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IMPROVING SCHOOLS
EMPOWERING NEIGHBORHOODS
SPRING 2016
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
IN THIS ISSUE
l M
essage from
LA’s Promise
l LAP Charter Schools
l Napolitano Visits MA
l Black History Month
l Freedom Writers
l LA Marathon
l Stdents Meet Astronaut
l College Acceptances
l LAP Thanks Sponsors
MISSION
Our mission is to
graduate every student
attending an LA’s Promise
neighborhood school
college and career ready.
LA’s Promise
202 W. 1st Street
Suite 160
Los Angeles CA 90012
P 213.745.4928
laspromise.org
MESSAGE FROM LA’S PROMISE
Spring is upon us and with it comes a period of growth and
renewal. Seeds sprout, flowers bloom, and life flourishes.
Over the coming months, LA’s Promise will undergo a similar
transformation, sowing the seeds of future advancement through
the creation of a new charter middle school and high school to
join John Muir Middle School, Manual Arts Senior High School,
and West Adams Preparatory High School as part of our growing
network. Along with expanding our organization’s reach and
impact, the recently approved LA’s Promise Charter Middle School and LA’s
Promise Charter High School represent a fertile garden for us to cultivate an
innovative learning environment that better connects students to post-secondary
and career pathways, robust wraparound services, and engaging internship and
mentorship opportunities. Our proposed charter high school will further build
on this concept by exposing students to the Film and Television industry through
cutting-edge elective courses in relevant “behind-the-scenes” specializations
such as computer animation, screenwriting, sound and video production, and set
design. More incredible has been the outpouring of support we received from the
community, including parents like Veronica Venegas, who volunteered her time to
speak on behalf of our charter petition. “The resources that LA’s Promise brings to
our schools make a real difference for the future of our children,” Venegas said. We
are excited about this opportunity and look forward to building upon the success
LA’s Promise has achieved with the help of teachers and administrators at each of
our network schools. I would also like to personally thank our steadfast partners
who stood by us throughout this process and welcome the opportunity to grow
with you at our new schools.
Best Regards,
Veronica Melvin
President and CEO
“I was proud to join with my colleagues to support the establishment
of the LA’s Promise Charter Middle School and High School in South
Los Angeles. In approving the LA’s Promise petition for authorization,
LACOE is ensuring that even more students receive a high-quality
education while being placed on the pathway to college and a
good career.”
— Alex Johnson, Los Angeles County Office of Education Board Member
Manual Arts Wins Big at Debate Tournament
Manual Arts Senior High School students took home five trophies during the
Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League event at California State University,
Los Angeles. Corey Copeland and Lonnell Schuler won the Grand Champion Prize,
while their teammates Mary Marroquin and Adan Lepe placed in second. Manual
Arts also swept Top Speaker honors, winning awards at each level of competition.
We’d like to congratulate debate coaches Jonathan Choperena and Cindy Ok as
well as our students on their amazing performance!
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UC President Napolitano
Visits Manual Arts
Manual Arts Senior High School was honored to host
University of California President Janet Napolitano, who spoke
with students, parents, and teachers about her desire to see
more California residents receive a UC education. Students
also received helpful advice from Napolitano on what they
can do now to better prepare themselves for college success,
stressing the importance of Expository Writing, Calculus, and
being willing to ask for help when needed. Please click on any
of the provided images to watch an LA Times produced video
of her visit.
Black History Month
John Muir Middle School, Manual Arts Senior High School, and West Adams Preparatory
High School organized several events to commemorate the many cultural and historical
contributions made by African
Americans. Among them were a
film screening of the 2014 Martin
Luther King Jr. biopic Selma,
empowerment themed student
art exhibition, traditional dance
and music performance, and
Soul Food inspired luncheon. A
special thanks to Points of Light
for sponsoring our MLK Day of
Service events.
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Students Run LA Marathon
Congratulations to the 52 Manual Arts Senior High School and West Adams
Preparatory High School students who conquered the LA Marathon’s challenging
26.2-mile course after months of grueling training. You’re truly an inspiration to us all!
Thank you to our adult volunteers, the California Community Foundation, LA84, and
Students Run LA for making it all possible.
FREEDOM
WRITERS
Erin Gruwell, the author of the
New York Times bestseller The
Freedom Writers Diary, visited
West Adams Preparatory High
School to speak with students
about the importance of finding
their own voice as writers. Gruwell
also encouraged students to
maintain journals and share their
personal stories.
Students Meet Astronaut
West Adams Preparatory High School students met with
Dr. Yvonne Cagle, a NASA Astronaut and Retired Colonel in the
United States Air Force, to learn about the many technological
innovations brought on by space exploration as well as their
long-term benefits to the health and wellbeing of the human
race. Many thanks to Sheldon Stone of Oaktree Capital for
sponsoring the event.
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College Acceptances
It was another busy college application season for Manual Arts Senior High School and West Adams Preparatory High
School. Our Go for College program guided more than 650 seniors through the college enrollment and financial aid process.
Below are a few of our early acceptances.
Kelly Acevedo
UC Berkley
Denise Larin
UC San Diego
Teresa Pool
Oregon State
Cynthia Sotelo
Cal State LA, Sacramento State,
and UC Riverside
Daisy Tobal
Cal State Fullerton, Chico State,
CSU Dominguez Hills, San Francisco State,
UC Riverside, UC San Diego, Chapman,
and Westminster College
Jonathan Menjivar
UC Riverside
Maria Gamez
Humboldt State
Nathali Castro
Sacramento State,
CSU Channel Islands,
and Mount St. Mary’s
Corey Copeland
CSU Los Angeles and CSU East Bay
Wendy Mejia
UC Riverside
Jocelyn Lopez
CSU Northridge and CSU Dominguez Hills
Bryant Gomez
UC Riverside
Glenys Caro
CSU Northridge and CSU Channel Islands
Michelle Diaz
Humboldt State, San Jose State,
CSU East Bay,
UC Riverside, and Mount St. Mary’s
Beda Funez
Cal Poly Pomona
Joanna Lopez
CSU Los Angeles
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We would like to thank all of our generous sponsors for helping us
transform our South Los Angeles schools and the community at large.
