April 2016

Nativity Academy’s Graduate Support Program (GSP) Newsletter

Volume 3, Issue 1

An independent Catholic middle school that transforms the lives of students who have a commitment to achievement and whose families demonstrate financial need.

The Graduate Support Program

My name is Brandy Jones-Sutton, and I am the Assistant Director of Extended Enrichment/Extended Year Program (EEP/EYP) and the Director of the Graduate Support Program (GSP) at Nativity Academy at St. Boniface. I have been a member of the staff since January of 2012, and I am excited to revitalize the GSP so that all our graduates reach their fullest potential. The goal of the GSP is to offer our graduates support while they transition to high school as well as while they matriculate through a higher education institution of their choice to earn a postsecondary education.

Nativity Academy GSPServices Offered:

� Tutoring services� Service opportunities� Assistance completing applications (FAFSA, PSAS, college applica- tions, etc.)� Resources for GED, ACT, SAT, and GRE test preparation� College tours� 24-hour access to GSP staff through Facebook (Brandy Jone) and cell phone contact (502-727-8544)� Information about upcoming events, fairs, programs, or scholarship opportunities� Miscellaneous support necessary to keep our graduates successful or help them get back on track

Mrs. Brandy Jones-Sutton Assistant Director EEP/EYP, Director of GSP

Nativity Academy at St. Boniface

In This Issue:

> College Tours 2015-2016

> Lady Cardettes Gain a Nativity Grad

> Spring has Sprung – New Additions to the Nativity Academy Family

> Rising Star: Tristian Mitchell

> Louisville Youth Forum 2016

> Program Spotlight: Woman Up Program

> Summer Programming

> Upcoming Events

Each year, the Graduate Support Program (GSP) takes juniors and seniors to visit colleges the first two days of their fall and spring breaks during the school year. This year, the graduates visited the University of Kentucky on Day 1 of Fall Break 2015. The graduates visited Western Kentucky University on Day 2 of Fall Break 2015. The graduates visited Capital University and The Ohio State University on Day 1 of Spring Break 2016. The graduates visited Lipscomb

College Tours 2015-2016

University and Vanderbilt University on Day 2 of Spring Break 2016. I always enjoy taking the graduates on college tours because they are exposed to different types of colleges & universities, they are able to see the diversity that a college campus has, they remove some of the nostalgia of actually being a college student, and they get to see students actually engaging in classes as well as extra-curricular activities.

Nativity Academy’s Graduate Support Program (GSP)Page 2Â

Congratulations to one of the newest Lady Cardettes at the University of Louisville, Ms. Michale Fountain. She is currently a freshman at U of L majoring in Nursing. She is a graduate of Doss High School. Michale continues to participate in Graduate Support Programming when possible due to her busy schedule. Last year, she travelled to seven different countries in Europe as a Kentucky Ambassador of Music. Michale is destined for great things and is a great example of how to get involved in your college or university to increase your likelihood of successfully matriculating toward completion of a 4-year college degree.

Lady Cardettes Gain a Nativity Grad

The Nativity Academy at St. Boniface has been around since 2003. Since then, we have had ten years of students graduate from middle school and move on to high school and college. We now have three years worth of students graduating from colleges and universities across the country.

Life comes along with the pursuit of a college degree. It’s no different for Nativity graduates. Since, our schools inception, we have graduated 161 students. Eleven of those students have gone on to start families. Last year Nativity graduates Cliff Means and Dhulisha Brown had a beautiful baby girl together.

The year 2016 was especially special because as spring began we had three families extended. Josh Jordan and his beautiful wife Paige had baby girl Mia Elise Jordan on February 24. Corbin Spalding had a beautiful baby girl on April 16. Finally, Jaquan Terry and his beautiful girlfriend Kaelin had twin boys, Esa and Erel on April 21. It is a beautiful thing to watch these young men grow into fatherhood. I know you will all do great.

Spring has Sprung – New Additions to the Nativity Academy Family

Rising Star: Tristian Mitchell

Tristian Mitchell is a freshman at St. Xavier high school. He has maintained being

on the honor roll while participating in football as his extracurricular activity. Tristian chooses to get his service hours at the Nativity Academy where he usually monitors the front desk. He is a regular participant in Graduate Support Programming and

visits Nativity regularly to complete his homework before going home. I’m really glad to see Tristian taking advantage of the opportunities presented in the Graduate Support Program. He attended eagle U summer camp in 2015 and he will be attending Business & Accounting Summer Education (BASE) Camp in summer 2016. Tristian aspires to be an entrepreneur, and I know that he will achieve this goal if he stays on the positive path he is taking.

