Beyond
Friends of Alma,
Last Spring, we asked ourselves as a community: “What would it take to push ourselves and our scholars beyond where we are currently?” As we enter our 14th year of putting children of New Bedford on the path to college, it is imperative that we set our sights upon new horizons of excellence and possibility. Each year since the pandemic, our community has grown stronger and more determined to meet our lofty goals.
We have also been faced with a stark reality: our hard work has not yet resulted in the academic progress we’re striving for. Despite our challenges, our community’s resilience shines brightly. Scholars, educators, and families have shown remarkable efforts to reach our goals. We have implemented new curricula, refined our approach to teacher coaching, increased our social emotional support for scholars, stepped up our family engagement efforts, and more to meet the moment before us. Our challenges have strengthened our resolve to reach higher.
We recognize the significant work before us, and we are excited to embark on a strategic planning process to set our course for the years ahead. This journey isn’t just about test scores – it’s about creating an environment where every child can overcome obstacles, discover their strengths, and build the foundation for a bright future. Our strategic plan will help guide us as we strive for this beyond.
The pages of this report will show you just some of the ways Alma is already going beyond the traditional public school experience. Thank you, friends of Alma, for supporting this work.
With your partnership, we can face any challenge and create meaningful change. Let’s go beyond – for our scholars, for New Bedford, and for a brighter tomorrow.
In Service,
Board Chair Executive Director
All of my teachers have helped me become my best self.
R.
Our teachers have believed in us, even when we doubted ourselves.
My teachers at Alma not only prepared us for high school, but for what the real world has in store for us.
AN ALMA EDUCATION GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
At Alma del Mar, character and academics are inextricably intertwined. Our three Habits of Character - responsibility, consideration, and service - live at the heart of our curriculum, instruction, and school-wide culture. Our goal is to give scholars every opportunity to practice and internalize these habits to help them become effective learners, ethical people, and contributors to a better world. When scholars and staff practice strong habits of character, our entire community is able to grow and thrive.
BOOK BUDDY ADVENTURES
In the spirit of creating service-minded leaders, a group of Alma teachers arranged a special partnership with a nursing home within walking distance of the school. Over the course of the school year, Alma fourth grade scholars visited the nursing home residents numerous times to read aloud, play card games and enjoy snacks. While walking over for their first visit, scholars expressed “nervousness” …when asked why, they said “what if I can’t read well?”
The residents of Whaler’s Cove welcomed, encouraged and even read to our scholars. There were many laughs, hugs and kind words shared. One scholar, Milly, connected so quickly with a resident, they both decided they didn’t want to read to or with anyone else. Another scholar, Anele, became known for “holding court” with a group of women residents. She would ask them about their cultural backgrounds, which resulted in a meaningful round table of sharing family traditions and recipes.
12,420
Number of minutes 8th grade scholars spent showing service last year
KALEB
8TH GRADE SCHOLAR
ADRIANA L. 8TH GRADE SCHOLAR
RICARDO C. 8TH GRADE SCHOLAR
SCHOLARS COME TO ALMA FROM BEYOND NEIGHBORHOOD LINES
Alma’s scholars and families come from across the city of New Bedford and therefore, our community is truly representative of the geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity of our city.
For more than a decade, Alma has been a school in, and of, New Bedford. Our school’s demographics aren’t by accident. With great intention, Alma’s Family Engagement Team has worked to promote our schools to all New Bedford families, regardless of income level, immigration status, home language or housing situation. This year, Alma was recognized statewide for exhibiting an exemplary record of recruitment of multilingual learners.
Our families own local businesses, work in local government, and serve with area nonprofits that strive to improve our community. We are proud of the many ways Alma families are a part of the local community.
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
BEYOND ENGAGEMENT:
ALMA TRANSFORMS FAMILIES INTO SCHOOL PARTNERS
Back in 2020 and 2021, while our scholars and staff sat in virtual classrooms, the Alma community also more than doubled in size. Now, since the pandemic ended, we have all eagerly sought the path to “return to normal.” But at Alma, we committed to re-envisioning how families can be involved in their child’s education.
At the same time, one of our long-term goals as a school is to ensure our staff reflect the community we serve in New Bedford.
Last spring, Alma was selected by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for a pilot initiative to increase family engagement efforts. This initiative, called La Respuesta (Spanish for “The Answer”), helped us create a pathway to accomplish both goals: The grant allowed us to hire multiple family members of Alma scholars to work as aides at our school. We were able to truly foster a school culture that reflects and embraces our diverse New Bedford community.
AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF LA RESPUESTA TO:
• Continue breaking down barriers between home and school
• Create pathways for community members to join our staff permanently
• Serve as a model for other schools seeking to enhance family engagement
THE HEART OF LA RESPUESTA’S SUCCESS LIES IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES
OF OUR PARTICIPATING FAMILIES:
La Respuesta impacted our sense of belonging by allowing us to engage in the School community. Especially since we are from the Latino Community and sometimes feel disconnected, working in the school helped us feel like we were part of it. Our children also feel comfortable and proud to see us supporting and adding something valuable to their school.
MEYLIN DUBON,
MOTHER
OF AN ALMA SECOND GRADE SCHOLAR
This experience has given me the confidence to communicate better with others and the school. I feel like I gained the confidence to be more involved in her education and the ability to help her now that understand better how it works.
ANGELA
HERNANDEZ, MOTHER OF AN ALMA SEVENTH GRADE SCHOLAR
My view and expectations of the school and staff changed. I learned to value the teachers and staff of my School, to have patience and trust them with the care and learning of my child. That we are a team with the same goals and that she is in good hands!
YUNY ORELLANA,
MOTHER OF AN ALMA FIRST GRADE SCHOLAR
hours clocked by La Respuesta staff members as they supported Alma classrooms in Spring 2024. of Alma’s per diem translators are also proud Alma parents/guardians. 700+ 90%
ALMA EDUCATORS PUSH BEYOND THE STATUS QUO
In addition to building service minded leaders, Alma also builds critical thinkers and, perhaps most importantly, lifelong learners.
TRAVIS
MAPP, EIGHTH GRADE ELA TEACHER
I have worked in several schools in our community, but I enjoy working at Alma. I feel the freedom of how I teach and how I create a safe space within my classroom. I learn, lead and succeed because of my work family.
KIM CARR, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER
Alma has the best interests of our scholars, families, and staff in mind and makes decisions based on this, which is what all schools should strive for, but many fall short of. I consider myself blessed to work as a part of this Almazing team and cannot wait to see how our scholars grow over the next few years! I feel my views and opinions are heard at Alma and this is very important to me. The mission and values held at Alma, along with the dedication teachers and staff show to their scholars makes Alma the best school to work for.
KRYSTAL RADNOR, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
In my years of serving the population here in New Bedford I can say with great joy that my time here at Alma has been the most rewarding time in my career as a teacher and further validates my decision to follow my dream in becoming one. I strive each and every day to be the teacher for my scholars that I needed when I was their age growing up in the West End of New Bedford and attending the old Keith Middle School.
The funny thing is though, that every year my eighth grade classes have asked me a silly question, “Mr Santos, why do you teach here? You should come with us after we leave. You don’t want to stay here with these kids next year.” Now although the offers may seem enticing and I would truly love to follow my students on their journey; but Alma is my home and you all have become my family by extension.
My concept of family has evolved over the years, but has become emboldened here at Alma del Mar. For it is here that I have made some of the strongest friendships and built strong bonds that shape this community as we work to make New Bedford a better place for us all.
We are not just a school, we are not just teachers, we are not just students, we are not just data points. We are a family. You see it in the classroom where teachers are allowed to be their authentic selves and get our students to engage and challenge themselves. Here at Alma we all work as a family to support one another and be there for each other through the good and the bad. We embrace the challenges and obstacles that the community and even the world throw at us together and strive to make our lives better one day at a time.
-CURT SANTOS, EIGHTH GRADE MATH TEACHER
ALMA IS STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE BEYOND LOCAL LIMITS
At Alma, the 2024 MCAS outcomes do not reflect what we know our scholars are capable of, and we have already begun taking action to increase opportunities for scholar achievement.
Network-wide, 27% of Alma 3rd-8th grade scholars passed the Math state test and 25% passed the ELA state test. These passing averages indicate that we have a lot of work left to do in order to ensure Alma scholars are learning what they need to be successful in high school, college and beyond.
We remain committed to aspects of our program that we know are critical to academic achievement, such as ensuring every classroom is led by a strong educator and is using high quality instructional materials.
As a school system entrusted with the learning and development of a diverse group of children from across the New Bedford landscape, we play an important role in envisioning and providing an educational experience that dismantles institutional racism and empowers students, families, and staff of all backgrounds to reach their potential.
WHILE A MAJORITY OF ALMA SCHOLARS PASSED THE MCAS AT HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR LOCAL PEERS, THAT ISN’T THE BAR WE HAVE SET FOR OURSELVES, OR OUR SCHOLARS.
We are encouraged by growth seen in particular subject areas and grade levels as a reminder that our efforts are leading to academic progress for many scholars in our schools.
MCAS RESULTS
OUR SCHOLARS ARE FINDING SUCCESS BEYOND ALMA
Since our expansion was approved in 2019, Alma has more than doubled the number of children receiving a content-rich, project-based K-8 education. Now that our Douglass Campus is fully grown out, we are able to make an even bigger impact in the lives of New Bedford children, and we take that responsibility seriously.
