Dear Friend of Patterson Park Public Charter School,

We are pleased to share our 2014-2015 Appreciation Report with you. In conventional terms, this is our annual report, but we changed the name because these accomplishments are not things we achieved alone. These are achievements that our donors, partners, and volunteers help make possible.

In the practice of our Tribes community agreements, we appreciate you very much for your support of our school!

Sincerely,

Helene Luce

President

Charles Kramer

Principal

Ed Rutkowski Executive Director

The mission of Patterson Park Public Charter School is to provide a community-centered learning environment that values diversity

and embraces a whole child approach to develop well-educated citizens.

2014-2015

Appreciation Report

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Accomplishments What we are most proud of this year...

About Our Students

PPPCS serves 680 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. All of our students are residents of Baltimore City; most of them live in neighborhoods north of Patterson Park. PPPCS is a tuition-free public school, so all Baltimore City students are eligible to apply. The diversity of PPPCS students reflects the neighborhood of the school. We celebrate and cherish this diversity because we believe children learn best surrounded by people from many different backgrounds.

Humane Teacher of the Year Award

Congratulations, Ms. Raxenberg! Ms. Lori Raxenberg received the 2015 Humane Teacher of the Year Award from the Humane Society of the United States. The award is given to a teacher who has consistently incorporated humane education into curriculum and motivated students to get involved in community service for animals. Ms. Raxenberg teaches pre-k.

Photo credit: tPoz Photography

Robotics Team Competed at World Championship

Our middle-school Robotics Team competed in the 2015 VEX Robotics World Championship in April in Louisville, KY. This intense four-day annual robotics-engineering tournament attracted more than 800 teams and 15,000 students from over 25 countries.

In the team’s second year of competing, the Robotic Defenders are the Baltimore City VEX Robotics League’s Tournament Champions and Maryland State VEX Robotics Champions. The team’s 8th grade students plan to attend Baltimore City’s top high schools, including Baltimore Polytechnic and Baltimore School for the Arts. (team pictured on front)

Something is missing!

We think pictures and stories are more fun than charts and graphs, so we left some out. If you’d like to see our latest budget or financial audit, please contact Debbie Mattera at 410-558-1230, ext. 393.

Race/Ethnicity

Eligible for Free/

Reduced Price Meals

Receive Special

Education Services Limited English Proficiency

Our goals for this Appreciation Report are to tell you the story of PPPCS, summarize the year’s accomplishments, and look forward to future goals. We have arranged the story and

achievements on the next few pages through the lens of our core values.

Our Core Values:

PPPCS is a community-founded school driven to academic excellence and devoted to a whole child philosophy in a diverse setting. We believe in …

Challenging every child academically using interdisciplinary, thematic, hands-on instruction that fosters creativity, critical thinking and a life-long love of learning.

Developing character in our young people by cultivating civility, perseverance, resilience and shared responsibility.

Partnering with our broader community to support student success, healthy families and strong neighborhoods.

An education rich with the arts

“One day, one of my students asked if he could take home materials to show his sister what we had done. This made me feel successful as an art teacher not only because the student was enjoying the project, but also because he was confident and engaged enough to teach someone else how to do it.”

-Jen Burt, Community Arts Coordinator

Student Diasia paints the mural in our courtyard.

“The Leadership is always treating us like family.

Ms. Johnson made Joy fall in love with books; Mr. Otto made her fall in love with drumming.”

-Joanne Sanders, parent

Joy Sanders played in the Fife & Drum Corps pictured here, playing with the Baltimore

Symphony Orchestra

PPPCS won the Safe Kids Worldwide Take Action Against Distraction video contest!

Through our partnership with The Music Workshop, Jim Jones taught a middle school bucket band class at PPPCS. Jones took the Safe Kids video contest very seriously, composing the music for the video with Fred Moss. He then taught the music to the students, recorded the video, and submitted it on the school’s behalf.

Safe Kids Worldwide received amazing entries from all across the country, but PPPCS’ video really stood out. As the winner, the students of PPPCS were visited by a professional videographer who worked with them to recreate their winning video.

Bucket Band in the music video

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Accomplishments What we are most proud of this year...

Core Value: Challenging every child academically using interdisciplinary, thematic, hands-on instruction that fosters creativity, critical thinking and a life-long love of learning.

