Teaching Garden grant it received from the American Heart Association (AHA). Detroit Merit is just the second school in Michigan to be awarded an AHA Teaching Garden grant.

The school was presented with a plaque and commemorative planting pot from Kathy Kauffmann, the executive director and vice president of AHA-Southeast Michigan, and Suzanne Cowles, a member of the Board of Directors for AHA-Southeast Michigan. Kauffmann and Cowles said the determining factors for awarding the school were Principal Sandra Martin’s extraordinary leadership, a dedicated staff, and parents committed to be involved with the project.

Approximately 200 students, parents, and faculty attended the festival to spread soil and plant the first batch of seeds that will be used in the AHA Teaching Garden program. Garden sponsor Health Alliance Plan (HAP) and other organizations promoting healthy living were also there to teach the families about the importance of good nutrition. Martin said when she heard the school earned the grant she was “super excited.”

“The Teaching Garden will provide us with endless opportunities,” she said. “When AHA said we got it, I thought to myself ‘Hallelujah.’ ”

Martin said the students will be responsible for maintaining the gardens year-round, and will use the crops in soups, salads, salsas and other foods served at the school.

Detroit Merit Charter Academy is authorized by Grand Valley State University and managed by National Heritage Academies.

Shown here, Detroit Merit Academy principal Sandra Martin (left) accepts an honorary plaque from AHA-Southeast Michigan board member Suzanne Cowles.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

UPA Middle School Students Make History at Math Competition

For the first time ever, students from a Detroit school competed in the Delta College Middle School Competition in math.
 
Seventeen sixth- and seventh-grade students representing University Preparatory Academy (UPA) Middle School battled through the all-day math competition held on March 16. Of the nearly 400 students competing from 25 schools, they were the only Detroit students to participate in the event.

UPA Middle School math teacher Vladimir Sreckovic said it was a life-changing experience for him and his students. “It was beautiful to see us be right up there with the other students who have been doing these rigorous competitions for years,” he said.

Even though they were first-time competitors, the UPA Middle School students finished with strong results. Jaylen Campbell, a sixth-grader, came in 15th place out of approximately 130 students competing at the sixth-grade level, earning a medal in the process. Several other UPA students finished in the top 30 in their respective fields. UPA is authorized by Grand Valley State University.

FlexTech High School Hosts Project-Based Learning “Un-Conference”

Interested in learning more about how you can integrate project-based learning (PBL) into your curriculum? FlexTech High School in Brighton is hosting a Project-Based Learning "Un-Conference" on July 9-11, and the event is open to schools throughout Michigan.

The event is designed for schools that are currently using PBL, and those that are interested in learning more about it. The "Un-Conference" will feature a keynote address by Jenifer Fox, one of the country's foremost experts on 21st century learning. For more about her, click here.

For more information and to register for the PBL "Un-Conference," click here.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Michigan Schools Join the Celebration During National Charter Schools Week
President Barack Obama has declared May 5-13 as National Charter Schools Week, and charter schools throughout Michigan are joining in the celebration.

At Nexus Academy of Grand Rapids, two West Michigan legislators paid a visit on Monday to get a first-hand look at the school’s innovative blended-learning model. State Rep. Brandon Dillon, D-Grand Rapids, and State Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, had a chance to tour the school and meet with students, teachers, parents and board members.

“We are talking a lot about education reform in Lansing, so when the invitation came in, I certainly wanted to see this program,” Hildenbrand told MLive.com. “I am very impressed, but this isn’t for every family. In my work in the Legislature, I talk a lot about empowering parents to create opportunities in education for parents, so they have the flexibility to look at what works best for their student.” For more on the story, click here.

At Threshold Academy in Orleans (near Ionia), students and staff are taking part in a variety of National Charter Schools Week activities. The celebration began on Monday with the school’s annual year-end awards, and concludes on Friday with Spirit Day, which will include a staff-vs.-students challenge.

In his proclamation declaring this National Charter Schools Week, President Obama said, “These learning laboratories give educators the chance to try new models and methods that can encourage excellence in the classroom and prepare more of our children for college and careers.”

For the president’s complete proclamation on National Charter Schools Week, click here.

Shown here, from back left, District Liaison Adam Erber and State Rep. Brandon Dillon, and State Sen. Dave Hidenbrand, front, are given a tour of Nexus Academy of Grand Rapids by Principal Doug Greer on Monday, during National Charter Schools Week. Photo by Emily Zoladz, MLive.com.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

MAPSA Documentary “Creating Hope” Promotes Conversation on Quality Choices in Education

National Charter Schools Week is celebrated just as the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, the state charter school association, released a documentary called “Creating Hope: A Year in the Life of a New Charter School.”

The documentary, which premiered on Monday evening at the Detroit Institute of Arts, provided a look at the first year of the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in Detroit through the eyes of one student and her family. The film was written and directed by MAPSA Vice President of Communications Buddy Moorehouse, a two-time Emmy nominee.

As the documentary showed, the student – a freshman named Unique Bailey – enrolled at the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in 2011 when her family felt frustration that the local school district wasn’t meeting her educational needs.

“We wanted to produce this documentary to help promote a conversation that needs to take place now,” said Dan Quisenberry, President of MAPSA. “Specifically, what does a parent do when their current school is not working for their child? The documentary told this story through the eyes of one student, Unique Bailey. But there are 113,000 other students just like Unique in Detroit, and 1.5 million students just like her in Michigan. Just like Unique, these students all have parents, or grandparents, or loved ones who care for them and who desperately want the same thing that Unique’s family wants – the ability to find the best possible education.

“As we celebrate National Charter Schools Week, that’s the message we want to send. When it comes to public education, the adults spend a lot of time arguing and pointing fingers. We all need to remember, though, that this isn’t about the adults – it’s about the children. And every single one of those children deserves to attend a quality school that works. We don’t need good schools in our state – we need great schools. So the question shouldn’t be, ‘Who’s running the school?’ The question should be, ‘Is the school excellent?’ ”

The documentary premiere on Monday also featured a panel discussion. For highlights of it, click here.

Shown here, from left, Jalen Rose, MAPSA President Dan Quisenberry, Senate Education Committee Chairman Phil Pavlov and JRLA Superintendent Joe Tenbusch participate in a panel discussion at the DIA following the premiere of “Creating Hope.”

Cesar Chavez Academy Named One of Country’s “Best High Schools” by U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report issues an annual ranking of the country’s high schools, evaluating the schools based on test scores and other data.

