2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT Table of Contents 3 | Academics For 15 years, Yellowstone has been a beacon of light in Houston’s Third Ward providing students with a high quality education that will prepare them for their futures. Our students are bright, ambitious, and full of talent. Our job as educators is to make learning a joy for them--so that each day they come 5 | Community to school excited to prepare for their future. Engagement Yellowstone is one of the few schools in the nation that is truly a community endeavor. We ask every family admitted to the school to pay a portion of the tuition costs for their student to attend and the rest of the funding required to operate 7 | Extracurricular the school is donated from generous individuals, businesses, churches, and foundations. Our supporters come from more than 40 Houston area zip codes providing the additional Ryan Dolibois support necessary to operate the school. Fundraising Executive We invite you to join us and walk side by side as we transform 9 | Events Director Houston’s educational landscape. Thank you for your prayers, service, and financial contributions that help make us a premier educational institution. Our success as a school is only possible with your support. Profile of a 11 | Future Teacher Celebrating Ryan Dolibois 13 | Executive Director 15 Years Academics For 15 years Yellowstone Academy has been committed to Eighth Grade Graduates providing students with a rigorous and relevant academic The cumulative benefit of Yellowstone’s program is apparent from the way our students program that will prepare them to excel in high school, college, 100PHONOLOGICAL% & MATH SKILLS go on to succeed. Our eighth grade graduates were granted admission to multiple top high and career. PREK-4 ranking high schools throughout Houston. Each student is attending a high quality school. Yellowstone is committed to tracking our students’ progress. At the year-end testing, 100% of Pre-K4 students were making acceptable progress in both phonological awareness and math, Students are attending the following schools: indicating they are well prepared for kindergarten. • Chinquapin • Jones Future Academy/ Allied Health Yellowstone continues to see growth in our elementary school • Christo Rey Jesuit • KIPP Sunnyside students’ performance as well. According to the Iowa Test of • DeBakey High School Basic Skills, 74% of Yellowstone’s 8th grade students tested at • South Early College 50% Private • Energy Institute • St. Thomas Episcopal proficient or advanced in reading and 95% scoring proficient 33% Magnet • Episcopal High School or advanced in math. The school continues to evaluate • Westbury Christian 17% Charter • High School for Law methods to differentiate academic instruction to drive high and Justice academic performance. • Houston Academy for International Studies Community Engagement Yellowstone students joined local artists for a week of camp hosted by Young Audiences of Houston. Yellowstone Academy is a community school. Our students Volunteers joined our students’ faith walk by serving flourish when our community invests in them. Volunteers and as Pre-K chapel leads, planning our annual Christmas community partners played a vital role in ensuring that today’s 5,000+ celebration, and celebrating victories with graduation VOLUNTEER HOURS Yellowstone students are prepared to lead tomorrow. PROVIDED BY luncheons. VOLUNTEERS 695 During the 2016-2017 school year, 695 volunteers provided Our students value these relationships and took pride in nearly 5,000 hours of service to our school. Our volunteers hailed sharing their love with volunteers at the Angel Luncheon. from nearly 40 zip codes in the Houston area and enriched every aspect of our campus life. Volunteers served as academic tutors, Community Partnerships mentors, and lunch buddies each week. Corporate groups signed on to sponsor a grade through monthly activities designed to Community partnerships continue to be an essential improve students’ confidence and leadership skills. component of Yellowstone’s program. Through partnerships with Houston Food Bank, Assistance A few brave souls rolled up their sleeves to paint our students’ League of Houston, Interface Samaritan, University lockers like book spines, put down stakes for our learning garden, Eye Institute at the University of Houston, Christian and spruce up our playground. Community Service Center, University of Texas School Our annual school supply and uniform distribution was of Dentistry, and Express Yourself Clearly, Yellowstone staffed entirely by corporate and community volunteers who cares for students holistically. held collection drives as well. Volunteers also provided each VOLUNTEERS FROM Yellowstone student with more than a dozen books throughout ZIP the year at quarterly book drives to build students’ home libraries. 