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More Than a School

The Joan Fortune Campus opened its doors in 1997. Set amongst historic grand oak trees, the campus is located on 22nd Avenue South in St. Petersburg's "midtown".
The school initially opened to boys in grades 5 and 6 and added a new class each year until the campus held boys in grades 5 through 8. In the summer of 2000, the St. Petersburg campus opened to girls in grade 5. The campus now serves a full complement of boys and girls in grades 5 through 8.

Academy Prep's impact is most evident through the success of its graduates. Founded in a neighborhood where less than 37% of students were graduating from high school, 95% of Academy Prep's graduates are currently in high school, college, or have already begun successful careers.

 
Congratulations Academy Prep Class of 2009!

Cecil Stodghill & GradsOn May 21st, 2009, a group of 15 8th graders walked across the stage at the Palladium Theatre in downtown St. Petersburg. Their families and friends filled the auditorium to show their love and support as these young people crossed a major threshold in their young lives. They had done it. Despite the long hours, the countless homework assignments, and the blood, sweat and tears they had to endure, they completed 4 years at Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg, and it was time to recognize their accomplishments.

The ceremony began with some opening words by Head of School, Dr. Keturah Mills. The Chair of the Board, Linda Marcelli, recognized all the volunteers and sponsors that have been alongside these students, encouraging and supporting them. Graduates Kezra Johnson and Lily-Anne Saengthong recited poems in honor of this memorable time in their lives. Guest speaker Andrew Williams, Academy Prep Class of 2000 and Dickenson College Class of 2008, gave some inspirational advice to the Class of 2009. He encouraged them to continue to fight the good fight, and spoke of the significant impact Academy Prep had on his success.

The Academy Prep Choir, with the help of the rest of the graduates, gave a special performance of the song "Graduation" as a slide show containing four years of memories together played in the background.

After several special awards were presented, the time came to receive diplomas. Each graduate walked across the stage and received the paper that had been four years in the making. Parents cheered as tears of joy ran down many faces. The day they had been waiting for had arrived.

So Academy Prep loosened its apron strings, and sent a new crop of graduates in to the world. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors. They truly are, the Greatest!

 

Academy Prep Students Win Regional Science Fair Awards!

On January 14, 2009 Academy Prep held its annual science fair. All students were required to complete a science fair project. The objective of this project was to provide every child hands-on experience using the scientific method. School wide, the top three projects were completed by:

  •  Aleah Black titled "Stains, Stains, Go Away"
  •  Markee Davis titled "Water Purification"
  •  Craig Bowman and Adrian Snead titled "Paper Chromatography of Skittles"
These students did an excellent job researching, conducting, and explaining their experiments. The judges were extremely impressed.

For the first time Academy Prep competed in the Pinellas Regional Science and Engineering Fair. The fair was a day-long event held at Seminole Middle School. The students did an outstanding job representing themselves, their families and Academy Prep. Excitingly, Markee, Craig and Adrian were recognized with awards in their respective divisions. At an awards ceremony at Largo High School Markee Davis was awarded 4th place in the Environmental Science division. Craig Bowman and Adrian Snead were awarded 3rd place in the Chemistry division. We are very proud of their efforts and look forward to next year's competition.
 

Academy Prep Places In The Top 3 For Both Girls' And Boys' Basketball Tournaments

Girls

The Academy Prep Girls' Basketball Team took second place in the 2009 St. Pete Christian Basketball Tournament. In the opening round, the girls defeated St. Raphael's Catholic School. The semifinal round matched the girls against a tough St. Pete Christian squad, who had previously defeated the Lady Eagles. The AP girls won a physical game by three points, thanks in part to outstanding defensive efforts by Shaniqua Mitchell and Sanobia Turner, and clutch late-game free throws from Bryanna Franklin and Tianah Alvarado. The Lady Eagles came up short in the final against a talented St. Paul's team to take second place in the tournament. Way to go girls!

Boys

In the opening round of the 2009 St. Pete Christian Basketball Tournament, the boys lost a tough game to eventual champion Skycrest Christian. However, the boys recovered to win three straight games and bring home the third place trophy. The team defeated Independent Day School, St. Raphael's, and host St. Pete Christian to finish the season on a high note. The boys were led by outstanding offensive efforts from Craig Bowman, Todd Macon, and Will Anderson. In addition, the team worked hard and hustled to execute Coach Angie Hall's intense pressure defense. Great job guys!