Cesar Chavez Academy High School in Detroit received a Bronze Medal in the rankings this year, earning as designation from the magazine as one of the “Best High Schools.” This marks back-to-back honors for Cesar Chavez Academy, which was also honored in the 2012 rankings.

For more on the rankings, click here.

Detroit Regional Chamber Hosts College Readiness Roundtable

The Detroit Regional Chamber is hosting a College Readiness Roundtable on Thursday, May 16, from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at Detroit Cristo Rey High School, 5679 W. Vernor Hwy. All charter school educators in the area are invited to attend. Those interested should RSVP by May 14 to Brooke Franklin at bfrankli@detroitchamber.com or by texting the number of people attending to 313-449-7327.

A citywide effort to improve FAFSA completion rates is part of the larger Drive Detroit movement. Drive Detroit is a partnership of community leaders from the education, business, faith, non-profit, philanthropic and civic sectors. The group is committed to working together to transform “cradle to career” outcomes for every child in Detroit. In addition, the group is reaching out to assist in enrolling your students into college with the maximum amount of financial aid available to them through the Detroit Scholarship Fund.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

We are thrilled to recognize the hard work of teachers in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week. Is your school doing something special this week to honor your teachers? Please share your school's photos and stories highlighting teacher appreciation to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org. We will be featuring selected stories on our Facebook page over the next couple of weeks!

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Students at UPrep Academy-Ellen Thompson Campus Become FBI Junior Agents
Looking to pull a caper? You won't want to try anything at the University Preparatory Academy-Ellen Thompson Campus in Detroit. The school is crawling with special agents.

Students at the elementary school recently took part in a six-week FBI Junior Special Agents program, giving them a head start on a possible career in law enforcement. The course – which was taught by actual FBI agents – included training in physical fitness and investigative techniques. The Junior Special Agents even got a taste of what it’s like to chase bad guys around – all while wearing a 30-pound bulletproof vest.

“The initiative was adopted to build bridges and gain trust in various communities to show a more friendly side of the FBI, if you will,” FBI specialist Rhonda Kennedy told the Detroit Free Press. “We’re not … on the corner stopping everyone. The FBI does positive things in this community.”

At the conclusion of the six-week training session, the Junior Special Agents all received badges.

For more on the story, click here. University Preparatory Academy-Ellen Thompson Campus is authorized by Grand Valley State University.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

Marketplace Spotlight: Variety FoodServices Offers Effective Program to Help Michigan Charter Schools Battle Bullying
Lunchtime can be a cruel time at some schools, as this note from a 17-year-old high school student in Indiana attests: “For eight years, I have skipped lunch to get to the safety of the library, bury myself in books, and count the days till graduation.”

For her, the bullying ended when she graduated. For others, lunchtime continues to be a scary time. According to recent research, the average bullying episode lasts only 37 seconds. Due to multiple responsibilities and distractions, teachers notice or intervene in only one in 25 incidents.

The secret to solving the lunchtime bullying problem? Educate the students, and empower them to intervene.

That’s the theory behind an innovative and effective anti-bullying program being sponsored by Variety FoodServices, a Warren-based company that’s one of Michigan’s largest independent food service providers, ranked by size in the top 5% of food service companies nationally. Founded in 1928, Variety FoodServices is the most experienced provider for charter school meal programs, on-site cafeteria, vending, and catering within Southeast Michigan.

Variety FoodServices is offering an anti-bullying program to Southeast Michigan charter schools called “Lunching Under No Cruelty or Harassment” (LUNCH) Links. Variety is partnering with Maddie Rayner, the founder of LUNCH Links, a traveling program that teaches kids about the roles of the bullying triangle and helps them understand and appreciate diversity within the school setting through a series of peer-to-peer training workshops and other learning activities.

The anti-bullying programs can be scheduled for large or small groups, and typically run 45-60 minutes. Students will learn how to identify different forms of bullying and the motivation behind the behavior. They’ll learn the proper steps to eradicate the behavior, and will learn how to stay empowered so that they’ll never be bullied again.

“Kids have far more power and influence to eliminate bullying from our schools that adults do,” Rayner said. “In middle school and high school, kids are getting to the age where bullying is becoming a problem. It’s better that kids know what to do if they step into a situation instead of getting into one they don’t know how to get themselves out of. Hopefully if they do get in a situation, they won’t ever, ever think about suicide.”

For more information or to schedule a LUNCH Links program, contact Jolene Rellinger at 586-756-8100 or e-mail jrellinger@varietyfoodservices.com to learn more. For information on Variety FoodServices, visit varietyfoodservices.com.

If you’d like your business or organization to be featured in the Marketplace Spotlight, contact Heather Risner at 517-999-4421 or hrisner@charterschools.org.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Student’s Suggestion Turns Into Economics Project at West Village Academy
At West Village Academy in Dearborn, students are taking part in a middle school economics project designed to help prepare them for their financial future. And the whole idea came about thanks to a student at the school.

Eighth-grader Ryan Gomez suggested the program to teachers and administrators, saying it would be a good way to teach students more about the economics of everyday life – paying bills and taxes, banking, etc. With the assistance of three other eighth-graders – Nadya Hooks, Tianna Davis and Devante Elledge – they set up a mini-city (with Ryan serving as the “Mayor”), complete with jobs such as bankers, police officers, visual display artists and more. Students earn a “salary” for doing their jobs – and can earn extra money for such things as doing well on tests – and then have to use their money to pay bills, taxes and other necessities.

School Leader Donita White said the project has had an overwhelmingly positive effect on the students. “Students are showing more responsibility and accountability since the project has been introduced,” she said. “The amount of students that get referred for disciplinary actions has decreased. Due to the success of the program, there are plans for an election for a new mayor and supervising staff for the incoming eighth graders to take over and continue leading the economics project.”

West Village Academy is managed by the Midwest Management Group and authorized by Central Michigan University.