40+CODES Extracurricular Yellowstone students started their own businesses and learned how to manage money during Lemonade Day! Athletic Highlights During the 2016-2017 school year, Yellowstone committed to providing students with an enriching education that was complemented by extracurricular activities. We know our It was a great year for the Yellowstone Lions! Led by Coach Davis students achieve higher in the classroom when they have opportunities to engage their and many wonderful volunteers and parents, the Lions learned talents outside of the classroom. teamwork and character skills as they brought home more than a Yellowstone students participated in leadership programming through Leading Ladies, few trophies. Sassy Ladies, the Brotherhood, and Boy Scouts of America. They learned financial • The Boy’s Basketball team was undefeated and won 1st place literacy and entrepreneur skills during Lemonade Day and with the help of our partners at in the District League. Cadence Bank. • The Girl’s Basketball and Volleyball teams each earned Other extracurricular activities included: second place trophies in the District League. • Chapel Arts • NASA STEM Program for Middle • The 4th & 5th Grade Soccer team scored two goals during • Chess Club– Perfect TeamPlay Inc. School Girls their inaugural season. • Book Club • Swimming Lessons for 3rd and 4th Grade students • The Cheer and Dance teams both competed in their first • IWrite Club competition. • Play performances • Choir • The Flag Football team won 1st place in the District League! • Prayer Partners • African Drumming Circle- Young • The Track & Field teams experienced great success with Audiences of Houston • Student Ambassadors many individual victories. Fundraising Events Stomping of the Divots Beautiful Day A crowd of Houston’s young professionals gathered at the More than 675 guests attended the 9th Annual Yellowstone Houston Polo Club on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to enjoy an Academy Breakfast. Chaired by Leslie and Randy Newcomer, and exciting polo match, delicious food, and a silent auction. with more than 60 table hosts, the event raised a record-breaking Chaired by Yellowstone Academy teachers Desirae Thomas and $1.37 million for Yellowstone Academy’s daily operations. Rebecca Reed, these young professionals stomped their way to raising nearly $100,000 for the Academy’s daily operations. Love Brunch Golf Classic 200 ladies gathered at the Astorian to “give their hearts to Golfers participating in the 2017 Yellowstone Academy Golf Yellowstone” as they enjoyed mimosas and coffee-bar drinks, Classic enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the Houston Golf Club as well as a delicious Valentine’s Day brunch provided by on May 8th. Cordua Catering. Chairs Chris Wallace and Ben Beckham led this year’s event to With the help of chairs Connally Burroughs, Grace and Carroll raise nearly $250,000 in scholarships for Yellowstone students. Cartwright, Brittany Hildebrand, and Leticia Trauber, the Love Brunch raised more than $200,000 for Yellowstone Academy scholarships. Profile of Teacher a Future Brea Groce Started Yellowstone in First Grade Second Baptist School - Private Graduated May 2016 Future Plans: Elementary Education and Yellowstone Academy Teacher! Accepted to LSU, Dallas Baptist, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, HBU, and Baylor I’m coming back! During my time at Yellowstone, I learned several things that will remain with me forever. I learned to work hard and finish strong whether things are going my way or not. I learned to serve others through Student Council and service projects like Living Water. I learned to explore and embrace new opportunities on trips to Austin, San Antonio, and others. Most of all, I learned that a community of teachers and volunteers like the Leading Ladies cared about my future. The journey through high school was tough but rewarding. I was in the choir and the Super Hero Club where we participated in service projects and fund raisers for non-profits. Throughout my high school years, I continued to work hard to stay on the honor roll. I am proud to say that I am a graduate of Second Baptist School, and Yellowstone guided me through every step of the way. Brea Gross, Yellowstone Class of 2012, By the beginning of my senior year of high school, I knew that my Second Baptist High School Class of purpose in life is to be a teacher. I am excited to continue this journey at 2016, attends Sam Houston University Sam Houston University where I have been awarded the Smith-Hutson on a full scholarship. She had a successful Scholarship. I am looking forward to getting my degree in elementary freshman year and declared education as her major. During the summer, she interned at education so that I can come back to Yellowstone as a teacher and share the Breakthrough Houston as a teaching intern. many blessings that I received. Brea intends to be the first Yellowstone graduate to return as a teacher. than ever. We are privileged to join in this Celebrating work with them, and we hope that you will continue to partner with them as well. Years Learn more and make plans to join us in our anniversary celebrations by visiting our website at yellowstoneacademy.org/ Educationof anniversary. For 15 years, Yellowstone Academy has been in entrusted with the education of some of Party Houston’s brightest scholars.