As indicated in by MCPS Superintendent Smith's budget many of our students do not have the learning opportunities to reach the learning levels needed to complete their MCPS education ready to be successful in college, career, and community. These learning disparities fall most heavily on Black/African American students, Hispanic/Latino students, and students impacted by poverty.
Superintendent Smith talks about the work MCPS need to do within their budget, and there is more to be done than the budget can offer. In support of wanting to provide help from the community, as the Springbrook Cluster Coordinator, and the co-chair of the NAACP ACT-SO program where 7 of the 11 students who won gold medals locally, then went on to win medals at the national level.
I am reaching out to you for your support of my work in the Northeast Consortium. Soon I will locate to Texas, traveling to Maryland, for upcoming events, I would like to assist those who I work within the mentioned programs by creating a newspaper listing the opportunities and information available to our hard to reach students. Many of our students do not have access to a computer in their home, contributing to the digital divide.
Graduates
87.7% - Black students
80.4% - Hispanic/Latino students
82.9% - Free and Reduced Meal students
Dropouts
6.1% - Black students
12.3% - Hispanic/Latino students
8.1% - Free and Reduced Meal students
Graduates Post High School Status
4year College
40.1% - Black students
20.3% - Hispanic/Latino
65.2% -White students
2 year College
27.7% -Black Students
33.0% -Hispanic/Latino students
14.8% -White students
Unknown
32.1% -Black students
46.7% -Hispanic/Latino students
20.0% -White students
Your support of this newspaper ads and/or purchasing the book "A Girl Developing Into Womanhood (AGDIW)," written by my daughter would make a difference in students knowing about opportunities in their communities rather or not they have a computer. Students would also have a chance to purchase a computer for their homes for less than $30.00 and internet service for $10.00 per month. Some may not be able to afford this cost, but this service will be available for these families when the opportunity presents itself.
The best part of this project is students would be able to join a book club, receive books through the mail and be encouraged to submit book reports on the book they've read and receive assistance with their writing practice. A skill many colleges states students need more training with.
Won't you assist me in this endeavor? This idea came to life after it was clear that I would be relocating to Texas, traveling back to Maryland for some of the ACT-SO events. The ability to manage this newspaper and book club would allow me to provide information on a regular basis to all interested parties. This newspaper will be distributed to interested schools for their students as well as the foot soldiers who regularly interact with students who this information in the community, will benefit.
Please visit: jeanettes-joy.org for more information, to place your ad, and/or to pre-order your book AGDIW, for delivery by Valentines Day, February 14, 2018. Once you place your order, please ask ten of your friends to order a book and/or place an ad in Jeanette's Joy Newspaper for release in January 2018.
See attachments. In the newspaper sample you will find one of the poems that's included in the book, A Girl Developing Into Womanhood, called "I Wonder."
Your help will help.
Sincerely,
JoAnn Burl
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
-Winston Churchill
