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Back to School! Grand Rapids Public Schools News - Section A Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Activities - Section B City of Grand Rapids & Public Library News - Section B July 2016 | Vol. 16 | Issue 1 | Section A Thanks to the generosity of our advertisers, this newsletter was funded using minimal taxpayer dollars. Quality School Choices, Dynamic Enrollment is as Teachers and School Leaders, and a easy as 1, 2, 3… Clear Vision Define the New GRPS Fill out an enrollment form. Forms By Teresa Weatherall Neal, M.Ed., Superintendent of Schools are available at Community & Student Services at 1331 Franklin St SE or It’s back to school time! We - Graduation rates are up. Overall graduation rates 1 online at www.grps.org/enrolltoday. have so many great things to increased by 12% over the last 4 years. Notably, celebrate as we approach the graduation rates increased by 21% for African Bring in your child’s birth certificate, start of the 2016-2017 school American students, 15% for Hispanic/Latino, proof of residence (utility bill or rent year. In less than five years, 22% for English Language Learners, and 15% for receipt, cannot use driver’s license, we have implemented the economically disadvantaged students over the same cell phone bill or insurance bill), GRPS Transformation Plan four year period. immunization record, and emergency with great success. We have 2 Test scores are up. contact information. Missing some strengthened, improved, and - We continue to see improve- ments in student growth and, once again, our high information? That’s ok! You have expanded our portfolio of 30 days to provide it after turning in school choices; we have sig- schools were among the top composite score gains in the county. your enrollment information, so don’t nificantly improved our talent delay, enroll today! recruitment, retention, and development efforts; and we - Dual enrollment is up. Dual enrollment increased have strategically invested the tax dollars entrusted to us by 52% over the last two years. For students of Attend the orientation at your child’s to restore stability and trust in the district. color, dual enrollment increased by 70% in the last school. Orientation dates and times two years. 3 are listed on page 4. TheTransformation Plan is working! ■ SEE QUALITY SCHOOLS / A3 PAID ECRWSS PERMIT #319 PERMIT US POSTAGE NON-PROFIT ORG NON-PROFIT GRAND RAPIDS, MI ECRWSS Customer Postal 1331 Franklin S.E., PO Box 117 Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0117 2 GRPS News July 2016 Grand Rapids Public Schools Mentor Program for African-American Boys Aims to ‘Create Next Generation of Global Leaders’ JULY 2016 By Charles Honey, Courtesy of School News Network Grand Rapids Board of Education them all the way to graduate school. Despite rising graduation rates 2016 among all black students in GRPS, too Growing Future Fathers and Leaders many male students are not graduat- Tony Baker, Ph.D., President G2G, as it’s commonly called, aims ing on time or dropping out, he said. Raynard Ross, Vice President to avert the problems experienced by Studies show those who don’t receive di- Rev. John Matias, Secretary poorly educated men and foster success- plomas will face “some real dire struggles Monica Randles, M.D., Treasurer ful futures by creating “an intentional in their life,” he says. “It doesn’t mean Wendy Falb, Ph.D. shift in the way we engage African- you’ll have a life of crime, but it means Jose A. Flores, Ed.D. American young men,” says program you’ll struggle a little more than some- Pastor Nathaniel Moody Students chose a statement on leadership to coordinator Emmanuel Armstrong III. one with a diploma.” Jennifer Schottke share with their families Maureen Quinn Slade “We want these young men to grow High school graduates generally Teresa Weatherall Neal, M.Ed. to be fathers, to be husbands and to give live longer, earn more and are less likely Superintendent of Schools Delicious-smelling bags of Popeyes back to the young men in the commu- to commit crimes than those who drop nity,” says Armstrong, counselor coor- Equal Opportunity Institution: Grand Rapids Public chicken lie within reach of seven boys at out, according to a background paper on Schools, as an Equal Opportunity Institution, lunch time. But before they dig in, Rob- dinator of the GRPS Office of Parental the G2G program. complies with federal and state laws prohibiting Engagement. “Our mission is to create discrimination and harassment, including Title IV ert Hurd has a few things to ask them. The paper also noted African-Amer- the next generation of global leaders. We and Title VII (with amendments) of the 1964 Civil “Any April suspensions?” he asks want the young men to rise above the ican males were suspended at twice the Rights Act, Title IX of the Educational Amendment of the