News Archive
Academy Charter School students get new experience with community service
Junior Nadia Bazmore, 16, paints a picnic table green during the "Get Ur Good On" day of service May 26 at the Academy Charter School in Baldwin Borough.
From the back yard of The Academy Charter School in Baldwin Borough, students can see the Pittsburgh skyline as well as the rooftops of some of the city's oldest neighborhoods -- communities where they grew up and got off track.
When they enter the school's campus, once a J&L Steel research facility, it is often the last chance they have to earn a high school diploma. The school exclusively admits court-adjudicated adolescents from Pittsburgh.
Combining curriculum and counseling, trade skills and team sports, the 200-student charter school has earned Adequate Yearly Progress, a hallmark based on standardized test scores that is achieved by fewer than 40 percent of urban public high schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
As students look at the view from their campus of the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, they may change their perception of higher education, seeing it as an attainable goal rather than a missed opportunity. Similarly, some of them change their own life stories.
That's what attracted Meg Schreck, an assistant with the nonprofit Pittsburgh Cares, to partner with the school for "a new way to volunteer" called "Get Ur Good On."
"These kids have so much potential," she said. "[Volunteering] helps them realize they don't need to be labeled in a negative way."
During a day of community service recently held at the academy, 50 of the school's juniors and seniors rotated to various stations. They made pillows for a women's shelter, assembled care packages for the homeless, decorated candles for a school for blind people and painted picnic tables for veterans. In addition, they attended a college fair.
"Most of these kids grow up thinking of community service as a bad thing. This is an opportunity for them to see that it can be fun and rewarding," said Bill Styche, the school's executive director.
Emphasizing community service and teamwork while building social skills and self-esteem is part of the curriculum, he said.
"We have a unique student, and we have to educate in a unique way," he said. "For most of these kids, it's their last chance to get an education."
Orion Muldrow, one of those students, will graduate this year. When he was enrolled two years ago, his social skills were so poor that he didn't talk to people, Mr. Styche said.
"Now he's giving a speech at graduation this year as the class valedictorian," Mr. Styche said.
Orion is going to Clarion University in the fall and plans to major in education.
"I just want to help people," he said.
On the community service day when the temperature came close to reaching 90 degrees, he sat under tents with classmates, making no-sew pillows.
"This is very different," he said. "I'm making a purple and green pillow for the women's shelter. I've never done anything like this before."
Another senior and classmate, Charles Ellis, agreed.
Charles, attending his first college fair, said: "There are some schools here I've never even heard of. It's a big thing to get these schools here."
Among the schools represented were California University of Pennsylvania, Thiel College, Geneva College and several trade schools and technical institutes.
Charles isn't sure where he wants to go to college, but he's certain he wants to go.
One thing, he said, that he has learned at the charter school is "if there's something you really want to do, go for it. The goal is not that far away."
One of the goals of the teaching staff is fulfilled by the day of service, according to Ashley Contristano, who has been an English teacher at the school for the past three years.
"We try to teach the students to really work together, and they're learning the value of reaching out to the community at the same time," she said. "It is so nice seeing them working together and having fun."
Candy Woodall, freelance; suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10154/1062658-55.stm#ixzz0vUtXBVg0
Congratulations to the Academy Charter School Youth Leadership Academy (ACS-YLC) for winning the Pittsburgh Voices of Youth
“Youth Creating Change” contest!!
Thank you to everyone who voted to make this possible. More information on the winning entry “Get Ur Good On Day of Service” will be posted as soon as possible.
Additional information on the contest and winning entries can be found at: http://www.pghvoicesofyouth.com/
We are proud to announce that The Academy Charter School-Youth Leadership Academy (ACS-YLA) has been selected as a finalist in the Pittsburgh Voices of Youth Competition. This year-long program operates in partnership with Pittsburgh Cares and has provided our students with numerous service and learning projects.
Winners will be based on public voting so we are requesting everyone’s support and assistance. Please follow the link below and cast your vote for the Charter School “GET UR GOOD ON DAY OF SERVICE” project – you can vote once per day until March 12, 2010.
This is such a tremendous opportunity for our students and with everyone’s support, we can make this project a real winner!!!
VOTE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL!!!!