Shown here, students at West Village Academy tally up bank entries as part of the economics project.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Marketplace Spotlight: Digitizing Your School Records Results in Big Savings
Charter schools across the nation are finding ways to reduce cost and increase their efficiencies. A major help is to have a Financial Accounting System that will enable you to keep accurate records and increase your efficiency. Just recently, it was found that the average cost of processing a single purchase order in k-12 schools is approximately $75-$200. Specialized Data Systems has targeted the costs of your school's business office by providing an Accounting System that will enable you to easily and quickly digitize your records, which will help to reduce your costs. For instance, a PO requisition through an approval process to the ultimate sending of the PO to the vendor is totally electronic. No paper is involved. Plus, the PO is automatically (“electronically”) attached to the vendor in your system and to all the accounts that are being charged (i.e., all within the program with no special processes). Schools throughout Michigan have saved thousands of dollars by utilizing this one process within The Specialized Data Systems Software. Plus, by being 100 percent Web-based for over eight years, the ease of use is exceptional.  

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Kensington Woods High School Students Put Focus on Battling Hunger
For the past few weeks, students at Kensington Woods High School in Howell, in conjunction with the Livingston County Hunger Council, have been tackling a big, local issue – hunger.

On March 6 and 7, Kensington Woods students completed a special two-day project focused on developing solutions for the issue of hunger and food insecurity in Livingston County. All students in the school (grades 7-12) took part in the project with exception of the juniors, who were taking their ACT and MME exams. Conducting a school-wide project during ACT/MME exams has become an annual tradition for Kensington Woods as it allows students to develop skills that will prepare them for and make connection to college and the real world in ways that a traditional classroom environment cannot.

The project began with specific challenges posed by students that Kensington Woods High School staff developed in conjunction with the Livingston County Hunger Council. The challenges all tackled the question: How might we address hunger and food insecurity in Livingston County? The challenges addressed three points of view: awareness, reaching hungry children and getting kids and teens to eat healthy.

Kensington Woods High School is managed by CS Partners and authorized by Central Michigan University.

For more on the story, click here. Pictured here, Kensington Woods High School sophomore Chase Peterson and senior Deepika Schild work on their project to address hunger in Livingston County.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Takes Place at Southwest Detroit Lighthouse Charter Academy

A groundbreaking ceremony took place earlier this month at the Southwest Detroit Lighthouse Charter Academy, a new charter school scheduled to open its doors this fall. The school, which has a strong arts focus, will open as a K-5 building, and add a grade each year until it’s K-12. It will be the first Lighthouse Academy charter school in Michigan, joining Lighthouse schools in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

A host of dignitaries spoke at the groundbreaking, including Tim Wood (from the Grand Valley State University Charter Schools office), Kristen McDonald (of the Skillman Foundation) and Jill Geden (principal of the new school).

Shown here, officials and dignitaries don hardhats and grab shovels to participate in the groundbreaking.

Center for Education Reform Seeks Information About Michigan Charter Schools

The Center for Education Reform (CER) has been surveying charter schools since 1996 to help share the true story of charter schools around the country. To help with that mission, CER is asking every Michigan charter school to take a short survey, providing information about their school.

The survey only takes a couple minutes to complete, and you'll find it here. The survey deadline is Friday.

Schools Invited to Combat Bullying on “Stand4Change Day”

Michigan’s charter schools are invited to participate in an anti-bullying campaign by signing up for “Stand4Change Day,” set for May 3. Participating schools will be asked to request that their students stand for five minutes at noon that day to show that they’ll no longer tolerate bullying in our schools and communities.

For more information, and to officially register for “Stand4Change Day,” click here.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Northwest Academy Advanced Bank Selected to Perform at National Charter School Conference
Attendees at this summer's National Alliance of Public Charter Schools Conference in Washington, D.C., will be getting a little music from Michigan. The Northwest Academy Advanced Band, from Northwest Academy in Charlevoix, was recently invited to perform at the conference.

“We are very excited to have been chosen to perform at the conference since very few schools are invited to attend this way,” said Dave Pugh, Director of Music at Northwest Academy. “This is a special honor for the Northwest Academy Advanced Band, because bands local to the conference are typically chosen to perform.”

Northwest Academy has been educating students in Charlevoix for 18 years. Gary Stutzman, the recently retired Director of Music at Northwest Academy said, “The NWA bands have been embraced by the students as well as the parents throughout the years. The students have worked hard on their craft and the parents, faculty and staff have been very supportive of the many field trips and performances throughout the country. It is this continued support that has helped to make the NWA Advanced Band one of the finest small bands in the country.”

In 1999, the Northwest Academy Advanced Band performed at the National Charter School Conference in Denver, Colorado, and also made its first appearance at the Michigan State Band and Orchestra State Festival. This feat was accomplished within the first three years of the band’s existence.

Recently, the band received a first division rating at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra District Festival and is planning on attending the Michigan School Band and Orchestra State Festival in May. Northwest Academy is authorized by Saginaw Valley State University.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

TAKE ACTION – Update on School Aid Budget

The Senate Subcommittee on School Aid Appropriations passed their version of the K-12 budget this morning. The committee adopted MAPSA's proposal to eliminate one of the MPSERS offset pots of money and instead distribute into the Foundation Allowance. They further agreed that the lowest funded schools should receive a higher proportion of that funding. The impact of the Senate version is that all charter schools would receive at least a $97 per pupil increase over the Governor's recommendation.

For comparison:

The Governor’s and House versions:

• Minimum funding: $7,000 + $16 in Best Practices Incentives
• PSA maximum: $7,110 + $16 in Best Practices Incentives
• House version only: Intent to differentiate (at 80% of the Foundation Allowance) the funding for online learning students for FY 2014-2015

The Senate version:

• Best Practice Incentives have been eliminated
• Minimum funding: $7,100 with no Best Practices
• PSA maximum: $7,207 with no Best Practices
• No intent to differentiate funding for online learning students

Please contact your legislators and encourage them to adopt the Senate version of the School Aid budget. Click HERE to take action now! Also, please DO NOT rely on the increase at this time. There is still a long way to go in the process. We will continue to keep you updated as the process progresses.

Take Advantage of Staples Savings – and Win $1,000 Worth of School Supplies

MAPSA and Staples, a Cooperative Purchasing Provider, are offering a special promotion from now through the end of April. Any MAPSA member school purchasing at least $150 in supplies through the program will be entered in a drawing to win a pallet of school supplies worth $1,000. The Staples Advantage program offers MAPSA members discounted pricing that you would not have access to as an individual school or even a small group of schools. Here are just a few primary areas where Staples can help your school save.

