On Friday, November 15th, we will hold our Annual Gala to celebrate our success and 20 years as an organization. I'm sure I will see all of you there. We will again present the
T. Michael Bolger Excellence in Urban Education Award
to a deserving individual. This year, we will give the
inaugural Gary Grunau MAS Champion Award
to an individual that has committed themselves to making MAS the best possible school for our current and future scholars.
Below are the top 10 reasons I believe Mr. Bolger and Mr. Grunau are smiling down on MAS:
1) MAS is here:
Twenty years later the school is alive, financially stronger and academically better than we have ever been.
2) The future is bright:
Thanks to a multi-year grant from the Burke Foundation we can create the infrastructure necessary to strengthen and grow our school.
3) Record enrollment:
For the fifth consecutive year we have record enrollment for the school. We are currently serving 1,221 scholars.
4) We are in demand:
Last year MAS had a waiting list at five different grade levels. This year, we’ve had a waiting list from K4-10
th
grade.
5) Expanding our reach:
Record enrollment and parent demand are all reasons for MAS to expand to serve an additional 250 middle and high school students starting in the 2021-22 school year.
6) ACT scores:
Ours are among the highest for non-selective schools. The ACT scores are likely THE highest among Milwaukee school serving at least 90% low-income students.
7) NEW Teen Program:
Thanks to Harley-Davidison’s generous gift, the Boys and Girls Club and MAS will partner to offer STEAM focused activities for middle and high school students during and after school for the next four years.
8) NEW After School Program:
MAS and the Boys and Girls Club received a five year grant to provide after school programs for our elementary students.
9) On-site Partnerships:
MAS is partnering with PEARLS for Teens Girls for a new pilot project that provides in-school programming and case management Monday-Thursday for 125 girls.
10) Trauma-Informed Programs:
Our newest partnership with STRYVE 365 and Peak Team uses sports to support students who are affected by trauma.
I’ve stated from the day I was hired that
providing quality instruction is only the start
of the efforts we must undertake to give our scholars the best opportunity at becoming self-sufficient adults. It’s
the “Add Ons” that will separate MAS from other schools and make us a model for urban and STEM focused education.
Please join us at the Gala to hear how our model gives kids from the most challenging of homes and communities opportunities to say, “I can be whatever I want to be” and to
ensure that Mr. Bolger and Mr. Grunau are proud of the legacy they’ve created.