third- through seventh-grade stu- situation they are in and understand the rate of all GRPS students in 2012-13 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, dents gathered around the table. Nope, greatness that is waiting for them.” and were more often chronically absent, Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974 as amended 38 they answer. “No conduct reports?” with higher absenteeism correlating to USC 20-12 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. The District will not discriminate against Nope. That’s good, Hurd says, adding, He lower achievement. works any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, “You guys can do it. I strongly, strongly Hurd sees a special struggle for gender, gender identity and expression, height, believe in you.” with a weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital planning young black males who see little positive reflection of themselves in their curricu- status, pregnancy, disability or veteran status. The “Did I ever tell you being a strong- commit- District’s Civil Rights Compliance Officer is Larry willed person was bad? No,” Hurd tells tee that lum, textbooks or teaching staffs. Johnson. Mr. Larry Johnson may be contacted at the students of Martin Luther King Jr. includes Some perceive school as “a celebra- 1331 Franklin SE, P.O. Box 117, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0117 or (616) 819-2100. The District’s Title Leadership Academy. “Strength is good, Superin- tion of someone else’s culture” and easily guys. It’s good to know who you are and IX Coordinator is Kurt Johnson. Mr. Kurt Johnson tendent doubt they can contribute meaningfully may be contacted at 1331 Franklin SE, P.O. Box feel strongly about what you believe in. Teresa to society, he says. “I try to attack that 117, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0117 or (616) 819- But you’ve got to know how to direct it. Weather- mindset to let them know everybody can 2010. At 6-feet-8-inches and a former basketball star, You’ve got to be able to use that strength Hurd looms as an imposing presence all Neal, be successful.” Title IX Annual Athletics Compliance Report: correctly. But then he zeroes in on one over the students he mentors other Grand Rapids Public Schools is committed to boy who, despite pulling good grades, current The intent is for mentors like securing athletic equity and provides annual Title draws teacher complaints about his and former GRPS officials, and repre- him to walk alongside their students IX reporting to the athletes and parents in an effort behavior and attitude. Hurd looms over sentatives of Grand Rapids Community throughout school into early adulthood, to bring increased attention and resources towards ensuring that gender equity as required by Title the group, all 6-feet-8-inches of him, College, Grand Valley State University sharing insights they’ve gleaned as engi- neers, educators and other professionals. IX of the Education Amendments for 1972, Grand and delivers a message as strongly as he and the Grand Rapids Urban League. Rapids Public Schools annual report is available at once pulled down rebounds in college. They provide professional development Armstrong himself meets with students www.grps.org. at C.A. Frost and Alger Middle School, for the community mentors and set up To comply with the No Child Left Behind Act “If you do that, guys, you’re going going over their grades and personal to do well.” field trips to museums and other activi- of 2001, Parents Right-To-Know, parents may ties. issues. request information regarding the professional Only then comes the takeout. qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers. In March, they held an African- While research shows black men commonly believe that others perceive Please contact Micky Savage, Director of Human Hurd’s heart-to-heart at MLK American Male Achievement Con- Resources, in Human Resources via email Academy is one of many going on in ference that attracted about 300 them as having “deficits, not assets,” [email protected] or at (616) 819-2028. Grand Rapids Public Schools between ninth-graders and 100 men from the mentors tell them they are “born bril- young African-American males and their community, who will pair up with stu- liant,” he says. adult community counterparts. It’s all dents over the summer. “Once you instill that confidence part of Grade School to Grad School, an JULY 2016 ‘Born Brilliant’ and self-assurance in students, they is published four times per year by initiative to provide black male students can become GRPS Communications Office with support and confidence to help In Grand Rapids, however, G2G is a CEO of a Grand Rapids Public Schools them do well in school and life. being extended next fall to provide men- Fortune 500 1331 Franklin St. SE, P.O.

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