Annual Report
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YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT 1 Table of Contents 4 | Academics Dear Friends, 6 | Community Our 15th Anniversary year was one for the books! Engagement Early in the school year, Yellowstone, like many in Houston, felt the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Our campus was spared the worst of the storm, but many of our families—including my own— were displaced, lost wages, or suffered damage to their homes. Fortunately, our community came together and Yellowstone was able to raise more than $100,000 almost overnight. 8 | Extracurricular With this incredible blessing, we waived nearly $40,000 in tuition for the Fall semester, and provided more than $70,000 in direct aid to our families who were hardest hit. Despite the chaotic start to the school year, we are proud to report that our scholars made some incredible academic progress. Check out the stats on page 3 to see an overview of some of the fantastic work our students accomplished this year. 10 | Fundraising The year ended on a high note with our first Party in the Park. This 15th Anniversary celebration raised more than $1.7 million for the Academy. If you missed it, don’t worry—the event went so well that we’re doing it again! Read more about our fundraising efforts on page 10. Looking forward, the future at Yellowstone is bright. The 2018-19 academic year is already off Meet Jade to a fantastic start with the launch of Yellowstone College Prep! The first of its kind in Texas, 12 | and Brandon this new school will enable us to serve nearly triple the number of students by 2022. You can read more about this exciting initiative on page 14, but know that this is just the first in a series of big milestones coming down the pipeline for Yellowstone. Follow along with our journey by finding us on social media, signing up for our email newsletter, or join our team by donating or volunteering. Our success is only possible through 14 | Looking Ahead the support of our community. Lions PRIDE! Thank Ryan Dolibois 15 | 2017-18 Donors Executive Director You! 2 3 Academics 100% of PreK on track in math! % 2 0 0 0 1 1 6- - 17 res Math Sco % 20 0 17 10 -18 s - Math Score This is the second consecutive year that Pre-K4 saw all students on track in math. 88% of 4th grade is proficient or advanced in 2 0 1 6 reading! - 1 7 % R 0 2 e 3 0 a s - 1 ding Score 7- % 18 88 Re s - ading Score Last year, only 30% of these students were proficient or advanced in reading. 2nd Grade 100% on track in Reading 82% on track Eighth Grade Graduates & Alumni 2 in Math 0 % 1 0 7 0 - 18 1 R s - Yellowstone’s alumni are experiencing incredible success. Our 2017-18 eighth e re % ading Sco 2 8 20 - 17 res grade graduates were granted admission to multiple top ranking high schools -18 Math Sco throughout Houston. Each student is attending a high quality school. 8TH GRADE 100% of our high school-age alumni are still enrolled in high school or have graduated early and are now enrolled in college. 88% of our college-age alumni have successfully earned their high school diploma and 77% have enrolled in college or a post-secondary certification program. B+ th MATH & Yellowstone’s first class of 8 grade graduates will begin graduating from college in 2020. 4 READING 5 Community Engagement Yellowstone collaborated with a host of community agencies to provide students not only with relevant learning experiences during the school year, but also with supplemental programs that focus on the non-academic barriers that hinder many children from low-income families: • University of Houston & University of • Houston Food Bank Texas School of Dentistry • Interface Samaritan • Assistance League of Houston • CHRISTUS Foundation for • Christian Community Service Center Healthcare & the University Eye Institute • The Colgate Dental Van • Express Yourself Clearly Nearly 400 volunteers provided more than 2,500 hours of service to Yellowstone. The volunteers hailed from all over the Greater Houston area and enriched every aspect of our campus life. They served as academic tutors, mentors, and lunch buddies each week. Several corporate partners signed on to sponsor grade levels through monthly activities designed to improve students’ confidence and leadership skills. Our corporate partners include Ascend Performance Materials, Riveron Consulting, Gow Media and Houston Association of Realtors. Parent Engagement Program Open House Muffins with Mom Donuts with Dad Fall Festival Christmas Program Family Game Night Black History Celebration 90 Families 100 Moms, Aunties, and 40 Dads, Uncles, and 175 Family Members 90 Families 60 Families 85 Families 6 Grandmas Grandpas and Volunteers 7 The Boy’s Basketball team remained nearly unbeatable, bringing home 1st place trophies from multiple tournaments. The Dance Team took home multiple trophies for their amazing choreography Extracurricular and hip-hop routines. Study