FULFILLING OUR PROMISE - Lift for Life Academy€¦ · Lift For Life Academy was built through the generosity of our supporters. Now with your help, it’s time to take another growth

FULFILLING OUR PROMISE

Educate, Empower, Uplift!

• MISSION: Lift For Life Academy is a challenging learning community where all students are empowered

to maximize their full potential as students and citizens.

• VISION: Lift For Life Academy is an exciting learning community where students, staff and families work

together to assure that every student soars to lifelong excellence in academics and character.

• COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE: We are committed to supporting a desire for knowledge and

lifelong learning; creating new solutions to help personalize teaching and learning to improve outcomes

across abilities. Our goal is for each student to achieve strong self-esteem and high personal

expectations.

LiftForLifeAcademy.org | Educate. Empower. Uplift.™

Fulfilling Our Promise

Lift For Life Academy has promised to our students, their families, staff and the community that we are committed to

supporting a desire for knowledge and lifelong learning; creating new solutions to help personalize teaching and

learning to improve outcomes across all abilities.

What does it take to Fulfill Our Promise? It takes vision, commitment and strategic planning. It also requires aspirational dreams and commitment. Lift For Life

Academy is fortunate to have all these and more.

We have extraordinary community supporters who have allowed the Academy to grow from a one-room, one-grade school

housed in a garage, into an oasis of learning for 585 at-risk students in grades 6-12 who live in the city of St. Louis.

Lift For Life Academy was built through the generosity of our supporters.

Now with your help, it’s time to take another growth step to fulfill our promise by expanding our campus and our students’

horizons.

How? After careful planning, we have established an ambitious yet attainable goal of $2.5 million for the Fulfilling Our Promise

Campaign:

• $1.9 million to construct a Health & Wellbeing Center

• $600,000 to expand the John Mann High School Wing

To add classrooms, science labs, a fashion design studio and a culinary arts studio


Building a Health & Wellbeing Center

Lift For Life Academy stands as a pillar of progressive education in our community, but one important piece is missing. The

Academy has no place on campus for physical education, sports, school assemblies or graduation, all of which figure so

prominently in school life.

Building a Health & Wellbeing Center resonates with our belief that athletics, competition, teamwork and recreational programs

are a vital part of a well-rounded education.

Construction of a 12,000 square foot Health & Wellbeing Center on the Academy campus combines the dreams of students,

donors and community constituents. The Health & Wellbeing Center will provide space for the Academy’s physical education

program, sports and school functions. Students will have a safe place to exercise, practice, play, and participate in daily

physical education classes.

The Academy, as a good neighbor to the Soulard community, plans to make the facility available to the neighborhood for

meeting space, fitness activities and special events. The Center’s fitness facilities will be open to area residents on a low-cost

membership basis. In this way, LFLA can help engage and improve the health of individuals in our community while providing

revenue to offset operational costs.

Research confirming the benefits of physical activity on academic performance, social skills and overall health especially for

low-income, urban students. The new Health & Wellbeing Center will expand our comprehensive approach to meeting all the

needs of our students. The new Center will help LFLA improve the health and fitness of students, reduce obesity and teach

healthy lifestyles. Improved physical activity/fitness helps address critical issues such as obesity, asthma and poor life choices.

Students will become fit and develop life-long physical activity habits, which will be carried into adulthood and passed to the

next generation.

This year, students will lose 29 hours of academic time traveling to off-site facilities for physical education classes, and the

Academy spends nearly $30,000 per year for transportation and rental fees for the venues.


“Whenever I finish a race or a wrestling match, I always look back and think ‘How could I have pushed

myself harder?’ It’s hard to figure that out sometimes. But when I think about pushing myself harder in

school, I’ve got it made. Sure, classes here are hard, but I have teachers and other students that are

pushing me to do my best.”

—Mark Harris, LFLA, Class of 2016

Building a Health & Wellbeing Center The Center will include:

• full-court gym with bleachers and locker rooms

• running track

• cardio/fitness rooms

• stage area

• seating for 400-500

• multi-purpose rooms

• space for school-wide functions, health and college fairs, and graduation

Academics will be enhanced, as meeting rooms will be available for tutoring, small group testing/credit recovery, and student

assistance. We propose using as many “green” practices as possible in the structure and its operation. Study of these systems

will be incorporated into the science curriculum.

