FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dawn A. Oliver, Director of Development
Morningside Academy
201 Westlake Avenue N
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206-709-9500
Seattle, WA—March 23, 2005—Seahawks players, Jerheme Urban and Niko Koutovides, will be signing autographs and meeting with guests along with local artists who have donated pieces of art for a Gala Evening and Auction to benefit Morningside Academy. Morningside Academy has been successfully helping children to catch up and get ahead for 25 years. The featured artwork at the auction will be a framed Mark Tobey print, “Gothic Cathedral” donated by the Woodside Braseth Gallery.
All are invited and encouraged to attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration on April 1, 2005 from 7-11pm aboard The Skansonia Ferryboat in Lake Union. “Celebrate Morningside” will be an evening of gourmet food, cash bar, art, auctions and dancing. The Josh Rawlings Trio from Cornish College will entertain while guests meet the Seahawks players, artists and donors whose philanthropy will help to change the lives of the children and youth this fundraiser will help.
Tickets are $30/person and include dinner, entertainment, and entrance to the live and silent auctions. All proceeds received will go directly to support the school, and donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Sponsorships are available, and Vulcan Inc., Silver Sponsor, has kicked off the sponsorships with a $5,000 donation.
Morningside Academy is a Grade 1—9 school that provides an education for children who may not have been successful in other settings and who may have a learning disability, ADHD or another disability. Thousands of children have been helped by The Morningside Model of Generative Instruction.
The Morningside Teachers’ Academy has provided partnerships with over 85 schools and agencies throughout the US and Canada. The Summer School Institute, an on-site teacher-training program, is offered annually. This 501(c) (3) school enjoys a national reputation attracting students and teachers from coast to coast.
Dr. Kent Johnson founded Morningside in Seattle 25 years ago, literally beginning the school in his living room. His vision has directed this research-based program to continually evolve to offer effective curriculum and teaching methods. According to Dr. Johnson, “At Morningside, teaching is adjusted until the student is successful. No one falls through the cracks.” Children’s median achievement test performance gains continue to grow about 2 grade levels per year in reading, language arts and math.
Dr. Johnson’s book, The Morningside Model of Generative Instruction: What It Means to Leave No Child Behind, co-authored by Dr. Elizabeth Street with a chapter by Dr. Joanne Robbins, longtime associate director of Morningside Academy, released in 2004, will be available for sale at the event or can be obtained, free of charge, with a $100 or more donation.
Parents have used the following words to describe their child’s experience at Morningside, “Lifesaver!” (Steve Romein), and “Godsend for our family and worth every penny,” (Susan Flores). Bob Douglas commented that his son struggled with reading for three years and that “in less than 3 months at Morningside he is reading.” Veronica Pietz, Director of Pierre Indian Learning Center in South Dakota recently commented about the Morningside Teachers’ Academy, “The expertise and the commitment to positively impact educators around the world is to be celebrated. Many of my teachers have stated that the interaction with Morningside has impacted them professionally more than their entire undergraduate and graduate careers combined.”
April Fool’s Day will mark a signal moment in the life of the school, its 25th Anniversary, and will provide a chance for the community to “give” back to this vital school by attending this gala event and/or making a donation.
For information: http://www.morningsideacademy.org
Or Contact: dawn@morningsideacademy.org
Phone: 206-709-9500
