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MAA Expands ’23-’24 Prek Spots for County Students

MAA Expands ’23-’24 Prek Spots for County Students

ANNAPOLIS, MD, August 8, 2023 – Monarch Academy Annapolis announces the expansion of its free, high quality Prekindergarten program for children in Anne Arundel County. Funded through a grant for the third consecutive year from the Division of Early Childhood at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), the school offers six Prekindergarten classrooms for three-and-four-year-olds for the 2023-24 school year. The program follows the MSDE admission guidelines.

CONNECT WITH ADMISSIONS

“We are thrilled to announce that we have additional Prekindergarten openings and invite all parents who are looking for a safe, nurturing and quality program to submit an application or schedule a visit to tour our school,” said Shae Johnson, Principal of The Children’s Guild Monarch Academy Annapolis. “By adding two new PreK classes it also affords our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders the opportunity to be leaders.”

The PreK program is based on Maryland State Department of Education Pre-Kindergarten guidelines for admission. Families must meet the following qualifications to be considered for these openings:

  • The Prekindergarten program is available only to Anne Arundel County residents.
  • Seats will be only filled with students from families who meet the AACPS income guidelines.

Priority consideration will also be granted to applicants:

  • Who are experiencing homeless
  • Have an active IEP
  • Or speak a language at home that is something other than English

Monarch Academy Annapolis (MAA) is a free public contract school which runs from Prekindergarten through 5th grade and offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme World School (PYP) authorization. The IB PYP offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum that builds conceptual understanding through a student-centered approach to education. MAA is currently the only IB PYP school in the county with open seats for ’23-24. The school also offer bus transportation to the entire county and teaches students both Spanish and English in a safe and fun environment.

For more information contact the admissions team for enrollment & eligibility questions: https://childrensguild.org/admissions-interest/.

Monarch Academy Annapolis is part of The Children’s Guild (TCG), founded in 1953 and celebrating its 70th anniversary. TCG is a leading MidAtlantic nonprofit organization focused on helping students and families find success socially, emotionally, educationally, and developmentally through special education and charter schools, school-based mental health services, treatment foster care, autismb services, family mental and behavioral health services, and workforce development programs.

Affiliates of The Children’s Guild include The Children’s Guild, Inc., Baltimore Campus, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, The Children’s Guild – Prince George Campus, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, Monarch Academy Global – Laurel, Monarch Academy Annapolis, Monarch Preschool College Park, The Children’s Guild- Transformation Academy, The Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (OMHC), Treatment Foster Care, TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS), and TranZed Apprenticeships. For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/.

AACPS Names Johnson MAA Principal

AACPS Names Johnson MAA Principal

ANNAPOLIS, MD, October 31, 2022 –  The Anne Arundel County Public School District has announced the appointment of Mr. Shae Johnson as the new principal of The Children’s Guild Monarch Academy Annapolis (TCG MAA), an International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme World School serving students in pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. Mr. Johnson is an accomplished and energetic school administrator with 17+ years’ experience in both public and private, elementary, middle, and secondary schools providing outstanding leadership and a culture of value and integrity.  He will be the first principal of color since the school’s inception.

“We are thrilled that Anne Arundel County has appointed Shae to lead Monarch Academy Annapolis,” said Jenny Livelli, President and CEO of The Children’s Guild.  “We are confident in Shae’s abilities to implement effective strategy and programs, transform the school’s culture, and respond to the unique needs of every child, family and the entire community.  Shae is already showcasing his leadership ability as he was instrumental in the school’s new IB PYP designation.”

Most recently Shae Johnson had been Assistant Principal of Monarch Academy Annapolis, where he oversaw the implementation of academic curricula and data driven instructional decision making as well as co-managed the $8 million annual budget.  Prior to joining Monarch Academy, Shae was Vice Principal/Academic Facilitator of Imagine Lincoln Public Charter in Prince George’s County and Vice Principal of Imagine Hope Public Charter School, part of the District of Columbia Public Schools.  Shae began his career as a teacher in the Baltimore City Public School System.

