Dear Friends of CIS,

 

It's hard to believe that summer is almost upon us and another school year is coming to an end. It is an exciting time for our site staff who see first hand the progress of our students, especially our staff who work closely with the seniors enrolled in our program. In just a few short weeks, 422 CIS seniors will reach the graduation milestone, walking across the stage to the next chapter in their lives, with proud family members and friends looking on. 

 

CIS celebrated the accomplishments of these graduating seniors at our annual "Celebrating Our Graduates" luncheon on April 21 (see article below).  I hope you'll watch the video clip or view the slideshow, where you'll see lots of proud faces, so full of promise. While CIS works with students all along the way - from Kindergarten through high school - this is our ultimate mission: to help every child graduate from high school. Each of you, our partners and supporters, should take pride in this moment as well, because your involvement is critical to the process and the goal. We are deeply grateful to you for believing in CIS and the students we serve.

 

In addition to graduation, June brings our annual Dine Out For Kids® fundraiser, one of the easiest ways to support CIS!  Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 15 and spread the word to family, friends, and co-workers. This year there are 65+ restaurant locations to choose from, so there is something for everyone! 

 

One more item I'd like to highlight is the premiere of a locally produced documentary, "Souls of Our Teachers."  Mecklenburg Ministries and Temple Beth-El spearheaded the project, in collaboration with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and CIS. The film examines the experiences, challenges and insights of public school teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and will be used to recruit teachers to some of the city's most challenging schools and to encourage volunteerism in our schools. CIS works very closely with CMS teachers and staff and we are well aware of the challenges and joys of working in the classroom. It was an honor to be involved in this special collaborative effort that uplifts the critical role of our teachers. 

 

Enjoy the summer, and as always, please be in touch if you have ideas, questions, or concerns. We greatly value your input and support!