Summit Academy- WPXI-TV from Academy Schools on Vimeo.
Steeler Quarterback, Charlie Batch, served as Commencement Speaker at the 2009 Summit Academy Graduation Ceremony. Although most everyone in attendance was excited to get a glimpse of his Super Bowl rings, most were more impressed with his story of perseverance and commitment in the face of personal tragedy prior to his professional football career. We sincerely thank Mr. Batch for providing such inspiration and encouragement to the graduates as they embark on their individual journeys toward success.”
While stadiums with multilevel press boxes and spiffy artificial turf are all over the WPIAL map these days, a school on the outer edges of the league’s football universe provides a unique gameday atmosphere. Welcome to Summit Academy, where, among other things, players literally come out of the woods for games.
Summit Academy is a reform school for adjudicated youth in grades 9-12, located in the countryside of Herman in Butler County. It was at one time a Catholic seminary called St. Fedelis. On a fall Saturday afternoon, make the left turn off Bonnie Brook Road to get to the school’s field and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind high school football experience. Summit’s field doesn’t have lights, so football games are played Saturday afternoons in a picturesque setting that is serene, yet loud. You’ll see things that can be humorous, interesting and enjoyable.
“We’re just trying to give these kids – both the players and the students – something to be a part of that they might remember, because a lot of them have never been part of anything,” said Adam Kinsel, 62, the pep club leader who also works at the school. At games, eight students bang drums during every break in play. Kinsel often dances to the beat of the drums, and students stand the entire game, clad in light blue dress shirts, khakis, sneakers and red-and-blue ties, all part of their school uniform. “This is my first time here,” Valley coach Troy Hill said with a smile after last Saturday’s game at Summit Academy. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.” You don’t see things like this at Upper St. Clair, Pine-Richland or Aliquippa.
This is the Summit of WPIAL football experiences:
• One of the end zones isn’t far from a lake, while woods surround much of the field.
• The locker rooms are up a hill and across the street from the field. So, Summit Academy goes into the woods for final pregame chats and then charges onto the field from the woods.
• At halftime, the team ventures back into the woods and discusses strategy while sitting on the ground. Heck, a player could roll into the lake if he’s not careful. • The refreshment stand is in a baseball dugout next to the football grid.
• Church bells from nearby St. Mary of the Assumption play songs during pregame warmups.
• There is no press box. Instead, there is scaffolding on both sides of the field where coaches stand for games.
And then there are the students and the pep club. Nearly an hour before last Saturday’s game, 32 students and eight drummers marched two-by-two from the school across the street and down to the field. This pep club is popular at Summit. Over the years, it has been asked to perform at some small-college basketball games in Western Pennsylvania and the Roundball Classic. Many years, Summit will take pep club members to a football game at the Naval Academy, just to show them what student spirit is all about. About a half-hour before game time, it is a sight to see the rest of the Summit Academy students march, two-by-two, from the school down a hill and onto six rows of bleachers. During the game, they chant and move to the beat of the drums.
Summit has 250 students from six different states. Counting the pep band, about 150 attended last Saturday’s game against Valley. Some students are not permitted to attend for either disciplinary or academic reasons and some might be visiting with parents. “All of the drummers are self taught. They teach each other,” said John McCloud, executive director of Summit Academy who also helps coach football. “I’d say it’s a pretty unique atmosphere we have.” Some of the student chants are creative. A short one is, “We fired up – can’t take it no more.” One of the longer ones goes, “Stop ... drop ... Summit Knights just won’t stop ... Ohhhh ...Ohhhh ... that’s the way SA roll.” The student section is not far from the visiting team sideline. “What’s funny is, I found myself every once in a while turning around and taking a peek at those kids,” Hill said, chuckling. “You’ll see our players on the sideline turning around and watching sometimes. You can’t help it.”
Students at Summit Academy have been sent there by courts. They have committed all kinds of juvenile and adult offenses, but no serious offenses such as murder or robbery. Many of the students have drug offenses. Summit Academy opened in 1996 and has been playing WPIAL football since ‘98. The school also is in the WPIAL in basketball and baseball. Summit Academy has never made the WPIAL playoffs in football, but it came close the past few years. Steve Sherer is Summit Academy’s coach and he rarely has more than a couple of players on the team from one year to the next. Students are sent to Summit for usually a minimum of five months and many of Sherer’s players haven’t played organized football for years.