The auditorium will allow us to offer music, band, chorus, and performing arts classes. Ample space will be available for on-

site, vocational construction classes. Our students will be able to graduate and hold dances, pep rallies and school meetings in

the auditorium. Also, the new Health & Wellbeing Center will enable the Academy to host school-wide events, such as health

fairs, career and college recruitment, and provide opportunities to showcase student accomplishments and projects.

The new Health & Wellbeing Center will further enrich the sense of “home-away-from-home” and “family” which are

cornerstone to Lift For Life Academy’s culture.

.


“Nothing would mean more to me than playing my home games in front of my family and classmates and

graduating at my own school.”

—Terrianna Glass, LFLA Class of 2016 - President

Building a Health & Wellbeing Center

“Everyone has the potential for success, but only you can make that happen for yourself. Don’t be afraid

to reach for that success.”

“I’ve taken some college level classes and I’m planning on taking more this year. It was definitely hard,

but the teachers here make it manageable. I know I’m doing what’s best for me to get ahead.”

—Anthony Smith, LFLA, Class of 2016

Added Space to Learn Over the years, Lift For Life Academy has made accommodations with sheer ingenuity, taking existing space and stretching,

reconfiguring and using it to its absolute maximum.

In 2009, when the John Mann High School Wing was under construction, it was designed for the later addition of a second

floor for more classrooms.

Fulfilling Our Promise means that we must offer more classes than those mandated by the state so Academy students can

catch-up academically and graduate on time. Additional classrooms are a critical next step in our development. We cannot

keep growing our curriculum to meet the unique needs of at-risk, urban students without enough classrooms.

Lift For Life Academy will construct a new 8,700 square foot classroom addition which will be added as second story to the

John Mann High School Wing. To Fulfill Our Promise, we will add

• Two new large Science Labs

• Fashion Design Studio

• Culinary Arts Studio

• Six classrooms to meet the escalating needs of students and provide flexible workspaces to facilitate group work,

as well as one-on-one instruction.

These additional classrooms are vital to Lift For Life Academy’s ability to offer the core academics students opportunity to

excel in post-secondary pursuits and beyond. Engaging and relevant electives such Engineering, Culinary Arts, Music,

Business and entrepreneurial classes.

This classroom expansion enables the Academy to maintain small class size (1:14 teacher/student ratio) while bringing

learning to life for students. Each classroom will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and specifically furnished to meet

the needs of the curriculum area.

The John Mann High School Wing expansion will allow us to educate and empower more students, with a better learning

environment, add new educational programs, and accommodate our continued growth.


“Lift For Life [Academy] prepares you for college. It gets you mentally ready to step into that college and

know that you’re going to have to do this and that - that you’re going to have some overnights and that

you’re going to have to work hard to get everything done.”

—Nikkole Sykes, LFLA, Class of 2016

Added Space to Learn: John Mann High School Wing Expansion

Evaluating LFLA Student Progress from End of Course Exams State Assessment data indicates that a significant portion of students entering the sixth grade perform an average of three

grade levels behind in reading and math. At the end of each school year, our students take the End of Course (EOC)

assessments administered by the Missouri Assessment Program, which evaluate how well students are progressing toward

Missouri Learning Standards. Over the past few years, we have been happy to report that our high school students have

shown an impressive trend of increased success on these exams. The 2014-15 school year is no exception.

As evidenced by the overall increase in students scoring proficient & advanced on EOC exams and the overall decrease in

students scoring below basic over the past three years, Lift For Life Academy has exhibited that we are only getting better and

better at our mission of helping students realize their full potential as students and citizens.

Coupled with our graduation and college placement statistics, these scores not only reflect our hard work to instill educational

values in our students, but also, more importantly, the hard work our students have done to build successful futures for

themselves.

High School Students Scoring Proficient and Advanced High School Students Scoring Below Basic on

on Missouri End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments Missouri End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

English II 40.8% 53.5% 55.4%

Biology 35% 28.6% 55.6%

Algebra I 44.9% 50.9% 71.4%

Government 24.7% 37.7% 48.5%

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

English II 4.1% 2.7% 3.6%

Biology 11.3% 18.6% 0%

Algebra I 18.4% 6.8% 14.3%

Government 20% 14.3% 11.8%


Lift For Life Academy is Ready to Fulfill Our Promise

Since opening in 2000, Lift For Life Academy has been successful in fulfilling the founding vision of providing a tuition-free,

motivating, alternative to public schools for students in the city of St. Louis who are at risk of dropping out of school. We have

remained focused on the big picture of creating school programs, curricula and a campus that fosters an exceptional education

for urban students, while reaching each student with a personalized instructional approach.