Office Solutions - school supplies (paper, pencils, pens, crayons, etc.)
Facility Solutions - cleaning supplies, janitorial supplies
Technology Solutions - computers & printers, audio visual needs
Print Solutions - print and copy services (handouts, mailers, posters, etc.)
Promotional Products Solutions - clothing items, water bottles, hats
Furniture Solutions - classroom tables & chairs, display cases, classroom storage

If you have a current account, visit staplesadvantage.com/mapsa to place your order. To set up a new account, email Roberta Delo at roberta.delo@staples.com.

My Word! Winners Crowned in State Charter School Spelling Bee

The State Charter School Spelling Bee took place last month, with champions crowned in several age groups.

In the grades 3-5 division, Elianna Gustincic, a fifth-grader from the Midland Academy for Advanced and Creative Studies, won by spelling “dossier.” Second place went to Elizabeth Hook, a fifth-grader at South Arbor Charter Academy in Ypsilanti.

In the grades 6-8 division, Kavya Pratapa, an eighth-grader at South Arbor Charter Academy, won by spelling “laborious.” Kavya (who made it to the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee last year) has won the State Charter School Spelling Bee the last six years. Second place this year went to Ethan Hamernik, a sixth-grader at Merritt Academy in New Haven.

The State Charter School Spelling Bee was sponsored by the Romine Group, and hosted by Trillium Academy in Taylor.

Scholarship Available to 2013 Graduates in Detroit

The Detroit Regional Chamber is offering a new scholarship, the Detroit Scholarship Fund (DSF), which is available to spring 2013 graduates of any Detroit high school. This includes students graduating from schools operated by Detroit Public Schools and the Education Achievement Authority, as well as self-governing, charter, private, alternative and parochial schools.

In June of 2011, Governor Rick Snyder announced a plan to provide every young person in Detroit with financial assistance toward a two-year associate degree or technical certificate. The DSF will cover any difference between the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees and the amount of Pell and TIP grants offered to students to attend any of the five community colleges in the tri-county area: Wayne County Community College District, Macomb Community College, Schoolcraft College, Oakland Community College and Henry Ford Community College.

Chamber staff members are now scheduling presentations to register students at each eligible school in the city. Detroit charter schools should contact Stacy Boone at 313-596-0324 or sboone@detroitchamber.com, or Carolyn Cole at 313-596-0373 or ccole@detroitchamber.com to schedule a presentation. Boone will coordinate activities on the west side of the city, while Cole will coordinate activities on the east side of the city (including the downtown area).

For more information, visit DetroitScholarshipFund.com.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Chandler Park Academy’s Derrick Walton Jr. a Close Second in Mr. Basketball Voting – Best Finish Ever By a Charter School Student
Derrick Walton Jr., a senior student-athlete at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods, finished a close second this week in the voting for Michigan’s Mr. Basketball. It was the highest finish ever in the Mr. Basketball voting by a Michigan charter school student.

The winner of the award was Monte Morris of Flint Beecher, who received 2,130 points in the voting. Walton was a close second, just 44 points behind at 2,086. Walton actually received more first-place votes.

One of the top point-guard recruits in the country, Walton will be playing at the University of Michigan next season.

The previous best finish by a charter school student-athlete in the Mr. Basketball voting was in 2010, when Michael Talley III of Melvindale Academy for Business & Technology finished sixth.

For more on this year’s Mr. Basketball voting, see the story here.

Chandler Park Academy is authorized by Saginaw Valley State University.

Pictured here, Derrick Walton Jr. shows the skills that have made him one of the top basketball recruits in the country. (Photo by MLive.com)

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

Charter School Teachers, Students Featured as NBC’s “Education Nation” Comes to Detroit
NBC News’ acclaimed “Education Nation” road tour is coming to Detroit this weekend, hosting a series of televised town-hall meetings and other events. MAPSA has been working closely with the program to connect the producers with charter school teachers and students from across the state – some of whom will be participating in panel discussions on the televised programs.

All of these events will be televised in Detroit by WDIV-TV (Channel 4), and will be available to view online at EducationNation.com. The television schedule includes:

• Friday, March 22, 12:30-1:00 p.m. - Watch highlights of a conference featuring Detroit-area civic, education and political leaders.
• Saturday, March 23, 7:00-8:30 p.m.  – Live Teacher Town Hall meeting, featuring educators from across the state (including charter school teachers).
• Sunday, March 24, Noon-1:00 p.m. – Student Town Hall meeting, featuring students from across the state, including charter school students.

Complete information on the “Education Nation” Detroit tour stop is available here.

Increase Your Enrollment With MAPSA’s New Parent Engagement and Outreach Campaign
A new opportunity from MAPSA – offered to our members as a benefit – will help you grow your school’s enrollment and reach the students and families that would best benefit from the quality education you provide.

As a member of MAPSA, we are giving each school an opportunity to be included in MAPSA's Parent Engagement and Outreach Campaign. Your school will be given a profile on our new Parent Engagement website, launching this spring. This website will replace our current "School Search" feature on our website, and will offer many exciting and enhanced features, such as allowing parents to search by focus area, grade levels served, location, classroom ratios, enrollment, etc. The website is designed to be simple and user-friendly, and will also feature a mobile version.

The goal of the new site is to educate parents and drive interest in charter schools, ultimately resulting in increased enrollment for participating schools. There will be numerous marketing and advertising efforts by MAPSA to ensure that traffic is drawn to the website, so that parents in your communities know where they can find information to determine the best option for their child.

In order to maximize the value of this website to all parents, we need your help! We are asking that all MAPSA member PSA's click here to provide us with the information that will be included on your profile. Complete this profile by this Friday, March 22, 2013 in order to be included in the initial launch of the webiste.

Boost Students’ Reading Comprehension With Free WestEd Course
Looking at boosting your students' reading comprehension? MAPSA and WestEd have teamed up to offer a online professional development course for middle and high school teachers at no cost to your school. The course, specifically designed for charter school teachers, is called "Beyond the Workshop: Interactive Learning for Charter School Teachers." State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECH) are available at no cost for participants.

The deadline to register is April 8. The four-week module starts April 15.

The idea is simple: to connect charter school teachers with research-based practices that improve instruction and, ultimately, student learning. WestEd and MAPSA are offering a reading comprehension online module series for middle and high charter school teachers. Aligned with the new Common Core Standards, this interactive, facilitated module features a learn-by-doing approach with interviews, classroom video, and multimedia presentations, and provides tools teachers can use in their own classrooms.

