Mr. Barber's State-of-the-School Outline 14 Jan 2010

Cambridge School of Chicago

State-of-the-School

January 14, 2010

Derek Michael Barber, dMb

President, eduQuest LLC

Founder, The Cambridge School of Chicago (CSC)

Agenda:

1. Where are we?

2. What's new?

3. What's next?

4. What's needed?

I. Where are we?

A. 160% increase in student enrollment since inception in 2005

B. 25 families in 2005 to 77 families in 2009

C. 5 years of being financially debt free

D. Growth from 3 classes in 2005 to 10 classes in 2009

E. Students testing: nationally ranking

F. Cambridge Camp Academic Enrichment Summer Program

G. 14 Student Co-Curricular Activities

H. 3 Cambridge Knights Competitive Sports Teams

II. What's new?

A. External Leadership

B. Internal Leadership

A. External Leadership

1. Board of Directors

2. Executive Director

1. Board of Directors

a. Why a new board?

1. Visible parent representation

2. Unity in purpose

3. Continuity in mission

4. Strengthen accountability

b. What will it mean?

1. Transparency: open board meetings

2. Public awareness: published minutes

3. Productivity: functional ability

4. Exceptional outcomes!

c. What will they do?

1. Strategic Planning and Implementation

2. Facility Expansion

3. Faculty Stabilization

a. Salary and Benefits

b. Professional Development

c. Recruitment

4. Institutional Evaluation

a. Curriculum and Academics

b. National Standards

c. External Measuring Tools

d. Accreditation

5. Development and Funding

6. Marketing and Public Relations

a. Traditional media

b. Web site enhancements

c. Social media

7. Financial Accountability

a. Budget

b. Annual Audits

c. Tuition

2. Executive Director

a. Phasing out the office

b. New Chairman of the Board

B. Internal Leadership

1. Why a Head of School?

a. Building Stage of Growth Model

1. Build Team

2. Build School

3. Build Parents

4. Build Vision

III. What's next?

A. Growth and Stability

B. By 2015

1. Consistent enrollment of 165 students per year in PK - 8^th grade

2. Graduating our first "Cambridge" class

3. Accredited institution

4. Competitions (debate, science, math, language arts, sports)

5. National recognition

IV. What's needed?

A. Board

B. Administration

C. Parents

D. Students

E. Community

A University-Model, Faith-based Classical Education

Winter 2009

Dear Cambridge Partner:

I once again request your financial support.  Many of you know me very well or you know my parents, Vaughn and Blanche Barber.  You know that we are deeply entrenched in the battle for minds as a means to eradicate poverty and build purposeful lives.

We?re celebrating 5 Years! This year, we are celebrating five years of academic excellence in the city of Chicago.  Five years ago, a dream became a vision, which became a reality.  We are excited about the future, but your partnership, now more than ever before, is crucial.  If we are to further eradicate the academic achievement gap in our neighborhood, it must begin with those who are committed to the same cause and believe in what we are doing to be effective.

We?re achieving results! In 2009, our students scored 94% on reading and 93% on math; our parents provided over 900 hours of service to the school, saving the school nearly $100,000.00 in personnel, and providing the highest level of parental involvement ever.  Finally, our services expanded from 32 students in 2005 to over 200 students in 2009, with partnerships that service students from local public, charter, and private schools.

We?re moving! We are once again stepping out on faith to expand our services and increase our population of children served. In 2010, we plan to move our educational services, which now include The Cambridge School, Cambridge Camp, Ambassadors Club After School programming, and Cambridge Tutoring, to a facility that will allow us to reach an additional 600 students in the next five years. We have a unique opportunity before us! The time to act is now, while this opportunity is available.

We?re making it possible! Eighty-five percent (85%) of our students are receiving financial assistance. One hundred percent (100%) of your tax-deductible contribution goes to fund student services. 

Will you prayerfully consider a generous year-end donation?  Your gift will mean so much to the cause of closing the academic achievement gap in Chicago.  From a gift as small as $100.00, which provides school supplies for one child to a gift as large as $12,000.00, which is the cost to educate one child, you can make a difference in the life of a child who receives a Cambridge service.  We need to raise $250,000.00 to meet our budget this year!

We?ve made it even more convenient for you to make your year-end gift.  You may make a credit card payment using PayPal, available through our Web site at www.cambridgechicago.com or you may send a check directly to the School in the enclosed envelope. Thank you in advance for your partnership!

Holiday blessings,

Derek M. Barber

Founder and Executive Director

University of Illinois Partners with Cambridge to bring STEM. STEM, which is an acronym meaning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is designed to help actively engage elementary students in the above named fields of study while stimulating their growth and hunger for them. The STEM Academy is designed to come to us through the use of a mobile bus. We will become Chicago's first STEM "cell" as our school's after school program, Ambassadors Club, will become the seat bed for much of the interface between U of I and Cambridge.

We will have the expertise of professors and personnel from several of the science and math departments of the University, who are specially and specifically trained to introduce topics to children, the target group of STEM. Topics include:

Food Nutrition Unit (functional foods & affects on the body, food safety, acids & bases in foods)

Small Animal Unit (microscopy, animal body/skeletal systems, rat dissection lab--do we really want to dissect a rat?)

Forensic Science Unit (inquiry, inductive/deductive reasoning, forensic experiment)

Educational Technology Unit (digital storytelling class, capture digital video, storyboarding)

Earth Science Unit (magnetism)

Biology Unit (cells and their function, building of tissue and organs, types of cells)

These will all be taught in "lab" structure, with experts coming to us and conducting these units in conjunction with our Core Knowledge curriculum units.

