by Monarch Academy | Aug 8, 2023 | News
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.
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“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/.
by Monarch Academy | Oct 31, 2022 | News
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/.
by Monarch Academy | Sep 28, 2022 | Events, News
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.”
by Monarch Academy | Sep 6, 2022 | News
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/.
by Monarch Academy | May 18, 2022 | News
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!
