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!
by Monarch Academy | Nov 19, 2021 | News
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 “.
by Monarch Academy | Nov 19, 2021 | News
The contract school located in Anne Arundel County is part of a Towson University program that trains educators to teach ESL students at public schools.
Monarch Academy Annapolis has been addressing the needs of multilingual learners in their classrooms by hiring and training English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers.
The tuition-free, publicly funded contract school open to pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students in Anne Arundel County is focused on its mission to provide a school culture that produces students who think critically, problem solve creatively, become self-disciplined, know how to learn, and understand that the goal of life is to serve a cause larger than oneself.
Monarch has changed the rules when it comes to leading their classrooms. It’s not unusual to find an ESOL teacher working alongside a classroom teacher as an effective method of helping non-English speakers learn the English language. This co-teaching method has become an effective way to meet the growing needs of multilingual students, the fastest-growing population in the United States.
“We have always stayed true to the needs of our students and their families at Monarch Academy,” said Charlotte Manbeck, Monarch Academy Annapolis’ Principal. “More than half of the students in our classrooms currently speak Spanish at home and are learning more than one language at a time. As our community changes, we must also change with them and provide students and their families the tools they need to thrive.”
According to a 2017 Brookings Institute report, multilingual students have grown by 60 percent in the last decade. Additionally, more than 5 million students nationwide are learning English while speaking another language at home and are part of a language assistance program.
The need for ESOL teachers has also increased exponentially. Due to a lack of educators who meet these criteria, students are suffering. According to government reports, multilingual learners still show up as the lowest-performing group on graduation rates and testing despite their growing numbers.
“Our ELL population in the county is growing, and all teachers at some point are going to have an English learner in the classroom,” said Chelsea Massa, a first-grade teacher at Monarch Academy Annapolis in an interview with The Washington Post. “They need to know what makes that student unique, how can I meet their needs, and also make sure that they’re being heard and understood in the appropriate way.”
Massa is part of the ELEVATE program at Towson University College of Education. This initiative trains teachers through partnerships with six schools in Anne Arundel County public school district. The program emerged from a $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Education Department focused on training ESL educators in the state of Maryland and supporting those who already have the certification.
As part of the program, the ESOL teachers at Monarch meet with the college’s team once a week for targeted training to improve the education provided to the 90 multilingual students enrolled at the school.
“We make sure our lesson plans and curriculum for the semesters align with the needs of ESL students,” said Alyssa Danick, ESOL instructor at Monarch Academy Annapolis. Our participation in the ELEVATE program has enhanced the way we approach lesson plans, student needs, and also has helped us to learn new ways of integrating the English language.”
While educators continue training to meet the needs of students, Monarch continues to integrate language development tools into their lesson plans, classrooms, and instruction tools. With the help of a 2017 grant, the school is also working on a take-home bilingual book club that will provide English and Spanish books for the families that speak Spanish at home.
“We are so excited about our bilingual book club,” said Miguel Vicente, Bilingual Community Engagement Liaison. “This initiative will help students and their families come together and learn together. We are thrilled to take the next step toward helping our students thrive and feel like every day they are getting more and more comfortable with a new language both at home and at school.”