Dear Parent:

Are you beginning to think SUMMER?  You should be!  Now is the time to register your child for summer camp programs.  Don't you recall how difficult it was to get your child in that special summer program last year because you waited to the last minute thinking that a space was reserved for you?  Consider Cambridge Camp 2010!  (And don't let the cost keep you away.  We offer generous scholarships for families that qualify.  Be certain to ask before assuming you don't qualify. )

There are some very good reasons to choose CAMBRIDGE CAMPS for your child this summer.  Here are just a few:

University Camp, our signature camp, combines academic enrichment curriculum ("university") with fun activities (" camp ") throughout the entire summer.  Your child is guaranteed to have fun and continue learning the guaranteed core knowledge curriculum that will prepare him/her for excellence in the next grade level.  In addition, University Camp is now 10 weeks (expanded from eight last year).  Wow!  Cambridge Camp include weekly excursions (field trips), grade-level or above curriculum in five subjects (yours to take-home at the conclusion of the program), nature and science studies, many competitions, games, and plenty of sports, dance, and arts activities.

Academic component includes math, library, physical science and nature studies, language arts, reading, Spanish, Latin/Greek, music, and art;

Fun activities include tennis, basketball, miniature golf, dance, visual arts, crafts, field trips, kite flying, safe water activities, and so much more.

Girls Quest afternoon component, our latest addition to the CAMBRIDGE CAMPS, is a selective enrollment year-round enrichment program that is just-for-girls beginning at age 5, which combines mentoring and enrichment and takes girls to an all new level. Over time, Girls Quest will:

• teach etiquette and manners;
• instill self-respect and respect for others;
• teach confidence, poise, and determination;
• train girls to become entrepreneurs and excellent money managers;
• expose girls to fine dining and dinner dances;
• build social skills, sportsmanship, and public speaking;
• provide positive affirmations;
• give girls advice on dressing for success, modesty, and true beauty;
• cultivate culinary and home economic skills;
• monitor academic progress and tutor where necessary.

Sports Quest afternoon component is yet another new addition to the CAMBRIDGE CAMPS in 2010.  Sports Quest will provide formal training in sports techniques for child ages 6-10 using the techniques the professional use.  Summer 2010 will see the introduction of two (2) sports and 1 cheerleading class.  Children will be trained by registered coaches from partner organizations.  We're bringing the best to you so you don't have to travel throughout the city.

Check out last summer on our photo gallery, located at www.cambridgechicago.com/photo_gallery.htm  to get a glimpse of summer activities.

Call: 773-924-1200; 

E-mail: info`cambridgechicago.com; 

Visit: 4611 S. Ellis Ave.

Applications are available on home page!

• Cambridge Knights Basketball (Grades 3rd-8th)
• Cambridge Knights Cheerleaders (Grades PK -8th)
• Cambridge Knights Track and Field (coming Spring 2010!)
• Cambridge Knights Tennis (October 2009!)
• Cambridge Knights Flag Football (October 2009!)
• Cambridge Knights Baseball (coming Spring 2010!)
  

• Admissions/Students.  We have a growing population of really great parents and students, expanding to 85 students in 2009-2010.  Many of our classes are full with a waiting list.  This is a true sign of parents recognizing the great need for the best education for their children even in a sluggish economy. We're positioned to have the strongest and best in class enrollment of families and students ever at The Cambridge School.
• After School Programming.  Last year, our after school program, Ambassadors Club, included 12 new programs, including Cambridge Spirit cheerleading, Cambridge Kids Enterprise (entrepreneurship and financial stewardship), Cambridge Sports (SNAG Golf, SMART Tennis, Knights Basketball), Boys Quest, Girls Quest (expanded), Cambridge Martial Arts, and much more.  We also have expanded our arts to include culinary arts, visual arts, and drama/theater arts classes.  All-in-all, it is the city's most comprehensive after school program.
  
• Financial Stability.  You can tell an organization's success by its financial strength.  We have NEVER (not once) operated The Cambridge School in the red (deficit).  Cambridge may not have all the bells and whistles that some other schools have, but we are committed to providing the best education possible with strong objective results within the financial limitations provided.  Now, there are those who have supported us financially who want to do more.  Our most recent consistent donor "upped" his support from $90K per year to $120K per year.  That is quite a statement!  The Springboard Foundation recently announced that we will receive $20K for after school enrichment programming. We have also seen more interest in our school from a development perspective. Wonderful!

1. Pray for the board, administration, faculty, staff, families, and students of the school;
2. Review the family handbook and point out the student decorum with your child (available on line).  It is important that we all be on one accord and be of one mind and purpose throughout this year;
3. Read the required reading to your child (summer reading list is available on the Web site);  Parents should read Shepherding a Child's Heart (available for purchase at Cambridge) so that we are on the same page about discipline and expectations;
   

• teach etiquette and manners;
• instill self-respect and respect for others;
• teach confidence, poise, and determination;
• train girls to become entrepreneurs and excellent money managers;
• expose girls to fine dining and dinner dances;
• build social skills, sportsmanship, and public speaking;
• provide positive affirmations;
• give girls advice on dressing for success, modesty, and true beauty;
• cultivate culinary and home economic skills;
• monitor academic progress and tutor where necessary.

Mad Science® is the world's leading science enrichment provider. They deliver unique, hands-on science experiences for children that are as entertaining as they are educational. Mad Science is proud to introduce students of The Cambridge School to a world of discovery while sparking their imagination. Mad Science encourages scientific literacy in children in an age when science is as vital as reading, writing and arithmetic.
 
Cambridge and Mad Science begin this partnership in science education in October 2007 through the after school enrichment program.  The partnership will conclude in March 2008, with the science fair as the culminating event.