confluence connections summer 2013

7/28/2019 Confluence Connections Summer 2013

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onfluence PreparatoryAcademy is a young highschool. So young, in fact,

that the Class of 2013 is thesecond graduating class inschool history.

On May 18, families, friends,teachers and staff celebratedwith enthusiasm as 87graduates crossed the stageinto their future; 10 studentsgraduated with honors. Theclass was accepted to morethan 20 colleges anduniversities, many in the St.Louis area. In total, theyearned $165,000 inscholarships. Commencementwas held in the Ferrara Theatrein the Americas Center

Convention Complex.Sasha Worthy, classvaledictorian, is decidingbetween two colleges DruryUniversity and MissouriUniversity of Science and

Technology. Mary Moore,salutatorian, will attend St.Louis Community College-Florissant Valley. Amira Mellion,senior class president, earneda scholarship to LindenwoodUniversity after she was named

the Downtown YMCAsYouth of the Year. MajorBrinson is heading toMissouri Baptist Universityand Ariel Davis-Rayford willstudy at the University of

Missouri-Kansas City.Artis Keith Turner,president of TurnGroup

Technologies, LLC, was theguest speaker. Turner foundedthe information technologyconsulting firm in April 2002.He spoke sincerely andcandidly to the students, usingreal talk about preparing fortheir future, giving their besteffort and taking responsibilityfor their lives, education andcareers. Turner was raised in

St. Louis and graduated cumlaude from Morehouse College.

Sonya Henry, chair of theBoard of Directors ofConfluence, encouragedstudents to continue to followtheir dreams and take risksbut to stay focused on theireducation and careers.

Dr. Chester Bluette, principal,started his first year at CPA in

August 2012. As he delivered

his final remarks to thestudents he inherited at thestart of the school year, heclosed with a simple message.Failure is not an option, hesaid. Failure is not an option,he repeated. A wave ofapplause followed, agreeingwith his insistence thatstudents continue to work hard

and put forth their best effort.Confluence Preparatory

Academy is the first highschool in the network ofConfluence Charter Schools. Itopened in 2008 on the campusof Confluence Academy-SouthCity with ninth grade. In 2009,CPA moved downtown, next tothe Central St. Louis Library.

The school is sponsored byMissouri University of Scienceand Technology.

Class of 2013 takes the stagegraduates encouraged to dream

Dr. Chester

Bluette

congratulates

one of

Confluence

Preparatory

Academys

newest alumni

CONFLUENCECONNECTIONS

Summ

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Summer starts withsights set on future

year of change ends withsuccesses

When we started school last August, we

started a school year of change.

Confluence Charter Schools was starting

its first year as a self-managed networkof schools.

Confluence Preparatory Academy

welcomed a new principal, Dr. Chester

Bluette. Confluence Academy-Walnut

Park had an interim principal, Mary L.

Davis. Grand Center Arts Academy grew

to serving students in grades 6 through

9, experiencing its first class of freshmen.

Confluence set high goals for academic

expectations set by its sponsors,

Missouri University of Science and

Technology and Saint Louis University,and the Missouri Department of

Elementary and Secondary Education.

Our teachers and staff focused on

educating our students based on grade-

level expectations. The focus was guided

by a caring culture based on Positive

Behavior Support systems; a curriculum

designed on mastery of essential skills; a

highly qualified staff who uses research-

based instructional strategies;

customized instruction to build

confidence and learning success; a

college-readiness and career pathwaysprogram; and strengthening connections

between home and school.

As we end 2012-2013, we will continue to

experience change that will impact our

future. The Class of 2013, the second

graduating class in the history of CPA, will

start college, begin career training or join

the military on their journey to continued

education and success.

Confluence Academy-Walnut Park will

have a new principal, Sheldon McAfee. He

has been part of the Confluence family asan academy director at Confluence

Academy-Old North. The Board

recognizes and appreciates Mrs. Davis for

her leadership as interim principal. We

thank her for her dedication to our

students, teachers and families.

In late summer, we will learn our students

scores on the annual Missouri Assessment

Program (MAP) test and End-of-Course

(EOC) exams. We are confident that our

scores will show academic growth and

improvement. Our teachers, staff, students

and parents worked hard to make sure

everyone did their best during state-

mandated testing. We are proud of their

efforts and we look forward to celebrating

their achievements.

We look forward to a summer of learning,

exploration and discovery. Parents, please

make sure your child reads every day and

practices math facts so that he or she will

be ready when school starts on August 12.

But most of all, enjoy your summer and

make good memories.

Thank you for supporting the mission and

vision of Confluence Charter Schools.

Sonya G. HenryChairman

Confluence Academy Board

CHAIRMANSLETTER

Mission Statement

Confluence Charter Schools provides the highest quality

public education for our students. Every day, students are

engaged and encouraged to excel in reading, math, science,

technology, visual arts and performing arts.

Vision Statement

Confluence Charter Schools will provide a world-classpublic education to prepare our students for success in

college, career and life.

Old North students perform during Missouri Charter Public School Association Tour Day in Februar

Board newsupcoming board ofdirectorsmeeting dates

Friday, July 19, 8:00 a.m.

