Hats Off to HOPE Academy Broadway Campus

With the school year in full swing, HOPE Academy Broadway Campus has developed a program that will encourage students to stay on top of their reading. ‘Give Me 5’ is a program that was created by Mrs. Cummings, the Parent/Teacher Organization’s Liaison, Principal Harold S. Booker and his staff to help students improve their reading skills. Whether it is reading five chapters, reading for five minutes or memorizing five vocabulary words, this 5-week program will allow students to make reading a habit and improve upon their skills.

Starting November 9, students and teachers will work together and keep track of their accomplishments. Students are also encouraged to work with their parents to achieve their goals.

“We want students to give us five of anything,” said Harold S. Booker, Principal of HOPE Academy Broadway Campus. “The goal of this program is to teach kids that reading can be fun; with only a few minutes every day, their reading skills will improve.”

HOPE Academy Broadway Campus will be reaching out to the community with the hope of receiving awards to give students for achieving their goals. There will be a celebration at the end of the program to honor the students who have taken it upon themselves to improve their reading skills.

photo credit: Old Show Woman

Hats Off to Katie Lynn Degg

Katie Lynn Degg exemplifies the “IdidUcan” mantra of LifeSkills.  Katie Lynn, along with her eight brothers and sisters, grew up in the Michigan foster care system.  As the oldest, Katie Lynn shouldered the additional burden of keeping track of her siblings as they were moved from one foster home to another and did her best to keep her now fragmented family together.  Her deepest desire remained to reunite her family, but she did not have much hope.  Refusing to back down, Katie Lynn decided to complete her high school diploma and began attending LifeSkills in Pontiac, Michigan in September of 2005.  Katie Lynn graduated on June 14, 2006.

Because of her experience at LifeSkills, Katie Lynn encouraged her sister, Olivia, to also pursue her high school diploma at LifeSkills.  Olivia enrolled in December of 2008 and, in spite of the many challenges she also faced, graduated in June of 2009 as the Valedictorian.  Olivia was awarded a scholarship from Baker College and is now studying Social Work.

As great as this story is, it gets better.  Katie Lynn, still pursuing her desire to reunite her family, has recently been given custody of her youngest brother, Steven.  Steven is currently enrolled at LifeSkills Pontiac where he is determined to follow in his sisters’ footsteps. Katie Lynn and her husband are happy and remain grateful for the opportunity Katie Lynn had to achieve an education, gain a renewed confidence in bringing her family together, and lead a better life.  Katie Lynn credits the LifeSkills Pontiac staff for motivating her to overcome her desperate situation and to never quit until she realized her dream.

LifeSkills Pontiac
“She did; so did her sister; and her brother will soon!”

Katie Lynn Degg exemplifies the “IdidUcan” mantra of LifeSkills.  Katie Lynn, along with her eight brothers and sisters, grew up in the Michigan foster care system.  As the oldest, Katie Lynn shouldered the additional burden of keeping track of her siblings as they were moved from one foster home to another and did her best to keep her now fragmented family together.  Her deepest desire remained to reunite her family, but she did not have much hope.  Refusing to back down, Katie Lynn decided to complete her high school diploma and began attending LifeSkills in Pontiac, Michigan in September of 2005.  Katie Lynn graduated on June 14, 2006.

Because of her experience at LifeSkills, Katie Lynn encouraged her sister, Olivia, to also pursue her high school diploma at LifeSkills.  Olivia enrolled in December of 2008 and, in spite of the many challenges she also faced, graduated in June of 2009 as the Valedictorian.  Olivia was awarded a scholarship from Baker College and is now studying Social Work.

As great as this story is, it gets better.  Katie Lynn, still pursuing her desire to reunite her family, has recently been given custody of her youngest brother, Steven.  Steven is currently enrolled at LifeSkills Pontiac where he is determined to follow in his sisters’ footsteps. Katie Lynn and her husband are happy and remain grateful for the opportunity Katie Lynn had to achieve an education, gain a renewed confidence in bringing her family together, and lead a better life.  Katie Lynn credits the LifeSkills Pontiac staff for motivating her to overcome her desperate situation and to never quit until she realized her dream.

Hats Off to Allison Underation

HOPE Academy Brown Street Campus

HOPE Academy Brown Street Campus Teacher, Allison Underation, is a recent recipient of the “A Day Made Better” award present by OfficeMax. Thousands of educators were nominated from across the country, but only 1,000 schools where chosen. On Tuesday, October 6, 2009, Underation was presented with $1,000 worth of classroom supplies including a new printer and digital camera. Read more.