A GREAT SUMMER, NOW BACK TO SCHOOL
Grantee Highlight: Eastside Ford Resource and Engagement Center (FREC) at Fisher Upper Magnet Academy
The Eastside FREC at Fisher Upper Magnet Academy, funded by Ford Motor Company Fund, has been a hub of activity and resource for the community since doors opened in October of 2017. One of our signature events is FREC City Saturdays which are fun days created to further engage students, families and the surrounding community. Both Eastside & Southwest FREC locations host events while offering year-round employment, legal and tax services. Attendees enjoy as we continue these programs, food, treats, haircuts (courtesy of the Men of Courage program) and STEAM-related activities. Each Saturday, over 400 people attended and joined in the summer fun!
Grantee Highlight: Camp Burt Shurly
"Camp Burt Shurly is a place where you make friends....This year was fun and this is my last year. I will come back to be a counselor." - Shechinah, 2019 Camper

Camp Burt Shurly is a licensed residential summer camp specifically for DPSCD Title 1 eligible students between the ages of 8-12. Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries' professionals operate the camp alongside DPSCD teachers and other educational experts.

Campers go swimming in the lake, zip lining, canoeing, learn archery, use the climbing wall, and enjoy other outdoor sporting activities. They also get hands-on leaning about science and nature as they go on hiking adventures and other activities planned by teachers. Ms. Kathy, the Camp Director, shared student letters with us and almost every one talked about the great counselors. These kind of positive experiences that go beyond the classroom will make a lasting impression on the student's lives and enhance their educational journey. The camp is also used for field trips and shorter, overnight camp experiences during the school year.

"I would really like to come back next year and enjoy it even more. I would also suggest this camp to any DPS student." - My'kah, 2019 Camper

Thank you to our Camp Burt Shurly funders the WIlliam & Lisa Ford Foundation and the Helen L. Kay Charitable Trust.
Detroit School of Arts (DSA): Microsoft Internship 2019
Thanks to a partnership with Microsoft, Grow Detroit's Young Talent, and DPSCD's Office of College and Career Readiness, students from DSA spent their summer working on video production skills as well as sharpening their interviewing techniques and understanding business finance. The six-week experience, tied to academic learnings, also included field trips to Tech Town and college campuses and guest speakers that exposed students to career possibilities not yet explored. An exceptional opportunity for our exceptional students!
Kindergarten Boot Camp
DPSCD's Kindergarten Boot Camp is a five (5) week parent and child Summer Camp, that prepares early learners for the expectations of Kindergarten. This program, managed by DPSCD's Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) and provided at no-cost, requires parents/guardians to attend each session with their child(ren), encouraging academic enrichment and bonding.  Host site schools included: Mackenzie Elementary-Middle, Gompers Elementary-Middle, Schultz Elementary-Middle, Brenda Scott Academy, Ronald Brown Academy, Earhart Elementary-Middle and Golightly Education Center. Additionally, a Saturday only, community-based session was housed at Fellowship Chapel. 

At the Program’s conclusion, 250 completers received a backpack full of supplies and were celebrated at the Move-up Ceremony at Martin Luther King Jr., Senior High School. This work is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Outstanding Achievers Take on Italy
In August, 54 of DPSCD's Outstanding Achievers embarked on a grant-funded trip to Italy to indulge in its rich history and culture for ten days while exploring various destinations such as Rome, Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Capri and Napoli!

“We traveled through the streets of Rome and students interacted with others while getting gelato and testing their Italian speaking” said Joshua Lopez, Social Studies and Psychology teacher at Renaissance High School “Students visited museums and looked at history through art....we also did a cooking class in Florence.”

This international experience enables students to appreciate Italy's food, language, art, and cultural diversity. Moreover, the District is proud to support this opportunity as studies have shown students who are given the opportunity to travel are seen to have greater academic success and higher college acceptance rates.
Improved Test Scores
DPSCD’s Reading and Math test scores are improving! Programs such as NGSX STEM Professional Development supported by  Mahindra Automotive North America  and the Rise Up Read More program funded by Renaissance (myON), EL Education, Inc. and  Soar Detroit  combined with new K-8 curriculum, teacher professional development, classroom resources, student tutoring, and academic support programs helped this to become a reality! Your DPS Foundation investments are making a difference.
Meeting Critical Needs for Back to School!
We believe that all DPSCD children deserve an opportunity to become a part of a strong, productive, and sustainable future for their families and community. Smart investments in public schools offer the opportunity to introduce cutting-edge educational models that build on proven practices that support the “whole child” and the District’s Blueprint 2020 strategy. Donating to the DPS Foundation helps DPSCD students with a variety of health, safety, and academic needs. Last year, we provided students with new technology, scholarships, arts and culture, opportunities for career exploration, access to field trips and after-school programs.

Your donation is tax deductible and could help our deserving children to receive school uniforms, supplies, mentoring, competition club activities and new learning experiences!
We welcome a gift in any amount. Whether you can give $2 or $2,000, your tax-deductible contribution will make a difference. Please consider making a monthly recurring donation to maximize the impact of your gift.