Lamar High School's Talented Culinary Students Offered Cheesecake as Good as It Looks!
One of our favorite ways to spread the word about Communities In Schools is through our Outreach Luncheons. It seems to this Happy Board Member that the luncheons just get better and better. Last week, Lamar hosted such a luncheon under the careful leadership of board member Pat Rosenberg. And the event made for a lovely and informative afternoon. Pat opened the lunch with a helpful discussion of the 40 Developmental Assets, which she pointed out, has been adopted throughout HISD, but especially embraced by Lamar High School’s administration.
And then we were treated to Dr. McSwain’s explanation of the school’s vision to provide assistance to its students that is comprehensive and holistic. He stressed the importance of recognizing that many, many students have problems– from the simple to the serious– that are beyond academic. And most are issues that make learning and achieving impossible without help.
In furtherance of this goal, this is what Dr. McSwain said about what CIS does for the students of Lamar–
Sheleigh Beggs, Lamar’s CIS Project Manager, spoke about the different programs and services offered through the Student Services Center. And a luncheon highlight was when Lamar junior, Eddy, shared his experience with CIS. He credits CIS with keeping him in school and able to achieve in the face of very difficult family circumstances. Eddy impressed us all with his aspirations to attend Harvard University upon graduation.
CIS Board Member, Pat Rosenberg and Project Manager, Sheleigh Beggs
Mrs. Gwen Emmett, wife of County Judge Ed Emmett, mother, grandmother and former teacher, expressed her support and admiration of all that Communities In Schools does to keep kids in school and help them become “well-adjusted, responsible adults that can manage their lives.” She said even if your don’t value doing the right thing, you have to know that investing in children the way that CIS does “makes good fiscal sense!”
Mrs. Gwen Emmett, wife of Harris County Judge Ed Emmett
Several HISD Board members and state legislators were present to hear about how well Lamar funds are used to keep kids in school and what the programs mean to the school’s population of at-risk kids. I suspect they were as impressed with what CIS accomplishes on campus almost as much as they were wowed by the delicious lunch graciously served by Lamar’s Culinary Arts Program students… Still dreaming about that cheesecake!
CIS Board Member Pat Rosenberg, HISD Board Members Anna Eastman, Mike Lunceford and Ronda Skillern Jones, Lamar Principal, Dr. McSwain and CIS Executive Director, Cynthia Clay Briggs
Carlos Duncan, Chairman of the CIS Board, has his say!
Also to see Dr. McSwain discuss the success of Lamar’s Bridge Program, go to video HERE
And to see how CIS and Lamar High School are buidling a model for student mental health services, go to video HERE.
