|
News from HOPE Christian Schools - Back to School 2017
|
|
|
"Welcome back" from our executive director
|
|
We are blessed - for the 16th year, in fact - to welcome the Team & Family back for another exciting school year filled with
Christ. College.Character.
Our “Sweet 16” has many incredible blessings:
- Before school began, more than 200 staff members went “all in” on our new and improved summer professional development which featured tons of practice in preparation for our scholars coming back to the classroom.
- Armed with this outstanding prep, we opened our doors across eight campuses to more than 2,500 scholars in Milwaukee and Racine. Each of these scholars wants our mission of Christ.College.Character. to be part of his or her education.
Can you believe that that we got our start on 25th and North in Milwaukee with just 47 scholars in 2002? I am in awe and humbled when I see
what God has done
for Milwaukee children and families through HOPE Christian Schools.
We are on a mission to bring
Christ.College.Character.
to all the scholars and families who desire it, and we are humbled by the dedication of the Team & Family that works so hard to provide it every single day.
Take a look at the stories below
for some of the latest, and let me know if you would like to drop in and see HOPE in action!
Sincerely,
Zach Verriden
|
|
|
HOPE Veritas opens in Racine
|
|
HOPE Via
opened on the north side of Racine in 2015 and currently serves K5 - 6th grade with 212 scholars. This year,
HOPE Veritas
opened within HOPE Via, on its way to approximately 100 scholars. After this year, HOPE Veritas will move to its own facility planned for the south side of Racine.
The new school was an important step for HOPE in Racine, because many HOPE Via families travel quite a distance for their HOPE education. Fatima Wakefield, HOPE's community relations director in Racine, is a resident of the city and parent of a HOPE Via scholar. She says HOPE is like "a breath of fresh air" in the city. "I love being able to tell parents that they have the opportunity to place their child in a great Christian school where they are free to pray, free to talk about Jesus, and
free to be who they are in Christ."
Fatima and the entire HOPE Racine staff have been out tabling at community events, walking in Racine parades, and, most recently, greeting friends and neighbors at Racine's National Night Out.
|
|
|
PEARLS for Teen Girls at HOPE Prima
|
|
PEARLS for Teen Girls is a unique leadership development program serving middle school girls through high school and beyond in Milwaukee.
HOPE Fortis
had a PEARLS program last year, and this year
HOPE Prima
also joins the partnership. PEARLS groups take place once per week for girls grades 5-8 at each campus. As they meet, the group leaders work to empower girls to live out the PEARLS values: Personal Responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Respect, Leadership and Support.
|
|
|
|
|
SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT
Bryan Wilson, 5th Grade
|
|
Who better to describe a HOPE education than one of our own scholars? Bryan is in his second year at
HOPE Fidelis
- a 5th grader - and quite articulate about his education. Bryan describes what he likes about each of the “3 Cs” at HOPE:
- Christ - I like that we have Word of God every Friday. Pastor Paul Steinberg talks about the Lord, and we have Bible studies and virtues of the week. Every day we practice them. This week we learned about David and Goliath. I learned not to put other people down but instead to cheer them on and help them keep their hopes up.
- College - I like math because sometimes I have a hard time with it and I really want to learn more. I also like reading because I’m good at reading. Our teacher works with us in small groups which really helps me out. I like group work.
- Character - Kids take HOPE seriously. We are respectful, responsible and safe at HOPE.
Well done and well said, Bryan!
|
|
|
|
JJ Watt Foundation supports HOPE middle school athletics
|
|
A grant from the Justin J. Watt Foundation will provide new sports equipment and uniforms to expand existing sports programs and create new athletic teams for middle school programs at HOPE Christian Schools.
The grant supports Milwaukee and Racine students at six HOPE schools, outfitting five girls’ basketball teams, three boys’ basketball teams, two cheerleading squads, three soccer teams, two volleyball teams, and one track & field team. The funding will replace older sports equipment and uniforms and provide start-up funds to begin offering middle school athletics at HOPE’s newer schools as they add grades six, seven, and eight to their schools.
As the HOPE student population has grown over the past 15 years, so has the demand for after school athletics.
Additional sports offerings and larger teams will allow more students to participate in athletics in a safe, nurturing environment at HOPE during the after school hours.
JJ Watt, a Pewaukee, Wis. native, attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he played football before being selected #11 Overall Pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, where he continues to play today. While a UW student, he created the JJ Watt Foundation to provide access to after-school athletic opportunities. To date, the foundation has provided more than $3.3 million to 6th-8th grade after school athletic programs and organizations.
|
|
|
Strong in Christ
Meet HOPE High Principal Tammy Rasco
|
|
Tammy has been the epitome of grace and calm during her first few weeks as principal at HOPE High School. That’s exactly what is needed when 300+ energetic teenagers and staff gather in a newly renovated building to start the school year.
A native of Milwaukee, Tammy’s passion for Christ, urban schools and Milwaukee’s youth is contagious. After 13 years of dedicated service in Milwaukee Public Schools, Tammy served charter schools in leadership positions including dean of students, assistant principal, and principal. She is passionate about the impact of project-based learning and STEM education, often encouraging scholars to choose career paths in engineering, science and math.
A Sunday school teacher in her church, Tammy knows the impact that a growing relationship with Christ can have in the lives of HOPE scholars. She is committed to upholding the legacy of 100% college acceptance for all HOPE High School graduates and leading HOPE to become the premier faith-based high school in Milwaukee. She is motivated by her favorite scripture passage, Philippians 4:13,
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
|
|
|
|
|
ALUMNI NEWS
Ezekiel Carson, Ripon College
|
|
My name is Ezekiel Carson and I am a freshman at Ripon College, studying English and Writing. I appreciate HOPE for instilling
Christ.College.Character.
in me.
- I took Christ with me to college, allowing me to always remember that because of Christ I am where I am today.
- Throughout my four years of high school, HOPE prepared me to be ready for college, mainly through teachers and homework assignments.
- HOPE built my character to where I can communicate and make great friends to help me along the way. My character can be a help to others on the track or in the classroom.
I am so grateful that HOPE has helped me to get to where I am today!
|
|
|
|
|
Here are a few of the happenings in our hallways and classrooms in the first few weeks of school. Remember, you're always welcome to visit. Contact
Melanie Johnson
to arrange your tour.
|
|
|
HOPE Caritas
scholars start the day right with breakfast in their classroom each morning, brought to us by the Milwaukee Center for Independence. We are grateful for their partnership.
|
|
|
Scholars at
HOPE Fortis
use interactive learning modules with their Smartboard to enhance their math lesson.
|
|
|
Seventh graders at
HOPE Semper
work in small groups using project based learning, encouraging one another to meet their goals.
|
|
|
Classrooms at HOPE schools are named for various colleges and universities as a way to inspire scholars toward post-secondary education. At
HOPE Via
, these "Harvard scholars" work attentively on their writing assignment!
|
|
|
HOPE Christian Schools is a network of eight Christian college preparatory schools serving more than 2,500 scholars and their families in Milwaukee and Racine.
Each HOPE school focuses on the “3 Cs” –
Christ. College. Character. HOPE scholars in K4-12th grades receive a values-based education that develops knowledge and cultivates character – the fundamental traits they need to become inspirations to their families, leaders in their communities, and successes in the workplace.
HOPE Christian Schools are supported and managed by
Open Sky Education
, an entrepreneurial, not-for-profit organization in tireless pursuit of a full and lasting education for all children.
Now is a great time to join our growing team!
|
|
|
|
Feedback is a gift!
If you have comments or questions, contact Community Relations Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
