Fortune Focus: Welcome Back to School!
Welcome Back: Embracing a New School Year of Leadership and Achievement
Welcome back to a new school year! We hope the the first three weeks of classes have been a great start after a restful and fulfilling summer. We are looking forward to an exciting and productive academic year together.
As we get back into the regular rhythm of the school year, let’s remember the importance of supporting one another. Together, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued and included. To that end, our theme for the year is Fortune Serves: service to our families and scholars in pursuit of closing the African American achievement gap.
We are also excited to introduce The Fortune Focus, our bi-monthly newsletter. It will be a source of helpful information and announcements. Each edition will feature our scholars, educators, and programs and we want you to be involved. Below in this newsletter, is a link to a form to submit suggestions of peers, programs, and scholars that you think should be featured. This effort is aimed at keeping us all informed and fostering a sense of community and inclusivity.
From school events, fundraisers, and days off, here’s a rundown of key dates to mark on your calendar for the upcoming months aimed at fostering excellence, character, and college readiness.
- Sept. 11: Back to School Night at 2:30 PM (Fortuner School)
- Sept. 11 – Oct. 25: Double Good Fundraiser (Fortune School)
- Sept. 14: Parent Academy (Hardy Brown College Prep)
- Sept. 14: UCAN 25th Annual HBCU Recruitment Fair (Fortune School Education Complex)
- Sept. 19: Back to School Night (Tecoy Porter College Prep)
- Sept. 19: Back to School Night (Hazel Mahone College Prep)
- Sept. 20: College T-Shirt Day (Hazel Mahone College Prep)
- Sept. 27: College T-Shirt Day (Tecoy Porter College Prep)
- Sept. 28: Parent Academy (Fortune School)
- Sept 30 – Nov. 4: Book Fair (Alan Rowe College Prep)
- October 3: Pastries for Parents (Tecoy Porter College Prep)
- Oct. 4: Parent Cafe (Hazel Mahone College Prep)
- Oct. 11: Parent Cafe (William Lee College Prep)
- Oct. 17: Parent Cafe (Fortune School)
| Mr. Woodyard – Fortune School Mr. Woodyard is a pillar of Fortune School. He consistently shows up for our scholars on time and is willing to do whatever needs to be done for his campus and his scholars. Mr. Woodyard not only knows the grades and academic achievements of a scholar but also their family history. His own children attend Fortune School, and he holds them to the highest Fortune standard. In addition to academics, he teaches students social emotional learning as an experienced member of their school community. He often mentions that he works at Fortune because he believes that these scholars and their families need him there. Mr. Woodyard’s quiet dedication to our Five Pillars is evident every single day at school. |
| Mr. Brewer – Hardy Brown College Prep Mr. Brewer began his journey at Hardy Brown College Prep as a custodian and was later promoted to be a music teacher. Using his love and passion for music, he has completely transformed the music program into a standout program in San Bernardino. Mr. Brewer provides students with unique experiences, such as singing the National Anthem at a city baseball game and marching in the city parade. Although new to teaching, he is an educator at heart. In just one year, he has developed a choir, band, and drumline, showcasing the student’s talents. Mr. Brewer has given a voice to our most vulnerable students and his mission makes him a visionary at Hardy Brown College Prep. We cannot imagine our school community without him. |
Summer Highlights: Fortune Fairs and Excursions Enrich Our Community
Over the summer, Fortune School hosted interactive events and empowering programs, bringing scholars, families, and staff together for holistic experiences.
As always, Fortune Fairs were a major highlight, featuring live music, photo booths, delicious food, and more. Families and friends gathered for afternoons filled with joy and laughter, creating lasting memories and strengthening the bonds within our community.
Another impactful part of our summer experiences was our Excursions program, an innovative camp designed to keep our scholars engaged and prepared for the future. Focused on teamwork, creativity, and hands-on learning, Excursions provided a unique environment where students could build critical thinking skills through collaborative projects. This program reinforced their academic preparedness and fostered essential life skills, ensuring our scholars are well-equipped for college and beyond.
The summer of 2024 showcased our dedication to building a strong and supportive community while offering our students opportunities to build character, learn, and have fun.
