Making Waves Academy - 2022 Brochure

LEARN. GRADUATE. GIVE BACK.

OUR MISSION

Making Waves Academy commits to rigorously and holistically preparing students to gain acceptance to and graduate from college, to ultimately become valuable contributors to the workforce and their communities.

Making waves is all about creating more educational opportunity for those that would otherwise not have access. We strive for a day when all children will have access to quality schools that support, nurture, and enable them to reach for the stars.

John H. Scully, Making Waves Co-Founder 2

Our Values Community We combine our intellect and critical thinking skills to support each other and make healthy choices for ourselves and positive changes in our community.

Resilience We are agents of change, who, through hard work and perseverance, have the power to define ourselves and to control our destiny.

Respect We believe each person is valuable and we demonstrate respect by following our community norms.

Responsibility We have integrity; we are accountable for our decisions and actions and their impact on ourselves and our community.

Scholarship We are life-long learners who aspire to and achieve academic excellence.

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We Believe That Educational Opportunities Change Lives Imagine a society in which all youth—regardless of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status—have access to highquality educational opportunities and the tools to achieve success.

That vision inspired our founders to launch Making Waves Foundation in 1989 to address the educational needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged youth in Richmond, California. As Making Waves’ after-school tutoring and coaching program grew, our leaders realized that it could not meet the needs of enough students in a cost-effective way. So in 2007, we established Making Waves Academy as a public charter school.

We have seen that when students connect with their own motivation for going to college and what they are most passionate about, they are more likely to persist and succeed in college.

Since then, Making Waves Academy has expanded to serve more than 1,100 young people in grades 5–12. Our students come from cities throughout west Contra Costa County. Nearly all students are students of color, and 80% qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Making Waves Academy partners with Making Waves Foundation’s college success program, known as CAP—which supports Making Waves Academy graduates through college—to form a unique, holistic educational model that supports students academically, social-emotionally, and financially on their journey to, through, and beyond college.

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Alton B. Nelson, Jr., CEO, Making Waves Academy

Our Students We prepare students for college, career, and life success by helping them develop critical competencies, skills, and mindsets.

Every year, nearly 100% of Making Waves Academy seniors earn their high school diplomas. Making Waves Academy high school graduation requirements are consistent with California’s college admissions requirements, aligning with our goal of preparing 100% of our students to be eligible to apply for admission to college. We encourage students to pursue their life dreams, whether that’s attending a four-year college or university, attending community college, or pursuing pathways outside of higher education.

As a public charter school, Making Waves Academy is free to attend. Given demand is higher than the number of spots available, there is a lottery process through which students are enrolled or waitlisted.

Senior Class of 2021 Fast Facts

100%

88%

Graduation Rate*

of graduates met the A-G requirements for UC/ CSU eligibility

71%

34

of students are enrolled in 4-year colleges

students attend a UC campus including 13 at UC Berkeley and 4 at UCLA

16

11

students attend community colleges

*Lower percentage due to COVID-19 pandemic

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90% of students were admitted to college (83 of 93)

24 students attend a CSU campus

students moved straight into the workforce

We Believe in Social Impact Through Education

I can say with full confidence that Making Waves Academy is the best school for my family. The teachers are very respectful and challenge the students to be more successful—they don’t let them fall behind, they see their potential and help them reach it.

We call our students ‘Wave-Makers,’ referring to the waves they make in the world after graduating, including giving back to the community.

Gonzalo, father of four Wave-Makers

We Believe in Recycling Our Success

I am a Wave-Maker! I am a valuable person. I will believe in myself.

I will achieve my goals. I am creative.

I will be an impossible me and recycle my success.

Making Waves Academy supports the growth of our students as responsible citizens by creating a mindset that embraces a daily practice of our

An excerpt from the ‘Wave-Maker Affirmation’

core values: Respect, Responsibility, Scholarship, Resilience, and Community. Everyone at Making Waves Academy is committed to these values, and our graduates go on thinking about how they are going to give back to their communities.

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Our Holistic Approach Making Waves Academy applies a holistic approach for each student. We accept students where they are and chart the appropriate course to encourage long-term success. Our charter school provides a broad array of services and support, including academic intervention, mental health services, and test preparation (SAT/PSAT/ACT).

Academic Support Making Waves Academy provides academic support to all students based on student academic need, including providing advanced learning services, intervention services, English language development, and enrichment opportunities.

College and Career Counseling We support each student in developing their dreams for themselves and aligning their dreams to post-secondary education pathways and/or career options. Our College and Career Counseling Center prepares students for multiple pathways by providing guidance and support on academics, extracurricular activities, and standardized tests. Services provided include college and career goal setting, visits to and from college campuses, and college selection and application process support.

