Dear Kindezi School supporters,
Greetings, and we hope that this email finds you well. We have had a busy and productive few months with Kindezi School, and I want to update you on how you can become involved during this crucial pre-operation year. First, however, let me summarize a few exciting pieces of news since our Atlanta Public Schools charter school approval in May:
* As of this week, we are in the final stages of negotiating a lease and facility partnership with West Hunter Street Baptist Church in Historic West End (1040 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd, 30310). This wonderfully-located church has ample space on their building's third floor for a thriving school, and they are also open to us utilizing their dining room and gymnasium as well. Last night, on 7/22, the church's Board of Deacons and Board of Trustees voted to approve the proposed facility partnership.
westhunterstreetbaptist.org/
* We have solidified our Founding Board with 11 members either representing the southwest Atlanta community or contributing as area educators. In our initial meeting, we have identified the following five focus areas for the next year: facility, fundraising, curriculum/instruction, strategic planning (marketing), and hiring. After forming task-forces in these five areas, we will be asking you, our active community, to get involved and help us make progress in these areas.
* Given our probable location in West End, we have begun approaching various organizations about community partnerships with Kindezi School, including the Wren's Nest, historic home of Joel Chandler Harris (next door to the church facility). Lain Shakespeare, executive director of the Wren's Nest, is excited to partner with our school by providing access to their beautiful grounds, encouraging their storytellers to work with our students, and eventually helping our students develop their own newspaper and blog publications. Very exciting!
www.wrensnestonline.com/
While there is exciting progress underway, we have miles to go before we rest! That's where you come in. We will be holding our first Kindezi Team organizational meeting in early September after the start of the public school academic year. I will send out a final date and time for the meeting in mid-August. At that meeting, we will ask you to evaluate how you can best utilize your time, resources, and expertise for Kindezi School as we prepare to open our doors in August of 2009. Please respond with a general idea of whether a weeknight or weekend-day meeting would work better for you.
I am now working full-time as Kindezi School's "implementation coordinator", so don't hesitate to email me with any thoughts or questions. Keep spreading the word, and I look forward to seeing you in September!
Sincerely,
Kathleen Jones
www.kindezi.org