Communities in Schools - Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Volunteer | Donate | Success Stories | Schools WINTER 2014

"P.S. I Love You Very Much in My Little Heart"

A CIS student added this P.S. to a note she recently sent to our Site Coordinator at Shamrock Gardens Elementary. We wanted to share it with you this Valentine's Day, and thank YOU for the love you have shared with our students through your generosity, time, and talent. May it come back to you a hundred-fold!

Happy Valentine's Day from CIS!

CIS-Charlotte receives two Awards of Excellence

At the CIS Leadership Townhall - January 22-24, 2014

CIS-Charlotte was honored recently with a handful of other CIS affiliates from across the country at the CIS Leadership Townhall, held in Charlotte January 22-24. The national office of Communities In Schools hosted the three-day conference for executive staff and board members of CIS affiliates. An awards presentation and reception on the evening of January 23 recognized outstanding CIS affiliates, site coordinators, communities, and schools from across the country who exemplify the highest standards and have implemented the CIS model with the greatest fidelity. Out of just 14 awards bestowed, CIS-Charlotte received two, including a "Communities of Excellence" award and a "School of Excellence" award for Vance High School.

View CIS National "Awards of Excellence" Video

Here's an easy way to give back to the community that could impact CIS in a really BIG way! Sign up to volunteer with Coca-Cola's "Serve Your City" National Day of Service on February 22 in Charlotte. You'll be participating in a one-day, one-time project on that day with one of three local participating charities, including Communities In Schools. A BIG bonus for CIS: Coca-Cola is generously giving a $2,500 grant to the charity that recruits the most volunteers! We promise to make it fun, and perhaps you'll make a new friend or two. Sign up here to select Communities In Schools and join us on Saturday, February 22!

CIS Senior Profile

Deandre Pendergrass - Independence High School

Deandre Pendergrass is a CIS senior you should know! He's the epitome of one who has had more than his share of personal loss and difficulties, yet has persevered with a positive attitude and sense of purpose for his life. He's worked hard to maintain his grades and take advantage of every opportunity for learning, with his sights set on college and his future - a future he envisions as helping other children who have faced similar life challenges.

Read the full article here

Charlotte 2014 Education Summit keeps community focus on raising high school graduation rate

There was standing room only at Friendship Baptist Missionary Church on January 22, where Communities In Schools hosted the Charlotte 2104 Education Summit, in partnership with nine of Charlotte's leading education/youth and human service agencies. The purpose of the Summit was to examine local data and identify what's working and where challenges remain in Charlotte's efforts to prepare young people for success in and out of school. It also served as a rallying event to keep the America's Promise Alliance goal of a national high school graduation rate of 90% by the year 2020 in the forefront of Charlotte's top priority community challenges.

Charlotte Observer article

"Education Summit Speaker: Spunk Matters More Than Test Scores"

View Event photos on our Facebook page

"The Bridge" partnership with Albemarle Road Presbyterian

"Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted." The Reverend Ron Tippens ("Pastor Ron") of Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church offered up this Garrison Keillor quote as a way to express why his church feels called to support the children and families of their neighboring school, Albemarle Road Elementary. The church has volunteered at the school for many years, but last year they had a vision of how they might have an even greater impact.That's when they reached out to Maritza Whitesell, CIS Site Coordinator at Albemarle Road Elementary, and invited her to a meeting.

Full STEM Ahead!

Our current power2give project

Check out our current power2give project and help support the next generation of scientists, engineers, and techies! Communities In Schools is partnering with UNC-Charlotte to provide 100 CIS high school students a day of career exploration at the university's Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education. The Center offers a series of really cool interactive stations designed to get kids excited about careers of the future!

BONUS: An anonymous sponsor will contribute

.50 for every $1 donated to this power2give

project. Donations in ANY amount are greatly appreciated!

Kudos to Site Coordinator Joe Rothenberg

Way to go, Joe! CIS-Charlotte Site Coordinator Joe Rothenberg is highlighted in the current CIS National newsletter and on their website. The article tells how Joe went the extra mile to help an undocumented high school student apply and eventually enroll at Harvard University, where she is now a sophomore. Joe is a Site Coordinator at South Mecklenburg High School.

Read the full story here

Mark Your Calendar for our 2014 Signature Events!

June 17

Dine Out For Kids
Join us for the 15th annual Dine Out For Kids on Tuesday, June 17! Look for your Postcard invitation in the mail, or check our website www.cischarlotte.org in mid-May for a list of this year's participating restaurants. Invite your friends to join you for breakfast, lunch, or dinner - or all three!

September 27

Lowcountry on the Green
Please plan to join us for good food and good times at our fabulous Lowcountry on the Green lawn party benefiting CIS! You'll enjoy scrumptious lowcountry fare, dancing to a live band, and mingling with old friends and new - all for the future of our children and community!

Big Thanks to our Give Kids A Smile Partners!

It was smiles all around on Friday, February 7th for the annual Give Kids A Smile Day! More than 130 children in need received free dental care as part of this collaboration to provide treatment and raise awareness about the critical need for dental care. Many thanks to the following partners who make the event possible, including the Junior League of Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the Charlotte Dental Association, the Delta Dental Foundation, and Mecklenburg County Health Department. And we are especially grateful to the participating dentists and dental hygienists who donated their time and services this year!

CIS-Charlotte in the News

Charlotte 2014 Education Summit - Press Coverage

The Charlotte Observer, 1/23/14

"Your Schools" Blog in Charlotte Observer, 1/23/14

News 14 Carolinas, 1/22/14

WBTV, 1/22/14

Article featuring CIS Site Coordinator Joe Rothenberg

CIS National Newsletter and Website, Jan. 2014

www.cischarlotte.org | Empowering Students to Stay in School and Achieve in Life