Volume 4 No. 2

In April of this year 28 fourth-graders from Paramount Charter Academy had the opportunity to compete in the Kalamazoo Public Library's  Global Reading Challenge. The students were placed into four separate competing teams and assigned both fiction and non-fiction books that were hand selected by a librarian.
 
For the challenge, ten books are chosen by the district's librarians that they think the students would find interesting and explore the world's diverse community. The readers who compete are then challenged by quizzes based on the content of the books.
 
Paramount's winning team was named "The Decoders", taking first place even though they went into the competition short a few teammates. The Decoders proved they had a passion for reading and an understanding of the stories being told.
 
"I'm super impressed with the determination of all of the students involved in the Challenge, to know the books that they read inside and out, along with the collaboration among the team members," said Shannon Schwandt, academic specialist at Paramount Charter Academy.
 
The books in the challenge were Crenshaw, by Katherine Applegate, El Deafo, by Cece Bell, Raymie Nightingale, by Kate DiCamillo, Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, by Jack Gantos, The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, by Karina Yan Glaser, Turtle in Paradise, by Jennifer L. Holm, Dash, by Kirby Larson, Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls School and Other Scary Things, by Lenore Look, Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, and Locomotion, by Jacqueline Woodson.
 
Paramount Charter Academy opened their doors in 1998 and is currently home to a total of 445 students, ranging in grades from Young 5's to 8th. Students are offered a variety of sports, music, art and physical education classes. Paramount embraces technology in the classrooms by providing students with tablets during workshops to practice skills they are learning. Offering these different activities and resources to students allow their learning to extend beyond the walls of the classroom. Paramount strives to allow students to be able to explore their interests, learn new skills and make friends along the way.


Paramount offers before-and after-school programs to students operated by licensed Paramount staff that also offers homework support for students. These programs allow parents to have a safe place for their children to go before and after school at a reasonable price.
 
Paramount believes children with strong moral characters and excellent college preparation will be able to excel at any path they choose. That is why its programs are built upon the pillars of moral focus, academic excellence, personal responsibility and parental partnerships.
 
To learn more about Paramount Charter Academy, visit their website at:
 


After taking second place and wowing thousands on NBC's America's Got Talent earlier this year, the Detroit Youth Choir headed off to perform alongside other finalists who finished in the top five from the show at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas. The choir consists of over 110 young Metro Detroit singers ranging in ages from 8 to 18, including the Bay Mills authorized American Montessori Academy's Jada Flores. Since their near win on America's Got Talent, the choir has appeared on " The Kelly Clarkson Show" and performed for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist in Lansing. The group will also be performing in the America's Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as Hob Nobble Gobble.
Interested in gaining educational experience? Or are you looking to add to your resume? Consider becoming a charter school board member for a public school academy authorized by Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office!
 
At Bay Mills Community College, we support a quality education to urban, minority and/or poor children.
 
Bay Mills will provide all of our academy boards with pertinent training so that they are able to make choices that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies .
 
Our public school academies are always looking for new members that bring a range of skills, experiences and desire to help the Academy students to excel academically, as well as having the goal of advancing the mission of Bay Mills.
 
Some requirements of the position:
  • Engagement with the goals of the Academy
  • Enthusiasm to be an ambassador for the Academy
  • Willingness to fulfill the obligation of a board member, as well as continue to uphold the standards of being a board member
           
Board Member Qualifications:
  • Citizen of the United States
  • Resident of the State of Michigan
  • Submit materials requested by the College Charter Schools Office such as:
    • Public School Academy Board Member Appointment Questionnaire
      • Must include authorization to process a background check of the nominee
      • Submit annual disclosure of conflicts of interest
Members of the Board of Directors shall include:
  • At least one parent or guardian of a child attending the school
  • One professional educator; preferably a person with school administrative experience
Members of the Board of Directors shall NOT include:
  • Any member appointed or controlled by another profit or non-profit corporation
  • Academy employees or independent contractors performing services for the Academy
  • Any current or former director, officer, or employee of a management company that contracts with the academy
  • College officials or employees 
All Academy Board members shall serve in their individual capacity, and not as a designee of any other person or entity. If it is found that a person is serving as a representative or designee of another person or entity, they shall be deemed ineligible to serve as a Director of the Academy Board. They shall be removed from office in accordance with provisions found in the Resolution or Schedule 2: Bylaws.
 
Note that a Director serves at the pleasure of the College Board, and may be removed with or without cause by the College Board at any time.
           
Working with an Academy is the perfect opportunity to advance your career interests, expand your knowledge on education and help children receive a quality education that will last a lifetime. Apply to become a board member today!

For more information or to receive an application, please contact Megan Ringuette, Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office Compliance Coordinator at 906-248-8419 or [email protected].
About Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools
Bay Mills Community College began authorizing charter schools in the year 2000 and now authorizes 46 schools serving approximately 22,000 students. Fall 2015: 22,729 and Spring 2016: 22,257
 
Our Mission: To ensure a quality education for urban, minority, and/or poor children by improving and expanding educational opportunities through innovative oversight methods. To provide academy boards with the necessary support and training so that they may make educated decisions that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies.