Catalyst Board of Directors' Meeting will be Monday June 22, 2015 at 3:00 PM at Catalyst-Maria, 6727 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL, 60629. All Catalyst Board meetings are open to the public. The agenda for this meeting is displayed below:
Welcome and mission moment
*Review and approval of April 27, 2015 2015 Board of Directors’ meeting’s minutes
*Introduction of Steve D’Souza and nomination to the Board for a three year term
*Academic Committee
Update on high school
Update on charter renewal for Catalyst Circle Rock
Catalyst Maria has been awarded a national Leader in Me grant to support the school's journey to become a Lighthouse school! This grant will support the Leader in Meprogram which honors and develops scholar, staff and school community leaders!
This achievement was the result of the efforts of the entire school community to embed the "Leader and Me" principles into their daily habits.
Catalyst Maria adds this accomplishment to receiving AdvancED accreditation and joining the Schools That Can national network in 2015! Congratulations to the Catalyst Maria team!
Wednesday Journal Publisher/Editor Dan Haley attended and wrote about the recent Austin Dream Project event in his weekly column, and the article can be view by accessing this link:
"The Catalyst orchestra played three pieces with verve and great musicality. Certainly at the top of any grade school orchestra I've ever heard."
-Dan Haley, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest
The Austin Dream Project is an ambitious campaign aimed at creating a unique auditorium space in Austin (pictured in an architectural rendering below).
There are various avenues to support this unique opportunity, including connecting personal/professional networks to this endeavor or making a financial pledge to the project.
For more information on how you can support, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (773) 295-7001.
Catalyst wants to give a huge shout out to Catalyst Maria High School scholars Isa M. and Michael B. on their acceptances into the Future Leaders of Chicago program!
Isa and Michael are 2 of the 30 scholars in the city selected to live on campus at the University of Chicago for the first week of August to meet and work with some of Chicago’s premier business leaders and obtain leadership training. Congratulations Michael and Isa!
Catalyst Howland's fourth grade instructors (Ms. McGill, Mr.Gaines, Ms. Thomas, and Mr.Oliver) and scholars of Rooms 217 and 218 formed a valuable partnership this year with the community organization Men Making A Difference (MMAD). They partnered to care for the North Lawndale community by cleaning up trash and helping to beautify the neighborhood. Their awareness of taking care of their own village has increased.
MMAD also provided escort service for the scholars earlier this year when they walked to our local library for a field trip. Today they had their culminating neighborhood clean up activity and celebration BBQ (pictured below). The MMAD organization has made plans to continue mentoring this group of scholars as they complete elementary school, high school, AND college. They have given them the title of Children Making A Difference (CMAD)- great work Catalyst Howland scholars and staff!
Please join our efforts as a champion for changing lives at The Catalyst Schools. If you would like to speak with a Catalyst staff member about your donation, please call us at 773-295-7001.
