Underground Books Band 3
Scholars Win Public Speaking Contest
On April 29, six dynamic Sac High Dragons competed in the inaugural Jack and Jill of America, Sacramento Chapter, Oratorical Contest, aimed at getting youth in the community to use public speaking as a way to showcase their leadership skills, as well as public speaking abilities. Founded in 1938, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.
A Middle School Limo Ride to Remember
For Quarter 3 of the 2016-17 school year (January-March) PS7 Middle School implemented an incentive system to motivate scholars to work their hardest and try their very best. Scholars who achieved proficient or advanced on all four of their end of quarter exams in each of their core classes – Math, ELA, History and Science – were celebrated with a limo ride to Round Table where they enjoyed an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet!
2017 Dragons to Attend Prestigious Universities
The 140 members of the Class of 2017 will be remembered as one of our most academically successful classes ever to walk through Sac High’s doors. For a second year in a row, 95% of the senior class were accepted to four year universities, but the quantity of students accepted to prestigious universities soared.
Scholar Spotlight: Mackenzie Martinelli
Sac High Senior Mackenzie Martinelli accepted a full-athletic scholarship to attend Oklahoma City University in the fall. The 5’ 10” softball standout is a 3-year varsity player with multi-purpose ability. Next year, Martinelli will step off the pitching mound and return to her normal shortstop position while playing for the OCU Stars.
Oak Park principals trade notes and honor students in school collaborative
Eighth-grader Araba Cudjoe watched from the sidewalk in front of her Oak Park school Thursday as a banner with her picture was hoisted on a pole high above Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Speaking to a crowd of politicians, principals, parents and students, the 13-year-old at Father Keith B. Kenny K-8 School wore the same shy and wide smile as the one on the banner as she explained it made her feel “special” to be honored. It proved, she said, that success was a matter of hard work after earning a 4.0 grade average and a years-long perfect attendance record.
Reading is our Superpower!
The week of February 21st-24th was Literacy Week for our PS7 scholars! Literacy Week started off with a trip to the Book Fair where scholars were able to fill out their own Wish Lists and find special books they wanted to purchase.
Teacher Profile: James Townsend
James Townsend is in his second year of teaching at St. HOPE, but he is no newbie to the family. Growing up in Oak Park, James got into quite a bit of trouble as a young kid. He attended Sac Prep for middle school, a former KIPP school that was located on the PS7 Elementary campus. It was in these years James encountered a principal and mentor who would change his life. He had never seen such a successful black male and with this picture in site, James began to envision his future of triumph.
Underground Books is Online
We are excited to announce that Underground Books is now selling online! The launch, spearheaded by St. HOPE employee and dragon alumni, Essence Noel, took place on February 23rd. Noel and team worked diligently over the past months to create a website that is both easy to navigate and captures the liveliness of the store.
Open Mic Night
To conclude Black History Month, a collective of scholars, staff and community members assembled for an evening of live poetry hosted by Sac High’s own Youth Activist Alliance. Twenty-one individuals performed for a crowd of over sixty guests, with topics including black pride, police brutality and black achievements. Snaps, cheers, applause and positive vibes were prevalent throughout the event.
Hanging Out In Oak Park
Sacramento Home Magazine
THIS CITY NEIGHBORHOOD is quickly becoming the place to be for Sacramento design obsessives. A slew of new boutiques, design businesses and places to eat and drink have recently opened in the vicinity of Broadway Triangle, architect Ron Vrilakas’ stylish mixed-used development. Here’s a look at some of our favorite places, both old and new.
Damas
St. HOPE Company Started by Kevin Johnson buys Oak Park building for $2.6 Million
February 21, 2017
BY LORETTA KALB
lkalb@sacbee.com
St. Hope Development Co. has purchased a two-story building on Alhambra Boulevard for $2.6 million as part of a larger mission to invest in Oak Park and bring education services closer to St. Hope Public Schools, a spokesman said Tuesday.
