Greetings Open Doors Fans,
Happy Summer Days! June has proven to be our busiest and happiest month yet! Seven years ago, we welcomed our first class of 6th grade students to begin the Open Doors experience. This past month, we watched each of them walk across the stage to receive their high school diploma. It was a long anticipated moment that did not dissapoint. If you have ever wondered what value a dollar donated to Open Doors brings, I am sure you will find in reading below that the return on investment is extaordinary!
In addition, to the excitement of prom and graduation, we also had our end of the year cookout in partnership with the Cleveland Foodbank, the student's hard earned trip to Kalahari Waterpark, and 8th grade formal and graduation. All of it happening in a two week period! Be sure to read on to experience the phenomenon that is Open Doors!
Sincerest Regards,
Annemarie M. Grassi, M.S.Ed.
Executive Director
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Open Doors Academy's First Class
Graduates High School  Seven years ago, 13 students walked through the doors of Open Doors Academy as young sixth graders. Today they stand tall as high school graduates preparing for their futures.
THE FUTURE LEADERS OF TOMORROW
A look at Where They are Headed
Dwight Williams graduated from Cleveland Heights High School will be attending Ohio University in the Fall and will be studying social work and international studies. Dwight received a $14,000 multi-year scholarship to the University.
Miles Walker graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and will be attending Ohio State University in the Fall and will be studying Engineering. Miles received a multi-year scholarship to OSU, and was also accepted into a summer engineering preparation program (PREFACE) on a full scholarship.
Chelsea Williams graduated from Regina High School and will be attending the University of Cincinnati in the Fall. Chelsea is undecided, but is considering nursing or social work.
Courtney Martin graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and will be attending Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, Indiana in the fall and hopes to use her education as a stepping stone to transferring to Notre Dame her sophomore year. Courtney plans to study sports management.
Michael Mackie - Kwist graduated from St. Edward's High School and will be playing Junior Hockey and attending a local community college in Vancouver, Canada. He hopes to develop his skills so that he may play college hockey at a Higher Education University in the next two years.
Alexandra Cicco graduated from Villa Angela-St. Joseph School and will be joining the Gap Year program, where she will be doing volunteer work overseas for a year, before heading to college.
Megan McCoy graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and will be attending Cornell University in the fall. She has received a multi-year scholarship and is currently undecided. At her high school graduation, Megan was recognized with several awards, including: Diploma with Honors, Ohio Department of Education Award of Merit, and the President's Award.
Patrick Driscoll graduated from Bellfaire Academy and will be attending Cuyahoga Community College in the fall, where he plans to study Automotive Technology.
Steven Montgomery graduated from Shaw High School and will be attending the University of Akron, where he will be studying Fire Science.
Avery Tucker graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and will be attending Ohio University in the fall. He is undecided, but has an interest in biology or environmental sciences.
Taylor Smith graduated from Beaumont High School and will be attending Ohio University in the fall. Taylor is currently undecided.
Erik Erdman graduated from Lawrence Academy Upper School and is currently looking to take a year to map out his career path.
To watch the Open Doors graduates grow
through Middle School and High School Click Here
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Open Doors partners with Cleveland Foodbank for End of the Year Cookout
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Open Doors 6th grader, Jessica Klein shows off her award for her excellent academic recordOn June 4th, Open Doors hosted its' 7th Annual End of the Year Family Cookout. This year we welcomed a new partnership with the Cleveland Foodbank, which not only provides daily snacks to the youth, and educational nutrition classes to our students and parents, but also co-hosted the End of the Year Cookout!
A special thank you to Thea DeRosa and her team for all of their support! The Cleveland Foodbank provided all of the food and entertainment, including: Ronald McDonald Magic Show for the little ones, a face painter, the infamous Bungi Run inflatable game, and nutritional guessing games and prizes. In addition, each family went home with a car load of healthy fruits and vegetables!
J'havon Goldsby, Open Doors 6th grader (left), and Matthew Wilcoxson, Open Doors 6th Grader, race to see who can get farther on the bungi run. As
is tradition, the students were roasted with superlative awards from
the staff, and the students took their turns roasting the staff.
Awards were given to the students, parents, and staff (see below), and
as has become a tradition with Open Doors, students received their new
kiwi colored Open Doors t-shirts!
 2009 Open Doors Student Awards
Biggest Helpers - Renita Brock and Renautica Brock
Most Improved Students - Gary Monfort and Victoria Taylor
Strongest Leadership - Meckaela Glenn and Cornelius Pewu
Strongest Overall Students - Tre Grady and Joy Mitchell
Cliff and Clara Huxtable Parent Awards
Alacia and Clifford Browning
Heather Poston
Rachel Truitt
Allison Hall and Robert Miller
Tish and Brian Klein
Nancy Grady
Mother Theresa Volunteer Awards
Marcus Driscoll
Evelyn Sallee
Marty Young
Megan McCoy
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Class of 2013
8th Grade Formal and Graduation Ceremony
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(left to right front row) Tyrell Butler, Janine Walker, Denis Bertrand. (left to right back row) Tony Smith, Cornelius Pewu, Kyle Finnegan
As each 8th grade student prepares to leave behind Middle School and begin their high school career, the end of the year brings about many celebrations, including 8th grade formal and the 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony at Roxboro Middle School.