This year’s team has more than 50 players. Summit Academy Knights take on Valley Saturday in Herman, Pa. Sherer, 58, was a star running back on Duquesne University’s 1973 team that won the national club football championship. He also is an administrator at Summit. “We try to make it very difficult for a kid to slip through the cracks if he comes to us,” Sherer said. “We want to make sure that we get him hooked into something. If it’s not football or athletics, then he can be in the pep squad or some other program here.” Summit Academy is 0-5 this season, but only two years ago it was 5-4 and missed the playoffs by a game. “We think the football program and the atmosphere here give these kids a sense of pride,” McCloud said. “The scoreboard doesn’t always mean a lot to us. What means a whole lot is that the kids work as hard as they can, we work together and treat the other team with all the respect in the world. “If I didn’t think we were making a change in some of these kids, I wouldn’t have been in this business for 32 years.” Hill said he has had a few players run afoul of the law over the years and then sent to Summit. “They do a great job with kids here,” Hill said. “Some of the kids from Valley who have been here, when they come back, they’re straightened out. They’re different.” Football can help put a kid on the right path. Sherer tells the story of a former kicker at Summit who calls him every month. “He was a handful until we got him on the football field and that helped him,” Sherer said. “Now he’s living in Washington, D.C., working construction and making something of his life. “I can tell you there are definitely times I go home from this place frustrated. But when I look back on my career, I think everyone is put on this planet to do something. I think we have a unique opportunity here to impact some kids’ lives every day. And I think that’s a necessary and worthwhile need in our society.”
All content © 2009 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Eagle Sports Editor
HERMAN - Summit Academy students eat well. Chris Graczyk makes sure of it.
As the facility's head chef, Graczyk does not cook hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza or other basic fare often found on school menus.
Roast turkey breast, tilapia, stuffed grouper, chicken breasts marinated in garlic and balsamic vinegar - all complete with salad bar - are more his norm. As chef at the private, residential school for delinquent teens, Graczyk and his staff of about 25 students produce some 1,600 covered meals a day, feeding more than 500 people and serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and an evening snack. "I run a tight ship," Graczyk said. "People will say I'm the hardest person in this building to work for. I do all the ordering and prepare the food. But I'm also a disciplinarian. If there's a speck of dirt on top of the refrigerator, it's my job to see that it gets taken off."
Students under Graczyk's watch perform various kitchen duties. Some wash dishes, wipe down the salad bar, serve drinks or do prep cooking. And Graczyk cares about them - because he was once one of them, a troubled youth who ran afoul with the law, in need of positive direction.
The right tools
Graczyk was assigned in 1982 to Allegheny Academy in Pittsburgh, which comprises The Academy System along with Summit Academy and Sleepy Hollow in South Park. "When I was first committed to the academy, I was scared," Graczyk admitted. "I didn't know what to expect. I had five brothers, and we all got in trouble over the years. "I didn't like what I was seeing. ... I knew I was in the wrong crowd, doing the wrong things. Then, from the first time I entered the academy, they felt like family to me."
Graczyk wound up joining the wrestling team.
"I was 132 pounds with long legs," he said. "Coach McCloud thought I'd be a good wrestler and asked me to try out. "I jumped at it. That was my first sense of being needed. I'll always remember that." Coach John McCloud, the current wrestling coach at Summit, said he looked at Graczyk and saw "a good kid."
"He just needed a catch, something to pull him away from the streets," McCloud said.
Sports play a major role at the school, with about 50 percent of the students participating there in football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, golf, volleyball, or track and field. "I'm a firm believer in sports as a tool to rehabilitate kids, and Summit Academy does a great job with that," said Jack McVay, a judge in the juvenile division of Allegheny County family court.
"Sports are a positive experience for kids."