 

For additional information, Click HereAre you an Education major who needs observation hours?

Observation Hours Available

To arrange your orientation and free background
check, contact:
Jessica Strong
Phone 727-322-0800, x 2104
or Email jstrong@academyprep.org

For additional information, Click Here

 
APSP AmeriCorps Teacher Featured In Ebony Magazine

Jennifer Ubiera, Academy Prep St. Petersburg teacher, was featured in the November 2008 issue of Ebony Magazine, one of the oldest and most successful African-American magazines, for her opinion of the Democratic presidential nominee.

Ms. Ubiera was interviewed for the Ebony story, “President Obama: What could it mean for Black America?” following the Senator’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for president:

“…sees herself in Barack Obama. ‘His story is my life, [growing up with] the single mom, student loans, wanting to give my life to service,’ she says. ‘He understands the story [of struggle] because he is the story. Listening to him, I felt inspiration to believe that I can make a difference and give my students real hope that they can do what everyone said they couldn’t.’”

Ms. Ubiera was contacted by local reporters as a follow-up to The Tampa Tribune special report, “In the Mix,” chronicling the lives of biracial Tampa Bay area residents in which she was featured. Ms. Ubiera chose the AmeriCorps program at Academy Prep because she believes in the mission of the school and their plan for their students to attain success. Obama’s ticket plans to expand the AmeriCorps program to serve more volunteers like Ms. Ubiera. She holds a bachelor’s degree (Philosophy) from the University of South Florida. Ms. Ubiera joined the Academy Prep family this year.
 
Andrew Williams – First College Grad from Academy Prep
May 28, 2008 - Sandi Pearl, free-lance writer, photographer

Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, established in 1783, held its graduation for the class of 2008 on Sunday, May 16. Andrew Williams of St. Petersburg was one of its more than 525 graduates.

Graduating with a B.A. in American Studies was just another major accomplishment for this hard-working young man. One of the first students to attend Academy Prep School in St. Petersburg when it opened in 1997, Williams was the first of his class to graduate from college. He spent his high school years at St. Andrews Prep School in Delaware on full scholarship, before going on to Dickinson, also on full scholarship.

His long-time mentors and sponsors, Charles Ehrlich and Sandi Pearl of St. Petersburg, were on hand for the ceremony. Ehrlich, a St. Petersburg attorney and Dickinson 1967 grad, presented the diploma to Williams along with college president Bill Durden amid a steady downpour of spring rain. The audience also included the graduate's mother, Tonya Mathis; his sister, Angela Parks; family friend Tim Collins; Gillian Barnes, development director at Academy Prep; and Jay Hardwick (Dickinson class of 2000), former teacher at Academy Prep.

While at Dickinson, Williams wrote for the school newspaper, The Dickinsonian, and the school's online publication, The Dickinson Extra. During the spring of his junior year, he was elected a Junior Class Senator in the Student Senate. As a senior, he worked on the Senior Class Gift Drive, encouraging students to donate to the college’s Annual Fund.

His next accomplishment? Williams has just landed a job in Washington D.C. with The Advancement Project.

Academy Prep is a private, middle school for children of low-income families in south St. Petersburg. All students, grades 5-8, attend the school on full scholarships, through the generous donations of individuals and corporations.
  
St. Petersburg School Makes Time For Variety Of Classes
St. Petersburg Times
By Ron Matus, Times Staff Writer
Published Sunday, April 13, 2008


Students at Academy Prep in St. Petersburg start their day Tuesday with the Pledge of Allegiance.

School ends for many at 6 p.m., two hours after public middle schools in Pinellas County close.


At 3:39 p.m., a half-dozen middle school students at Academy Prep, a private school in south St. Petersburg, tie on aprons. Eggs crack. Pots rattle. Bouillon cubes plunk into hot water.

"If we're doubling the recipe, how many do we need?" asks the teacher, Shan Anderson.

"Six," a student says, adding three more cubes to the broth.

For the Academy Prep kids, today's cooking lesson is chicken soup and corn bread.

Read Ron Matus' article Click Here ( 63K PDF)

 
 
 
   
What's New

Wish Upon A Star
Can You Grant A Wish?
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2009-2010
School Calendar


2009-2010 School Calendar
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Identifying and Reporting
Professional Misconduct
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