News & Events
Fall 2009 Newsletter
Fall Fundraisers Generate Money to Support Education and Job-Training Programs
Our annual fall fundraisers were successful in raising awareness of Living Classrooms' mission and important dollars that support all of our education and job-training programs serving over 50,000 youth and young adults in the Baltimore-Washington, DC areas.
The Foundation's second annual "A Night at The Yards" was held October 16th on DC's Southeast waterfront, raising funds to support our programming in the National Capital Region. Our annual "Maritime Magic" in Baltimore held October 2nd was also a terrific success! Both events featured food and drink catered by several popular restaurants, silent auction, festive waterfront ambiance, music by headliners New Riders of the Purple Sage and Trombone Shorty, and thousands of supporters in attendance!
Click here to watch Comcast's Red Carpet video from Maritime Magic!
The Historic Ships in Baltimore hosted the annual Constellation Cup, and the Friends of Fort McHenry celebrated Star Spangled Banner Weekend in September, culminating with a successful Defender's Day fundraiser. For more information, visit www.historicships.org and www.friendsoffortmchenry.org.
Students and Shipwrights Launch USS Constellation's Ship's Boats
On October 9th, Living Classrooms Foundation, in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, christened and launched two boats built by students and shipwrights. For the past two years, Living Classrooms' shipwrights, assisted by students from the Foundation's Fresh Start Program and Voyage of Exploration Program, have been building the USS Constellation's ship's boats from the ship's original 1854 plans. The students who have been involved in this project have learned new skills, applied academic subjects, and gained self-confidence while broadening their horizons through this hands-on project.
The Fresh Start program is a ten-month carpentry-based job training program that serves out-of-school youth ages 16-19. During this intense and transformative program, students learn employability skills, customized job skills, life skills, and academic skills needed to prepare for and pass the GED test. Many of the youth are referred through Juvenile Justice. Seventy five percent of participants are employed and/or are continuing their education three years after graduation.
The Voyage of Exploration Program is a Living Classrooms' program funded by the National Science Foundation. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program serves urban, Baltimore City middle school youth, and aims to expose more minority youth to these competitive fields.
The two vessels that were launched are replicas of the Constellation ship's cutters. Twenty-six feet in length each and weighing in at just over 1,000 lbs., these stout boats would have been used to transport crew and officers from ship to ship or ship to shore. Each vessel would have had a crew of nine oarsmen. After the boats were launched, the event continued with students tried their hands at rowing them in the harbor.
The vessels will ultimately be hung from davits on the Constellation and be used as the newest "living classrooms" on the Inner Harbor for rowing and seamanship programs.
Students and Volunteers Collaborate on Painting and Picture Mural Project
Living Classrooms' East Harbor Campus is brightening up Baltimore City, particularly from the Lancaster Street side of campus. Living Classrooms students have partnered with corporate and community volunteers to create colorful and creative murals, accurately portraying Living Classrooms' programs. This project, Painting the Picture, allows us to reclaim neutral urban space on the East Harbor Campus. These murals not only beautify the East Harbor community, but also highlight the ambition and impact of Living Classrooms’ programming in diverse areas. Using teamwork and the talents of students and volunteers, this mural series signifies the scope of Living Classrooms' transformative work in the community for years to come.
Students in The Crossroads School's Leaders Go Places Program are Recognized for Outstanding Achievement at Leadership Ceremony
Throughout the school year, students at Living Classrooms Foundation’s public charter middle school, The Crossroads School, congregate on Wednesday mornings for weekly “community meetings.” On October 28th, family members and Baltimore City Public Schools Commissioner Bob Heck joined the meeting to recognize 58 of the school’s 152 students as Crossroads’ Bronze, Silver, and Gold Leaders.
In 2008, The Crossroads School developed the Leaders Go Places program to support the goal of empowering each student to become a strong scholar, leader, and citizen. The program measures each student’s progress in the areas of academic achievement, effort, positive behavior, and service to the community, and is designed to encourage and motivate all students to improve their self-development and skills through the attainment of specific goals measured over eight-week periods. The nine students who reached the Gold level, for example, had earned Bronze and Silver last year and since the first day of school, have maintained an average homework completion of 97.5% for reading, math, and science; 97% or higher in attendance; a strong “B” average in reading and math; participation in four or more service learning projects; and the development and achievement of a personal goal.
As part of the program, all students receive on-going instruction, support, updates on their progress, and most importantly, recognition for their accomplishments as they advance through the three levels of achievement: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Finally, students are reminded that Leaders (really do) Go Places -- in their lives and as part of this program. In November, the Silver and Gold Leaders will be touring the State House in Annapolis and meeting with Speaker Mike Miller. As the year progresses, student leaders will also visit The Naval Academy, Center Stage Theatre, and Washington, DC. In addition, students will have opportunities to meet with community leaders in a variety of work environments and through “Leadership Luncheons” held at Crossroads.
Students were asked the question, “What does it mean to be a leader at Crossroads?” Jamal, a Bronze winner, said “being a leader means being responsible for your work and looking out for your peers.” When talking about the ceremony, he said, “I felt proud today and so did my mom, grandmother, and little cousin!” Crossroads student Leonel exclaimed “I like how at The Crossroads School, we are recognized for being successful!” Destiny, another Bronze winner, reflected on Commissioner Heck’s presentation and said she will remember his comment about “being leaders all the time, not just when someone is looking.”
This was another proud day for The Crossroads School in a year when they reached 80% Proficient/Advanced in both reading and math on the 2009 MSA. Commissioner Heck later said, "I salute all the students and staff at The Crossroads School for their hard work and commitment to excellence. The students are a shining light of educational achievement in the Inner Harbor!"
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