after study has shown that electives, especially music and art, are correlated to high levels of student success. At Yellowstone, we understand that learning happens both inside and outside of the classroom, and we are committed to providing our students with quality electives and extra-curricular activities. During the 2017-18 academic year, Yellowstone students won sporting matches and competitions, raised over $11,000 during Lemonade Day, and raised their voices with students from across Houston. Along the way, they practiced skills related to teamwork, leadership, financial literacy, and more! Go Lions! The Yellowstone Academy and Annunciation Orthodox School choirs gave a joint concert 8 at the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza. 9 Fundraising $5.8 MILLION TOTAL RAISED $4.3 MILLION SCHOLARSHIPS Special Events Stomping of the Divots Chaired by Katherine Mathews, this fun annual event raised nearly $40,000 for student scholarships. $1.5 MILLION BRIDGE FUNDING Golf Classic Chaired by Chris Wallace, this year’s event helped to raise nearly $220,000 in scholarships for Yellowstone students. Party in the Park Chaired by Claudia and Brad Freels and Marian and Willie Langston, this special 15th Anniversary celebration raised just over $1.75 million to support the on-going work of Yellowstone 1,000+ Academy, including a $200,000 commitment for capital DONORS improvements from Building New Foundations. 10 11 Meet Brandon Meet Jade Grade: PreK-3 | Favorite subject: Writing Grade: PreK-3 | Favorite subject: Math Favorite color: Blue | Favorite animal: A Horsey! Favorite color: Red | Favorite animal: BIG dinos! Best friend: Londyn Best friend: Jade! Jade is a true gem! She adores her older sister, Londyn, who also attends Yellowstone. Brandon is full of energy and loves to play outside! With two brothers and a sister, he In her free time, Jade loves to watch The Grinch or Trolls (Poppy is her favorite!), or listen always has a friend to play with—especially if it's basketball or wrestling! When he gets to Beyoncé. to hang out with mom, he likes to drink Kool-Aid or watch Paw Patrol. She and her sister enjoy doing gymnastics together, and Jade couldn't wait to show This spunky preschool student plans to grow up and be a police officer or a fireman, us how good she is at flipping or doing the splits. She loves to eat chicken and rice, so that he can help people who are in trouble. When we asked Brandon if he thinks broccoli, and Taquis (she says they aren't hot to her!). When she's at home, Jade likes he'll go to college, he said, "Not yet...I have to graduate first!" While he may not to hang out with her mom and dad or play with their dog, Gru. When she grows up, understand the whole process just yet, we are confident that Brandon will one day she wants to attend college in Texas so that she can become a queen. earn his diploma, excel in college, and that his dreams of helping people will one day Please note that while these stories are true, we have changed come true. the names of the students to help protect their privacy. 12 13 Thank You! These individuals, families, organizations, and corporations joined with us during the 2017-18 fiscal year. With their support, we will continue to provide a high quality education to scholars from Houston's Third Ward community. Thank you! ACE Scholarships Aileen Arrieta Natalie & Carter Bechtol BP Foundation, Inc. Tomas Ackerman Helene Arrieta Alan Beck Beverly Bradley William Adams James Arrieta Sarah Beers Margaret Brenner On Wednesday, August 15 Yellowstone College Prep opened its doors with 250 Kathryn Ahlrich Ascend Cares Foundation Barbara & Lawrence Bellatti Carolyn & Patrick Breslin students in 5th-8th grade and a waiting list of students hoping to attend. Yellowstone The Alan & Michelle Smith Shari Ashkar Beth & Daniel Bellow The Brett & Kim Williams Family Fund Hayden Austin Matt Bender Giving Fund Academy continues to operate as a private, Christian school serving students in PreK Albert & Ethel Herzstein Peg & William Austin Bennett Charitable Gift Fund Brett C. Moody Investments th Charitable Foundation LLC through 4 grade. Together this is the first public/private model of its kind in Texas Sandy & Jack Baber Princess Benson Albert & Margaret Alkek Kristin & Eric Brigger and is already yielding strong operational efficiencies, making your donor dollar go Regan & Chris Bailey Kelcie Berry Foundation Kimberlei Brisbane Lisa & James Bailey Bessemer Trust even further! Enrique Albin Anne & Will Britt Brant Baird Betsy & Jim Winn Alexander Family Fund Shelley & George Britton Terri & James Baird Carolyn & Phil Betti Thomas Alfarozierten Sarah & Adam Brock Nearly seven years in the making, this new school joins the Yellowstone family as Laura & Matthew Baird Betty Sue & Art Peabody Fund Eva Alford Jared Broderick an open-enrollment, public charter school co-located on the same campus with Susan & James Baker Richard Bird Allan & Gloria G.