Social-Emotional Support Making Waves Academy provides clinical psychological counseling and social work services as well as social-emotional curriculum to help students process and overcome trauma and other non-academic challenges, including obstacles due to systemic racism.

College Scholarships and Coaching Making Waves Academy graduates have the opportunity to participate in Making Waves Foundation’s college success program, known as CAP, which provides personalized coaching, financial support, financial literacy resources, and career guidance for Making Waves Academy graduates.

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Our State-of-the-Art Campus We are committed to providing the facilities and resources our students need to succeed.

Our campus features open learning areas, parent resource centers, restorative justice spaces, college and career centers, performing art and art spaces, and athletics facilities. Our campus design encourages creativity, innovation, and collaboration, with classrooms clustered around community hubs. Every student and every teacher has access to cutting-edge technology including Promethean interactive boards for every classroom and Chromebook devices for every student.

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College Success Program All Making Waves Academy graduates have the unique opportunity to join Making Waves Foundation’s college success program, known as CAP. This program supports graduates from Making Waves Academy and other high schools in the Bay Area, and has tremendous outcomes supporting students in reaching their college, career, and life dreams.

Need-Based Scholarships

Professional Networking, Internships, and

All eligible Making Waves Academy college

Workshops

students receive access to need-based

Professional development activities throughout

scholarships, of up to $5,000 a year.

the year include opportunities to meet professionals in various industries so students

Personalized College Coaching

remain connected to

Professional coaches work with students to

a community of peers

create an annual plan centered on academics,

and create a broad

communications and connection, professional

professional network.

development, time management and organization,

Post-College Coaching

wellness, and financial management.

Coaches continue to

Personalized Financial Planning

support students after

The financial services team helps students with

college, providing

college selection, financial planning and literacy,

guidance on career

developing budgets, completing financial aid forms,

paths, post-graduate

and graduating from college with limited and

education, finances, and

manageable debt.

$1,222 Average Estimated Loans Per Year Per Student

life skills.

86%

Types of College Attended • 44% at a California State University campus

First-Generation College Students

• 5% at a private college or university

• 32% at a University of California campus

• 2% at an out-of-state public college or university

• 13% at a community college campus

• 3% other

Data based on 296 Making Waves Academy alumni in college and supported by Making Waves Foundation’s college success program, CAP, as of October 2021.

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Join Our Team!

What makes Making Waves Academy an exceptional place to work?

Making Waves Academy seeks talented individuals to apply for roles across the organization, including:

Innovation and Collaboration • We provide state-of-the-art facilities and a work culture that encourage creativity, innovation, and collaboration.

• Teaching • Instructional leadership • Operations • Counseling

Intentional Student Support • We intentionally support our students to and through college, and we follow the impact of our programs on students’ lives after graduation.

• Program management • Data analysis • Technology • Administrative support

Holistic Support Services • Making Waves Academy offers a variety of holistic supports for students including social-emotional development, restorative practices, psychological counseling, and social work services.

Our CEO, Alton B. Nelson, Jr., has an amazing commitment to developing his staff to their fullest potential and makes sure the organization invests in professional development and leadership opportunities.

He is committed to attracting diverse pools of talent and creating great incentives to retain our talent.

Comprehensive Benefits • Making Waves Academy offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including options for 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, and group term life insurance, a cost-of-living stipend, and a 403B or CalSTRS retirement plan.

Funding to Advance Our Mission • In addition to the federal, state, and local funding we receive as a public charter school, we receive significant philanthropic support to advance our mission.

Lisa Dodson, Managing Director of Talent, Making Waves Academy

Visit Us Today! makingwavesacademy.org/careers

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Our Board of Directors The board members of Making Waves Academy are committed leaders who actively work to further the school’s mission and long-term goals. In their oversight role, they act strategically and in partnership with school leaders, focusing on student achievement and development, school culture, fiscal responsibility, and compliance.

Alicia Malet Klein Board President GATE Instructor, Coleman School; President, HeadsUp Public Education Foundation

Anabel Barron Board Secretary School Care Manager, West Contra County Unified School District; Making Waves Academy Parent

Jessica Laughlin Senior Product Manager, Genentech

Janis Glover Realtor; Retired Manager, Pittsburg Arts and Community Foundation; Former Chief of Staff, Contra Costa County District 5; Former Legislative Aide, California State Assembly

Layla Naranjo Associate Director (interim), Residential Education, UC Berkeley

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Dr. Esther Hugo Adjunct Faculty, San Jose State College of Education; Coordinator, UCLA College Counseling Certificate Program; Education Consultant

Margaret Watson Manager, Corporate Strategy, Adobe

BE A WAVE-MAKER! Whether you are interested in student enrollment, employment opportunities, community partnerships, or supporting Making Waves, we invite you to reach out, learn more, and get involved.

makingwavesacademy.org