Work Hard + Be Nice = Be the Change campaign

My friend Ali Nagle, who teaches at KIPP TEAM in Newark (she was one of KIPP's teachers of the year; see pics 4, 5 and 7 that I posted here: https://picasaweb.google.com/WTilson/KIPPSchoolSummit2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCILYyK-J7sjg1QE), is raising money again for the amazing Work Hard + Be Nice = Be the Change campaign that ties her students' success on their math tests to raising money for a school I'm involved with in Kenya (check out the pics at the end of this email).  We're talking very small amounts of money (most donations are well under $100) and you won't need to pay until the end of the trimester in March – commit now, pay later!  Just email Ali to participate at anagle@teamschools.org. 

Dear Friends,

About this time last year, your heart was filled with generosity and you decided to support my students at TEAM Academy, a KIPP School in Newark, New Jersey improve their math grades AND help students in Kenya. Whether you were a fan of TEAM's, a friend of Jane's, Judith's or Whitney's, you agreed to help our fifth graders earn A's in math and our campaign was a huge success on so many levels!

·         Our 5^th grade students at TEAM Academy earned more A's last year during trimester two than any group had in the past three years.

·         Additionally, with all of your help and generosity, we were able to send more than $3,500 to Kyandili in Kenya!

·         Students in Kyandili have access to more books and are becoming better readers every day!

Since the campaign was so successful last year, we are hoping to make the Work Hard + Be Nice = Be the Change campaign an annual event and our newest group of 5^th graders, the Class of 2019 is ready to go! The second trimester began a week ago and we are gearing up to launch our math challenge. All of the money raised will be sent to Kyandili Primary School in Kenya to purchase library books for our youngest readers at the school as well as pay a salary for a full time library teacher who will do small group, student centered reading instruction all day and after school!

We would like to invite you to pledge your support again this year, as well as invite a friend, colleague or two to join us as well. Remember, all you have to do is pledge a dime for every 80 or above TEAM Academy's 5^th graders earn on their math tests this trimester. If you would like to participate again this year, send me a quick email saying, "I'm in!".

Additionally, we would also like to invite all of our generous donors to come and visit TEAM Academy Tuesday, December 13^th from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Come and check out the school, see math classes in action, meet some of the students like Paul, Tayshon, Sundia and David who earned at least ten 80's last year during trimester 2. And meet the students who will be working hard to earn money for our friends in Kenya! We really hope you can join us. If you are interested, send me a quick email and I will send you the logistics J

All of the details about the campaign are listed below, as well as the videos from last year's campaign. Also take a look at the PHOTOS of the LIBRARY at Kyandili!!

Please forward this email along to any friends and family who you think may be interested in joining us and as always, send any questions or comments.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Ali Nagle

TEAM Schools website: www.teamschools.org & videos from last year's campaign http://facebook.com/pages/Math-is-life/171068999594081