Normal Park Museum Magnet School (NPMM) is launching its second annual community fundraising drive in May, with a goal of securing $50,000 in contributions to help support the school in the 2005-2006 school year.
The school’s first fundraising drive, made possible when the school united with the Community Fund of Greater Chattanooga to create a special NPMM Education Fund, raised $39,000. Much of that money has been used to replace a part-time science teacher position that had been cut during the 2004 school budget cuts.
“When faced with budget cuts last year, we had to make the difficult choice of supporting our school’s literacy programs over our science curriculum,” said NPMM Principal Jill Levine. “But our parents, alumni and community friends showed their support by helping us raise enough money to replace that lost position with a very talented and experienced teacher, Laura Federico, who has previously taught middle school science classes for nine years in Georgia public schools. We were all pleased that our first fundraising drive was so successful, but the real winners are the students.”
Parents at the school agree. “The benefits of Ms. Federico’s science program are tangible for both me and my son,” said NPMM parent Katy Berotti. “Ms. Federico steps into the classroom with enthusiasm and with the goal of making a scientific concept real for our kids by letting them see it, feel it and do it. The subjects my son is studying come alive when he works with Ms. Federico. And that’s what this year’s fundraiser will help ensure: that our students have great teachers, and that we’re giving those great teachers the materials and resources to make them even better.”
Money raised in the upcoming campaign will be earmarked for a variety of potential uses in the next school year, including the continuing salary of the Ms. Federico, the purchase of needed science and math unit materials, the replacement of one day of physical education instruction lost in last year’s budget cuts, and the addition of a creative movement instructor for younger classes, among others.
“I could go on and on about the possible ways this money can be used,” said Ms. Levine. “We have so many needs, but we also have many supporters of our school, and we appreciate their generosity, both in time and money – our supporters are part of the reason that we have been recognized as a Magnet School of Excellence by the Magnet Schools of America. If each of our supporters were to give only $50, we could reach our goal very quickly.”
The 2005 fundraising effort will begin in early May. Letters will be sent to past contributors as well as to newly identified friends of the school. Interested persons who do not receive a letter can contact the school at 509-2900 to pledge their support for the coming school year.
Normal Park Museum Magnet, in its third year as a K-5 museum magnet, was recently honored as the first place recipient of the Ronald P. Simpson Magnet School of Excellence Award for 2005 by the Magnet Schools of America, Inc. The school partners with seven area museums to bring a fresh, dynamic approach to learning. The school’s museum partners include Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga African American Museum, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga Regional History Museum, Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Nature Center and Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Curriculum focuses on multi-disciplinary approach and offers related arts programs in visual and performing arts, Spanish, music, science, community gardening and physical education.
NPMM serves neighborhood children from North Chattanooga, as well as a growing number of students from throughout the Chattanooga area. The school has historic roots in the community. It was originally a prestigious private college at the turn of the century, and it has as alumni many notable are civic and business leaders.
For more information about the school or the upcoming fundraising campaign, contact Jill Levine, Principal, at (423) 209-5907, levine_jill@HCDE.org.