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Academy Prep Center of Tampa
 
Transforming Our Communities...
One Child at a Time.
   
Opportunities to Invest in a Child
For the full brochure, Click Here ( .7 M PDF)
 
MORE THAN A MIDDLE SCHOOL

In our Tampa Bay community, many remarkable young people dream of a real opportunity for success and fulfillment. These children are talented, creative, and have the will to transform their lives – lives that will in turn transform our community. However, these kids live in some of the poorest areas of Ybor and East Tampa. Most live in single-parent households and know few people who have graduated from college. Many of their families live day to day struggling to make ends meet. These tenacious young people live among us - just down the road.

In our own back yard, there is a place that offers a real opportunity for these children. The Academy Prep Center for Education provides one of the most unique education programs in Florida. We are more than a middle school. At the core of our mission, Academy Prep provides an exemplary, college preparatory middle school education coupled with a comprehensive set of life changing services, while closely supporting our graduates all the way through high school, college and into their careers. This combination of strategies helps guide Academy Prep students to a life fulfilled.

Discovering a proven academic model for similar children utilized across the country, the NativityMiguel Network of Schools, Academy Prep leaders started the St. Petersburg Center in 1997. Encouraged by the first Center’s success, the Tampa Center opened in 2003, renovating a century-old historic landmark – Ybor City’s first grammar school.

Academy Prep’s 5th—8th grade students:

• must be eligible for the free or reduced-price federal school meals program, setting their income near or below the U.S. poverty line.
• attend school up to 11 hours a day, 6 days a week, nearly year round in small classes of no more than 17 boys or 17 girls, with most classes taught by gender.
• receive a full range of academics, including preparatory level English, literature, mathematics, science, social studies, writing, art, drama, library skills, and computer lab
• participate each day in afternoon enrichment programs including classes and programs in dance, music, karate, chess, various sports, art, Scouts, career development, social skills, leadership skills, and community service.The day closes with a mandatory study hall from 5-6 pm.
• take part in required Saturday field trips, community service activities, and an 11th month program in June.
• are served by a variety of corporate and non-profit community partners and individuals with over 9,000 hours of volunteer time - a third of that service completed by our families.
• are closely supported by our Graduate Support Services staff, helping each graduate and his/her family through the opportunities and challenges of high school and college.
Mission
To inspire and empower economically disadvantaged urban students to be future community leaders through a rigorous middle school program coupled with ongoing graduate support.

Vision
To be the premier Tampa urban middle school which prepares hundreds of economically disadvantaged students to achieve academic success and become community leaders.

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55 Seconds Of Academy PrepScouting for Fun at Academy Prep Center of Tampa

Judge Chris Altenbernd has been active with the Boy Scouts of America "forever," he says, but this is his first time as Scoutmaster. He leads Troop 100 at Academy Prep in Tampa, with help from Assistant Scoutmaster Rocky Milburn. The troop began last October with the 5th grade boys. This year, the core group will be in the 6th grade, and they will welcome in a new group of 5th graders. Click Here to read more of 55 Seconds of Academy Prep
 

55 Seconds Of Academy PrepAcademy Prep Students Honored
In Three Local Art Shows

This spring and summer, the artwork of Academy Prep students has been featured in three local art shows - the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, the Ybor School of Visual and Performing Arts Gallery at the Hillsborough Community College Ybor campus and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in downtown Tampa.

Click Here to read more of 55 Seconds of Academy Prep

 
 Thank you to our 8th Grade Community Partners!

Mataldi Morris delivers his opening remarks for Mock Trial.


We had several work-based learning classes for our 8th grade through the support of Community Partners Ogden and Sullivan Law Firm, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, and Capital One Auto Finance.

Through this interaction the students learned problem-solving, decision-making applications, hands-on work experience, job skills, and career opportunities.


Brianna Wharton and Volunteer Lawyer Ms. Abraham work on her cross examination for the Mock Mediation.
 

Students participate in a problem solving practicum. >

 

< Students learn the different job roles during a Mock ER.

 
 

Boy Scout Troop 100 Heads to the Woods

Did you know that Academy Prep’s Boy Scout Troop 100 is lead by the Honorable Chris Altenbernd and other volunteers the Judge has recruited? The troop meets every Tuesday working on projects to reach the rank of Second Class.

The troop spent a full Saturday exploring Croom Trail north of Tampa. The hike was a requirement to reach the rank of Second Class and the boys even prepared a meal together.

Judge Altenbernd shared these thoughts…

“The young men in Troop 100 are model scouts, and the troop has been a wonderful experience for them and for the adult leaders. If these Fifth Grade scouts can stay in the troop through Eighth Grade, I think many of them will reach the highest rank, Eagle, and develop leadership skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.”


Thank you to the great leaders of Troop 100!

 
Low In Income, But
Soaring In Dedication


The Tampa Tribune
By Marilyn Brown
Published Tuesday, March 4, 2008

TAMPA - Before dawn, students begin pulling wheeled backpacks into their 1.9-acre weekday home wedged between a Cuban bakery and a dry cleaner, a scant block from traffic whizzing overhead on Interstate 4 in Ybor City.

The 10- to 14-year-olds in green or white polo shirts and navy pants or skirts mingle or sit on the walkway, propped up against block walls, reading, writing or chatting.

Daylight sneaks in as they shift to green metal benches under a sprawling oak, downing cereal and milk or just socializing. By the time they line up by grade and sex in front of their century-old schoolhouse, it's nearly 7:30 a.m.

Read Marilyn Brown's article Click Here ( 1M PDF)

 
 
   
What's New?

Scouting for Fun
Academy Prep
Click Here

Students Honored in Three Local Art Shows
Click Here


Community Partners
Click Here


Boy Scout Troop 100
Click Here


Low In Income,
But Soaring In Dedication

Click Here



Opportunities to Invest in a Child

For the full brochure
Click Here ( 1.0 M PDF)

Student Sponsorship
Click Here ( 208K PDF)

An AmeriCorps Teacher's Experience - Click Here To Read


2009 - 2010
School Calendar

AP Tampa 2009-2010 Calendar
Click Here ( 27K PDF)



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