Capital Campaign: Building on Success

CAPITAL CAMPAIGNEn

Alma del Mar Charter AlmaSchool del Mar Charter School 26 Madeira Avenue New Bedford, MA New Bedford, MA March 027462015 (774) 206-6827 info@almadelmar.org www.almadelmar.org

building on success

Karyn Campbell was one of our Founding Trustees. She’s the kind of person that just gets things done. When she agreed to serve on Alma’s Board - before we had any staff, any scholars, or any teachers - it was one of those moments when I just knew that the vision for this school was going to become a reality.

In July 2011, Karyn was up on a ladder painting what would be an Alma classroom. She had two of her teenage kids on the job as well. I think it was ninety degrees that day. The Campbells, alongside a group of our founding families and staff, hustled to get the 100 year old school building ready to receive scholars in a matter of weeks. When we finished painting, we moved in some used school furniture and equipment that a suburban district had donated. On August 19, 2011 we received our certificate of occupancy for the building. On August 22, we opened our doors to serve 120 scholars. Thus ended Alma’s first Capital Campaign!

Since then, we’ve doubled in size, growing to serve 240 scholars in grades K-5. We’ve created an urban public school whose scholars consistently perform at high levels. We’ve been recognized as a model of an inclusive, high support and high achieving urban charter school. Our scholars have produced academic work worthy not only of the refrigerator door, but also of our permanent, framed gallery.

Small City, Big Impact: Alma del Mar's Growth Plan

120 scholars 160 scholars 200 scholars 240 scholars 280 scholars 380 scholars 440 scholars 450 scholars grades K-2 grades K-3 grades K-4 grades K-5 grades K-6 grades K-7 grades K-8 grades K-8

When we started this school, we set out to create a public institution that would launch kids in New Bedford - many of whom would otherwise be relegated to under-performing neighborhood schools - on a college trajectory. Now more than ever we’re confident that this mission is attainable.

We’ve seen scholars who came to us with little knowledge of the English language learn to read above grade level within two years. We’re watching scholars who others said would always be “at risk” outperform kids with tutors in wealthy suburbs. We’ve heard from Alma parents who insist that this school is the reason why they’re choosing to remain in New Bedford.

In the past four years, we’ve built a school community and culture that, like the best parents, combines consistently high expectations with boundless love and joy. We have a diverse team of professional teachers whose shared sense of urgency is matched by the amount of fun they manage to have doing tough work.

We’ve come to a point where our current facilities can no longer contain our growth or adequately serve the needs of this vibrant school community. It’s time that our surroundings match the high quality work of our scholars and teachers. With the help of Mayor Mitchell and the New Bedford City Council, we’ve secured our current site and its 2.3 acres for the long term. We’ve brought on board the talented team at HMFH architects, who share our belief in doing big things at a human scale. Cile Hicks, Jack Braitmayer, Chris Arnold and our other Capital Campaign leaders have stepped up and pledged cornerstone gifts, ensuring a strong foundation for this effort.

Now we’re asking each of you - our friends, supporters and advocates - to step up on behalf of our Alma scholars. We’re asking you to show them that they are surrounded by a community that exalts their work and is willing to invest over the long term in their potential. With your help, our scholars will open the doors to their new home for learning in the fall of 2016. The work they do there will be critical to their lifelong success. Let’s get them there.

Sincerely, Will Gardner, Exeuctive Director

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In just a few years, we’ve created a game-changing Since we opened our doors four years ago, Alma del Mar has become the most sought after elementary school in New Bedford.

In 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education cited Alma del Mar as an exemplary school in the areas of Access and Equity, and Culture and Family Engagement. We were the subject of a 2015 multimedia case study by the National Charter School Resource Center for our success with English Language Learners. Last year, Alma’s attrition (loss of students over the course of the year) was only five percent - this low rate is half of that of our sending district and well below many of our high performing peer schools in Boston. By investing in relationships with our families and providing a high quality education, we’ve managed to keep families with us, despite serving a mobile population.

2014 Attrition Rate

2014 Percentage of ELL Students

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Combined 3rd & 4th Grade ELA & Math Scores

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2014 MCAS % Pro�icient or Advanced

60%

6%

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Alma schoalrs are proving that New Bedford kids can achieve at the same level as kids anywhere. Alma consistently outperforms both our sending district and the state average based on the percentage of our scholars who score proficient or advanced on both the ELA and Math MCAS tests. Our scholars perform on par with their suburban peers in math and are rapidly closing the gap with more affluent students in literacy. Last year, our kindergarten scholars scored in the 99th percentile in reading and 97th percentile in math on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, a nationally normed test. We’re not there yet, but we’re well on our way.

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school for hundreds of deserving New Bedford kids.

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“Alma del Mar is my children’s future. This is the school.”

- Alma Parent Jennifer Mimms

A home worthy of our hard-working scholars For four years, Alma del Mar’s staff and scholars have made their home in a surplussed 100 yearold school building. With the help of world class school architects, we’re designing a new school that reflects the high standards our scholars and teachers hold for themselves and the sense of pride our families take in Alma del Mar.

Maximized for learning Our new building will have: • Lots of small group rooms, specially designed so teachers can meet with small groups within close proximity of the main classroom • A gallery of scholar work featuring high quality final projects and art work • A design that maximizes natural light in our classrooms and hallways and reduce energy usage • More green space for our scholars to play in during recess and for the neighborhood to enjoy when school is not in session • A dedicated bus lane to ensure scholar safety during arrival dismissal • A separate cafeteria large enough to accommodate our growing population and equipped to serve the nutritious meals our scholars need

810 SF

GRADE 3 720 SF

GRADE 3 700 SF

TEACHER WORK 300 SF

GRADE 4

GRADE 4

700 SF

700 SF

TEACHING WALL

KINDERG.