Volume 3, Issue 1I

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Youth Forum

The Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of Louisville held a youth forum at the LaCasita Center on October 24, 2015. I used this as an opportunity to engage Nativity Academy students and graduates to share their thoughts on the discussion of youth violence. The Nativity students and graduates collaborated with youth from

all schools across the city to find solutions to our youth violence issue in Louisville, KY. Richard Chandler, Adrien Seargent, Andrew Seargent, Brian Kavanaugh, Caelia Hardaway, Jamil Hardaway, Damon McClain, Mya McClain, and Naima Martin were in attendance to represent the Nativity Academy. The students discussed Social, Community, Gang,

Program Spotlight: Woman Up

Congratulations to Dajanea Jones who is currently a sophomore at Waggoner High School. Dajanea has always been a leader at the Nativity Academy. Now, she is taking her talents into the non-profit arena. She has started the Woman Up Program to motivate young minority girls. She has presented a business plan to possible funders and coordinated this program all on her own. The initiative that she has shown taking on this endeavor speaks to how successful this young lady will be in the future.

Domestic, Gun, and Hate Violence. They also discussed child abuse, community unity, teen communication, bullying, murder rates, stereotypes, and the intersectionality of the violence that we witness on a daily basis. I am really proud of the leadership shown by this group of Nativity students and graduates.

“I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want” -Muhammad Ali

Nativity Academy GSP College Graduates

2016

Nakayla Little B.S. in Communications University of LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky

Shian JordanB.A. in TheaterMorehead State University Morehead, Kentucky

Arian FranklinB.S. in BusinessBenedict College Columbia, S. Carolina

GSP - Summer Opportunities

Eagle USamaria VaughnSterling Vaughn

Iyana KingKristen Kendrick-WormanChris Kendrick-Worman

Tristian MitchellAlexis Cammick

Ava Stockton-RowanRayne Jones-Foster

Chris DeppBrian Kavanaugh

LeeAsya KavanaughLaaLyiah BrooksMichael Robinson

Jalyn ShorterJamil Hardaway

UofL Speed School Christina Johnson

Terris FosterEduardo AvilaVarlee Kamara

Peace EducationTyia Tobin

Tiyesha Howard

Kentucky-State Apprenticeship

Naima MartinMonet Rice

Spalding NursingMattu Fahnbulleh

DayNayJassia Johnson

Phone: 502-855-3300Fax: 502-562-2192E-mail: bjones@nativityacademy.org

Nativity Academy at St. Boniface529 East Liberty StreetLouisville, KY 40202

www.nativitylouisville.org

May 6 – ACT Test Registration Deadline for June 11 Test DateJune 11 – ACT TEST DATEAugust 5 - ACT Test Registration Deadline for September 10 Test DateAugust 6 – Back to School Party 12:00August 26 – GSP Monthly Dinner 4:00 to 6:00 at Nativity AcademySeptember 10 – ACT TEST DATESeptember 16 - ACT Test Registration Deadline for October 22 Test DateSeptember 23 - GSP Monthly Dinner 4:00 to 6:00 at Nativity Academy October 11th – High School Visit (Presentation Academy) 2:00October 18th – High School Visit (St. Xavier) 2:30October 20 – Fall Break College Tours Day 1October 21 – Fall Break College Tours Day 2October 22 – ACT TEST DATEOctober 28 - GSP Monthly Dinner 4:00 to 6:00 at Nativity Academy November 4 - ACT Test Registration Deadline for December 10 Test DateDecember 6 – High School Visit (Presentation Academy) 2:00December 10 – ACT TEST DATEDecember 13 – High School Visit (St. Xavier) 2:30January 13 - ACT Test Registration Deadline for February 11 Test DateJanuary 16 – MLK Celebration 12:00 pmJanuary 27 - GSP Monthly Dinner 4:00 to 6:00 at Nativity Academy January 29 to February 4 – Catholic Schools WeekFebruary 7 - High School Visit (Presentation Academy) 2:00February 11 – ACT TEST DATE

February 14 - High School Visit (St. Xavier) 2:30February 24 - GSP Monthly Dinner 4:00 to 6:00 at Nativity Academy March 3 - ACT Test Registration Deadline for April 8 Test DateMarch 24 - GSP Monthly Dinner 4:00 to 6:00 at Nativity Academy April 3 – Spring Break College Tours Day 1April 4 – Spring Break College Tours Day 2April 8 – ACT TEST DATEApril 11 - High School Visit (Presentation Academy) 2:00April 18 - High School Visit (St. Xavier) 2:30April 28 - GSP Monthly Dinner 4:00 to 6:00 at Impellizeri’s on Main Street May 5 - ACT Test Registration Deadline for June 10 Test DateMay 26 - GSP Monthly Dinner 4:00 to 6:00 at Nativity Academy June 10 – ACT TEST DATE

Recurring Events:

Scholarship Search Saturdays – Each Saturday Mrs. Brandy will be at Nativity Academy at 12:00 pm until to help Nativity graduates search for and apply for scholarships. Exceptions include Fall Break, Spring Break, Christmas Break, March 18, and Derby Weekend un-less by appointment.

GSP Monthly Dinner – Every 4th Friday Mrs. Brandy will prepare dinner for the graduates. The dinners are held from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Nativity Academy. Exceptions are that the April dinner is held at Impellizeri’s on Main Street and there are no dinners held in November or December.

GSP YEARLY CALENDAR 2016 – 2017