Newsletter | February 2025 | |
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What's ahead in our February newsletter:
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Join us next week for our Bingo + Bourbon fundraiser (get your tickets here!)
- Celebrating Black History Month
- Stories from our Schools
- Partner Spotlight: Thank you, Jackson!
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Vote for CISTN to win $7,500! (click here to vote!)
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Join us on March 10 and May 1 for our next school site visits
- Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
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Next Week: Join us for Bingo + Bourbon! | |
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Next Week: Join Us for Our Annual Bingo + Bourbon Fundraiser
Thursday, February 27
6:00 pm at Ampersand Studios
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Enjoy a fun night out for a great cause while playing bingo, winning great prizes, bidding on some great auction items, and, most importantly, helping to raise money to support our work with students and families across the state. A special thank you to our event sponsors: Capital Alignment Partners, Cigna, Dollar General, LBMC, Ingram Content Group, and Belmont University.
Tickets are going fast —don’t miss your chance to join the fun! Secure your spot today and use code LASTCALL at checkout to save $10 on your ticket. We can’t wait to see you there!
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Meet Our Bingo Caller, Laura!
You may recognize Laura Schweizer as the host of Local on 2, airing weekdays at 2 pm on WKRN. She is a great supporter of CISTN, and we are so thrilled that she has agreed to serve as our bingo caller for the second time!
Be sure to tune in to Local on 2 today at 2pm to see our team talk all about Bingo + Bourbon!
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Browse the Bingo + Bourbon Auction
We've got some great items for you to bid on, including a signed Dolly Parton cookbook, tickets for 4 to a Nashville SC game, a signed bottle of Leipers Fork Distillery that comes with two tastings and tours and a glencairn glass, and so much more! All the proceeds go to support CIS students across Tennessee! Be sure to place your bids by 8:30 a.m. February 27th!
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Celebrating Black History Month | |
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February is Black History Month, and our program managers are uplifting and celebrating Black History Month across the state. Our program manager from Stratford High School shared a little about how she is highlighting this at her school:
“Celebrating Black History is not only important but necessary. Sharing the contributions and journeys of so many monumental figures from not only our past but present as well. These stories can help inspire and motivate future generations, who hopefully will realize their own potential in the face of adversities. I'm grateful that with Communities in Schools, I'm able to provide awareness with pieces of unity, symbolism, and small group chats not only during the month of February but throughout the year.”
Ivory Davis, Program Manger at Stratford High School
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#BeingPresentMatters
Here are just a few examples of how our Program Managers are making an impact by being present for our students across the state.
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Finding Garret's Focus
After the school counselor and administration referred Garret to CISTN for challenges with leaving class (or eloping) when overstimulated, he met our program manager, Mr. Austin. Garret is a bright 6th grader who struggled particularly with auditory triggers in a bustling middle school environment.
Read more about how CISTN helped.
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Macy's New Home
Our program manager, Ms. Fisher, first met Macy soon after she and her family relocated from Michigan to seek a safer living situation. Arriving in Nashville with nothing, the family faced numerous challenges.
Read more about how CISTN intervened.
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Carter's Comeback
Ms. Rachael, the CISTN program manager at Bledsoe County High School, first met Carter, a senior with a goal to graduate early in December 2024, shortly after stepping into her new role. Though Carter appeared polite and respectful, his record suggested a more complicated story marked by poor attendance, behavioral issues, and struggling grades.
Read the rest of the story here
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Partner Spotlight: Thank you, Jackson | |
Thank you to our friends at Jackson National Life Insurance (Jackson) for being All in for Kids! Last month, Jackson employees packed over 6,000 kits of personal hygiene essentials and snacks, along with teacher appreciation gift cards. The kits have been distributed to CISTN partner schools. | |
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Help CISTN Win $7,500!
We are in the running for Old National Bank's Choose Your Charity event, where you can vote for CISTN to win money to help students across Tennessee! You can vote once a day, every day through February 28!
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March 20 & May 1: Join Us For a Site Visit | |
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Do you want to see the impact we’re making up close? You're invited to experience it firsthand at an upcoming school site visit! Dive deep into the heart of our work, hear inspiring stories directly from our Program Managers, and witness how we’re changing lives every day.
There are two opportunities coming up:
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Thursday, March 20th from 9am-10am at Shwab Elementary
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Thursday, May 1st from 9am-10am at KIPP Kirkpatrick Elementary
If you're interested in attending either visit, please RSVP by emailing kwallace@cistn.org. We can’t wait to show you the difference we’re making together!
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Upcoming Volunteer Opportunties | |
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Several of our schools are looking for volunteers to support a variety of upcoming events.
Black History Showcase at Tom Joy: Thursday, February 27th from 4:45pm-6:45pm
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Help Tom Joy families celebrate Black History Month at Tom Joy's Black History Month Showcase! Volunteers will sign in and greet families, facilitate Black History Month programming and activities, and complete set-up and tear-down activities. Register here.
Shwab Attendance Store: Friday, February 28th from 8:00-10:00am or 10:00am-noon
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Volunteer at Shwab Elementary's Attendance Store! Each month, parents of Shwab students are given the opportunity to shop for household essentials in exchange for bringing their students to school on time each day. Help shoppers bag their supplies, find items, and tidy up between groups of shoppers. Register here.
Carnival at Jere Baxter: Friday, February 28th from 1:00pm-4:00pm
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Join Jere Baxter staff as they reward students for their good attendance and positive behavior with a carnival. Jere Baxter staff need help serving snacks, monitoring carnival games, and doing light cleanup tasks. Each grade level will have an hour of food, fun, and games to celebrate their hard work! Register here.
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