Communities In Schools of the Charleston
Area Receives National Accreditation,
New Logo

Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area is proud to announce that it was recently awarded the status of Nationally Accredited Affiliate Organization. It was one of the first of ten affiliates out of more than 200 in the CIS National network to achieve this status, and the second in the state. CIS Charleston was commended by a Total Quality System Governance Committee for achieving all twenty-eight General Organizational and Business Standards. The committee also cited this achievement as a clear reflection of strong leadership and an organizational commitment to excellence. In addition, CIS Charleston was praised for implementing the CIS model with fidelity, while providing programs and services that address the needs of the young people in Charleston and Berkeley counties.

CIS has a new look! We love the little schoolhouse and hope you do too. "Communities In Schools is now a major national organization with 4,600 staff members and 57,000 volunteers serving more than 1.3 million young people each year," said Elaine Wynn, CIS National Board Chair. "Our identity should reflect that scope and drive our growth and ability to serve more young people." (top of page)

From The Director

Two Successful Decades

This year marks three great events: 1) the 20th anniversary of Communities In Schools of the Charleston Area, Inc. 2) our national accreditation status, and 3) a new logo for CIS National and its affiliates.

Our history began with a response to an area study by Johns Hopkins University, defining the need for dropout prevention. To meet this need, Communities In Schools and the Charleston County School District founded the first alternative high school in Charleston County, Septima P. Clark Corporate Academy. Opening in the fall of 1990, the school district and CIS partnered to serve 75 students with strategies proven to increase the graduation rate. Today CIS offers these coordinated services to more than 5,300 students in Charleston and Berkeley counties. Our Student Support Specialists are stationed full-time in Title One schools, providing direct counseling and life-skills education. They also integrate the resources of our generous community into the schools, reaching children in need.

At the request of the Charleston County School District, CIS expanded to seven new schools for 2009-2010 and provided full-time Student Support Services to children attending 15 schools in two counties. The following results are based on the 582 students who received case-managed services:

74% maintained adequate attendance
84% improved in at least one core subject area
83% maintained or improved their behavior
74% improved MAP scores in math
69% improved MAP scores in reading
91% were promoted
95% of the seniors graduated

In addition, CIS implemented the Supporting Our Students (SOS) tutor/mentor program with 70 students at five Charleston County school sites: Angel Oak Elementary, Edith L. Frierson Elementary, Jennie Moore Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, and Orange Grove Elementary. Certified teachers supervised 55 community volunteers as they collectively logged 1,488 hours of service. The following results are based on these 70 students:

86% improved MAP Language scores
100% improved MAP Math scores
91% improved MAP Reading scores

CIS could not have accomplished these goals without the assistance of our wonderful community. This year, 632 individual volunteers and partner agency staff teamed with CIS to provide 50,722 service hours and $130,473.00 of resources to children and families in need. "Thank you" to all of the priceless partners that we’ve had the opportunity to work with over the past 20 years.

- Jane Riley, Executive Director, CIS (top of page)

Students Do "Guy" Stuff on
N.C. Camping Trip

By Almar Flotildes
Excerpts reprinted with permission of The Post and Courier

About 25 feet from atop a cliff, Josh Lemon, 17, felt an adrenaline rush as he leaped from the edge into a long free fall to the water and a monumental splash. He’d never done anything like it before. When he bounced back up, he said, it was like being reborn.

Away from TV, video games and the Internet, Lemon and 15 other Lowcountry students were on a retreat in the Pisgah National Forest in the mountains of North Carolina as part of the Charleston Communities In School's Wise Guys summer camping trip. Before the trip, many of the students, including Lemon, had not traveled more than a few miles from their city or town, much less out of state.

In the Wise Guys Club, CIS Student Support Specialists guide students in topics of male responsibilities in addition to academics and other issues. During the year, CIS students voluntarily meet at least once a week with their specialists. In a group or one-on-one, students can talk about their classes, get advice or discuss personal issues with no topics or limits. "Each
week, we're reminded the purpose of why we're there," Lemon said. "To get to what our goals are in life."

For support specialist Derek Toth, the trip was another way to bond with the students he case manages at St. John's High School and Clark Academy. "It's a chance for them to form positive relationships." Toth said. "And get to know the students at other schools."

The group also included four other counselors and their students from St. Stephen Middle, Burke High, Haut Gap Middle, and North Charleston High. Loyalty and trust spread fast between the 16 youths. The trip lasted three days and two nights (June 22 - 24) in the bare wilderness, with no electricity and lots of bug spray.(top of page)

Save The Date

December 27-30, 2010
18th Annual Piggly Wiggly Roundball Classic - Boys high school basketball at its best. Local schools vie for championship honors over top national teams.

February 5, 2011
20th Annual Chocolate Affair - A gala evening with fabulous auction items, live entertainment, and all the delicious chocolate desserts you can eat.

April 20, 2011
7th Annual Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon - Treat yourself and the staff to an elegant lunch at High Cotton restaurant. All proceeds go to CIS.

May 22, 2011
3rd Annual Charleston Yacht Affair - Tour luxury crafts where Charleston's Top Chefs cook delicious tapas right on the yachts. Live music and a silent auction top it off. (top of page)

Teen Health Leadership Program Students Make Presentation to the National Library of Medicine

Students and faculty of the local Teen Health Leadership Program (THLP) visited Washington, D.C., on April 30 and made a presentation to the senior staff of the National Library of Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health. The students presented research and community outreach findings that they conducted on Johns Island earlier in the year.

"This was a good way to educate our national leaders about health issues facing the residents of Johns Island,” said Derek Toth, CIS Student Support Specialist.

Attending were six St. John’s High seniors including (pictured L to R) Michael Smith, Dorshinia Heyward, Dedre Lowry, LaKenya Wright, Chelsey Opoku and Priscila Zuniga. In addition, Melissa Cox and Candace Moorer from MUSC, Tracy Lyles, science teacher at St. John’s High and Derek Toth, CIS Specialist.

The Teen Health Leadership Program is a collaboration between CIS at St. John’s High and the MUSC College of Nursing and Medical Library. The THLP seeks to increase health literacy through access to quality health information, develop young leaders, and support student’s community engagement. (top of page)

Thank You Communities In Schools

"During my five years in Communities In Schools, I have learned so much and have grown in ways I never imagined. With the help of Mrs. Lassor, I have overcome challenges and let go of the negative influences that had control over me. Talking with Mrs. Lassor always made me feel like I could conquer whatever problem I was facing. This program allowed me to feel safe and comfortable in my own skin, as well as allowing me to participate in various community activities. Thank you so much for this great opportunity to participate in a fun program like Communities In Schools."
Senior, St. John's High School

"Communities In Schools has been an invaluable asset to our school! This agency provides numerous opportunities for our students that otherwise would not be afforded to them. Our students have benefited from the small group and individual counseling they receive and through the coordination of other programs such as Backpack Buddies, Outward Bound and Big Brothers Big Sisters. CIS is a partner that has the same vision as our school: to educate the whole child."
Celeste Couch, Ed.S., Former Assistant Principal
North Charleston Elementary (top of page)

Our Schools

Edith L. Frierson Elementary, Jane Edwards Community School, Memminger School Of Global Studies, North Charleston Elementary, St. Stephen Elementary, Sixth Grade Academy, Northwoods Middle School, Haut Gap Middle School, St. Stephen Middle School, Baptist Hill Middle/High School, Burke Middle/High School, Lincoln Middle/High School, North Charleston High School, R.B. Stall High School, Septima P. Clark Academy, and St. John's High School
(top of page)