Thursday, December 17, 2009

Grassroots Effort Pays Off Again!

It happens frequently with us here at Schools Count Corp. An individual here, a non-profit there or, in this case, a small group of high school students coming to the aid of others to make a difference.

Here's how it all unfolded. Nancy Schuessler, a volunteer with Schools Count, receives a phone call from a friend who wants to know if Nancy's daughter, Sarah, can perform "When the Saints Go Marching In" at a St. Isaac Jogues event. No problem right? Well, not quite!

Some sheet music was missing, time was short, some local band directors weren't exactly quick to respond to Sarah's plea for help and Sarah was having a bit of difficulty coming up with musicians to accompany her. Of course, all of this is taking place in the midst of school being in session!

Well, with Sarah's persistence, some help of her friends, and the timely assistance of Hinsdale Central's Jazz Ensemble Director, Jeff Waggoner, things started coming together. Jeff went so far as to make up the music arrangement when the sheet music wasn't there. Not exactly something that takes ten minutes to accomplish for a sax, trombone, tuba and trumpet!

With just a couple of days to rehearse for the Sunday event at St. Isaac's Alan Verona, Diana Kelterborn, Michael Sarantos, Elliot Wilm, Dan Wolf, and Sarah Schuessler had to practice on their own.

The event came off without a hitch. The 6-member band paraded around the St. Isaac Johes cafeteria playing music for parents who had gathered for a religious education program. The band then proceeded to gather a number of children from an adjoining room. With kazoos in hand, the St. Isaacs children enthusiastically joined the band as they re-entered the cafeteria to perform for the appreciative parents.

Due to the generosity of the Religious Education Office at St. Isaacs, the six students were well paid for their performance. Rather than keeping all the money for themselves, Dan, Sarah, Alan, Diana, Michael, and Elliot donated $160.00 to our charity! What unselfish and kind young adults. Imagine donating money to a charity, pulling the event together, helping St. Isaacs and donating their time and talents on a Sunday. Pretty special!

Our thanks goes out to the Religious Education Office at St. Isaac's, Jeff Waggoner, Mr. & Mrs. Bjeldanes, Nancy Schuessler, and, of course, the six students who made this happen.

On behalf of everyone at Schools Count Corp., please know we are grateful for you assistance and kindness.

Dick Flesher

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

5 Enables a Student to Thrive!

So just what does the above expression, "5 Enables a Student to Thrive" mean? Quite simply, every $5 donated, allows each student aided by Schools Count Corp to have essentially all the pens, paper, pencils, folders, binders and notebooks (not to mention other classroom supplies) for an entire school year! That's right for $5 each student has nearly all the supplies needed for each and every class.

Between our 'Go Green' recycling program and generous discounts from Walmart we are able to create such an affordable system of aiding students. In fact, most of the recycled supplies gathered from the 31 Chicagoland area schools turn out to be new or very close to being brand new. Students get materials in terrific condition!

I just want you to know that every dollar, every contribution makes a difference. Think of it, without these supplies, and your donations, a number of students may very well go without basic supplies. Now that is a recipe for disaster.

Many of you that check this blog are already donating your time, funds, and effort to this wonderful cause. Please take a moment and share this information with your friends and family. I'd also like to have you consider putting on your own fundraiser. Imagine even a 'small' fundraiser that generates $300. You'd be putting supplies in the hands of 60 students for an entire year.

This reminds me of a time two years ago when a group of 6 through 12 year olds in Vacation Bible School, on the East Coast, garnered contributions in a created way. The children collected pennies on Monday, nickels on Tuesday, dimes on Wednesday, and quarters on Thursday. They raised nearly $500 in four days! Not only is the total remarkable so to is the fact that I never had any association with the church or the children. It was an act of true kindness. It can be done.

Remember '5 Enables a Student to Thrive!'

Many thanks,
Dick Flesher

Thursday, December 3, 2009

NOLA Public School Progress

Sure there is a long way to go before the New Orleans public schools get to where they need and want to be in terms of seeing to it that students get the best education possible. But since Hurricane Katrina hit NOLA in 2005 many public and RSD (Recovery School District - another type of public school system) have made great strides.

Don't let the pundits, naysayers, or advocates of private and
charter schools tell you any different. Schools Count Corp has served many public schools and we have seen first hand the strides made by these schools over the past four years.

Though I prefer to look at schools in many other ways than test scores, about the only way that too many people assess the quality of a school, in today's age, is to look at test scores. Be that as it may, lets take a close look at how the public and RSD schools we delivered to this past August performed on the Louisiana state test called LEAP.

We delivered supplies to 23 public and RSD schools this past August. Of those 23 schools, 14 have had there doors open to students for at least the past two years. Since the schools have tested for two consecutive years there is an opportunity to examine the LEAP scores. The other 9 schools have not been in operation for two years so there is no current LEAP score basis to determine a change in student results.

Here's what we know about the 14 schools with regard to LEAP scores. ALL 14 showed an improvement in student test scores from one year to the next. Also, the average percent of growth, of the combined 14 schools, was 51.6%. Quite remarkable!!

I wanted to point out this growth for a number of reasons. First, these schools, contrary to what some people say, are helping students. Second, these schools have made positive changes to the education they provide to students since the hurricane. Third, non-public schools aren't the only ones getting the 'job done.' Finally, relative to Schools Count Corp., we can take some satisfaction knowing that the resources we have provided to NOLA schools has gone to good use.

With your continued support we can see to it that students are well served and that they will continue to make progress in terms of receiving the best possible education! It is obvious that what everyone associated with Schools Count Corp has done has made a difference.


Many thanks,
Dick Flesher





Girls Singing at IMN

Classes Singing at IMN

IMN School Opens

Driving into Port Au Prince

IMN School Welcome

Tour of IMN School

IMN School