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Signature Programs
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The Foundation underwrites three major academic support programs:
- Time for Academic Progress (TAP) offers after-school academic assistance in English, math, and science at all levels provided by B-CC teachers three days a week at B-CC and two evenings a week at the Coffield Center in Silver Spring.
- CollegeTracks provides after-school and evening workshops, as well as trained mentors, to help with the college application and financial aid process for students who, although qualified, may be at risk of not going to college.
- Summer Academy is a three-week summer program for incoming 9th grade students who have struggled academically in middle school. It also includes a one-week program for 10th grade students. Both programs seek to help students maximize the benefits of their high school experience.
You can read more about these programs by clicking on the links above, and we'll be highlighting them in future issues as well.
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 Still Time to Donate! | |
If you haven't yet made your 2012 donation to the Foundation, there's still time. Just click on the button below and your end-of-year "to do" list will be that much shorter! Thank you for your support.
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Don't Miss An Issue!
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As 2012 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to thank those of you who have supported the B-CC High School Educational Foundation this year. We are very grateful to our donors whose support allows us to continue to underwrite critical programming at B-CC. It's safe to say that B-CC would not be the vibrant, lively community of learning that it is today without TAP, CollegeTracks, Summer Academy, and the extra resources provided by the Foundation for teacher training, technology and expanded access to IB and AP courses and other opportunities that ensure all students reach the highest standards. If you haven't donated yet, there's still time to get that 2012 tax deduction...
Among our most enthusiastic supporters were members of B-CC classes of 1962, 1972, 1982, and 1992, all of which celebrated reunions this past fall. Foundation board members led reunion tours of the school, and each class raised funds on behalf of the Foundation. It was great to see everyone!
Looking ahead, we see lots of changes on the horizon. B-CC's burgeoning student body necessitates additional classroom and extracurricular space. The Foundation participated actively in the Feasibility Study process that took place this fall, and we look forward to working closely with the school, the PTSA, and various other stakeholders as this exciting process moves forward.
Finally, I want to thank Arnold Stewart and Nancy Fax, both of whom retired as members of the Foundation board earlier this fall, for their years of service. We are delighted to welcome new Board members Maura Mahoney and Andy Stern. Our active and energetic Board is critical to the Foundation's ongoing success.
As always, we welcome your feedback, your ideas, and your support!
- Matt Gandal
President
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Foundation Welcomes Two New Board Members
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 Maura Mahoney, who will be joining the Foundation's Communications Committee, is a contributing writer for Bethesda Magazine. She has had a long career as a freelance editor and writer and also worked as an editor at Congressional Quarterly and Reader's Digest. Maura served for nine years on the Somerset Elementary School Foundation Board, including two years as president. Her daughter is a junior at B-CC High School.
 Andy Stern is the owner of Andy Stern's Office Furniture, Inc. and is a managing partner of three commercial real estate partnerships. He believes strongly in his family's tradition of giving back to the community and over the years has had a leadership role in many community organizations including Leadership Montgomery, Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, Green Acres School, and Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce. Andy and his wife, Eve, are both graduates of B-CC High School. They have two grown sons, Ben and Alex.
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SPOTLIGHT ON: Summer Academy Expansion
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 B-CC's three-week long Summer Academy Program - one of the Foundation's three "signature" programs - is aimed at preparing at-risk incoming 9th graders who have struggled academically or socially at Westland Middle School for a successful transition into high school. The Program's goal is to support students and provide them with the skills and tools they will need for 9th grade, as well as to involve them in community service projects.
The 2012 9th Grade Summer Academy hosted 48 incoming freshmen. B-CC Principal Karen Lockard deemed the program a great success, and based on post-program evaluations, the participating students agreed: at the end of the Program they all rated themselves as "comfortable" and "prepared for 9th grade." "It was awesome," commented one student. "I love it here. I got to know some of the teachers and it was a very good three weeks." Another said, "It helped me be less afraid of high school. I think the Study Skills class helped the most because I never studied, but now I will."
In 2012, thanks to a grant from the Foundation, the Summer Academy Program expanded to include a 10th Grade Summer Academy which hosted 24 students, all of whom previously attended the 2011 9th Grade Summer Academy. The goal of 10th Grade Summer Academy was to help students think about their life after high school, so that they might focus more on their efforts during high school.
The one-week program started with a mock 20th Year Class Reunion, where students were to imagine themselves 20 years after graduation in terms of careers, family life and post-high school education or training. Based on this initial discussion, the students used the Naviance computer program to explore their chosen careers and suggested others that matched their personality type and interests. The Naviance program also allowed the students to consider possible college choices to pursue a chosen career. In addition, the students visited a local business where they spoke in small groups with four younger employees about career paths, career choices and life after high school. Once again, the post-program feedback from the participating students was positive, and overall, students stated that they got a lot out of the week.
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