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Summer 2013

news

O UR M ISSION IS TO SU RRO UND STUD EN TS WITH A

C OMMUN ITY O F SU PPO RT , EMPOW ER IN G TH EM TO

STAY IN SCH OO L A ND ACH IEV E IN LIFE .

A Great Year at CISMBC! Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner every-

where. This ancient proverb is a modern reality at Com-

munities In Schools of Milledgeville—Baldwin County,

where our staff and volunteers spent the 2012-2013

school year helping students gain a trove of knowledge

that will impact their lives for years to come.

Driven by our mission to help students thrive in the

classroom and beyond, we held many successful events

and placed site coordinators in the Early Learning Cen-

ter, Eagle Ridge Elementary School, Midway Elemen-

tary School, and Baldwin County High School.

Christi Tyson, Eagle Ridge site coordinator, overcame

scheduling and recruiting hurdles to pair a record-

breaking 99 students with tutors or mentors.

The ASPIRE program at the Early Learning Center

served 30 children and families under site Coordinator

Cathy Benton. The students are now ready to begin kin-

dergarten with more skills and greater confidence, and

their families are better prepared to assist them.

Midway Elementary School’s site coordinator, Joyce

Denson, oversaw exciting events including a health fair

as well as a technology fair. She also paired 55 students

with tutors and mentors.

Baldwin High School’s two site coordinators, Jessica

Coats and Felicia Cummings, helped countless teenag-

ers with everything from registering for classes to com-

pleting homework assignments. Their efforts helped

keep students on track to graduate.

Because these programs were delivered with heart by

people who care, they created permanent positive

changes. Ms. Tyson recalled presenting an award to a

struggling student. “Her teacher approached me after

the ceremony and told me how much it meant that I

made this student feel special,” she said. “I feel this one

event will have a lasting impression on this student” –

like treasure that will follow her everywhere.

CISMBC

Address: P.O. Box 783, Milledgeville, GA 31061 Location: GC Chappell Hall-CBX040 Phone: (478) 452-3408

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Address: P.O. Box 783, Milledgeville, GA 31061 Location: GC Chappell Hall-CBX040 Phone: (478) 452-3408

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Mark your

Calendars

“Na– Na– Na– Na, Hey– Hey– Hey, Goodbye.”

Those are the catchy lyrics the students of the Early

Learning Center sang as they said farewell to the AS-

PIRE program, which helps pre-schoolers begin kin-

dergarten on grade level or above.

The year-end celebration a drew a large crowd of

proud parents, siblings and other relatives, who smiled

and clapped as the children lined up in their white t-

shirts to perform a song they had worked very hard to

learn.

The students beamed with joy as they received a

Certificate of Completion, a frame to put it in, and a

book bag to use in kindergarten.

The students of ASPIRE had a blast at the end of the year pro-

gram, and received their certificates of completion.

ASPIRE Students say goodbye –

and hello to Kindergarten

July 17– Last day of the Summer Reading Club at Twin Lakes Library.

July 31– Open House

August 2– First day of school

We are very grateful to Communities

In Schools for recognizing the spe-

cial population we serve. Often the

birth to five population is over-

looked or underestimated in the

level of need and academic

enhancement.

–Principal Lamb, Early Learning Center

If the shoe doesn’t fit, share it. That was the idea behind

Midway Elementary School’s overwhelmingly successful

shoe drive to benefit children in earthquake-ravaged Haiti

earlier this year. The drive, organized by site coordinator

Joyce Denson, collected four brimming bags of shoes that

will travel to Haiti on a mission trip with Mrs. Dupree from

Creekside Elementary School.

Because the drive was such a hit, this fall Midway plans

to collect more footwear to keep at school. The shoes will

come in handy for students who have an unexpected need

for footwear, such as when a sandal strap breaks or a stu-

dent accidentally steps into a mud puddle at recess.

Midway Shoe Drive

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Address: P.O. Box 783, Milledgeville, GA 31061 Location: GC Chappell Hall-CBX040 Phone: (478) 452-3408

W A NT T O V OL UN TE E R?

