“This is a place where children’s lives are changed.”
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Ms. Jamison-Dunn
Director of Instruction Catalyst Circle Rock
Community Partners
Partnerships are critical to our understanding of holistically educating children. From the arts-based organizations that participate in the Renaissance Enrichment Program to our neighbors who share their facilities, our partners are vital members of the Catalyst family.
Primary Campus Partner
Ravinia
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Ravinia teams with Catalyst as part of the Renaissance Enrichment Program to give students a productive musical outlet. Students compose original songs, make and play instruments, and learn to use their feelings, hopes, and dreams as artistic inspiration. In October 2012, Ravinia's Women's Board began its sponsorship of the Circle Rockets orchestra at Catalyst Circle Rock. Currently, nearly 90 students are members of the largest elementary school African-American symphony orchestra in the country. Teaching is done according to the El Sistema model- when the orchestra was founded in 2012, it was one of four schools implementing this approach nationwide!
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Circle Urban Ministries
Catalyst works in close partnership with Circle Urban Ministries, a social service organization that has served the Austin community for over 40 years. Catalyst Circle Rock and Circle Urban Ministries share a building and regularly collaborate to offer a variety of resources to neighborhood families. While Catalyst provides neighborhood students with quality public education, Circle Urban Ministries offers wrap-around services that include after-school and mentoring programs.
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Rock Church
Providing mentoring and support for neighborhood children and families.
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Additional Campus Partners
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PCC Wellness Center and Maryville
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The mission of PCC is to improve health outcomes for the medically underserved community through the provision of high-quality, affordable, and accessible primary health care and support services. Anchored with family medicine, we are committed to serving the needs of all people in
all stages of life.
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This national organization forms collaborative networks of high-performing inner-city schools to grow low-income families' access to quality schools nationwide. Catalyst Circle Rock is a member school of this national organization.
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Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS)
Catalyst Circle Rock is a member of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools.
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Austin community leaders, including representatives from Catalyst, are laying the groundwork for community development in the Austin neighborhood through networks of Early Childhood, Youth, and Workforce Development agencies.
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Chicago Children's Choir
Chicago Children’s Choir, a participant in the Renaissance Enrichment Program, works with scholars to explore the expressive qualities of music.
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Towers of Excellence Foundation was founded to provide youth with the necessary tools to navigate and succeed in their daily lives. Through quality mentorship, academic guidance, and valuable life experiences students will be equipped to face the challenges and joys of the world.
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Catalyst Circle Rock is honored to partner with this organization, from which volunteers provide one-to-one and small-group tutoring for scholars during the school day!
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May I have this dance? Ballroom Dancing
This is an ongoing workshop in ballroom dancing, in which scholars learn several dance styles including tango, salsa, and waltz! Catalyst Circle Rock is a three-time city-wide champion at the competition held annually at the Chicago Cultural Center!
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Get Involved
To learn more about opportunities for parent, volunteer, and community partnerships at Catalyst Circle Rock, please contact the school at 773-945-5025 or information@catalystschools.org