Mosaic created with an artist in residency

“I have personally seen the impact that residencies have had upon teachers compared to other arts-related experiences... Artists exposed teachers to new art forms that they may not have had any experience with, such as spoken word poetry or improvisation, and gave our teachers opportunities to learn how to tie these art forms to the curriculum.”

-Christa Makadia, ESOL teacher & Arts-Integration Coach

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Developing character in our young people by cultivating civility, perseverance, resilience and shared responsibility.

Developing well-educated citizens

“Being a Junior Coach - working with younger students - is really challenging for Jonathan. I have seen his communication skills get better. He’s more responsible and organized, and he listens. It’s so good for him.”

-Tasha Bethea, parent

Jonathan is a Playworks Junior Coach, a student leadership opportunity at PPPCS. Junior Coaches help supervise and lead games at recess for younger students.

“The Green Team members were enthusiastic and motivated to increase community awareness about energy conservation. We provided the framework, and the students took off from there with their own ideas for videos, posters, collaboration with younger students and especially the energy monitoring. They were thrilled when Ed [our Executive Director] came and told us what a difference we made with this year's energy use.”

-Mrs. Gowans, 4th Grade teacher & Green Team coach

Green Team member Angie shows her thermostat guide for energy efficiency.

In response to the unrest in their city, our 8th graders reflected on the recent events and organized a service project when they returned to school. They made bagged lunches and donated them to Beans and Bread.

“Our school is different because of the service projects we do here.” -Jade Pettis, 2015 alumna

We are a Tribes Learning Community.

“Tribes has taught me to bring the human element into my teaching. Students love sharing about themselves and learning more about their classmates and their teacher and are more engaged in the lesson. Incorporating Tribes into my classroom has helped me create a stronger classroom culture and really turn my classroom into a family.”

-Ms. Looker, 3rd Grade teacher

"I like Tribes because we can let all our feelings out. We do Tribes so we can learn to work together."

-Student Alicia, 3rd Grade

Students in Ms. Smeltzer’s 3rd grade class are playing a game called "On My Back." In this game, they write compliments/appreciations to each other, and at the end, the kids gets to read what everyone wrote on their backs.

Accomplishments What we are most proud of this year...

Core Value: Developing character in our young people by cultivating civility, perseverance, resilience and shared responsibility.

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We Are A Community School!

PPPCS, a resource hub for the community, engages over 40 partners to serve our students, families and community members beyond the reach of a traditional school.

We served 250 students in comprehensive, daily academic enrichment after school with our partners: Fitness, Fun, & Games; the Creative Alliance; Wide Angle Youth Media; Campfire; Higher Achievement; COR; the Family League of Baltimore; and Maryland 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

Additionally, students participated in clubs: Garden Club, Chess Club, Robotics, National Academic League and Girl Scouts. Students also had the opportunity to participate in sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis and running.

Girls Scouts selling cookies at the Great Halloween Lantern Parade

In January, PPPCS hosted a Robotics competition as part of the Baltimore City Mentor League. Forty teams from City Middle and High Schools competed in preparation to win the Hopkins Robotics Cup. Fifty volunteers gave their time to make the competition possible. Competition officials praised the volunteers’ fantastic mood and remarkable cooperation.

Health services offered to students included individual and family counseling, hearing and vision screenings, flu mist

vaccines, preventative and restorative dental care, and free glasses and glasses repair. Through our partnership with St. Elizabeth’s church and the Maryland Foodbank, we were able to provide an average of 82 families a month with 180 bags of food.

The Mobile Dentists provide dental care to students at school.

“My favorite memory/experience with PPPCS is when I played basketball for the PPPCS Defenders - I was blessed with the chance to play basketball for a team! I made great connections with my friends and coach, Ms. Ontiveros. I really like how after all of the basketball games, Coach and I would talk and watch the boys’ Defenders games. We would reflect on what we think we needed to improve as a team. Ms. Ontiveros is my favorite memory.”

Joy Sanders, 2015 alumna—Joy attends Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.

175 families participated in a learning event this year.

La’Quan plays a math game at Family Math Night.

Accomplishments What we are most proud of this year...

Core Value: Partnering with our broader community to support student success, healthy families and strong neighborhoods.

Thank You to Our Community of Partners

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27 N. Lakewood Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224 410-558-1230 www.pppcs.org PPPCS is a Community School and a Title I School-Wide School.

