Greetings Open Doors Supporters,
Open Doors is moving fast forward into 2010 with many great things to come! Our 2009 Holiday Dinner at the Terrace Club was a huge success with 420 plus people in attendance! We ended our year with a trip to Tower City with all four sites... our favorite field trip of the year!
As we move into 2010, we are excited about the many prospects that lie ahead. We will be conducting site tours in February, we have moved our Annual Talent Show up to March (with all four sites participating together!), and the staff is gearing up to lead by example by participating in our first ever Biggest Loser Challenge! Be sure to read onward and consider signing up for a site tour to see the organization in action and to visit one of our three new program sites!
Sincerest Regards,
Annemarie M. Grassi, M.S.Ed.
Executive Director
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See our organization in action! 2010 Tour de Sites
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Wonder what happens inside the
walls of Open Doors each day?
Interested in learning more about what
Open Doors means to our students?
Want to learn more about the organization
that pops up in your inbox each month?
Well then join us for an Open Doors Site Tour!
Open Doors will be hosting site visits throughout the month of February in an effort to educate our supporters or those interested in simply learning more on the inner workings of Open Doors. Group Tours last approximately 2 hours and are offered at all four of our sites. To sign up for a tour visit, click HERE or contact our offices at (216) 229-1900.
February, 2010 Tour Dates:
Monday, February 1st - Miles Park Site (3pm start)
Monday, February 8th - Wiley Site (3:30pm start)
Wednesday, February 10th - Forest Park Site (3:30pm start)
Wednesday, February 17th - Roxboro Site (3:30pm start)
Friday, February 19th - Roxboro Site (3:30pm start)
Monday, February 22nd - Forest Park Site (3:30pm start)
Wednesday, February 24th - Miles Park Site (3pm start)
Monday, March 1st - Wiley Site (3:30pm start)
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Leading by Example
ODA Staff Biggest Loser Challenge
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In an effort to lead by example and to use our own personal experiences to teach our students, the staff of Open Doors has agreed to participate in the Biggest Loser Challenge! Over the next three months the staff will work on changing their eating habits, increasing their exercise, and tracking their body fat percentage, weight loss, and body mass index.
The students will be responsible for overseeing the process, helping track what the staff eats, and how often they are exercising. Each Friday the staff will weigh in and have their BMI and Body Fat Percentage measured and will report their accomplishments to the students. It is our hope that by putting the students in the role of the teacher, they too will begin to develop healthier habits and lifestyles.
Each staff member has set a goal to reach. The individual with the greatest percentage of body fat lost will receive a monetary award, as part of a pot the staff is contributing too. In addition, if the staff at each site, reach their goals, than those sites will receive a field trip to Swings n' Things (no pressure on the staff!). Finally, we will complete the challenge with 5K walk/run in May.
Wish us luck!
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ODA builds Community between the Four Sites
There is a natural rivalry that occurs between schools. This rivalry has also carried itself over between the sites of Open Doors. As Open Doors strives to create a sense of community amongst our individual sites, we also seek to engage in an extended community amongst the four sites. Although this has been a challenge at times, the staff has been persistent in building community between the sites and in stressing to the students that Open Doors students hold themselves to a higher level. We finally have begun to see small measures of growth and an increased level of mutual respect as the students came together on Friday, January 15th, at Wade Oval Park for an afternoon of ice skating and snowball fights. There is still work to be done, however, we are proud of the strides our students have taken to overcome the stereotypes they have been taught to represent a stronger unity as one Open Doors Community. |
Be sure to check out our student of the month profiles,
by visiting our website at www.opendoorsacademy.org,
under the tab "Our Locations".
December Students of the Month
Ralecia Vickers - Wiley
Neftaly Serrano - Roxboro
DeShawna Patterson - Miles Park
Taylond Williams - Forest Park
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A Special Thank You to all of those who adopted our Families over the Holiday Season!
We were
overwhelmed by the generosity of those who were willing to help other
families in need this holiday season. Thank you for adopting our
families, because of you we were able to provide Christmas to 25 of our
families, who otherwise would not have experienced the joy of finding
presents under the tree! A Special Thank You to:Cleveland Clinic Department of Cancer Biology
Cleveland Clinic Department of Cell Biology
Cleveland Clinic Health Coordinators
Cleveland Clinic Department of Molecular Genetics
Diane Wish
Jeroen Kwist
Chisholm Family
Patterson Family
Owens Group
Thomas Family
Laura Fields
PR 20/20
Laurel School
Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority
Alecia Richardson and Clifford Browning
Peggy Spaeth
Shelley Seifert
Andrea Morris
Frenchye Bush
Rosemary and Abby Downing
Jennifer Gould
Jim and Mary Kander
Amy Asseff and Staff
Sara Briechle
Tusiime Ndajunwoha
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SATURDAY, MARCH 20TH, 2010
"COME TOGETHER... RIGHT NOW"
OPEN DOORS ACADEMY VARIETY SHOW
The theme "Come Together ... Right Now" was chosen because it represents a Beatles Song that was written as a message that Yogi delivered to the band (The
Beatles) as a group that would supposedly heal the growing rift and dissention
between the four members of the band and unite them as a single cohesive unit
once again.
