Open Meadow poetry students will be reading their poetry on Thursday, May 8.  The event will be held at Anna Bananas, 8617 N. Lombard, 7:00 pm -9:00pm.  Working under the instruction of teacher/advocate Paige Knight, Open Meadow’s students find their voice through poetry.  In addition to the reading, a compilation of the students’ work will be published later in the school year.  The 2007-08 poetry program has been made possible through a generous grant from The Safeway Foundation and individual donations to Open Meadow.

Please join us for a creative and fun evening!

Open Meadow is proud to have provided supporting testimony and evidence to the attached Government Accountability Office report (PDF) commissioned by US Representative George Miller on the role of alternative education as a bridge for disconnected youth to employment and education.  We are, of course, disappointed that the title of the report reads “Federal Action COULD Address Some of the Challenges...” and believe that the COULD should be changed to SHOULD.  Nonetheless, the report provides strong content that highlights KEY ELEMENTS of programs effective at re-connecting disconnected youth, and ultimately recommends increased flexibility and technical assistance at the program level to assure that services are available and accessible to the youth most in need of support.

From its very beginning, Open Meadow has played a critical role in Connected by 25, a city-wide initiative designed to engage disconnected youth in careers, college, and community by age 25.  The article below by the Mayor and a board member from Connected by 25 highlights the importance and stepped-up urgency of the initiative.  Open Meadow continues to expand its STEP UP program that provides essential transition support for public middle school students in need of additional attention as they enter high school.  Get connected to STEP UP and Connected by 25!

Eric Parsons, CEO of The Standard, recently donated studio recording time at Michael Allen Harrison’s studio to Open Meadow.  Our high school choir took advantage of this wonderful opportunity to record an original song ‘We are Open Meadow’.  You can listen to the song by downloading the file and playing it on your computer using Quick Time, iTunes, Windows Media Player or another audio device.  The lyrics to the song are below.  Open Meadow’s mascot is the goat.

OPEN MEADOW SCHOOL SONG
Composition & Lyrics by; Silvia Lopez, Sade Hollis, Peggy Maher,
Samantha Rodriguez, Chareese Ottelle, Michelle Blackshear, & Laura Modena
Musical Score; Newel Briggs; Michael Allen Harrison

CHORUS: 
We are Open Meadow
We give Respect
We are Open Meadow
Nothin’ but the Best!

Verse #1: 
We are Strong
We are Intelligent
We are Goats
We gone Represent

CHORUS: 
We are Open Meadow
We give Respect
We are Open Meadow
Nothin’ but the Best!

Verse#2: 
Goats are Tough
With Integrity
Goats are Strong
Like our Family

CHORUS: 
We are Open Meadow
We give Respect
We are Open Meadow
Nothin’ but the Best!

Verse #3: 
Green and White
Our Colors fresh and sweet
Like our School
You know we can’ be Beat!

CHORUS:  1.5X
We are Open Meadow
We give Respect
We are Open Meadow
Nothin’ but the Best

WE ARE OPEN MEADOW!!

Open Meadow CRUE student Pat Rhodes put together a newsletter for his senior project.  In Pat’s words, “ I created this newsletter to expand and elevate the participation from parents and the community alike.” You can read the first edition of The Open Meadow Advocate by clicking on the link below.

The Open Meadow Advocate (PDF)