Our students are surpassing national attendance rates and post-secondary acceptance rates.

Lift For Life Academy offers extra support, interventions and resources, coupled with a rigorous and relevant curriculum to

engage at-risk students and get them on track to graduate prepared for college, career and civic life. The overwhelming

majority of students reside in high-crime neighborhoods and come from female-headed families who are considered

impoverished.

Here are a few of LFLA’s league-leading statistics in urban education:

• LFLA students remain engaged, as shown by an average dropout rate of only 2%.

• Since the first graduating class, an average 95+% of seniors graduate each year.

In 2015, 99% of seniors graduated.

• Through partnerships with Saint Louis University and St. Louis Community College, 25% of seniors graduate

with college credits in English, math and/or history.

• Graduates attending 2- or 4-year colleges and university exceed the state average by 5%.

• Over 80% of 2012 graduates completing 2-year technical training or college are employed in the area of study.

• 94 cents of every dollar is spent on programs and services for students.


“Lift For Life Academy is a place where you will not fail . . . They stay with you and help you when they

don’t have to. It’s a place where there is no doubt that you will excel . . . Since I’ve been at this school, I

have been to 7 or 8 colleges. They want you to excel and go to college. This school has done so much for me!”

— Darrion Glover, LFLA, Class of 2016

Lift For Life Academy is Ready to Fulfill Our Promise

Every Academy administrator, staff member and teacher treats each student with love, respect and support. This sense of

family creates a safe environment for learning. Students typically advance academically more than one grade level each year

they attend the Academy, allowing them to graduate on time.

Because of tremendous support from our friends in the community, we have a student-centered, supportive and stimulating

environment, a curriculum designed especially for urban, low-income and struggling youngsters, and a school culture where

failure is not an option!

With your help, we can together fulfill our promise to our students, their families, staff and our community to give our young

scholars all the tools necessary to soar in middle and high school, college and throughout their lives. Your gift will positively

impact students and their families for generations to come.

Please join us in taking the next step of Fulfilling Our Promise.


RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITIES

JOHN MANN HIGH SCHOOL WING

CLASSROOM ADDITION

Corridor

One Available @ $75,000

Classrooms

Six Available @$50,000 each

Science Lab

Two Available @ $60,000 each

Fashion Design Studio


Elevator


Science Labs

Equipment &Furnishings

Two Available @ $25,000 each

Furnishings for Classrooms

Six Available @ $20,000 each

Fashion Design Studio

Equipment & Furnishings


Culinary Arts Studio

Equipment & Furnishings


HEALTH & WELLBEING CENTER

Building

One Available @ $1,000,000

Gym Auditorium


Stage


Entry/Foyer


Track


Cardio Fitness Studio


Meeting Rooms

Several Available @ $50,000 each

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ARE

AVAILABLE

LIFT FOR LIFE ACADEMY BOARD of DIRECTORS

Scott R. Dolan, President & Treasurer Senior Vice President U.S. Bank Tami Fernandez, Vice President Community Volunteer Gina Wischmeyer, Secretary Community Volunteer John P. Burke, Ph.D., Immediate Past President Sociologist Laura Kathleen Baker Fashion Designer Jeff Bensky, Ph.D. President JMB Associates Sanford J. Boxerman Shareholder Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C. David J. Carroll Chief Program Officer Neighborhood Houses Timothy R. Conway Senior Vice President Commerce Bank

Dexter Evans Senior Site Director Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Katharine (Kate) D. Hatfield Principal Hatfield Consulting, LLC Brian Liberman Vice President, Commercial Lending Central Bank Mary Jo Liberstein, Ph. D. Community Volunteer Retired Clayton School District Assistant Superintendent Debbie Champion Snyder Founding Partner Rynearson Suess Schnurbusch & Champion Marshall Cohen Executive Director and Lift for Life Academy Co-Founder Dr. Katrice Noble Deputy Director Lift For Life Academy Honorary Board Members Carla Scissors-Cohen Marshall Faulk

Lift For Life Academy 1731 S. Broadway St. Louis, MO 63104-4050 (314) 231-2337 [email protected] liftforlifeacademy.org

liftforlifeacademy

@Lift4LifeAcad

@liftforlifeacademy

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FULFILLING OUR PROMISE - Lift for Life Academy€¦ · Lift For Life Academy was built through the generosity of our supporters. Now with your help, it’s time to take another growth