Dear U Prep Community -
As we all adjust to the changes we are experiencing, I wanted to take this time to share some of the good things that are happening at our schools.
In this edition of News at the U!, you will meet
U Prep alumni, Malik Max. A 2015 graduate, he is currently a sales executive at Whirlpool Corporation and an entrepreneur. We are so proud of Malik and will continue to introduce you to other alum in the coming months ahead.
March is National Reading Month! In this edition, you will learn about the unique ways our scholars are participating in this annual event that promotes literacy.
With the influx of online ordering over the past few weeks, we’d like to remind everyone that you can support U Prep Schools through the
Amazon Smiles Program. In this edition of News at the U!, you will learn how to shop Amazon so every purchase will help support our schools.
In an effort to maintain open communication channels and transparency, when visiting
UPrepSchools.com
you will find up to date information during the school closure on the
COVID-19 Updates p
age.
And lastly, this year marks U Prep's 20th Anniversary in educating children in Detroit. We are very proud of our origin and grateful to The Thompson's for their vision, compassion, and generosity. We are also very happy to be celebrating this important milestone with each of you!
I hope you enjoy this edition of News at the U!
With kind regards,
Janice Perzigian
Director of Development & Student Experiences
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In 1999, with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their Thompson-McCully asphalt paving company, Michiganders, Robert (Bob) and Ellen Thompson formed the Thompson Foundation. Leading with a passion focused on creating educational opportunities for Detroit youth, in the Fall of 2000, the Thompsons funded the construction of the first of nine buildings, which is now the largest charter school network in the City of Detroit, U Prep Schools.
20 years later, as a ten-school K-12 charter school network in the heart of the city, U Prep Schools is a resource-rich entity that remains committed to academic excellence. Managed and operated by Detroit 90/90, U Prep Schools is dedicated to providing a culturally responsive educational experience that builds academic competence, habits of work, scholarship, and self-actualization, that empowers scholars to successfully accomplish their post-secondary plans, and allows our students to advance as change agents for their community.
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Three U Prep Schools Make the Top 10 List for Graduation Rates in Detroit
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Did you hear? All three U Prep high schools made it into the Top 10 rankings for graduation rates. Based on data about the Class of 2019 released by the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information, Michigan's state graduation comes in at 81.4%, while most of Detroit's charter schools have a rate of 90% +.
Click the button below to see where we come in.
(Note: Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies is now U Prep Art & Design.)
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Celebrating National Reading Month
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March is National Reading Month and our elementary school students are celebrating all month long, as students are encouraged to embrace a love for reading.
At UPA Elementary School – Mark Murray Campus, the Crew introduced their fourth annual "One School, One Book" effort, in partnership with the organization, Read to Them. This year's book is "Because of Winn-Dixie," a classic novel about a young girl and her rescue pup. Who better to help introduce the book than our four-legged friend, Pilgrim from Detroit Dog Rescue (DDR)? This initiative gave students the opportunity to learn about the work that DDR does for rescue pets in the City of Detroit and connect real life to storytelling.
UPAD Elementary is celebrating Super Hero style, with the theme "Reading is Our Super Power!" Earlier in the month, local heroes visited the school to read to scholars. The heroes hosted a competition, and facilitated reading games to motivate and encourage the scholars’ love for reading. Staff participated with fun days like, “Dress As Your Favorite Character Day” and "Where’s Waldo? Day."
The Reading Team at UPSM Elementary hosted its annual Family Literacy Night on March 10. More than 110 families showed up for literacy-based activities like The Dr. Seuss Fair, Raffles, the Scholastic Bookfair, and The Cat in the Hat Read Aloud. Activities like these help our families have fun together while their children learn and develop a love of reading.
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UPA Elementary School - Mark Murray
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The Hagopian Rug Competition
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Our students learn in so many unique ways. At U Prep Art & Design High School, students participate in the Hagopian Rug Competition, where they’re taught about home design styles and the basics about how rugs are designed and constructed.
Those lessons culminate in students designing a rug to fit into a specific home style. They also produce an Artist's Statement that explains their creative approach.
After the student work is completed and hung, the Judges (members of the Hagopian Family, CCS staff members, and a guest) select the winning rug. Criteria for the top picks are that the rug's design is fresh but not cost-prohibitive, and that the artist statement is in lockstep with the design. The winning design is produced and displayed during the UPAD student exhibition at the end of the school year. Teacher Mantrell Goodrum leads the effort at UPAD High School.
Stay tuned for this year's winner!
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Meet Malik Mix - Class of 2015
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Malik Mix, a sales executive at Whirlpool Corporation, entrepreneur and author, spent his entire K-12 education at U Prep, graduating in 2015. He received his bachelor's degree from Michigan State University, before starting his career.
Malik credits his success and "grit" to his experience at U Prep, telling us, "I believe that there is no limit to what I can do, as long as I am passionate and have a great work ethic. It was the community at U Prep that helped me build that confidence."
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Shop Amazon to Donate to U Prep
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If you're an Amazon shopper, do you know you can donate to U Prep Schools whenever you make a purchase?
Sign up at Smile.Amazon.com and a portion of every Amazon purchase will go to U Prep. It doesn't cost you a dime!
Just choose "Detroit 90-90" as your charity when you sign up.
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U Prep Districts Expand On-Site Health Clinics
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In 2018, U Prep Schools sought out funding towards the creation of health clinics to serve families throughout our network. The extreme need stemmed from the reality that all ten of our schools are located in Detroit, Michigan, in Wayne County, which according to statisticians, ranks as one of the most medically under-served counties in the State. Due to the generosity of the Carls Foundation, we are funding the construction of our third clinic. Sponsored and fully staffed by Henry Ford Health System, the University Prep Art & Design Elementary School (UPAD)
Health Clinic will offer free healthcare by a registered nurse to all students in the UPAD district.
The two other clinics in our network are located at UPA Middle School and UPSM Elementary. The construction of our newest clinic now ensures that our families at each district have access to physical and mental health support.
A ribbon cutting and dedication will take place upon the completion of the clinic.
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UPSM High Gets Unique Career Pathways Learning Environment
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U Prep Schools has pathways where students explore unique career fields that are in high demand and/or lack diversity in both race and gender.
The Zoology and Aquarium Studies pathway, in partnership with the Detroit Zoological Society and the Belle Isle Aquarium, offers both immersion and a summer case study experience, completed at the Detroit Zoo.
Our Gaming pathway in partnership with Amazon Future Engineers, offers students the opportunity to acquire skills in game development, graphic design, audio production and web design, using Python and JavaScript.
Installation for these creative new spaces that will provide a relevant and inspiring learning environment for our pathway scholars at UPSM High School. We look forward to unveiling the installation for these creative new spaces - showcasing our Zoology & Aquarium studies and our Amazon-Gaming pathways later this year.
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Correction: Scholastic Art Contest
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We would like to clarify this year’s Scholastic Art Contest standings mentioned in last month’s issue.
U Prep Art & Design High School ranked in the top three for total awards achieved, tying with Cranbrook Schools, and top 2 for individuals, tying with Lake Orion High School.
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