“It is extremely exciting for me to have the chance to lead Monarch Academy Annapolis.  I am grateful to Anne Arundel County Public Schools for having the trust in me to be able to lead.  We have had a strong start to the 2022-23 school year, and excited to receive the  International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme World School designation, identifying us as a leading primary school in the region,” said Shae Johnson, Principal, Monarch Academy Annapolis.  “I grew up in Prince George’s County and have been an Anne Arundel County resident for more than 20 years. My children went to school here, so I am pleased both personally and professionally.  I am committed to Monarch Academy and the citizens of Annapolis to make sure that our teachers and administrators have the tools they need to be creative and grow and pass that energy onto the children in our school,” added Johnson.

In July 2022 The Children’s Guild Monarch Academy Annapolis received the official International Baccalaureate (IB) designation for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) World School.  IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering challenging, high-quality programs of international education that share a powerful vision.

Monarch Academy Annapolis is part of The Children’s Guild’s schools and programs which respond to the unique needs of every child, family, and community it serves. The organization is one of the largest providers of charter schools, special education, autism services, treatment foster care, and family mental and behavioral health services in the region.

Affiliates of The Children’s Guild include The Children’s Guild, Inc., Baltimore Campus, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, The Children’s Guild – Prince George Campus, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, Monarch Academy Global – Laurel, Monarch Academy Annapolis, The Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Treatment Foster Care, The Children’s Guild- Transformation Academy, Monarch Preschool College Park, TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS), and TranZed Apprenticeships.  For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/.

MAA School Counselor Nikki Pritchett-Johnson Authors First Book

MAA School Counselor Nikki Pritchett-Johnson Authors First Book

ANNAPOLIS, MD, September 28, 2022 – Anne Arundel County Public Schools School Counselor Nikki Pritchett-Johnson, who provides counseling services for The Children’s Guild Monarch Academy Annapolis, wrote and published her first children’s book Purposed Through Joy.  With the mental health challenges facing many children post-pandemic, Purposed Through Joy is being released at the perfect time to help teach children to have a resilient attitude, while equipping parents and teachers with insightful tools to inspire kids of all ages to keep their joy.

The 30-page book for children of all ages is focused on Grace who questions her purpose for the day. A mountain of problems crowds Grace’s heart and mind stealing her very joy and causes her to question, “What is my purpose for today?” This charming story reminds children to never let the cares and concerns of the day rob them of the strength they need to succeed. With the support of her Nana, Grace learns to toss her heavy loads aside and get her joy back!

“I look forward to sharing my new book with our 5th graders during Mental Health Awareness Week (Oct. 2-8).  I published this children’s book during my service as School Counselor at Monarch Academy Annapolis as I came to love the foundational beliefs that drive the many intentional things that the Children’s Guild puts forth to educate the minds and hearts of children.  I’ve always lived by the ‘Educate th

e Heart’ quote by Aristotle and working at TCG’s Monarch Academy Annapolis has reminded me that there are still educators that believe in the power of educating ‘the mind AND THE HEART’,” explained author Nikki Pritchett-Johnson.  “It is truly my goal to get a copy of this book into the hands of all teachers in our system.  I want our scholars across this county to know that social-emotional wellness is a PROACTIVE practice and not reactive.  Preparing our scholars with skills to problem solve; self-love; and cope with the cares of life is key.”

MAA Receives IB Authorization

MAA Receives IB Authorization

ANNAPOLIS, MD, September 6, 2022 –  The Children’s Guild is pleased to announce that Monarch Academy Annapolis has received the official International Baccalaureate (IB) authorization for the Primary Years Program (PYP).  The school administration, now under the leadership of Acting Principal Shae Johnson, has been working towards this prestigious designation for several years.  IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering challenging, high-quality programs of international education that share a powerful vision.

The IB Primary Years Program (PYP) for children aged 3 – 12 nurtures and develops young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning. The PYP offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. It reflects the best of educational research, thought leadership, and experience derived from IB World Schools.

“We are thrilled to announce that Monarch Academy Annapolis was officially authorized as an IB school in July.  This world-renowned prestigious program allows our young primary year students to explore more and experience our play-based classrooms,”   said Johnson.  “For any new Pre-K students coming into our school, this program allows our students to expand, think deeper and be able to explain what they are working on.  We are extremely excited to be authorized and look forward to a wonderful year to continue to grow with our primary years program.”

The PYP curriculum framework begins with the premise that students are agents of their own learning and partners in the learning process. It prioritizes people and their relationships to build a strong learning community. PYP students use their initiative to take responsibility and ownership of their learning.  By learning through inquiry and reflecting on their own learning, PYP students develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, skills and the attributes of the IB Learner profile to make a difference in their own lives, their communities, and beyond. Embedded in the framework is the recognition of the importance of fostering an individual’s self-efficacy. Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy are active in their own learning and take action in their learning community.

Mr. Johnson, who has been instrumental in securing the IB designation was recently appointed Acting Principal of the Monarch Academy Annapolis, a part of The Children’s Guild, by The Anne Arundel County Public School District.  Mr. Johnson is an accomplished and energetic school administrator with 17+ years’ experience in both public and private, elementary, middle, and secondary schools providing outstanding leadership and a culture of value and integrity.  He will be the first acting principal of color since the school’s inception.

“Shae was instrumental in leading the effort to receive the IB designation for the school.  We congratulate him and are thrilled that Anne Arundel County has appointed him to lead Monarch Academy Annapolis,” said Jenny Livelli, President and CEO of The Children’s Guild.  “We are confident in Shae’s abilities to implement effective strategy and programs, transform the school’s culture, and respond to the unique needs of every child, family and the entire community.”

“I am grateful to Anne Arundel County Public Schools for having the trust in me to lead Monarch Academy Annapolis, especially the new IB PYP program during this upcoming school year,” added Mr. Johnson.

Monarch Academy Annapolis is part of The Children’s Guild’s schools and programs which respond to the unique needs of every child, family, and community it serves. The organization is one of the largest providers of charter schools, special education, autism services, treatment foster care, and family mental and behavioral health services in the region.

Affiliates of The Children’s Guild include The Children’s Guild, Inc., Baltimore Campus, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School, The Children’s Guild – Prince George Campus, Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, Monarch Academy Global – Laurel, Monarch Academy Annapolis, The Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Treatment Foster Care, The Children’s Guild- Transformation Academy, Monarch Preschool College Park, TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS), and TranZed Apprenticeships.  For more information, visit https://childrensguild.org/.

The Children’s Guild Releases 2021 Annual Report

The Children’s Guild Releases 2021 Annual Report

The firsts we achieved, the service we undertook, the recognition we earned, and the funds we raised to better serve communities made 2021 a year to remember for The Children’s Guild. Join us to reflect on an inspiring year by checking out our 2021 Annual Report.
 
The new look and feel of the Annual Report helps to better demonstrate the exciting things happening in The Children’s Guild. The successes we experienced in 2021 are celebrated by our participating families and communities, and our talented and highly trained staff across all our schools and programs. And they’re made possible by the generous support from our donors and board of directors.
 
This presentation shares some of the amazing stories from 2021, including the opening of Transformation Academy, the expanded services offered by many of our schools and programs, The Children’s Guild, Inc., Baltimore Campus’ success in statewide competition, and many other stories. Also included in this report is an overview of our 2021 financials.
 
During this past year, we have grown and expanded our influence and impact. The Children’s Guild will continue to provide individualized transformational experiences that help ensure children, families, and their communities thrive. 2021 put us a step closer to achieving our vision: generations of curious and courageous children, healthy families, and thriving communities. The impact that The Children’s Guild made in 2021 will continue to move us to do big things for those we serve in 2022.
 
Experience the 2021 Annual Report presentation today!

Monarch Academy Annapolis se asocia con Towson University para cerrar la brecha que afecta a los estudiantes multilingües

Monarch Academy Annapolis se asocia con Towson University para cerrar la brecha que afecta a los estudiantes multilingües

La escuela pública está ubicada en el condado de Anne Arundel y es parte de un programa liderado por la Universidad de Towson, que capacita a educadores de las escuelas públicas para la enseñanza a estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés.

Monarch Academy Annapolis aborda las necesidades de los estudiantes multilingües en sus aulas mediante la contratación y capacitación de maestros de inglés especializados en hablantes de otros idiomas (ESOL, por sus siglas en inglés).

