Link’s Class of 2022 officially moved up to Link’s Upper House as 7th graders in virtual ceremony on Tuesday, June 16th. After an awards ceremony celebrating student achievements for the year, Link’s Student Government President and its Head of School welcomed the class as they “stepped up” into the Upper House. Congratulations, Class of 2022 on your accomplishments and best to you next year! Enjoy the ceremony in the video below.
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Message to Link Families from the Head of School on Racial Injustice
Good evening, Link families. I have been deeply troubled by the horrific events in recent days, weeks and months that took the lives of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, as well as the bias incident involving Christian Cooper that took place closer to home. My heart is heavy as we witness yet another series of atrocities, on top of great stress and anxiety around the current health crisis. As a human being and a school leader educating Black youth, I want to acknowledge what is taking place — hate crimes, police brutality, and bias; all motivated by racism and bigotry. I feel the weight of these murders and of the reckless disregard for life. I know that you and your children are suffering, that you are angry and dismayed, and that you are looking for justice. I stand in solidarity with you and our scholars and call out these injustices. Our children are struggling with their own emotions and reactions, trying to make sense of what they see and struggling to secure for themselves a future that is safe. I sent our students a message a little while ago and wanted to share it with you as well. Click here for the video.
We are calling for community circles to gather each grade level and urge every student to join us. Scholars are receiving invitations to Google Meet. I also invite you to join your child or children. We want to provide a safe space for our scholars to exercise their voice. We hope to see many of you and our scholars tomorrow or Monday, depending on the grade level. Our social workers, nurse, deans, Ms. Hester and I are all here to support our school community. Please reach out if we can provide anything specific.
Please remain safe and know that we all stand together for racial justice!
Peace,
Maria Pilar Paradiso
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!
This is special week to honor our awesome and hard working teachers. In the best of times, they provide an excellent education for all of our Linkers. In these trying times – a result of school building closure doe to COVID-19, they have gone above and beyond.
Within one day of the closure due to COVID-19, Link staff launched a robust distance learning program, and since then have continued to improve and expand instruction so that 100% of our scholars are engaged. At the same time they have remained in constant communication through video, email, and phone calls with their students and their families, not only about instruction, but also checking on their well-being during this unprecedented time. In addition, teachers are continuing to collaborate, just as they would at school, holding meetings, receiving instructional coaching, and participating in professional development sessions through videoconferencing.
Our teachers haven’t missed a beat in ensuring our scholars continue their excellent Link education. Their efforts have been Herculean! And, so, we want to thank and honor them as heroes – for their tremendous efforts, their resiliency, and their ability to adapt to a new reality.
Celebrating Link’s cafeteria staff
A huge shout out to Link cafeteria staff led by Ms. Marlene Wilson as we celebrate the 8th Annual National School Lunch Hero Day on Friday, May 1, 2020. Link students and staff thank Ms. Wilson, Ashley, and Rashad – the school nutrition professionals – who make a difference for every child who comes through the cafeteria. Special kudos go to Ms. Wilson who has been coming to school since the school closure due to COVID-19 to prepare, pack, and distribute breakfast and lunch meals for families and who delivered elective supplies and food to many of students’ homes.
Link’s Enrollment Lottery to be held online
Link Community Charter School will hold a virutal enrollment lottery at 5pm pn Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Families who have submitted applications are invited to watch the lottery from their homes. Here is the information you need to observe the lottery:
Time: Apr 22, 2020 05:00 PM Eastern TimeJoin Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/
Password: LINK2020
Support Link’s distance learning program for students during COVID-19 school closure
Our partner, Link Education Partners, Inc., is working to ensure that Link Community Charter School has the resources to sustain a robust distance learning program and vital services over the course of the health related school closure due to COVID-19. Read the important message from Maria Pilar Paradiso below regarding the school’s response to the closure and why your support is so important now. Click here to donate today!
March 25, 2020
Dear Link friends,
I hope that this message finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. Our thoughts and prayers go out to every member of the Link community. This is an unprecedented time in our region, nation, and world. Things are changing by the minute and we are called on to re-imagine how we live, work, learn, and play. At Link, we believe in the strength and value of community and know that together we must respond to this crisis with compassion, dedication and a creative spirit.
For Link families, many of which are in need, we must do more than a traditional school. Link Education Partners has been working with Link Community Charter School to provide support to scholars and their families as they transition to online learning and cope with what can be a completely overwhelming situation. Together, we have been working to provide:
- Chromebooks
- WiFi hotspots
- Technology support
- Books for independent reading
- School breakfast and lunch pickup
- Continuation of arts instruction and advisory lessons
- Support from our social workers and nurseContinued support for high school transition to our 8th graders
- Remote access to school operations
As Link continues with distance learning over the coming weeks, we expect to confront new challenges and emerging needs, but we remain committed to supporting our students through this situation. Technology has become more important than ever as we strive to harness its opportunity for learning, while recognizing the digital divide is very real for underserved communities. We cannot clearly identify all of the needs at this time but we must be ready to help our families with creative approaches and resources in the coming days, weeks and possibly months.
The coming months are vital as we move towards our final fundraising push of the year. We have however cancelled fundraising events, including our 50th Anniversary Alumni Gala and Annual Women’s Breakfast in light of the current situation. We are truly grateful for the strong partnerships that have always sustained our mission. And your continued support will be critical as we move forward.
We will continue to update you on our work. And, together, we will draw from the strength of our community and we will persevere, supporting our young scholars.
Sincerely,
Maria Pilar Paradiso
Executive Director, Link Education Partners