November 2016

Dear Friends of Education,

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we reflect on the privilege of serving nearly 6,000 children and other learners through the various entities supported by Open Sky Education : our public charter schools, our private Christian schools, our Christian wraparound care programs and our Character Formation Project. Each of these entities has a distinct role in our mission to  make  a full and lasting education accessible and affordable for all. 

I am incredibly grateful for our team of educators and staff - nearly 400 strong - who are tirelessly working to advance our mission.  We're also thankful for those who have invested in us, supporting our work and encouraging us. You are one of those friends. Thank you.

This newsletter provides a brief update on each of our teams. I invite you to read, celebrate success with us, and contact us if you have questions or ideas for our work together. 

Sincerely,

Andrew Neumann
Executive Chair and CEO
Seventh HOPE school opens in Milwaukee
HOPE Christian Schools opened the seventh school in its network, HOPE Fidelis, in August. 

With the addition of HOPE Fidelis, the HOPE network now serves nearly 2,500 scholars and their families in Milwaukee and Racine. Qualifying students can receive a voucher to attend a HOPE school through the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program or the Racine Parental Choice Program. 

Learn more about HOPE Christian Schools.
St. Louis Region opens third EAGLE school
EAGLE Tower Grove East opened its doors in August to 140 scholars in grades K-3 with plans to add a grade each year through 8th grade. EAGLE Tower Grove East is the third school in the EAGLE St. Louis network, which serves more than 500 scholars and their families in St. Louis City.

Learn more about EAGLE College Preparatory Schools in the St. Louis Region.
A RISING STAR
Jared Bader of EAGLE South Mountain was nominated to win a 2017 Grammy Award for Music Educators. Jared  was one of 3,300 teachers nominated and 290 teachers who made it to the quarterfinal round. While Jared was not named as one of 25 semifinalists, we're super proud of this rising star and thankful to have him at EAGLE for the past four years.
Drexel Fund provides grant for growth of HOPE schools
The grant is the first investment in a private school network in Wisconsin by the Drexel Fund, a venture philanthropy fund that seeks to increase access to financially sustainable, high-quality seats in faith-based and other private schools.

Compass Educational Programs expands with help from Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis
Open Sky Education received a $150,000 grant from Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis to help further develop a before- and after-school care program serving the Tower Grove East neighborhood, as well as to explore and facilitate additional educational startups in St. Louis.

OUR FOCUS ON CHARACTER
The timeless and the technological are converging on a digital platform for the  Character Formation Project. 

What started as a project to discover how internally driven character can be formed and held is now a growing community of Character Growers in multiple states and two continents.

The Character Formation Project is a licensed set of character formation content and programming with two versions - one for public education based on civic character, and the other for Christian education based on Biblical character. 

A library of vivid stories helps Character Growers stand in the shoes of protagonists and reflect on three questions essential to character growth: Who am I? (Identity), Why am I? (Purpose), and How am I doing? (Performance). 

The Character Formation Project’s programming is fully implemented in HOPE schools, in EAGLE schools, Compass Educational Programs, and with a variety of partners in other schools, homeschool settings and organizations across the United States. The Project’s digital platform has more than 5,000 users, and that number is growing each week.  

The Character Formation Project is perfectly positioned to marry the emerging trend of technology-rich education with the incredible need to create internally motivated students. See a related story for more information on this trend. 

For more information or to explore a partnership, contact Dr. Ellen Bartling. 
Character Formation Project goes to Uganda
This fall, Rev. Dr. Matthew Hoehner had the opportunity to carry the Character Formation Project to Uganda. Dr. Hoehner trained leaders in a Lutheran school on how to use the Character Formation Project programming.

While there, Dr. Hoehner also met two students who were sponsored through the generous donations of Compass Educational Program students in St. Louis. Our Compass scholars raised money so these children could have an opportunity to receive a full and lasting education. 
 
Read more about Dr. Hoehner's visit to Uganda.
Open Sky Education is an entrepreneurial, not-for-profit organization in tireless pursuit of a full and lasting education for all children. We support and manage a growing network of learning environments, including

Open Sky Education works to ensure that world-class academics, character formation and faith-based educational choices are accessible and affordable for all.