La escuela, que es gratuita y está financiada con fondos públicos, se ubica en el condado de Anne Arundel, y ofrece clases a estudiantes desde prekínder hasta quinto grado. Su misión es proporcionar una cultura escolar que produzca estudiantes que piensen críticamente, resuelvan problemas de manera creativa, se vuelvan autodisciplinados, y sepan cómo aprender y comprender que el objetivo de la vida es servir a una causa más grande que uno mismo.

Monarch ha cambiado las reglas a la hora de dictar clases. No es inusual encontrar un maestro ESOL, junto a otro colega en la misma aula, aplicando un método que ayuda a los estudiantes que no hablan inglés a aprender el idioma. Este método de co-enseñanza se ha convertido en una forma eficaz de satisfacer las crecientes necesidades de los alumnos multilingües, la población de más rápido crecimiento en los Estados Unidos.

“Siempre nos hemos mantenido fieles a las necesidades de nuestros estudiantes y sus familias en Monarch Academy”, dijo Charlotte Manbeck, directora de la institución. “Más de la mitad de los estudiantes en nuestras aulas actualmente hablan español en casa y están aprendiendo más de un idioma a la vez. A medida que nuestra comunidad cambia, también debemos cambiar con ellos y brindarles a los estudiantes y sus familias las herramientas que necesitan para prosperar”.

De acuerdo a un informe del Instituto Brookings de 2017, los estudiantes multilingües crecieron 60% en la última década. Más de cinco millones en todo el país están aprendiendo inglés mientras hablan otro idioma en casa, y son parte de programas de asistencia para mejorar el idioma.

La necesidad de maestros ESOL también ha aumentado exponencialmente. Debido a la falta de educadores que cumplan con estos criterios, los estudiantes están siendo perjudicados. Según los informes del gobierno, a pesar de su gran crecimiento, los estudiantes multilingües siguen figurando como el grupo con el rendimiento más bajo, en cuanto a la tasa de graduación y al resultado de las evaluaciones se refiere.

“La población de estudiantes aprendiendo inglés en el condado está creciendo, y todos los maestros en algún momento van a tener a un aprendiz del idioma en el salón de clases”, dijo Chelsea Massa, maestra de primer grado en Monarch Academy en una entrevista al diario The Washington Post. “Necesitamos saber qué hace que ese estudiante sea único, cómo puedo satisfacer sus necesidades y asegurarme de que sean escuchados y comprendidos de la manera adecuada”.

Massa es parte del programa ELEVATE de la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad Towson. La iniciativa capacita a los maestros a través de asociaciones con seis escuelas en el distrito escolar público del condado Anne Arundel. El programa surgió de una subvención de 2.7 millones de dólares, otorgada por el Departamento de Educación de EE. UU., destinada para formar a los educadores ESOL en el estado de Maryland, y también para apoyar a aquellos que ya tienen la certificación.

Como parte del programa, los maestros ESOL de Monarch se reúnen con el equipo de la universidad una vez a la semana para recibir entrenamiento específico para mejorar la educación que se brinda a los 90 estudiantes multilingües inscritos en la escuela.

“Nos aseguramos de que nuestras clases y el currículo de los semestres se alineen con las necesidades de los estudiantes ESL (con inglés como segunda lengua)”, dijo Alyssa Danick, instructora ESOL en Monarch Academy Annapolis. Nuestra participación en el programa ELEVATE ha mejorado la forma en que abordamos las clases y las necesidades de los estudiantes, y también nos ha ayudado a aprender nuevas formas de integrar el inglés”.

Mientras los educadores siguen capacitándose para satisfacer las necesidades de los estudiantes, Monarch continúa sumando herramientas de desarrollo del lenguaje en sus lecciones, aulas y herramientas de instrucción. Con la ayuda de una subvención de 2017, la escuela también está trabajando en un club de lectura bilingüe que proporcionará libros en inglés y en español a las familias hispanohablantes en sus propias casas.

“Estamos muy entusiasmados con nuestro club de lectura bilingüe”, dijo Miguel Vicente, líder de participación comunitaria bilingüe. “Esta iniciativa ayudará a los estudiantes y sus familias a unirse y a aprender juntos. Estamos encantados de dar el siguiente paso para ayudar a nuestros alumnos a prosperar y a que cada día se sientan más cómodos con un nuevo idioma tanto en casa como en la escuela “.

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