Individual Donors (The following individuals supported PPPCS with

contributions of $500+ in FY2015.) Jennifer & Robert Amann Robert & Bradley Anderson Sara & Douglas Bahr Candace Caraco Alexandra & Ian Clough Gregory Heid Grant & Charlene Heslin Megan & Eric Hutchinson Frank Jannuzi & Jennifer Martin Charles Kramer & Amy Wilson Timothy McMillin Bill & Mimi Mules Pat Murray Tedd Pruss Ed & Kay Rutkowski Michael & Betsy Rutkowski Christopher & Dana Scott Stephanie & Dale Simms David Smeltzer John & Melissa Wesby Kara Wilkins (The following individuals supported PPPCS with

contributions of $100-$499 in FY2015.) Milica Ackers Naomi Alleyne Michael & Luisa Amann Jennine Auerbach & John Murphy Patricia & Raymond Bahr Joseph & Barbara Balestreire Martha Barrett Robert Bellman & Carole Osterer Susan Bowman & Martin Marne Adrienne Boykin Sloane Brown & Steve Sobelman Steven & Claudia Buckman Armando Carranza Vera Carter Ever Castillo & Reyna Villegas Ever Castillo-Reyes Ana & Gerrado Cervantes Bob & Amanda Choflet Suzanne Cohill & Kimberly Lancaster Susan Colley Eliz & Frank Coviello Jill Daniell & Alan Sun Barry Glassman & Dorothea Lundelius David Good & Lori Anne Nicolle Tracy Gosson Helen Grumo Vernae & Joseph Hawkins Thomas Heid Michael & Anne Hendrick Myra & Kalman Hettleman Ronald Howard Marlo Jacobson & Matt Saindon Charlie Jenkins Bess Keller Karen & Edwin Leland Albert Lietzau Helene Luce Tiffany & John Lundquist Deborah Mattera & Dan Ream Stephen McCormack Martha & Billy McGriff Courtney Monk David Murray & Sarah Lawhorne Janet & Dean Player Terry & Mary Jane Ringle Norma Rosario Janice & Robert Rupp Sarah Sandoval-Mohapatra and Pramit

Mohapatra Charles Schomann Edward Sharp Raymond & Marie Shipley Mary Shipley Kimberly Smeltzer Marjorie Smith Ian & Rebecca Smith Travis Spahr Jeffrey Stern Christina Strauser Eric Strain & Grace Serafini Philip Symonds & Leslie Sporn-Symonds Ricardo Valencia

Wilson & Sada Vandiver Carol Wagner Peggy & John Workman (The following individuals supported PPPCS with

contributions of $1-$99 in FY2015.) William & Risa Agresti Franklin Alden Catherine Aldrich Emelina Amador Feliz Andino Stephen Andrea & Diana Fertsch Mirian Argueta Glenda Arita Amanda Ashe Emily Augustine & Adam Bradbury Patrick Augustine Vilma Betanco Whitney Birenbaum Dave & Rea Bowles Kristin Butts Emilia Calleja Sanchez Sarah Campbell Flor Candia-Carbajal Kimberly Coleman Virginia Coughlin Megan Diffenderfer Diane DiSalvo David Dyson Kathleen Foley Tamela Gaylord Blakely Glotfelty Barry Glotfelty Rob Glotfelty Rodney Glotfelty Jodi Gowans Tracy Green Barbara Gruen Arvin Guerra-Ramos Elizabeth Gutting Betty Jane & John Hendrick Christina Hillsberg Jessica Hiltabidel Vanessa Hoppe Jeffrey Hossfeld Suzana Johnson Darryl & Mary Jurkiewicz Gary & Alice Just Laura & Thompson Kehrl Gary Kelley William Kelley & Katherine Lawhorne Kelley Francis Kendzejeski & Minta Manown Chet Keough Jeffrey Keyser Jan Koch Laura Koler Theodore Kuczarski Christine Looker Jenny Loza Marlene Marne Marielle Marne & Steven Moore Carmen Martinez Mausumi McGraw Arlen Mendez Steph Moore Rita & Krishna Nayak Susan Noonan Rosa Normendez Sanchez Kelly O'Connor Vanessa O'Neil & Louis Savard Dan Phifer Erica Pitkow Anna Pullen Lori Raxenberg Fran Richardson Elizabeth & Tyra Robinson Felicity Ross Gertrude Rutkowski Vaishalee & Kapil Sampat Karen Santos Shannon & Wayne Schmidt Edward Smeltzer Matthew Smeltzer Adam Steinfield Maura Stepanski Michael Strong Saida Torres Mallory Tucker Andrea Velez