Steve Sherer, academy director and football coach, said athletics is a tool to instill character and build relationships. "Some of our students might have been selling drugs, were involved in auto theft or vandalism, simple assault, violation of probation, any number of things," Sherer said. "When they first come to us, their value system is very anti-social. Nothing changes that like being part of a team." "Their pride used to be in their 'hood or in their gangs," Sherer said. "Now it's positive energy." "In terms of discipline and structure, this place saved my life," said Saladin Kirkland, 18, of Philadelphia, who
works in food service at the school. "I've learned a lot about responsibility here," Chase Safreet, another Summit student and food service worker,
said. "I'm getting my GED, and I want to get into culinary arts in college.
"Being around the kitchen has given me appreciation for what a chef does. It's what I want to do." Kirkland has been working in the cafeteria for six months and is in charge of part of the staff. He now anticipates attending college in New York. "I have to change my people, places and things when I get out of here," he said. "I'm going to broaden my horizons.
Philadelphia resident Marvin Kinard played basketball at Summit between 1999 and 2001 and became the school's first player to participate in the Dapper Dan Classic in Pittsburgh. There, he played against future Division I college and NBA players.
Today, he's employed as a court service assistant in the very court that once sent him to Summit Academy. "I was committed to here my first year," he said. "My last year and a half, I came back voluntarily and graduated. "I came from a good family, but all I wanted to be was a street kid at home. I was truant through my high school years at home. I learned about character and friendship at Summit Academy. I wanted that diploma. (Summit) was the only place I was gonna get it, so I went back."
Formerly a student at St. Gabriel Hall, a juvenile school in Philadelphia, Kinard returns to give speeches during the school's Keep the Peace Week.
"I go back because I'm living proof these systems work," he said. "Keep working hard, believe in yourself and you can turn your life around."
Mike Karadeema played football and baseball at Summit Academy. He returned to his hometown Highlands High School and played football there.
"When I first got there, I was pretty shaken up," said Karadeema, a student for nine months in 2000 and 2001. "I thought I was going to a big jail, some type of prison system. "I didn't know what placements were. When you're a 15-year-old kid, out of control, you figure they're locking you up."
Reach for results
McVay described the task facilities like Summit Academy face as "very difficult.""It's hard when kids first go to a placement facility," he said. "Number one, they don't want to be there. A lot of the kids are behind in their schooling when they get there. "GED program, trade program, drug and alcohol program ... they reverse attitudes and life directions." Karadeema went on to become a manager for a GNC store and is now a night security counselor at Summit Academy. He is saving money to go to school to become a personal trainer.
"I never lifted weights before I joined the football team. I learned about weight training and how to work out. Now I want to help others do the same thing.
"I was an out of control vandal. Now I'm a leader. I know what it's like to be proud now," Karadeema added. "I didn't have any freedom there. I was always told what to do and had to ask permission to do anything. None of us liked that. But we needed it."
While the kids aren't "locked up," they are constantly supervised. Eight periods of day-time classes are followed by individual and group counseling sessions, along with on-campus work, participation in a sport, pep club or trade courses.
If needed, youths will enter Summit Academy's drug and alcohol counseling program, a four-step system over a period of six months that sports a positive discharge rate of 89 percent." We have room for 69 students on that floor, and it's filled to capacity," Sherer said. "There's always a waiting list.
"There's a large need for programs in that area across the state, across the country." Once assigned to Summit Academy, a youth is sent to a diagnostic unit, where he spends approximately 30 days learning what The Academy System is all about while the system learns about him.
Each student is assigned a big brother upon his arrival from the diagnostic unit to further assimilate him into the Summit society.
"Within three months, I was a big brother on my floor," Karadeema said.
Students are required to wear the proper school uniform, which for most of the year includes an oxford shirt, tie, khaki pants, belt and loafers.
"When you dress better, you feel better about yourself," McCloud said. "Look good, think good, act good." Students go from class to class in orderly fashion, as a group. They report to breakfast, lunch and dinner the same way. The commitment to structure works with the staff as well. Summit Academy has an attendance board on a wall where counselors, teachers and other employees at the facility get their names on the board if they've had perfect attendance for at least a year.
The board has 46 names on it now, led by Graczyk, who hasn't missed a day in 17 years. Trade courses offered include carpentry, custodial maintenance, electrical wiring, food service, optical lab training, screen-printing, structural repair and woodworking. "We're not just educating these kids. We're showing them the value of education," Sherer said. On average, students come to the school functioning two to three years below their appropriate grade level. Yet the positive release rate is 83 percent, and the average increase in learned curriculum is 2.04 grade levels. However, not every student who leaves the academy is able to go to college, Sherer said. "We've taken kids to the Job Corps. We sent one kid to Kentucky for auto body trade work," he added.