In the seven years since Alma graduated its first eighth grade cohort, we have proudly supported more than 500 New Bedford teens as they matriculated to high school.
Of our alumni who are nearing the end of their high school careers, we have also seen strong evidence of a growing college-going culture. Alma alumni have gone on to attend institutions such as UMass Dartmouth, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Roger Williams University, Bridgewater State University, Mass Maritime, Keene State, and the University of New Hampshire.
FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
Nine years ago, Cayla Rivera was volunteering to help classmates with their ELA homework in Mr. Carson’s fifth grade class. Now, she’s working as a teaching assistant at Alma while she takes college classes online, and Mr. Carson is her supervisor.
“It’s like returning home,” Cayla explained. “It feels like I was in Mr. Carson’s classroom just yesterday, and now I’m back working here and I know this is a big step on my way to achieving my goal of becoming a lead teacher!”
Cayla Rivera is currently in her junior year at Bristol Community College, taking classes online in pursuit of a degree in early childhood education.
80%
of Alma alumni have been accepted into secondary schools with competitive enrollment procedures.
FINANCIALS
BOARD of TRUSTEES
David Prentiss, Chair
Christopher Bator
Mel Bride
Alicia Cortez
Yolanda Dennis
Gail Fortes
Charles Holley
John Korn
Daniela Mello
Maria Rosario
Chauneen Leah Wood
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Isabel Almeida*
Chris Arnold*
Jan Baptist*
Mary Jean Blasdale*
David Cabral^ Roger Cabral
John Camera
Karyn Campbell^ Priscilla Ditchfield
Jay Goldrick
Ed Haddad
Lucile Hicks* Jim Hughes
Martha Kay^
Joseph McDonough
Margo Moore
Carolyn Nunez
David Prentiss^
Mark Rasmussen^
Kris Tomlinson*
Sandy See Bob Unger*
“I support Alma because it provides students with an opportunity to grow, thrive and learn in a caring and supportive educational environment that puts the needs of diverse students and their families first.”
GAIL FORTES, MEMBER OF ALMA DEL MAR’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF YWCA SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
OUR SUPPORTERS
Every donation of every amount made a difference for our school community during the 2023-2024 school year. We wish to recognize all of our supporters below, equally.
FAMILY FUNDS, FOUNDATIONS
& CORPORATIONS
Acushnet Foundation
Allan and Priscilla Ditchfield Fund of the SouthCoast Community Foundation
Anonymous (2) Baycoast Bank
Box Tops for Education
Bristol County Savings Bank Foundation
CEC Entertainment LLC
Charter School Growth Fund
Club Madeirense S.S.
Sacramento Charitable Foundation
First Citizens Charitable Foundation
Highland Street Foundation
Jim and Bess Hughes Fund of the SouthCoast Community Foundation
Longfield Family Foundation, Inc.
Ludes Family Foundation
Move the World Foundation
Jayne Rebello Korn & John F. Korn Fund
One8 Foundation
Paypal Charitable Giving Fund
SouthCoast Community Foundation
St. Aidan’s Chapel
Stevenson Family Charitable Trust
Bank of America
Charitable Foundation
Wellington Management Foundation
INDIVIDUALS
Oscar Afre
Jonas Peter Akins &
Sarah B. Stapleton
Chase & Nicole Arnold
Chris & Trish Arnold
Jan Baptist
Christopher & Colleen
Bator
Charles & Patricia
Bentley
Gregg & Sandra Berkley
Mary Jean & Bill Blasdale
Eric Braitmayer
Nan & Bill Braucher
Melissa & James Bride
Jack Cannell
Elizabeth Chapin
Ram & Lakshmi Chowdri
James & Ann Conway
Alicia Cortez
David & Vicki Croll
Yolanda Dennis
Roy Enoksen
Annette Ewing
Mary & Jim Faughnan
Gail Fortes
Will & Laura Gardner
Seth & Dorothy Garfield
Ed & Barbara Haddad
Janet M. Haring
Maria & David
Harrington
Lucile Hicks
Prentiss & Polly Higgins
Charles Holley
Peter Huidekoper
Mike & Martha Keating
Dennis Keefe
Lucy Keefe
Rusty & Betsy Kellogg
Robert & Diane Kramer
Sherry & Barry Leiwant
Layng Martine Jr.
Joseph & Holly McDonough
Alexander McFerran
Thomas & Elizabeth
McKay
John Newton
Adam Norris
Carolyn M. Osteen
Anne Patterson & Christopher Finn
David Prentiss
William & Suzanne
Prescott
Patrick & Ute Prevost
Maria Rosario
Cecilia & Chris Ross
Robert & Bonnie
Stapleton
^Founding Trustee *Former Trustee