Lois Walker Winter Willoughby George Young Jimena Zamora Gillian Zapata Stephen Zielinski Howard Zuckerman Ledin Zuniga Foundation and Organization Donors Abell Foundation Action for Healthy Kids AmazonSmile Foundation Baker-King Fund Baltimore Community Foundation Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts Butchers Hill Association Eddie C. & C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation Family League of Baltimore France-Merrick Foundation Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Troop 2755 Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Troop 718 Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Hoffberger Family Philanthropies Johns Hopkins Community Science Education

Program Johns Hopkins Dept. of Security, Parking, &

Transportation Johns Hopkins East Baltimore Community Affairs Johns Hopkins Government & Community Affairs Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable

Funds Kenny Dunsmore Trust Fund Kent Family Foundation Lois and Philip Macht Philanthropic Fund of THE

ASSOCIATED M&T Charitable Foundation Maryland State Department of Education Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Northrop Grumman Foundation Patterson Park Neighborhood Association Ready At Five Road Runners Club of America Southeast Community Development Corporation T. Rowe Price Foundation Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Wilber Family Fund in honor of Eliza and Marshall

Greer Wright Family Foundation Business Donors Advance - The Document Specialists Annabel Lee Tavern Baltimore Seafood Festival Baltimore Social Barcoding, Inc. Bistro RX Boston Street Running BoxTops for Education Canton Car Wash Canton Self Storage Charm City Fitness Chesapeake Community Advisors Chick-fil-A at Canton Crossing DAP Inc. Five Below Flynn & O'Hara Uniforms Follett Friedman Computer Solutions, Inc. Grace's Acre Hamilton Bank Highlandtown Gallery of Magnolia Designs IBM M&T Bank Mark Supik & Company Nightmare Graphics Riverside Advisors, LLC Samos Greek Island Grill T&D Plumbing & Heating Co. Trace Architects Matching Gift Donors Hamilton Bank IBM Northrop Grumman Foundation T. Rowe Price Foundation

Other Partners Art With a Heart Baltimore CASH Campaign Baltimore City Community College Baltimore City Health Department Baltimore Community Foundation Baltimore Curriculum Project Baltimore Dance Crews Project Baltimore Department of Parks and Recreation Baltimore Medical Systems Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts Baltimore Social Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Banner Neighborhoods BARCS Boy Scouts at St. Casimir's School Breath of God Lutheran Church Butcher’s Hill Neighborhood Association CampFire USA CASA de Maryland Charm City Fitness Coppermine Fieldhouse COR Creative Alliance Dominic “Mimi” DiPietro Family Skating Center Fair Girls Featherstone Foundation Fitness Fun and Games FIX Studio Friends of Patterson Park Gallery Church Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Groundswell Higher Achievement Hopkins Bayview Heart Health Department Johnny Rad's Johns Hopkins Health Systems Community

Outreach Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Lenscrafters Lions' Club Living Classrooms Loading Dock Maryland Food Bank Maryland Science Center MICA Mobile Dentists Morgan Stanley Muse 360 Music Together One Straw Farm Parks and People Foundation Patterson Park Audubon Center Patterson Park Neighborhood Association Playworks PNC Bank Port Discovery Priority Partners Raising a Reader Ready At 5 Relay Foods Resumes and Beyond Salt Tavern Southeast Anchor Library Southeast Community Development Corporation St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church Tribes United Stationers University of Maryland Cooperative Extension University of Maryland Dental School University of Maryland School of Social Work Villa Maria of Catholic Charities Waterfront Partnerships Wide Angle Youth Media In-Kind Gifts Gifts in kind are greatly appreciated and fulfill many of our diverse needs, including fishing rods for our fishing elective class and a drum set for our music classroom. We thank all of our friends and family members who give to PPPCS in such generous and imaginative proportions. We greatly appreciate the dedication and generosity of all of our donors and partners. If we missed your name in this Annual Report, please accept our apology and let us know, so we can recognize you in the future!