Dear Friends and Supporters,

ACCESS is at the threshold of monumental growth, and faced with many opportunities to not only expand operations, but the number of students served. To say it is an exciting time would be an understatement, and I am thankful to be a part of this strong team of leadership as we move forward.

First off, the 2014-15 school year is about to begin, and the principals, academy directors, faculty, and staff at our three Archdiocesan partner schools are readying their buildings. Their leadership is monumental in the academic, emotional and spiritual success of our students, and I urge everyone to lend a hand during this critical time by volunteering to help set up classrooms and the grounds for new and returning students.

Secondly, as many of you have heard, Blake Youde, our Executive Director, is moving to Boise, Idaho, to tend to personal family matters. We have begun the necessary search to find his replacement, and thank Blake for his dedication and leadership to ACCESS as well as our students. Blake’s last day will be September 30^th; however, in the meantime, we will be conducting a thorough search to find our new Executive Director. The search will be multi-faceted, and include several interviews and reference checks. Click here to read the job description.

The Board of Directors expects the transition in leadership to be smooth as we remain very involved in the daily operations of ACCESS, and will be guiding the new Executive Director through his/her introduction and establishment. We would also like to note that the team of Carolyn Dubuque, Betsy Liberatore, and Julie Linder will continue to serve in their official roles as main office support for ACCESS.

Thank you for your encouragement during this period of change, growth, and opportunity. Should you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to call (314)898-0430.

Sincerely,

John Vatterott
Chairman, Board of Directors
ACCESS Academies

ACCESS Academies Welcomes New Graduate Support Specialist at Most Holy Trinity School & Academy

ACCESS Academies would like to welcome Nicholas McDowell as the Graduate Support Specialist for Most Holy Trinity School and Academy. He will serve students in grades 6-12.

Through the NativityMiguel Model of Education program, McDowell will play a critical role in the extended school day program at the middle school level. He will also provide tutoring, mentoring, tuition assistance, counseling and other forms of assistance to graduates through their high school years.

“Advocating for students and their families has been a passion of mine throughout my professional career. I didn’t have someone looking out for me while I was in school, and it was challenging. I wanted to go to college, but didn’t know how to get there,” he said.

Professionally, McDowell has worked for non-profits for the past ten years. Most recently, he worked as an after school director for Provident Counseling to improve the mental and behavioral health of school-aged children in urban settings. A former semi-professional football player for Gateway Soul and the St. Louis Saints, he also coached youth-aged sports, which gave him the opportunity to build relationships with kids while setting boundaries and earning respect as a mentor.

“Nick has served as a substitute teacher and volunteer over the past year at Most Holy Trinity. In that time, he has built a great relationship with the students and their families. They respect him, but more importantly, they trust he will advocate for their children,” said Jessica Kilmade, principal.

McDowell began work officially June 2 with the kickoff of the extended school year program, but hit the ground running before that date by cheering 8^th graders at their graduation ceremony before taking them to Six Flags. He also has called, mailed letters, and made personal introductions to the high school students. He currently is assisting with building renovations at Most Holy Trinity while simultaneously working the extended school year program and the week-long Summer Scholars program at St. Louis University.

For more information regarding this release, please contact Julie Linder, Communications Director of ACCESS Academies, by calling (573) 2658-0639.

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St. Cecilia Educator Selected to Attend ACE Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame

ST. LOUIS, MO. June 27, 2014- Today, Mary Carlson, an educator from St. Cecilia School and Academy will begin earning her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership through the Alliance for Catholic Education’s Remick Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame.

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Approximately 550 supporters attended the 2014 NativityMiguel Scholarship Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel-St. Louis, raising over $565,000 for high tuition dollars. As part of the evening’s festivities, a video highlighting the program and the students of NativityMiguel was played. To view it, please click here. (Video produced by Dan Duffy Productions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Month-Long Dinner Special at Cielo to Support Scholarships

“Guests of Cielo who request the ACCESS dinner special will dine on Gnocchi with Leek, Gorgonzola, and Walnut Sauce,” said Executive Chef Gian Nicola Colucci. ALL proceeds will go toward high school tuition scholarships for college-prep high schools.

New Executive Chef of Four Seasons Hotel-St. Louis Creates Exclusive Dinner Special Supporting High School Tuition Scholarships

ST. LOUIS, MO. April 30, 2014– ACCESS Academies and the Vatterott Foundation have partnered with the Four Seasons Hotel-St. Louis to support high school tuition scholarships through the NativityMiguel Scholarship Fund. As a result, Executive Chef Gian Nicola Colucci will be offering an exclusive, Italian-themed dinner special at Cielo Restaurant & Bar now through June 3rd, with the proceeds benefiting the fund.

Chef Colucci, who was born in Turin, Italy, most recently worked as Executive Chef at Resort Danieli in Venice, Italy, before joining the Four Seasons Hotel-St. Louis in April. He will be overseeing all of the hotel’s culinary operations, including its modern Italian restaurant, Cielo Restaurant & Bar. This will be the first dinner special offered by Chef Colucci as the Executive Chef of the Four Seasons Hotel- St. Louis.

“Guests of Cielo who request the NativityMiguel dinner special will dine on Gnocchi with Leek, Gorgonzola, and Walnut Sauce,” he stated.

Cielo Restaurant & Bar features Modern Italian cuisine and soars to delicious heights, thanks to fresh, simple, local ingredients. Cielo brings a commitment to local farm-to-table meat and produce. Celebrate the best of spring and summer in St. Louis – with al fresco terrace views of the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River, enhanced by attentive Four Seasons service.

The St. Louis NativityMiguel Scholarship Fund Dinner, held June 4^th at the Four Season Hotel-St. Louis, raises high school tuition dollars for more than 300 NativityMiguel graduates from Most Holy Trinity School and Academy, St. Cecilia School and Academy, and St. Louis the King School at the Cathedral, as well as three independent NativityMiguel schools – De La Salle Middle School, Loyola Academy, Marian Middle School. The Scholarship Dinner also maintains its commitment to two schools that have closed – The Academy at King of Glory Lutheran School and Central Catholic Academy. To RSVP attendance for the dinner, please contact Blake Youde, Executive Director of ACCESS Academies, by calling (314) 898-0430.

For more information regarding this release, please contact:
Jennifer Intravia, Public Relations for Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels and Four Seasons Hotel-St. Louis, (314) 324-3809.
Julie Linder, Public Relations for ACCESS Academies, (573) 268-0639.

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