Click here to register or for more information, click here. You can also e-mail questions about the course to Cameron Clark, Quality Schools Facilitator at MAPSA, at cclark@charterschools.org.

Achieve Charter Academy Student is Metro Detroit Spelling Bee Champion
The top speller in Metro Detroit is a charter school student – eighth-grader James Sun of Achieve Charter Academy in Canton. James correctly spelled the word “temblor” to win the Detroit News 2013 Spelling Bee earlier this month. The victory earned him a spot in the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee, set for May in Washington, D.C.

“Originally, I thought he said templar, but then I heard the definition and how it was of Spanish origin and I was like, glad I took Spanish as a foreign language,” James told the Detroit News.

James is a veteran of the Metro Detroit spelling bee, having made two previous trips to the finals. This will be his first time competing at the National Spelling Bee.

Coming in second place was another charter school student – Adaeze Izuegbunam, a fifth-grader from Canton Charter Academy. She correctly spelled the word “italicization” in the final round before misspelling “ethanol,” the word which would have secured her victory.

Charter school students have dominated the Metro Detroit spelling bee in recent years. Last year, Kavya Pratapa of South Arbor Charter Academy in Ypsilanti won the local event and then made a huge splash at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, making it all the way to the final 20 before being eliminated.

Achieve Charter Academy, Canton Charter Academy and South Arbor Charter Academy are all managed by National Heritage Academies.

For more on the story, click here.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

Deadline is Friday to Reserve a Spot at MAPSA’s Job Fair
You can connect with hundreds of talented teachers, administrators and other educators by signing up for a table at MAPSA's annual Job Fair. The event takes place on Saturday, April 13, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

If you want to sign up, time is running out – the deadline to register is Friday.

This is your opportunity to meet and greet hundreds of qualified candidates looking to advance their careers in the charter community. MAPSA markets the event through various multi-media efforts to ensure a diverse pool of candidates that are looking to connect with you. Additionally, your registration fee includes set-up of table and chairs, and breakfast for two representatives from your school or management company.

Click here for more information and to register today!

The goal of the new site is to educate parents and drive interest in charter schools, ultimately resulting in increased enrollment for participating PSA's. There will be numerous marketing and advertising efforts by MAPSA to ensure that traffic is drawn to the website, so that parents in your communities know where they can find information to determine the best option for their child.

In order to maximize the value of this website to all parents, we need your help! We are asking that all MAPSA member PSA's click here to provide us with the information that will be included on your profile. Complete this profile by March 22, 2013 in order to be included in the initial launch of the webiste.

We hope that you will take the time to complete this information, as we are excited to feature your school and inform parents in your communities, resulting in increased enrollment for our members!

WestEd, MAPSA Offer Course on Boosting Reading Comprehension
Looking at boosting your students' reading comprehension? MAPSA and WestEd have teamed up to offer an online professional development course for middle and high school teachers. The course, specifically designed for charter school teachers, is called "Beyond the Workshop: Interactive Learning for Charter School Teachers."

The deadline to register has been extended to April 8. The four-week module starts April 15.

The idea is simple: to connect charter school teachers with research-based practices that improve instruction and, ultimately, student learning. WestEd and MAPSA are offering a reading comprehension online module series for middle and high charter school teachers. Aligned with the new Common Core Standards, this interactive, facilitated module features a learn-by-doing approach with interviews, classroom video, and multimedia presentations, and provides tools teachers can use in their own classrooms.

For more information, click here. You can also e-mail questions about the course to Cameron Clark, Quality Schools Facilitator at MAPSA, at cclark@charterschools.org.

Help Keep Your Students Safe Online: Register Through Michigan Child Protection Registry
Are your students safe while online? Michigan families, especially minors, are becoming inundated with advertisements from alcohol, tobacco, pornography and gambling marketers through different internet and cell phone inboxes. Thankfully, the State of Michigan offers a free program to stop adult advertisements from reaching e-mails, mobile phones (text messaging ads) and instant messenger IDs. The Michigan Child Protection Registry, created by the Michigan State Legislature in 2004, is a free do-not-contact service for Michigan’s families and schools and can be located at www.protectmichild.com.

Each of your schools can easily participate in this important program by doing three simple things:

1. Register your school domain through the website.
2. Send out a notice to all parents informing them of the registry and encouraging them to go to the website to sign up their entire family.
3. Add the www.ProtectMiChild.com button or direct link to your school’s website for easy access to the registry.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Looking to Recruit the Best Talent? Sign Up for MAPSA's Job Fair
You can connect with hundreds of talented teachers, administrators and other educators by signing up for a table at the 2013 Michigan Charter Public School Job Fair. The event takes place on Saturday, April 13, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and registration is now open.

This is your opportunity to meet and greet hundreds of qualified candidates looking to advance their careers in the charter community. MAPSA markets the event through various multi-media efforts to ensure a diverse pool of candidates that are looking to connect with you. Additionally, your registration fee includes set-up of table and chairs, and breakfast for two representatives from your school or management company.

Click here for more information and to register today! Registration deadline is March 15, 2013.

Professional Development at No Cost for Your School - and a Chance to Win a Complimentary MAPSA Conference Registration!
Would you like professional development at no cost for your entire school? You've got it! And a chance to win a complimentary registration to the 2013 Michigan Charter School Conference in Detroit? You've got that, too!

MAPSA has teamed up with EI to offer its program at no cost to every one of our member schools through May 5, 2013. There's still time to take advantage of this valuable program! And every school that signs up by March 15 will be entered into a drawing to receive a comped registration to the 16th annual Michigan Charter School Conference.

Every MAPSA member now has access to EI’s 40-plus online programs, which contain more than 375 hours of streaming video, featuring many of the top experts in the field of education, including Charlotte Danielson, Robert Marzano, Jay McTighe, Rick Stiggins and more. This program is available through May 5, so be sure to enroll your staff today!

Through the program, each school will have an opportunity for teachers and staff members to use EI's full program library to create a Personal Learning Plan – click here to view a video.

E-mail Brian McGinnis at brian@tech-excellence.com to get started with EI - and to be entered into the drawing for the complimentary conference registration.

The goal of the new site is to educate parents and drive interest in charter schools, ultimately resulting in increased enrollment for participating PSA's. There will be numerous marketing and advertising efforts by MAPSA to ensure that traffic is drawn to the website, so that parents in your communities know where they can find information to determine the best option for their child.