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Thank you to all who have contributed to the
Open Doors Annual Campaign.
We are over half way to our goal!
THANK YOU!
A special thanks to:
Carolyn
Alexander
Jennifer
Boland-Jared
Arthur
Brenneman
Rita and
William Bruce
Homer and
Gert Chisholm
Ethan
Cohen Ttee
Mike and Renee Corneille
Ensign
Cowell
Jim
Dakin
Nicholas
DiBlatto
Dick
Dietrich
Rosemary
Downing
Donovan
Duncan
Lisa
Enoch
Todd
Federman
John
Feighan
Melissa
Ferderman
Richard
Gent, Jr.
Linda
Gould Faber
Matthew
Hawkins
Dick
Hollington
Thomas
Holmes
Lansing
Hoskins
John
Houdek
Richard
Israel
Clark
Jones
Frances
Kalafatis
Sherry
Kim
J.
Mann
Michael
Mayhugh
Catherine
Scallen and Robert Brown
Eric
Neilsen
David Kerk
Neiswander
Richard
Obermann
Bob and
Michelle Olds
Brendan and
Elizabeth Patterson
Liam
Patterson
Edward
Pentecost
Bill &
Sue Powel
James Quinn
Thomas
Quintrell
Jeffrey
Ramsey
Joel and
Jean Rathbone
Albert
Rawlinson
Mary Rayborn
James Reid
Debra Rex
George
Alice
Robbins
Georgianna
Roberts
Marc Sanchez
Donald
Saunders
Laurel
Schauer
Dennis
Schwartz
Peter and
Laura Scriven
Robert and
Amanda Seaman
Enid Sharpe
Ann Sherif
Edward Lentz & Laura Shepardson
Arun Singh
Rishi Singh
James Smith
Evan and Catherine Sotiriou
Lael Stone
Mary Stone
Roger and
Jacquie Talbott
Cathy Veres
Paul and
Vivian Victor
William
Vodrey
Mark Warren
and Lisa Lystad
Greg and
Sharon Watts
Kathryn
Webster
Michael Weil
Tracy and
Kim Wheeler
Hugh
Williams
Beverly Ann
Wilson
Sally Wilson
Lynn Wood
Brent and
Marty Young
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Jerod Johnson,
Mentoring Coach - Miles Park
How long have you been with Open Doors? This is my 1st year
Where did you graduate from?
John Adams High School, currently taking classes at Tri-C
Where do you currently reside?
East Side of Cleveland
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Stress Reliever: Writing (Poems, Songs, Essays)
Favorite Band/Musician: Maxwell / Jodeci
Favorite Movie: Brown Sugar
If you could be a superhero, who would you be? Aquaman, because then I would know how to swim
Favorite Quote? "If you do what you've always done, then you'll get what you've always gotten."
Favorite Middle School Memory?
The involvement in sports and the social aspect of it.
Who is your greatest inspiration?
My mother, because of her resilience. She persevered through her struggles and raised her children despite the multiple negative factors she faced.
What do you want to be remembered as? The best father in the world, who loved and treated all children like his own. Resilient, focused and friendly. Cool, calm, and collect. Always seen smiling.
What do you like most about Open Doors? The opportunity that it gives me to positively impact the lives of young people, as well as learn from them.
Paul Theodore, MSWCommunity Director
How long have you been with Open Doors? Two years
Where did you graduate from?
Cleveland State University
Where do you currently reside?
Westlake
Favorite Food: Mom's Spaghetti Sauce
Favorite Stress Reliever: Exercise
Favorite Band/Musician: Breaking Benjamin
Favorite Movie: One Who Flew over the Cookoo's Nest
Favorite Quote? "Be the change that you want to see in others and the world." - Ghandi
Favorite Middle School Memory?
Winning my first wrestling match in the 7th grade
Who is your greatest inspiration?
Rick Hoyt - Team Hoyt
What do you want to be remembered as? The
humble father, husband, friend, who dedicated his life for the greater good of others.
What do you like most about Open Doors? The Kids!
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Donate today to
Open Doors Academy!
CLICK HERE.
All donations are tax deductible.
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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) 229-1900 or ptheodore@opendoorsacademy.org
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