Message from the Chief Executive Officer
Dear Maritime Cadets, Families, Staff, Teachers and Community Members,
Welcome Back to the 2019-2020 School Year! As the new Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Academy Charter School, I would like to introduce myself to you. I am a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Georgetown University Law School. I hold a Master License of Steam and Motor Vessels, of any gross tons, oceans unlimited. I have been in the general practice of law including admiralty and maritime law for many years. Our school was founded by Dr. Ann Waiters, myself, Dante Mattioni and Edward Poznek. Since 2003, when our school received its first charter, I have served Maritime Academy Charter School’s Board of Directors as legal counsel and was Chairman of the Board for the last ten years. I have not missed a graduation ceremony since we opened. I am extremely dedicated and very enthusiastic to begin my new role as CEO and look forward to a year full of many challenges and accomplishments.
We have many maritime programs and initiatives available to the cadets of MACS. Some examples are: Maritime Studies; Sea Cadets; Sea Perch; Boat Building, both here and at the Independence Seaport Museum; Sailing, sailboats and the tall ship Niagara; Sea Shanty Chorus; Color Guard; experiences at SUNY Maritime College and Mystic Seaport in Connecticut; and field trips to marine terminals. We have a very strong and active relationship with the United States Coast Guard. Coasties are mentors and our cadets regularly attend USCG station Philadelphia and boot camp at station Cape May. Our Sea Cadet program is the only sea cadet program in the City of Philadelphia.
We encourage all of our cadets to develop an interest in the maritime field of higher education and provide many maritime opportunities for exploration. Our goal is to give our cadets an appreciation of our nation’s maritime heritage and encourage them to love things maritime and become active members of the maritime workforce.
We are proud of our many success stories which include two of our female cadets who are current students at SUNY Maritime College and a recent graduate who is attending Maine Maritime College. Many of our cadets serve on active duty in the US Coast Guard and US Navy. It should be noted that women have been well received in maritime education and career opportunities. They are Captains and Chief Engineers of US Merchant Ships and Executives in many maritime related businesses.
This year, our school theme is “Year of Mathematics and Be Rich in Kindness”. We will be providing additional supports and interventions, if necessary, to our students who may need extra help in some areas. Our school website has been reformatted and revised, and we encourage you to visit it at www.maritimecharter.org. It includes all the latest news and information needed for students and parents along with many photographs from all of the activities, sports and events that are held throughout the school year.
Maritime’s Board of Directors is also committed to seeing that our cadets have an outstanding experience. The Board is composed of members of the maritime industry and educational partners seeking to fulfill the mission of MACS - “to provide a nurturing environment that develops a strong sense of community, individual self-confidence and the recognition of the strength of differences across people and all cultures.”
Thank you for your support and cooperation in helping make our school a success, and we welcome your continued participation as we achieve our goals in a safe, positive and rewarding environment. We are committed to giving our cadets the best learning experience attainable!
I look forward to an amazing year of accomplishments, activities and events for MACS and invite you to join me in making the 2019-2020 school year the best year yet!
Sincerely,
Eugene Mattioni, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
Message from the Elementary School Principal
Welcome Back Maritime Cadets and Families,
I hope everyone had a great summer and are ready and eager to return for the 2019-2020
school year. The summer is an important time to reflect on the previous year and think about
ways to improve as a cadet and a citizen in the coming school year. We will have two major
themes this year, one academic and one social-emotional. This will be the “Year of Math” as we
will work to improve math instruction and learning at both the elementary and the high school.
We will also work to be “Rich in Kindness”, this initiative reflects our commitment to Responsive
Classroom and the growing need in the world to treat each other with kindness and
compassion.
Last year we began using Responsive Classroom as a school wide behavior and learning model.
This school year we will continue with Responsive Classroom and go beyond morning meetings
to incorporate the four pillars of Responsive Classroom: engaging academics, effective
management, developmentally responsive teaching, and positive community.
This fall we will have, for the first time, 1 st graders here at the elementary school. We have been
working over the summer to provide some enhancements to building 106 to house these young
cadets. This grade expansion became possible when the School Reform Commission allowed
us to add 155 seats over the next two years as part of our charter renewal. Next year we hope
to add kindergarten and have a K to 12 school.
This summer the elementary school was approved for cohort 10 of the 21 st Century Community
Learning Center grant. This grant is specifically designated to provide out of school time
supports for our 1 st and 2nd graders. Between cohort 10 and cohort 7, which still runs for another
year we are now able to provide robust programming for cadets in 1st through 12th grade.