In order to maximize the value of this website to all parents, we need your help! We are asking that all MAPSA member PSA's click here to provide us with the information that will be included on your profile. Complete this profile by March 15, 2013 in order to be included in the initial launch of the webiste.

We hope that you will take the time to complete this information, as we are excited to feature your school and inform parents in your communities, resulting in increased enrollment for our members!

The Key to Common Core Readiness: Knowing How to Implement Standards
At MAPSA, we have been talking a lot about what “ready” really means in relation to the Common Core standards. What is really so different about Common Core standards? Has it changed what is being taught? Has math significantly changed in the last 100 years?

The answer, obviously, is “no.” These more rigorous standards are not new – especially to charter schools. You have been raising standards along the way. That’s what charter schools do!

You’ve been raising standards, but to make implementation of the Common Core easier, we’re bringing nationally renowned expert and presenter Cynthia Millinger to Michigan for one last workshop. As you know, the real change for Common Core is that it changes “how” teachers help students think and master material at a higher cognitive level. Simply swapping out old standards for new standards doesn’t result in change. It’s just a new label.

In these Common Core workshops, your team can focus on implementing specific strategies that emphasize student-centered teaching. Leaders and teachers learn how to prepare themselves to be facilitators and put students in the position of having to do the reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking, which ensures the students are the ones doing the learning.

Each workshop is four days – two days of Math, two days of ELA – and MAPSA has made it easy for schools to register separately for the ELA and Math sessions.

The March ELA dates are March 18 and 19, while the Math dates are March 20 and 21. For more information or to register for the Common Core Essentials workshop, click here.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies Students Create Bus-Sized Mural
A unique partnership between Grand Valley State University and one of the charter schools it authorizes has resulted in a beautifully elaborate and detailed mural.

The recently completed mural was created by 11 talented students at Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies in Detroit. The bus-sized piece of art tells the story of Michigan and Detroit through the eyes of the student artists.

"We want it to be cultural, show the agriculture, the products, the people of Detroit and Michigan itself," Daniel Boatner, one of the young artists, told Fox 2 TV in Detroit.

The mural took more than a year to complete, and was a collaborative effort between Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies and its authorizer, Grand Valley. A Grand Valley alumnus, noted muralist Hubert Massey, guided the students through the project.

The mural (which is pictured here) will be permanently displayed at Grand Valley State University's new business building. For more on the mural project, see the story and TV report here.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

Find the Best Talent for Your School: Sign Up for MAPSA's Job Fair
You can connect with hundreds of talented teachers, administrators and other educators by signing up for a table at the 2013 Michigan Charter Public Schools Job Fair. The event takes place on Saturday, April 13, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and registration is now open.

This is your opportunity to meet and greet hundreds of qualified candidates looking to advance their careers in the charter community. MAPSA markets the event through various multi-media efforts to ensure a diverse pool of candidates that are looking to connect with you. Additionally, your registration fee includes set-up of table and chairs, and breakfast for two representatives from your school or management company.

Click here for more information and to register today!  Registration deadline is March 15, 2013.

Discover Strategies for Implementing Common Core Standards in the Classroom
The experts will tell you that the key to success in switching to Common Core is knowing HOW to implement effective teaching strategies to change the impact on your students. And to do that, you need to be connected to the right tools and resources.The Common Core Essentials workshop is designed to equip your staff with strategies that emphasize student-centered teaching, ensuring an increase in the level of thinking and learning of your students.

The workshops are directed by Cynthia Millinger, CEO and Founder of Charter School Essentials. Cynthia is a nationally recognized leader for providing the pathway to integrate the Common Core into your curriculum.  

With only a few spots open, there’s still time to register your school for next month’s training in Lansing. The first two sessions have been sold-out successes, and the final workshop is filling up quickly.Each workshop is four days – two days of Math, two days of ELA – and MAPSA has made it easy for schools to register separately for the ELA and Math sessions.

The March ELA dates are March 18 and 19, while the Math dates are March 20 and 21. For more information or to register for the Common Core Essentials workshop, click here.

General Agency/EMC Offers Value and Experience to MAPSA Members
As the original endorsed provider through MAPSA, General Agency/EMC can provide you with the protection you need: their history will protect your future! In serving 180 charter schools and management companies across the United States, General Agency/EMC has a program which will meet ALL authorizer requirements, one that will provide you with the coverage your school, board and employees need. They have been insuring charter schools since 1996, and can offer a multitude of combined experience.

General Agency/EMC can offer excellent coverage, experienced professionals, great rates, great loss control/risk management and a solid committed insurance carrier.

For more information, contact John Olson at jolson@ga-ins.com, or call 800-589-6982.

Entries Sought for My Green School Art Contest
The My Green School Art Contest is open to any student in Michigan in grades K-5. The contest is sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council – Detroit Regional Chapter.

To enter, students should create a piece of art showing why their school is green, or how their school could be green. Art can be in any medium (paint, crayon, pencil, photos, collage, etc.), and must be put on any card stock, up to 12 inches by 18 inches. Entries are due by Earth Day – April 22, 2013.

For entry information, contact Connie Lilley at 248-830-0476 or connie@ecoprgroup.com.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Students at The Chatfield School Turn Science and Social Studies Into a Rural and Urban Partnership
While canoeing a portion of the Flint River this past fall as part of a watershed field study, seventh-graders at The Chatfield School in Lapeer removed 28 tires and other debris from the water.

The Chatfield students delivered the tires, which ultimately will get made into mud mats, to Cass Community Social Services in downtown Detroit. “We use our annual field study to Detroit to continue our studies of waterways and their impact on urban development,” said seventh-grade teacher Robert Kurtz. “We have been fortunate to partner with Cass Community Social Services, where we can recycle tires pulled out of the Flint River.”

Ecology Director Peter McCreedy added, “Cass Community Social Services provides a tour of their facility each year for the Chatfield seventh-graders, who learn how formerly homeless people are trained in the machine shop where the tires are transformed into mats and sold to the public. Over the years, the relationship between Chatfield and Cass Community Social Services has grown.”

Recently, Chatfield’s National Junior Honor Society members returned to Cass to work with the mud mat crew, helping to fill orders before the holiday crunch time. The students then invited the workers from the shop to visit Chatfield. The students hosted a tour of the school and Chatfield’s Willows Ecology Center. Seventh-grade students and the National Junior Honor Society also collected new coloring books, markers, and crayons for the Mother/Child center at Cass Community Social Services.