E M A IL US A T

V O LU NT EE R@ C ISM I L LE D GE V IL LE .O R G

T O G ET S T AR TE D !

Eagle Ridge fifth grade students wrote their

hearts out to describe the many ways our organi-

zation touches their lives. They participated in the

Student Achievement Month Reach New Goals

Essay Contest. Students wrote about the impact

Communities In Schools has had on them, and

how it has helped them in their school work.

Destiny Hightower won at both the local and

the regional level. Second place was received by

Jerremiah Reeves and third place went to Keonna

Lewis.

The contest helps build up the confidence of

struggling students and rewards them for their

achievements. It also helps students to set and

reach goals, as well as to recognize the value of

achieving in school.

Eagle Ridge Students

Exceled in Writing Contest

Students at Eagle Ridge Elementary School celebrated the end of the

year with cupcakes and ice cream.

“It was so easy for me. If I felt like I was

struggling in math or struggling in read-

ing, I could just say ‘I’m struggling in

this.’ and they could help me out.”

-David Lewis– Fifth grade student at Eagle

Ridge Elementary

Workers at Central State Hospital and employees of

the City of Milledgeville are getting vital help to sharp-

en their skills so that they may earn a GED or enter

college or technical school.

Our organization has partnered with Central Geor-

gia Technical College to help these local employees,

who are given time off of work to focus on building

their career and academic skills.

Meanwhile, our Baldwin Certified Literate Com-

munity Program is making advances in local adult edu-

cation. This program includes new initiatives that help

current GED students seek jobs, write resumes and pre-

pare for employment interviews.

CIS, CGTC and Partners Roll-

Out Skills Enhancement Training

Initiatives in Baldwin County

Communities In Schools is a 501(c)3 non-profit organiza-

tion and donations are tax exempt. If you would like to

help our cause, please send your donation to: P.O. Box

783, Milledgeville, GA 31059-0783

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Address: P.O. Box 783, Milledgeville, GA 31061 Location: GC Chappell Hall-CBX040 Phone: (478) 452-3408

If you would like to receive our newsletter in the future, please email us at

volunteer@cismilledgeville.org to request our next issue.

A word from our Director

Sandy Baxter Communities In Schools Milledgeville-Baldwin County is one of the most important organizations working

at the grassroots to create a better tomorrow for our region. The problem we are conquering is the exodus of

young people from our public schools. With the power of a dedicated board of directors, a driven staff and an

army of talented volunteers, we have made great strides to stem the alarming dropout rate.

Our ASPIRE program has been recognized for its tangible results. We have raised funds and brokered part-

nerships that allowed us to support five Baldwin County schools this year with site coordinators. We achieved

National CIS Accreditation, and we are leading Baldwin County in the State Certified Literate Community Pro-

gram.

This work is critical because everyone in Baldwin County wins when our citizens learn how to communi-

cate effectively, think critically, solve problems creatively, and work with others respectfully. Learning these

skills starts with valuing education. When people put their hearts into improving their minds, the human poten-

tial to soar has no limits.

I believe we can build an educated workforce if we help young people trust that the hard work of school will

pay off with a brighter future. As a community, we must use our words and our actions to hammer home the

message that a high school diploma is a ladder out of poverty.

Communities In Schools works to set our youth up for success in the classroom so that the intrinsic joy of

learning will motivate them to stay in school. We help our youth see that a diploma is mandatory for employ-

ment and a portal to higher education, which is crucial to compete in today’s global marketplace.

We have three main strategies: (1) Ensure students begin Kindergarten prepared and on peer level; (2) En-

sure students read for comprehension by 3rd grade, and receive support through middle and high school; (3) En-

sure parents have opportunities to earn a high-school equivalency degree and attend college.

It’s easy to become paralyzed with despair over a complex problem like soaring dropout rates. So it is with

tremendous admiration that I commend our board, staff, volunteers, school system and community partners for

refusing to give up. I thank them for their courage to ‘light a candle rather than curse the darkness.’

-Sandy Baxter