Kevin Johnson, an NBA All-Star and former Sacramento mayor, launched both the development company and the charter public schools system more than a decade ago.
Louie’s restaurant closing after 28-year run near Oak Park
Sac Bee - 2.15.17
Louie’s restaurant, a landmark since 1989, is closing March 31 but could reopen as a different sort of eating spot later this year.
Frank Louie, who has run the popular Chinese restaurant and catering operation for 28 years with his wife, Gloria Wong Louie, said the couple have been considering retirement for several years.
“We love this business.” Frank Louie said, “but we didn’t want to keep doing the day-to-day grind. We said, ‘Let’s move on to the next stage of our lives.’ ”
See the Lady Dragons Live
The Lady Dragons Basketball team is currently ranked #1 by the Sacramento Bee poll. Nipping at their heels is archrival and Bee #2 C.K. McClatchy. The Lions are eager to avenge their 54-48 loss to the Dragons during their first Metro League meeting in late January.
Sac Town Veg Fest Recap
On Saturday, January 28th, local families filled Sac High for this year’s Sac Town Veg Fest. In previous years the event had been held at other area schools. However, event organizer Glenn Destatte was adamant about hosting it in Oak Park and quickly booked Sac High. With over 45 vendors and presenters and ideal weather, the estimated 1,700 guests were in for a great time. Vendors sold food, handmade soaps and various health products. Destatte confirmed that most of the vendors sold out of their products before the event ended.
St. HOPE Scholar Profile: Ferrick Moore, Sac High Senior
Interview by Adrianne Hall
AH: How long have you been at St. HOPE and how has your experience been?
FM: It all started in 7th grade, when my parents felt I wasn’t being challenged at my current elementary school. They transferred me to PS7 Middle School… and that’s when the workload came. I thought I was at the top of my class, but I found out that there are a lot of other kids who are also putting in the work. I know now that the hard work I was doing helped prepare me for what’s to come in college.
SHPS Employee Wellness Fair
On January 25th, local organizations gathered for the St. HOPE Public Schools’ Employee Wellness Fair. The purpose of the fair was to provide opportunities to SHPS employees and inspire folks to take better care of themselves. In explaining a primary reason for the fair, Emily Heizer, a member of the SHPS Human Resources team who spearheaded the event said,”Teachers give so much to our students and we really wanted to do something special for them!”
10 things you didn’t know about the history of Oak Park
KXTV
Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood has a deep history.
While the area is experiencing some levels of renaissance, the neighborhood still carries much of the character it’s known for.
Located adjacent to Midtown Sacramento and within close proximity of Highway 99 and 50, Oak Park development began in the 1880s and has since grown into an urban community.
The future of Oak Park is still unknown as development plans are still being discussed, but the area’s roots still stand.
Kicking Off 2017 as a Family
After a restful holiday break, SHPS staff reunited before the return of students for a mid-year half day session of the St. HOPE Leadership Institute (SHLI) program. The purpose of SHLI is to align staff on the history, culture, and norms of St. HOPE, empower individuals to become leaders through public service and the development of effective solutions to urban challenges, and to strengthen the St. HOPE community across the entire organization.
200 Wins
During winter break Sac High varsity girls basketball coach Michele Massari accomplished two incredible feats. First, her Lady Dragons Basketball team captured the title at the nation’s most prestigious high school girls basketball tournament, the Nike Tournament of Champions, held annually in Arizona. Along the way to the championship coach Massari also secured her 200th win as Sac High’s head coach.
Historic Gateway Arch Returns to Oak Park in a Nod to Sacramento’s Past
Oak Park has brought back a piece of its past to help reinvent its future.
A new gateway arch has been installed at the entrance to the neighborhood’s McClatchy Park on Fifth Avenue, near the former site of a streetcar terminus that once served a thriving business district.
The arch is nearly identical to a sign that stood at the park’s entrance in the early 1900s, a time when Oak Park was the city’s first suburb.