“Chatfield’s watershed studies help to bring science and social studies concepts to life,” said School Director Bill Kraly. “It’s exciting that these studies have such a powerful link to service learning and create a unique relationship between a rural school and an urban center. Our students are very fortunate to have these incredible learning experiences.”

The Chatfield School has 485 students and is authorized by Saginaw Valley State University.

Pictured here, the seventh-grade students show some of the tires they pulled from the river.

Recruit qualified team members at the 2013 Michigan Public Charter School Job Fair!
Registration is now open to secure your table at MAPSA's annual job fair. The event will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

This is your opportunity to meet and greet hundreds of qualified candidates looking to advance their careers in the charter community. MAPSA markets the event through various multi-media efforts to ensure a diverse pool of candidates are looking to connect with you. Addtionally, your registration fee includes set-up of table & chairs, and breakfast for two representatives from your school or management company.

Click here for more information and to register today! Registration deadline is March 15, 2013.

Common Core Essentials Training - One Session Left!
Register today for the only remaining session in the highly popular "Making the Move to Common Core" Workshop Series, hosted by MAPSA. The training takes place in Lansing on March 18-21.

The Common Core workshops are being directed by Cynthia Millinger, CEO and founder of Charter School Essentials. Cynthia is a nationally recognized leader for providing the pathway to integrate the Common Core into your curriculum.

Attendees from the previous sessions, held in Detroit, have found the training to be extremely valuable in preparing for upcoming changes, and have shared the following testimonials:

"Dr. Millinger is a great presenter and her knowledge of the material was outstanding."

"This was a great workshop and I feel more motivated and ready for Common Core in the future."

"I found this very valuable to the task at hand, of moving to the Common Core. Thank you."

Each workshop is four days – two days of Math, two days of ELA – and MAPSA has made it easy for schools to register separately for the ELA and Math sessions. The March ELA dates are March 18 and 19, while the Math dates are March 20 and 21.

For more information or to register for the Common Core Essentials workshop, click here.

MAPSA Members Receive Big Discounts Through Staples Advantage Program
The Staples Advantage program offers MAPSA members discounted pricing that you would not have access to as an individual school or even a small group of schools.

Staples Advantage generates cost savings on your office supplies, and also offers online digital copy services, janitorial and breakroom supplies, technology and furniture. Staples Advantage offers industry-leading eProcurement expertise – direct online purchasing and returns through StaplesLink.com. Contracted pricing applies to many of the most common supplies that charter schools are using.

For more information, contact Roberta Delo at roberta.delo@staples.com, or visit staplesadvantage.com/mapsa.

Help Keep Your Students Safe Online: Register Through Michigan Child Protection Registry
Are your students safe while online? Michigan families, especially minors, are becoming inundated with advertisements from alcohol, tobacco, pornography and gambling marketers through different internet and cell phone inboxes. Thankfully, the State of Michigan offers a free program to stop adult advertisements from reaching e-mails, mobile phones (text messaging ads) and instant messenger IDs. The Michigan Child Protection Registry, created by the Michigan State Legislature in 2004, is a free do-not-contact service for Michigan’s families and schools and can be located at www.protectmichild.com.

Each of your schools can easily participate in this important program by doing three simple things:

1. Register your school domain through the website.
2. Send out a notice to all parents informing them of the registry and encouraging them to go to the website to sign up their entire family.
3. Add the www.ProtectMiChild.com button or direct link to your school’s website for easy access to the registry.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Charter School Students Sign to Play Division I College Football
Several charter school students from Michigan signed letters of intent last week to play Division I college football.

From Warren Michigan Collegiate, wide receiver Teo Redding signed to play at Bowling Green University this fall. To see Redding in action, click here.

Scholarships Available to Detroit Students Through Skillman Foundation
The Skillman Foundation, in partnership with the Coleman A. Young Foundation, will award scholarships of up to $10,000 each to 10 promising Detroit students.

The awards will recognize young people as emerging leaders and as a current contributor to making a difference in their community, ensure that Detroit and Southeastern Michigan youth attend and graduate from college, and encourage young leaders to return, serve and contribute to the revitalization of Detroit and the state of Michigan.

To be eligible for the Promising Youth Legacy Awards, students must be nominated by a nonprofit, community-based, faith-based, social service, or school organization. The criteria for applicants are:

Student must exhibit extraordinary leadership and a demonstrated commitment to improving the community.

• Student must demonstrate that they have made a difference in the lives of others through community service, civic engagement or community leadership.
• Student must reside in a Skillman Good Neighborhood.
• Student must be ages 15-18 and college-bound, with a high school GPA of 2.5 or greater; and currently enrolled as a junior or senior.

Nominations must be received by March 22. For more information and the nomination form, click here.

Upcoming Events
Don't miss out on newly added upcoming professional development opportunities and other exciting events! Please click on the event listing for additional information.

March 15 - 2013 Michigan Charter School State Spelling Bee
Registration/Check-in - 8:30 a.m.
Presented By: The Romine Group
Hosted By: Trillium Academy
15740 Racho Rd, Taylor, MI 48180

March 18-21 - Make the Move to Common Core State Standards

The MEAP and MME will test Common Core this fall. Get prepared now by attending this essential training! Join Cynthia Millinger, an extremely well informed, entertaining and inspirational speaker – one of the country's premiere trainers when it comes to preparing educators about the Common Core. 
Click here to sign up your school improvement team today!

MAPSA members - please let us know if you will be hosting an event that may be of interest to other charter school educators, parents or students by emailing the event, date, time, location and description to bmoorehouse@charterschools.org. We will be happy to feature it on our events calendar!

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Countryside Academy Opens New 12,000-Square-Foot Gymnasium

Countryside Academy in Benton Harbor will host a grand-opening celebration on Sunday for its new 12,000-square-foot gymnasium. The new facility hosted its first basketball games this week (pictured here).

“This is a long-awaited moment in our school’s history,” said Lyn Sperry, Countryside Academy Administrator. “The new gym is a huge addition to our athletics program. This will allow our coaches to run multiple team practices and host home events. The new gym will free up space for after-school programs and allow ample room for larger events on nights and weekends. Students, staff, athletes, and Countryside families are excited and anxious to start using our new gymnasium."

Construction for the new gymnasium at Countryside Academy in Benton Township was completed by the design builder Pearson Construction of Benton Harbor. The project consisted of a new 12,000-square-foot gymnasium and will house the schools physical education programs and host competitive sporting events.

