Civic and military leaders, students, teachers and parents gathered to celebrate the success of Imagine Andrews Public Charter School in a grand opening ceremony at the school here Oct. 6.
The mission of Imagine Andrews is to create a challenging learning environment for students in the Andrews community while addressing the specific needs of the child. The 260-plus Imagine Andrews students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful scholars and responsible citizens through effective classroom instruction.
‘This day has been a long time coming. This beautiful building and the amazing teachers, administrators, and students who occupy it are testament to a collaborative labor of love of a scope I’ve never seen in my 25 years in the United States Air Force,’ said Col. Ken Rizer, 11th Wing/Joint Base Andrews commander.
With more than 500 service members continuously deployed, Andrews was in need of a school that could provide more than just an exceptional academic environment.
‘Charter schools are schools of choice, so we have a specified program that deals directly with meeting the needs of military families,’ said Marquis Dwarte, Imagine Andrews principal. ‘Having a staff that is trained and well-versed in understanding the needs of military families, particularly as it relates to deployment, is a benefit not many other schools in the nation offer.’
The school’s counseling department runs a ‘Deployment Group,’ which allows students to discuss any issues or concerns they experience while their parent is gone. The counselors then offer strategies and tips that help students cope.
Imagine Andrews also welcomes non-military families, and offers student enrollment based on a lottery system in which parents apply and applicants are chosen, based on space availability, at random. For more information on the school, visit www.imagineandrews.org.”
Article published on October 14, 2011 by CapFlyer.com