One student graduated from Summit Academy in 1997. Forty students graduated last spring. "Sure, some fall through the cracks," McCloud said. "When it happens, we feel like we've failed. We take it personally. "Take the worst kid in the world, look at him, know him, you'll find some good in him. Our job is to take that good and build on it. It's what we do."
By assisting in The Summit Academy's Food Service, Industrial trades, and Maintenance Departments, Summit Academy students have earned $3,801.42 in restitution and court fees from December 1, 2008 to March 12, 2009.
Summit Academy Students Attend Home Show
Our Industrial Trades' instructors accompanied several Summit Academy students, with an interest in the building trade industry, to the Pittsburgh Mills Home show on February 6, 2009. The event exposed the students to many specialties that exist in the field.
Summit Academy Students Attend College Fair in Pittsburgh
Thirty Summit Academy upper classmen traveled to the Pittsburgh Convention Center on February 5-6, 2009 to participate in this year's college fair where they gained exposure and accessed an array of career options available. The students' response to the event has prompted The Summit Academy to sponsor its own College Fair.
Summit Academy Hosted College and Career Fair
On April 3, 2009, The Summit Academy hosted it's first College and Career fair for the upperclassmen of Summit and The Academy Charter School. Approximately 25 institutions, including several colleges, trade schools, military forces, and businesses such as Lowe's and Home Depot participated. The College and Career fair at the Summit Academy started at 1p.m. and ended at 4p.m. The students were well behaved and seemed very interested in what each vendor offered.
Summit Academy Students Eligible for Graduation
A total of thirty-six Summit Academy students will meet the necessary requirements set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and graduate with their high school diploma from The Summit Academy this June. Summit Academy staff has assisted each of these students in their application to post secondary educational institutions and vocational schools. Each of the graduates will also receive a $2,000 scholarship towards higher education.
Allegheny County Student Recognized for Highest GED score in State
A former Summit Academy student will be recognized by the Commonwealth Diploma Program for obtaining the highest GED score in 2008 in the state of Pennsylvania. He obtained a perfect score in three of the five test categories with an overall result of 3850 out of a possible 4000. He will be awarded a plaque and a $100 check at a recognition ceremony that will be held in Harrisburg.
Summit Academy Students Earn Their GED
Eleven Summit Academy Students earned their GED in February 2009. We are currently waiting on the results of nineteen students who took the GED test on March 24-25, 2009. A total of 95 students out of 137 successfully passed the GED in the 2008 calendar year. The GED program consists of intense learning alternating between instruction with a teacher and practice tests and reinforcement. The test is given at the end of the each month and the students have three chances each year to pass.
College Within the High School (CWHS)
Twelve Summit Academy Students are currently enrolled in the CWHS course, "Recent U.S. History (History 202)," which is being offered for the spring 2009 Semester. Each student who passes this class will be able to transfer these 3 college credits to an accredited college of their choice. Upperclassmen at the Summit Academy are able to participate in college classes contracted by the Butler County Community College and earn up to 6 college credits before their release.
Summit Students Take SAT exam
Fifteen Summit Academy students took their SAT examination on March 14, 2009. The SATs are offered on campus up to 7 times a year between the months of October and June.
Summit Students Volunteer in Pittsburgh Community
On February 16-17, 2009, twelve Summit Academy students volunteered for the Friendship Development Association (FDA) and Penn Avenue Arts Initiative renovating a building in the community of Garfield. Matthew Galluzzo, The Arts District Manager of the FDA extended his sincere gratitude to our students for their assistance and praised our students for being, "respectful, professional, and thorough with their work." The twelve community service hours earned during this event will be credited towards the mandatory 50 hours of community service each child must complete before they are released.
Summit Academy Pep Squad
On February 13, 2009, The Summit Academy Pep Squad, performed at a basketball game at Beaver County Community College. Each year, community colleges in the area including Beaver County Community College and CCAC have invited the Summit Academy pep squad to perform at their sporting events. The group is also slated to perform at three area high school "All-Star" basketball games in April.