Countryside Academy is authorized by Central Michigan University.

Educational Impact’s Online Curriculum Offered Free to MAPSA Member Schools Through May 5
MAPSA has teamed up with Educational Impact (EI) – the premier provider of online professional development for educators – to offer its program free to every one of our member schools. From now through May 5, every MAPSA member will have access to EI’s 40-plus online programs, which contain more than 375 hours of streaming video, featuring many of the top experts in the field of education, including Charlotte Danielson, Robert Marzano, Jay McTighe, Rick Stiggins and more.

Through the program, each school will have an opportunity for teachers and staff members to use EI’s full program library to create Individual Development Plans. The staff will also have access to powerful PD on such topics as “Differentiated Instruction” and “Project-Based Learning.” A number of charter schools in Michigan are already using EI’s program, and they’re experiencing great success with it.

To sign up, simply contact Brian McGinnis at EI at brian@tech-excellence.com. He’ll ask you to send your school’s roster via an Excel spreadsheet, and you’ll be ready to go.

Academy of International Studies Promotes Healthy Lifestyles With Yoga Program
The Academy of International Studies (AIS) in Hamtramck is promoting healthy lifestyles through the inclusion of Yoga in the school program in collaboration with Danialle Karmanos’ Work-it (DKWIO), a non-profit organization. AIS, managed by the Hanley Harper Group, opened in 2012. AIS services a diverse student population that includes students of Arabic, Bengali, Ukrainian, Polish and African American backgrounds.

DKWIO is a 10-week program that meets once a week for one hour. The program combines nutrition education with a yoga activity to teach children about making healthy choices for their mind and body.

For children to get started on a healthy lifestyle, they need to exercise every day. Yoga benefits both the body and the mind—it’s a physically empowering practice and calms a child’s otherwise busy world. DKWIO employs a holistic and yoga-based model based on proven, structured tools—such as the program’s unique one-hour formula—that maximize the organization’s impact and reach. This straightforward, repeatable formula increases the positive impact on children who take part in the program.

For more information, click here.

Common Core Workshop: Just One Session Left!
There’s only one session left in the highly popular Common Core Essentials Workshop Series, hosted by MAPSA. The remaining session takes place in Lansing on March 18-21. The MEAP and MME will test Common Core this fall. Get prepared now by attending this essential training!

The Common Core workshops are being directed by Cynthia Millinger, CEO and founder of Charter School Essentials. Cynthia is a nationally recognized leader for providing the pathway to integrate the Common Core into your curriculum.

Each workshop is four days – two days of Math, two days of ELA – and MAPSA has made it easy for schools to register separately for the ELA and Math sessions. The March ELA dates are March 18 and 19, while the Math dates are March 20 and 21.

You can register for the Common Core Essentials workshop here.

Good Things Happening in Our Schools:

Charter Schools Ranked Among Best Public Schools in the State by Bridge Magazine
Bridge Magazine, an online publication of the Center for Michigan, recently honored 52 school districts and charter schools across the state as "Academic State Champions."

As part of this effort, the magazine used a Value-Added Matrix to identify what it said are the best public schools in the state. It said that these schools are the state’s best at raising student achievement above expected scores for the student body’s income level, according to a formula developed by Bridge Magazine and the Lansing research firm of Public Sector Consultants.

Michigan's charter schools fared extremely well in the rankings, grabbing three spots among the top five. Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights was ranked the No. 1 school in the state, while Riverside Academy in Dearborn was No. 3, and Central Academy in Ann Arbor was No. 5.

The da Vinci Institute in Jackson also finished near the top, coming in at No. 12.

For the complete report, see here.

Please submit any announcements, news or event information for MAPSA's "Good Things Happening in Our Schools" feature to Buddy Moorehouse at bmoorehouse@charterschools.org.

Common Core Workshops Coming up in Detroit and Lansing
No matter where your school is located, you now have a convenient location for the popular MAPSA-sponsored Common Core Essentials workshop. The February session will take place in Detroit, while the March workshop is now set to take place in Lansing.

The Common Core Essentials workshop series kicked off in December with a sold-out session, and the reviews from educators in attendance were overwhelmingly positive. Spots are filling up fast for the February and March sessions, and schools are urged to register their school improvement teams today!

The Common Core Essentials workshops are being directed by Cynthia Millinger,one of the country’s premiere resources and trainers on Common Core. Each workshop is four days – two days of Math, two days of ELA – and MAPSA has made it easy for schools to register separately for the ELA and Math sessions.

The February ELA session is Feb. 5 and 7, while the Math dates are Feb. 6 and 8. The March ELA dates are March 18 and 19, while the Math dates are March 20 and 21.

You can register for the Common Core Essentials workshop here.

Free Books Available for March is Reading Month
Michigan Friends of Education - Operation Kid Equip is getting ready for March is Reading month by distributing thousands and thousands of books into schools and communities. Free books are available to teachers in any public, charter or private school in Macomb, Oakland or Wayne counties.

Sessions take place every Saturday in February and March. You will be able to choose up to 50 books each day you register to attend. You may separately register for as many days as you wish. You are limited to books for one classroom per day, and the books in the center are leveled. Tickets are limited to the first 100 teachers or organizations per day.

Reserve your spot now at http://mfeokebb.eventbrite.com/

The distribution center is located at:

1830 Stephenson Highway, Suite B
Troy, Mich.
(The entrance to Suite B is located at the back of the building)

Upcoming Events
Don't miss out on newly added upcoming professional development opportunities and other exciting events! Please click on the event listing for additional information, or to view all of MAPSA's current events please click here.

February 5-8 - Make the Move to Common Core State Standards

Join Cynthia Millinger, an extremely well informed, entertaining and inspirational speaker – one of the country's premiere trainers when it comes to preparing educators about the Common Core. The ELA session will be held February 5 & 7, and the math session is February 6 & 8.
Click here to sign up your school improvement team today!

February 6 - A Framework for Understanding Poverty
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Click here for more information & to register today!



March 15 & 16 – The Lens Training Series: Performance Culture
A two-day workshop including facilitated school tours, peer-to-peer sharing, and expert speakers.

MAPSA members - please let us know if you will be hosting an event that may be of interest to other charter school educators, parents or students by emailing the event, date, time, location and description to bmoorehouse@charterschools.org. We will be happy to feature it on our events calendar!