The following twenty 8th grade students are graduating from Open Doors Academy and Roxboro Middle School:
- Denis Bertrand - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Renautica Brock - will be attending Belfaire Academy
- Taylor Edmondson - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Kyle Finnegan - will be attending Benedictine on a scholarship
- Meckaela Glenn - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Bryan Kent - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Kate Miller - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Joy Mitchell - will be attending Cleveland Height High School
- Gary Montfort - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Cornelius Pewu - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Tyler Poston - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Taylor Reed - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Jeremie Sims - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Tony Smith - will be attending Benedictine
- Sam Spry - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Eli Stone-Harlan - Will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Caleb Truitt - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Janine Walker - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Michelle Williams - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
- Mary Jane Willis - will be attending Cleveland Heights High School
Be sure to stay tuned to continue to watch them grow as alumni as they move through high school and prepare for post secondary education opportunities!
8th graders, Kyle Finnegan, Tony Smith, Cornelius Pewu, Kate Miller, Janine Walker, and Bryan Kent pose after 8th grade graduation.
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End of the year trip to
Kalahari Water Park
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(left to right) 6th graders, Mario Wheatley, Amari Dean, Jarrett Gardenhire, Kenny Dandridge, Cameron Mack, and 7th grader David Kurtz give the camera their best tough guy poses.
The students of Open Doors worked hard over the last 4 months developing and running their businesses to raise money for their end of the year trip to Kalahari Waterpark. The students held a pancake breakfast on Mother's Day, 2 Car Washes, and 3 candy sales. Together, they raised $1,600 to help fund their trip.
The day was a huge
success! The kids enjoyed the various areas of the waterpark, including the indoor/outdoor hot tub, the Wave Pool, and the Floorboarding area! Through the experience of working towards their trip, they were
truly able to appreciate the fruits of their labors.
 front row (left to right) 6th graders, Sydni Davenport, Madison Andrasko, and Halle Allam. Second row, 7th graders, Amber Richardson, Lexus Hawkins, and 6th grader Jessica Klein. Back row, 6th grader Imani Smith, and future OD student, Morgan Grady, sibling of student Tre Grady.
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Class of 2009 Senior Prom
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Open Doors alumni, Courtney Martin, Avery Tucker, Megan McCoy, and Dwight Williams, pose with their dates before prom.
The Open Doors Alumni Class of 2009 enjoys Prom at
Cleveland Heights High School, Regina, and St. Edward's High School
 Open Doors Alumni, Chelsea Williams and Michael Mackie-Kwist pose for a picture at St. Edward's Prom.
 Open Doors Alum, Dwight Williams serenades his best friend, fellow alum, Courtney Martin at the Cleveland Art Museum before Prom. |
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Check out More on Open Doors
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Thank You to the 2009 Open Doors Staff!
You are Amazing!
Annemarie M. Grassi
Executive Director
Kathryn Randall
Executive Assistant
Paul Theodore
Program Director
Kathryn Schnell
Program Director
Cliff Sweeney
Organizational Coordinator
Debra Klein
Organizational Coordinator
Jeff Harrell
Mediation Facilitator
Jeff Smith
Mediation Facilitator
TaRhonda Ward
Substitute
Tenille Threatt
Substitute
Sara Hemer
Intern
Megan McCoy
Senior Project Intern
Mark Reuter
Senior Project Intern
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Kathryn Randall
Executive Assistant
Where did you graduate from?
Ursuline College
I Live... Cleveland/Shaker Heights
Favorite Food: Pretty much everything, better to ask me what foods, I don't like! Brussel Sprouts and Liver
If you could be a superhero, who would you be? The whole Justice League is pretty awesome!
Favorite Cartoon and/or Cartoon Character? Foghorn Langhorne
Favorite Quote? "No one can determine my potential, but me"
Favorite Middle School Memory?
Making chocolate chip cookies in home economics class
Who is your greatest inspiration?
My oldest son, David. Even though he was diagnosed at the age of ten with diabetes, it has not stopped him from being a typical teenager.
What is your greatest challenge/ biggest dream? To figure out what is my purpose in life, and to live it!
What do you like most about Open Doors? Hearing the kids say, "Hi Ms. Kathy".
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Donate today to
Open Doors Academy!
CLICK HERE.
All donations are tax deductible.
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Thank You to our
May and June Donors
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S. Mattuck Meacham
Linda Hawkins
Heather Ways
Kimberly M. Glenn
Monica L. Daniely
Change for Charity
Evelyn Sallee
Eric Reuter
Elizabeth Patterson
Sal Russo
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Upcoming in
Next Month's Issue
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- Open Doors Launches its' New Website
- Open Doors Alumni head to Harlan, Kentucky to Build Homes for those families in need
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DO SOMETHING SIMPLE...
DO SOMETHING POWERFUL...
VOLUNTEER!
GET INVOLVED!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
One on One Tutoring - Tuesday Evenings from 6pm
to 7pm. Work one on one with a student who need additional academic
support. 12 week commitment requested. No prior middle school
experience needed!
Share a Skill, Story, or Talent - Do you
have a law background and would love to teach the art of debate? How
about a financial advisor who can share the importance of understanding
money? Are you a good cook? Creative Artist? We need your talent!
Our middle school students seek out the opportunity to develop
relationships with mentors and strong adult role models. You can be
that role model! Even If you can come in and give of your time even
just once a month, we would welcome you!
If you would like more
information on volunteer opportunities, contact,
Paul Theodore, Program
Director,
at (216) 320-9563 or ptheodore@opendoorsacademy.org
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2009
Open Doors Academy
Kickball / Dodgeball Tournament
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 3RD, 2009
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