Summit Academy Students Enter JCJC Poster Contest
Thanks to David H. Mueller of the Juvenile Court Judges Commission (JCJC) Awards Committee in Harrisburg, the JCJC will be holding another poster contest this year. Posters for the theme "I Make A Difference Because I Help Others…" are currently being created by Summit Academy students. The posters must be submitted by juveniles who are residents of PA and are currently involved in the juvenile justice system. The Summit Academy has had a winner in 9 of the last 10 years and our students have placed in the top 3 for each category, including Age 15 and under, Age 16 and over, and creative expressions. The winners will be announced later this summer and will be recognized at the JCJC Youth Awards Program Dinner Ceremony in November.
Summit Students Pass OSHA Exam
On March 27, 2009, fifty-four Summit Academy students passed the OSHA exam administered to them. The OSHA 10 Training Programs were developed by the OSHA Training Institute with the intent to assist employers in training and introducing employees to the basic practices of identifying, reducing, eliminating and reporting hazards associated with their work. The OSHA 10 Training Program is OSHA's primary way to train workers in the basics of occupational safety and health. Each student will receive an industry certification because they have passed the OSHA exam.
Summit Academy offers Serve Safe Class
Twenty-three Summit Academy students are enrolled in the Serve Safe class. Students are required to complete 13 chapters, regarding Providing Safe Food, The Microworld, Contamination, Food Allergies, and Foodbourne Illness, Safe Food Handler, The Flow of Food in Purchasing and Receiving, Storage, Preparation and Service, Food Safety Management, Sanitary Facilities and Pest Management, Food Safety Regulation and Standards and Employee Food Safety Training before they are eligible to take the certification exam. Students who participate in the Serve Safe program are eligible to take the certification test in order to receive industry standard certifications that are recognized in the U.S. and Canada.
Spring Sports at The Summit Academy
Baseball Highlights
The Summit Academy baseball team has been able to practice more than years before and also play three exhibition games because of the nice weather. The team also won its first game of the season against Sewickley Academy on March 28, 2009 by a score of 8-7.
Track and Field Highlights
The Summit Academy Knights opened its regular season on March 31, 2009 and won a hard fought victory against Union High School, relying on strong throwers and sprinters to carry the Knights to a 75-74 win. Many spectators commented on the respectful demeanor and teamwork of the Summit students and congratulated them on their success.
He could have been released from Summit Academy, a residential school for delinquent youth in Herman, Butler County, to his Braddock home.
But, he decided to finish the basketball season.
"Life is about making choices," Grandison said. "I am staying for my teammates and my coach. We have some more things to accomplish this season."
Click here to read the entire story by JoAnn Klimovich Harrop for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
We have re-designed our website to make information about The Academy System more accessible to you. New features include the Family Guide for parents of Summit Academy students that is also available for download. We have updated our contact us form to make it easier for you to ask your questions and get in touch with us. Also, we have included a news reel on the homepage to keep you updated on the latest events for all of the schools as well as a scoreboard for the latest sports scores! Thanks for visiting!
Star wide receiver Leonard Brown caught a 25-yard pass from Stephen Grandison in the first quarter. He also caught the winning 10-yard pass in overtime.
After Brown caught the pass for the lead in overtime, Mohawk attempted to score. On third down from the Summit yard line, Mohawk quarterback Mike Upham dropped back to pass and Brown intercepted on the goal line for the victory.
Brown had 3 catches in the game for 85 yards and scored both touchdowns. Grandison completed 7 passes for 125 yards.
Summit improved on turnovers this week, with only one interception and four penalties. Though Mohawk gained more total yardage (almost 2-1), Summit came up with the key plays, including stopping Mohawk on the one foot line on fourth down in the second quarter and several key quarterback sacks from the defense.
This was the Knights’ first overtime win since the program started in 1998. This is also the first 3-1 record for the Knights as well and the first time to lead the Tri-county North Conference. Summit Academy finished last year with an overall 4-5 record, the best record posting since the program’s inception. They were one game away from advancing to the playoffs in the 2005 season. The Knights have yet to make an appearance in the WPIAL playoffs.
*Eric St. Clair contributed to this story
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