TEACHING WALL

700 SF

700 SF

- Alma Parent

TEACHING WALL

KINDERG.

that my children’s success is just as important to Alma del Mar as it is to me.”

TEACHING WALL

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KINDERG.

TEACHING WALL

MAIN ELEC

NURSE

TEACHING WALL

ENCLOSED DUMPSTER/ RECEIVING AREA

BOILER

TEACHING WALL

RECEIVING

TEACHING WALL

HATHAWAY STREET

“I love a billion things about Alma, especially the feeling that we are in this together,

GRADE 5 810 SF

SERVERY DATA

GIRLS BOYS

OFFICE

OFFICE

200 SF

150 SF

UP

CAFETERIA 2340 SF

DN

TEACHING WALL

UP

RECEPTION

Millwork Bench

Circulation

HEAD OF SCHOOL

LIBRARY

720 SF

810 SF

Core Academic/ Classrooms WATER

GYM

OFFICE

BLDG STOR

GRADE 5

CO-CURRICULAR

Community / Shared

CONF

710 SF

Mechanical / Support Special Education

BOYS

Toilet Rooms

BOYS

CUST

CUST CHAIR STOR

CO-CURRICULAR

CO-CURRICULAR

810 SF

810 SF

GIRLS GYM STOR

DATA STAFF TLT STAFF TLT

First floor plans

720 SF

Second floor plans

GRADE 8 700 SF

DN

GRADE 7 700 SF

GRADE 7 700 SF

TEACHING WALL

700 SF

810 SF

GRADE 8

DN

TEACHING WALL

GRADE 1

GRADE 1

150 SF

TEACHING WALL

700 SF

TEACHING WALL

GRADE 1

TEACHING WALL

700 SF

UP DN

TEACHING WALL

720 SF

TEACHING WALL

TEACHING WALL

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GRADE 2

TEACHING WALL

OFFICE

TEACHING WALL

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GRADE 2

720 SF

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GRADE 6

GIRLS

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2990 SF

Administration

GRADE 6 810 SF

Like the goals our scholars set for themselves, As a charter school, we receive virtually no public money for capital needs. That means we rely almost entirely on funders like you to provide the equity for our capital needs. Every dollar you give our Capital Campaign will be further leveraged by public financing - to the benefit of our growing population of scholars.

Funding Sources

Expenses

School Contributions (state aid set aside over 4 years) Financing (tax exempt bonds) Capital Campaign Donor Contributions

$600,000

$12,500,000 $3,400,000 TOTAL: $16,500,000

our Capital Campaign is ambitious AND achievable.

We need donors at every level in order to make this dream a reality. $400,000

Acquisition Costs $221,000 Construction Costs $13,286,600 Soft Costs $2,992,500 TOTAL COSTS $16,500,000

$300,000

$400,000

$300,000

$300,000

$300,000

We want our new home ready in time to graduate our first class of scholars. $200,000 $200,000

Will you help make it happen?

To make a donation to Alma del Mar’s Capital Campaign:

• visit www.almadelmar.org • contact Development Director Cara Beller at carabeller@almadelmar.org or (774) 292-0949 • mail a check made payable to “Alma del Mar” to 26 Madeira Ave., New Bedford, MA 02746

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Keeping our resources in the classroom

Campaign Supporters as of March 2015

Using efficient design, we can build this school at a fraction of the cost of the price of some recent district schools in Massachusetts, allowing us to keep our resources in the classroom where they belong.

Alma del Mar Charter School (projected cost)

Lucile & Bill Hicks

Strategic Grant Partners

Patrick Carney Family Foundation

Hingham Middle School

Robert Evans

Duxbury Middle & High School $0

Amelia Peabody Foundation

Anonymous

Stow Center School

Quincy Central Middle School

Please join us in thanking these generous donors who have already contributed gifts and pledges in support of our Capital Campaign.

Randolph & Nancy Stainer

$20,000

$40,000 $60,000 Cost per pupil

$80,000

$100,000

Jack & Nancy Braitmayer

Chris & Trish Arnold

Priscilla & Allan Ditchfield

Jan Baptist David Cabral

Ed & Barbara Haddad Ernest Mudarri Haddad

Bill & Mary Jean Blasdale

Bronwen Cunningham & Robert Booth

Jeanne & Breckenridge Eagle Kris & Jim Tomlinson

Martha Kay

Jim & Bess Hughes

Every gift is important and will be recognized in Alma del Mar’s Annual Report and Capital Campaign materials. All gifts of $5,000 or greater will be recognized in a permanent way in the new building.

Naming opportunities are available for all major spaces commensurate with the level of gift. If you are interested in discussing a major gift or naming opportunities, please contact Executive Director Will Garder at: willgardner@almadelmar.org.

Board of Trustees 2014-2015: Chris Arnold, Chairman Jan Baptist Mary Jean Blasdale, Secretary David Cabral, Treasurer Bronwen Cunningham Jeanne Eagle Lucile Hicks Martha Kay Kris Tomlinson Robert Unger

Leadership 2014-2015: Will Gardner, Founder & Executive Director Emily Stainer, Head of School Elizabeth Leiwant, Director of Academic Support Cara Beller, Development Director Lourdes Gonzalez, Director of Operations Rebecca Cotugno, Literacy Department Chair Kyla Spindler, Math Department Chair

Advisory Council 2014-2015: Jack Braitmayer Chad Brubaker John Camera Karyn Campbell Barbara Cook Priscilla Ditchfield Ed Haddad Gerry Kavanaugh Jim Hughes Dennis Keefe Jay Lanagan Judith Li Carolyn Nu単ez Ozcan David Prentiss Mark Rasmussen Ralf Rho Maria Rosario Anthony Sapienza