NCHS SHOUT OUT... NEED MET!

High school can be challenging enough but imagine hearing the bell for PE and knowing you don’t have the proper apparel or swimwear.  That worry was recently taken away for a group of students at NCHS, thanks to a generous response to a shout-out list request.  The Amazon packages just kept arriving and the PE department was overwhelmed with gratitude.  In short order, Principal Trevor Chapman was able to declare the need completely filled.  If you donated PE/swimwear, know that you may very well be the reason that a student now feels comfortable participating in PE/swim at NCHS.  

Thank you!

Where are they now?

The flagship Promise Council at Pepper Ridge, started in 2009, has positively impacted the lives of over 500 fifth grade students since it began in 2010.  An academic achievement analysis of 197 Pepper Ridge alumni who then went on to attend NCWHS showed:

• average GPAs between 3.85 – 3.96, with 46-58% of students each year earning 4.0 or higher
• 99% of students accumulated all necessary credits to matriculate to the next grade level
• < 1% of students dropped out of high school
• 100% of seniors stated they were likely or very likely to attend college

Tutoring That Changes Lives

As a teacher, Jessica was pleased when her Promise Council raised funds to pay for tutoring for some of her underachieving students.  She was very happy when she watched their scores move from near-failure to above average.  But what really thrilled her was seeing how weekly attention from one caring adult could transform the life of a child. During the course of the six-week program, she watched one young girl go from being a chronic truancy problem to being a school leader.  The child finished the program with flying colors, and hasn’t missed a day of school since.  She continues to excel academically, and is a student crossing guard, using her new skills to help her peers find their way. 

Did you know?

Every week, Promise Council helps Bloomington-Normal provide meals for children who might otherwise go hungry on the weekends.  Hundreds of Friday 

Food Bagsare created and sent home with children when they leave school on Friday.  The food comes from organizations like the Midwest Food Bank, and from local food drives hosted by businesses, service organizations and other caring adults like you in our community.  Volunteers pick up the food and deliver it to schools or churches, where more volunteers pack it into backpacks and deliver them to classrooms.  Children pick up the backpacks as they leave school on Friday, knowing they don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.