Over several weeks, middle school students and the parent council at the Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy secondary campus collected all the fixings for Thanksgiving dinners. Twelve families who included 37 children received one or two large baskets of food and a large turkey in time for the holiday.

The Spirit Club at the academy’s elementary campus organized a schoolwide food drive and collected goods through early December. The food drive was followed by a toy drive. All the food and toys were donated to Gleaners Community Food Bank.

Students at CSPA High School worked with the Salvation Army to stuff stockings with crayons, toy cars and other small toys for families in time for Christmas.

The National Honor Society at CSPA High School sponsored a Giving Tree for new socks, gloves and hats to assist The Connection Youth Services in Howell.

“As we support our students and foster their moral and character development, we’re interested in extending beyond the classroom walls. Children want to be helpful and involved and it’s wonderful for them to know that their efforts can make a difference in their communities,” said Amanda Ricketts, director of student services.

The article and photos can be viewed at Livingstondaily.com

American Montessori Academy with campuses in both Livonia and Redford will be celebrating National School Choice Week with a Hug Your School Day on January 27, 2012. The event will take place at 9am at their Redford campus (17175 Olympia Redford, MI 48240) and at 10am at the Livonia campus (14800 Middlebelt Rd Livonia, MI 48154). Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey is planning to attend the event at the Livonia campus along with Livonia Chamber President Dan West. Redford Township Supervisor Tracy Schultz Kobylarz will be attending the event at the Redford campus.

The academy has planned spirit events for each day of the week and will culminate the school choice celebration with a group hug of the school. Lower Elementary Principal Amy Pogorzelski had this to say, “All the staff, students, board members, and members of the community will join hands in hugging the school and recognizing that without each stakeholder, the charter school would not exist.” The event at American Montessori Academy will be one of 340 events scheduled around the country. Governors in 12 states, including Michigan, have signed a proclamation officially recognizing January 22nd -28th as National School Choice Week. More information about the event can be found at www.schoolchoiceweek.com

American Montessori Academy opened in 2004 and serves students in grades K-6, offering a free Montessori program and high academic achievement. The mission of the academy is to create a deep, persistent and abiding desire for a lifetime of learning. For more information on the academy call (734) 525-7100 or visit www.americanmontessori.net

Here’s a sneak peek of the KWoods Art Show up now at the Green Oak Barnes and Noble. Want to see it in person AND help send our students to Germany? Come shop Friday night from 6-9pm during the KWoods/B&N Bookfair. You can also check out J Gabriel Gates signing books at 6pm, Santa reading the Polar Express at 7pm, and the KWoods Talent Show at 7:30pm!

Crescent Academy in Southfield is hosting a grand opening and ribbon cutting in celebration of their expansion into a second building that has been specifically designed for their young scholars; Kindergarten through second grade. The event will take place on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 8 a.m. at 17550 West Twelve Mile Rd, Southfield, Michigan 48076 (between Greenfield and Southfield Rd). Refreshments will be served and guests are asked to RSVP to (248)423-4581

Crescent Academy, authorized by Bay Mills Community College, has seen steadily increasing enrollment for the last five years and has grown from 200 students to over 600, with an extensive waiting list. Ms. Cherise Monet Cupidore, Superintendent, had this to say about the growth and building expansion, “Over the years we have intentionally focused on both the academic and social-emotional needs of our students and have created a successful program the provides services and academic programs from breakfast to bedtime”, she went on to say, “We have created an atmosphere that fosters a sense of possibility, accomplishment and acceptance; our students thrive here and parents want to enroll their children.”

Crescent Academy provides extensive wrap around services to students and their families including three hot meals a day, laundry services, Saturday School, Summer School, after school academic enrichment, Homework Club for high school students and extracurricular activities. While located in Southfield, ninety percent of the students are from Detroit and eighty- five percent live at the poverty level. Crescent Academy provides round trip bussing to pre-arranged locations in Detroit during the school year and for Saturday and Summer school.

Students, a teacher and the principal from FlexTech High School in Brighton, a charter school, testify before the Michigan House Education Committee on Nov. 29, 2011.  Watch the clip here.

Cherise Monet Cupidore, Superintendent of Crescent Academy in Southfield, was named the 2011 Charter School Administrator of the Year at the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) Conference at COBO Arena on Tuesday.

Ms. Cupidore has been the leader at Crescent Academy, authorized by Bay Mills Community College, for the last five years and under her careful guidance academic achievement of all students has risen steadily and enrollment has grown from 200 students to over 600, with an extensive waiting list. In a video produced by MAPSA about the five finalists Ms. Cupidore said, “If students come in performing at low level, we are going to give them all the support they need to get them to where they need to be.”

To that end, Crescent Academy provides extensive wrap around services to students and their families providing three hot meals a day, laundry services, Saturday School, Summer School, after school academic enrichment, home work club for high school students and extracurricular activities. While located in Southfield, ninety percent of the students are from Detroit and eighty five percent live at the poverty level. Crescent Academy provides round trip bussing to pre-arranged locations in Detroit during the school year and for Saturday and for Summer school.

Crescent Academy is managed by CS Partners, an Educational Service Provider serving 10 other schools in the state of Michigan. Educational Service Providers function much like a Superintendents’ office for traditional public schools. CEO Chuck Stockwell had this to say about Ms. Cupidore, “Ms. Cupidore is a dynamic, compassionate and pragmatic leader. These three qualities combine to make a leader who understands the challenges that young people from disadvantaged communities face, and one who knows that young people become who we expect them to become. We are very proud of her and the school.”

Video feature of the five finalists

Video of Ms. Cupidore accepting the award