20th Century Fox Studios
Alex Vrobeck
Alison Temple
Allan Mayer
Allison & Bennett Rosenthal
Ambassador Frank & Kathy Baxter
Americo Cascella
Amgen Foundation
Andrea Foggy-Paxton
Annenberg Foundation
Anschultz Entertainment Group
Ares Management
Bain & Company
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal Rosenthal LaViolette
Feldman Schenkman & Goodman, LLP
The Boston Consulting Group
California Community Foundation
California Emerging Technology Fund
The California Endowment
The Carol and James Collins Foundation
Christopher Brearton
Cindy & Sheldon Stone
Citi Foundation
City National Bank
Content Partners, LLC
Creative Artists Agency
Darryl Schall
David Sachs
Dorchester Capital Advisors, LLC
Dwight Stuart Youth Fund
Elizabeth Mann
Estate of Robert Ludlum
Giancarla Berti
Goldman Sachs
The Green Foundation
Home Box Office
ICM Partners
Jeff Moore
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Jill & Brian McNamee
John Leupp
The Johnny Carson Foundation
Joseph Drown Foundation
JPMorgan Chase
Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center
Kate Capshaw & Steven Spielberg
Kathleen Kennedy & Frank Marshall
Kathy & John Kissick
Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams
Kelli & Dean Hallett
Ken Vils
L.I.F.T. Foundation
LA84 Foundation
Larry Berg
Latham & Watkins, LLP
Lazard
Lions Gate Entertainment
Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation
Los Angeles Scholars Investment Fund
Marina Berti & Stephen Prough
Mark Zucker
Martha & Bruce Karsh
Matt Cwiertnia
Mayer Brown
MCJ Amelior Foundation
Megan & Peter Chernin
Mellody Hobson & George Lucas
Meredith & David Kaplan
Morgan Stanley
Nielsen
Nordstrom
Otis Booth Foundation
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Points of Light/AmeriCorps
Ralphs/Food 4 Less
Rick Hess
Rita Wilson & Tom Hanks
Rob & Shari Friedman
Robin Kurtzman
Roth Family Foundation
Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation
Seth Brufsky
Simon Osborn
Southern California Edison
Southern California Gas Company
Stephanie Christie
Steve Kram
Susanna Felleman & Erik Feig
Televisa Foundation
Tony & Jamie Gertz Ressler
Toyota Motor Sales, USA
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Univision
Verizon Communications
The Walt Disney Company Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation
Weingart Foundation
Wells Fargo
Wildcard Entertainment
William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
Zac Guevara
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LA’s Promise has been an active partner in the South LA community
for more than 20 years. LA’s Promise is expanding its network of
schools by opening two high quality Charter Schools as community
hubs where students learn at the highest of levels so they graduate
ready for success in college, career and life. LA’s Promise Charter
Schools will be public schools, offering enriched educational
opportunities in South Los Angeles.
LA’s Promise Charter Middle School #1
CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL
LA’s Promise Charter Middle School
will be a small school, with an
inaugural class of 125 sixth graders.
All Students Are Ready for College
A
ll Students Are Culturally and
Community Aware
A
ll Students Become Lifelong
Learners
All Students Live a Healthy Life
Application Information
Get an applications from:
www.laspromise.org
from a LA’s Promise staff member
from our offices
Complete the LA’s Promise Charter
High School #1 application and hand it
back to a LA’s Promise staff member or
mail it or drop it off at the LA’s Promise
Main Office: 202 W. 1st Street, Ste. 160,
Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Application Deadline: Fri., May 27,
Lottery Information
For the first year of operation (2016-17)
the LA’s Promise Charter High Schools
will open its door with a 9th grade
class of 110 students. Once more than
110 students submit enrollment forms,
state law requires that a lottery be held
to determine which students will be
offered a seat. Parents are not required
to be present at the lottery to secure
a spot.
Lottery Deadline for High School:
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 10am
(Location TBD)
School Opens
First Day of School: August 30, 2016
Location
Middle School: Western & 54th
LA’s Promise Charter High School #1
CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
A
Film and Television careerthemed education
A
Small school of 440 students
9th-12th grades
A
strong college-going culture
including dual-enrollment college
classes
P
roject-based learning, connecting
instruction to the real world
applications
P
ersonalized instruction built on
strong relationships between
adults and students
A
school where ALL students
are welcomed and supported to
succeed
Application Information
Get an applications from:
www.laspromise.org
from a LA’s Promise staff member
from our offices
Complete the LA’s Promise Charter
High School #1 application and hand it
back to a LA’s Promise staff member or
mail it or drop it off at the LA’s Promise
Main Office: 202 W. 1st Street, Ste.
160, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Application Deadline:
March 10, 2017 at 5pm
Lottery Information
For the first year of operation (201617) the LA’s Promise Charter High
Schools will open its door with a 9th
grade class of 110 students. Once
more than 110 students submit
enrollment forms, state law requires
that a lottery be held to determine
which students will be offered a seat.
Parents are not required to be present
at the lottery to secure a spot.
Lottery Date for High School:
March 15, 2017 at 12pm
110 9th grade seats available in
2017-2018
School Opens
First Day of School: August 2017
Location
High School:
Vermont Square Neighborhood
Please call LA’s Promise 213-745-4928, ext. 0 for additional information
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