COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Southeast CDC is the Lead Agency for the citywide Community School strategy at five zoned public schools in Southeast Baltimore: Tench Tilghman EMS, John Ruhrah EMS, William Paca ES, Highlandtown #237 EMS, and Highlandtown #215 EMS.

Maximizing School Renovations

Southeast CDC staff collaborated with the Baltimore City Department of Planning staff, members of the John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle Schoool community, and other neighborhood residents to better understand their neighborhood experiences, concerns, and needs to inform the draft recommendations for the INSPIRE plan that enhances the connection between the schools and the surrounding neighborhood. This plan focuses on the blocks immediately surrounding each of the 21st Century modernized schools, including safe routes to school and other physical improvements. Southeast CDC has begun implementing one recomendation, improvements to a city park close to the school.

INCREASING PRE-K SCHOOL READINESS

Highlandtown #237 teachers were worried about a rough transition for the Pre-K children in the fall, because for many this would be their first school experience. Plus, the school was still meeting in their temporary space while the school was being renovated, which required students to take a bus about 20 minutes away from home.

Southeast CDC’s Community School Coordinator Andréa planned an event for children and families to meet their teacher, tour the classroom, eat popsicles, and have their face painted. Each child received a photo with the teacher, so that parents could show the child the picture, remind them this is their teacher, and put and worries at ease. Each child was given a backpack, school supplies ,and number and letter workbooks. Several families and children attending shared that they felt less nervous about school.