Confluence Preparatory Academy310 N. 15th Street


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Little bricksscience and creativitycome together

Think about what the City of St. Louislooks like today. Now, think aboutwhat the city could look like in 50years. To stretch your mind evenfurther think about what the citycould like in 50 years using a modelmade of LEGO bricks.

That was the task for students fromOld North and South City as theyparticipated in a FIRST LEGO Expo inMay. They joined other teams at St.Louis Community College-Forest Parkfor LEGO Care Rebuilding St. Louis One Brick at a Time.

FIRST LEGO League exposes studentsto math, science, technology andengineering. It is part of FIRSTRobotics For Inspiration andRecognition of Science and

Technology.

The Old North LEGO/Robotics Teamhas seven members in grades 5-7.

The team sponsor is Stanley Johnson,administrative intern and in-schoolsuspension teacher.

South Citys team name is COMETS Committed to Obtaining MathematicsEngineering Technology and Science.

The team has eight members in f ifthand sixth grade. The team sponsorsare Deborah Bertish and LyndseyDerber, sixth grade science and mathteachers.

The students jumped right into thebuilding and construction of the city,coming up with dynamic ideas aboutwhat the City of St. Louis would looklike in 50 years, said Bertish andDerber. A few weeks in, the groupdecided to try a different approach andbegan to build the city as it is now andmake modifications and additions asthey would see St. Louis in 50 years.

Johnson said the experiencereinforced the expectation that higher

QUICKTAKES

level education is the key to futuresuccess. Our team didnt just want todo the basics, they pushed themselvesto think deeper, analyze longer andcollaborate to reach the commongoal.

I was so amazed by the creativity andexpression in all of our scholars and

the work of the other schools at theexpo, said Johnson.

The enthusiasm and interest in doingwell paid off for both teams theyearned awards for their efforts. OldNorth was presented the InquiringMinds Award. South City received theHigh Five award.

Bronze ageschools recognized forfostering positive support

When students return to school in thefall, they might notice something new,glossy and bold on display at OldNorth, South City and Walnut Park.

In June, the Missouri Department ofElementary and Secondary Educationrecognized 312 public and charterschools for their success inimplementing Schoolwide PositiveBehavior Support. PBS is a systematicapproach for improving studentbehavior and academic performance.

The schools were honored at asummer training institute sponsored byDESE and the University of MissouriCenter for Schoolwide PositiveBehavior Support.

Old North, South City and Walnut Parkeach earned bronze level recognition

for their PBS programs. There arethree levels of recognition gold, silveor bronze. Principals and staff fromeach school attended the institute.

They were presented a framedcertificate and a banner to display intheir building.

Positive Behavior Support is asystematic approach to creating saferand more effective schools bystructuring the learning environment tosupport academic and social successfor all students. PBS focuses on data-based decision-making, encouraging

positive student behavior, preventingdisruptive behavior and tailoringacademic strategies to individualstudent needs.

Confluence schools participate in PBSthrough the Cooperating SchoolDistrict of St. Louis. In 2012-2013,approximately 740 schools in Missouriparticipated in the Schoolwide PositiveBehavior Support initiative.


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New Confluence Academy-Walnut Park Principal

Sheldon McAfee

STAFFSPOTLIGHT

Walnut Park welcomes new principalmoves over from Old North

The Board of Directors of Conf luence Charter Schools hasselected Sheldon McAfee to serve as principal ofConfluence Academy-Walnut Park for 2013-2014. McAfeewill replace interim principal Mary L. Davis.

McAfee has worked for Confluence since 2008 when hestarted as an academy director at Confluence Academy-South City. He most recently served as academy director atOld North. He has more than 12 years of experience ineducation as a classroom teacher and administrator. Heworked in the Rockwood School District, MontgomeryPublic Schools in Alabama and Bay County District Schoolsin Florida.

McAfee has a Bachelor of Science in elementary education

from Alabama State University and a master of publicadministration from Auburn University-Montgomery. He hasa masters in education administration from the Universityof Missouri-St. Louis.

Im looking forward to working with the unique group ofstudents and staff at Walnut Park, said McAfee. Hedescribes the staff as unique because they work hard andtheyre really excited to help our students from thesurrounding community.

The students are unique because they remind him of his youth.

I feel like Walnut Park is the school I went to on the southside of Chicago. I see the kids and I see myself. I grew upin similar circumstances and I know what the kids are going

through, said McAfee.

I had someone who cared about me, and who cared evenmore about my success. I had two awesome principals inelementary and high school. I want to give that same careto the students, to believe in them and to encourage themto keep trying.

The parents are signi ficant to McAfee, too.

The parents are important because they are critical pieceof the formula for student success. I want them to knowthat I dont plan on going anywhere. I want to show parentsand students that together we can be successful, he said.

McAfee said the responsibility of a principal is to inspireand encourage students, to set examples and to give themsomething to think about to influence their daily lives andtheir future.

This is a dream-come-true job an elementary schoolprincipal.

Davis joined Walnut Park as interim principal in September2012. She is a retired educator from the East St. LouisSchool District. She has 34 years of experience, serving 12years as a principal. She was hired as interim after theresignation of Angela Carpenter as principal.

The Board appreciates Mrs. Davis for her leadership anddedication to our students, teachers and families thisschool year, said Sonya Henry, Board chair.

Mr. McAfee working with students at Old North

confluence connections summer 2013

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