We are trying to continue to find ways to get parents more involved in our school community.
One of the best ways to be involved is through our Home and School organization. We will be
holding elections for the Home and School officers in September. Even if you cannot commit to
being an officer we hope that you will come out to our Home and School meetings and
participate in the awesome events that they sponsor.
Sincerely,
Peter B. Saunders, ME.d
Principal Maritime Academy Elementary School
Message from the High School Principal
Dear Maritime Cadets, Families, Staff, Teachers and Community Members,
Welcome back to the 2019-2020 school year. I hope you are renewed, recharged and ready for another productive school year.
I believe that over the summer you had an opportunity to reflect on the previous school year and capture some points of pride. Below I share some of the highlights of our collective work during the 2018-2019 year. By many accounts it was a robust year of accomplishments.
First, I want to acknowledge and thank Board Chairman Mr. Mattioni, all the board members, staff, teachers and leadership team for their efforts, focus and dedication to the vision and mission of Maritime Academy Charter School. Below are some highlights of the year:
- On June 6th, we had a very successful graduation. Of the 61 seniors - Forty-five (45) will be attending college, four (4) are entering the military, one (1) will be attending Maine Maritime Academy, and eleven (11) are entering the workforce.
- We have continued improvement in our average daily attendance by reaching 92.18%. Our goal is 95% attendance for every cadet. Keeping absences at six (6) or less days for the year.
- One cadet is attending Maine Maritime Academy in the fall. Fourteen (14) attended summer Maritime Programs – eight (8) enjoyed the Independent Seaport Museum, four (4) sailed the Niagara Tall Ship, two (2) spent a week at SUNY Maritime College in New York City, and one (1) traveled to Buzzards Bay, Mass for three days of maritime experiences at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
- We implemented a one to one technology program at the high school.
- There were over 50 field trips to 31 locations. The boat-building program was a huge success.
Secondly, it is important to note that although we made great strides in many areas, we still have a lot of work to do in the areas of mathematics and science. The Keystone Exams data suggest that entirely too many students are not meeting with proficiency and the standards that will ensure access to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
This coming year our theme is “Year of Mathematics and Be Rich in Kindness.” We will provide additional supports in mathematics and we will maintain high standards of conduct. We will closely review and rethink curriculum, instruction and interventions to accelerate learning in mathematics and science.
It is clear we are making a difference in the lives of the cadets we serve every day. It is a collective effort that requires focused energy. Thank you all for your commitment and dedication.
In closing, I am excited about the coming year and I am confident the 2019-2020 will be another amazing year. I truly look forward to serving the Maritime Cadets with love and to provide a high quality education to every cadet.
Sincerely,
Lucy Feria
Principal
Message from the Director of Specialized Services
Dear Maritime Cadets, Families, Staff, Teachers and Community Members,
Welcome back to the 2019-2020 school year. I hope you are ready for an exciting and productive school year!
I would like to thank Board Chairman Mr. Mattioni, all the board members, staff, teachers and administrative teams for their dedication, child centered focus and support over the 2018-19 school year.
Over the summer, I have the opportunity to reflect on the past school year and celebrate those successes we, as a special education team, were an integral part of. I would like to share some highlights from the 2018-19 school year:
- Our transition program has become a point of pride. One of our students will be attending Maine Maritime Academy in the fall. All of our student, age 16 and over, obtained part-time employment through the assistance of Ms. Curley and Ms. Gara. Beginning in the 2019-20 school year, we will be offering an independent living class at both the elementary and high school, to select students, to assist with independence, self-advocacy and transition to either high school, college or career.
- Cyclical Monitoring was closed on 2/7/19. We were found to be in full compliance with state regulations. We have begun an internal audit to insure that we follow all required items and timelines.
- Our special education students are continuing to make progress, with some of our students achieving both Proficient or Advanced on the PSSA. We will be continuing to monitor individual progress with an increase in Progress Monitoring reports.
We are excited for the start of the new school year. Look for both new faces and changes in the special education programming to further assist our students in growing academically and being well prepared for life after school –in the community, in secondary school, in career or in work.
In closing, I would like to to thank each of you for choosing Maritime Academy Charter school. Iam excited about the coming year and I am confident the 2019-2020 will be another wonderful year. I truly look forward to serving the Maritime Cadets with dedication and to provide a high quality education to every cadet.
Sincerely,
Kimberley Bonanni
Director of Specialized Services