Just Say YES!

Allison Poarch, Associate Director of Development for YES Prep Public Schools was our guest speaker this week.

MISSION
YES Prep Public Schools exists to increase the number of low-income Houstonians who graduate from a four-year college prepared to compete in the global marketplace and committed to improving disadvantaged communities.

YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS
YES Prep Public Schools is a free, open-enrollment public school system and will be serving 3,500 students across seven schools in the Houston area. YES has been ranked as the best public school in Houston by Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and the Houston Chronicle. For the ninth consecutive year, 100 percent of YES Prep’s graduating seniors have been accepted into four-year colleges, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Rice and Stanford. YES Prep combines a highly successful 6th-12th grade model along with high standards for student achievement and parental involvement.

YES PREP STUDENTS

• 90% of YES students are first generation college-bound
• 80% of YES students are economically disadvantaged
• 95% of YES students are Hispanic or African American
• Most students enter YES at least one grade level behind in Math and English

STANDARDS FOR SUCCESS

• Parents, students and teachers sign a contract that states they will do Whatever It Takes to succeed at YES Prep
• "YES” stands for Youth Engaged in Service and students dedicate one Saturday each month to community service projects
  
• Teachers have school-sponsored cell phones for students to contact them during the evenings and weekends with questions
• YES mandates that students participate in longer school days, college research trips, summer school and summer opportunities

The Rotary Club of Sharpstown has education of our youth as one of our primary community service areas. This year the club donated $500.00 to YES Prep. We hope to arrange a tour of their new campus on DeMoss when it is completed.

To learn more about YES Prep - CLICK HERE

Guests, Visitors & Other Good News

Visiting with us from for Rotary Club of Ikea, Lagos, Nigeria, this week we welcomed Ade Oteneican as a visitor this week.

Jon King with Ade Otenekan	Danish and Meheen Saleem

Arif Saleem had as his guests his son Danish and his daughter Maheen. With his wife Sara visiting family in Pakistan Danish and Maheen are getting a lot of "Daddy Time"...and Arif loves it! He is obviously VERY proud of both his children!

Wayne Staton, who is our Rotary Foundation Chair this year, reported on his activities on behalf of Polio Education within the District. Wayne is a Polio Survivor and is working deligently on a project for an October fund raiser for Polio Plus.

Wayne Staton	Archie Wilcox, Karen Blakeman and Bill Landers

Archie Wilcox and Karen Blakeman were called to the podium by Past President Bill Landers. He was pleased to announce that the U.S. Vets Project that Archie and Karen started for the club to hoor and care for returned and homeless veterans had received a $2,000.00 District 5890 Sijmplified Grant. Bill preseted the check to Archie. This grant was used to provide the U.S Vets facility on Main Street with a big flat screen TV along with shelves and a room remodel for the "Day Room".

Club Social, August 29th

Jeff Novy annouced the next Club Social will be Saturday, August 29th. All those wishing to indulge a sweet tooth will gather at 4:30 PM at Kegg's Candy Chocolate Factory & Retail Store located at 8168-A Westpark Drive, Houston, Texas 77063. We will have a tour of the factory to see how they make all that terrible tasting stuff. If you think you might wish to buy some candy it is suggested you bring an ice chest complete with ice...since Houston's weather is not a friendly one for candy.

Following the factory tour and shopping spree, we will adjourn to Pier 61 on Murphy road for a dutch-treat evening of fine seafood and comraderie. Those who could not make the candy factory tour may join the dinner group. We should arrive at Pier 61 between 6 and 6:30 PM. Jeff will have an area reserved for our group.

Coming Up At Rotary