WHAT: Wilson Charter School will host a Masquerade Gala to benefit the “Wilson to Washington” project. The Wilson Charter School Masquerade Gala will feature music, entertainment and a silent auction.  

WHEN: Saturday, February 8, 2014, 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM 

WHERE: Propeller Incubator
4035 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA 70125 

WHY:  Proceeds from the benefit will go to the school’s “Wilson to Washington” project. The project is designed to take 25 deserving inner city students to the nation’s capital for a four-day trip where they will partner with a mentor to help guide them through various educational projects.  The entire aspect of the trip is a lesson in itself, with lessons learned by developing and adhering to the trip budget, raising capital needed to finance the trip, and learning what role each individual plays in ensuring that the trip is successful.   

Students will also utilize their understanding of maps, directions and time constraints. Each trip participant will be required to work on a final project (photo journal, blog, video, etc.) that will be shared with classmates and the Broadmoor Community.   All students have been working on fundraising. The money raised will cover the hotel stay, meals and ground transportation.  

Tickets are $20 per person, inclusive of food, beverages, and entertainment. Tickets are available to buy at Wilson Charter School, 3617 Gen. Pershing St. They will be available at the door the day of the gala. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/wilson-to-washington-masquerade-gala-tickets-10257296851?aff=genadmission or call 504-600-7939.  

If you would like to give a donation to the “Wilson to Washington” project, please visit http://www.gofundme.com/4alac0.

(Wilson Charter students Amyriel Thibodeaux and Jala Anderson enjoy breakfast in the classroom where the school is using the time to improve academic results and school improvement.)

When Andrew Wilson Charter Principal Logan Crowe got a “D” from the Louisiana Department of Education on the school’s “report card” last year, he figured he had to do something different. So he started a breakfast club.

“Nearly all our students qualify for free breakfast anyway, so our school leadership team decided to move that time into the classroom and make breakfast an integral part of the school day,” said Principal Crowe.

The idea came from faculty training with The Center for Restorative Approaches, where the concept of “community circles” was discussed as a way for students to build cooperation, communication and interaction skills.

The school’s teachers wanted to grab every moment to help students better understand their subjects and provide a unique way to better reach Wilson’s young minds, said Principal Wilson So, beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, every morning students began being served and eating breakfast in their classroom to reach a goal of bell-to-bell instruction, said Principal Crowe.

“Our goal was to seek academic improvements, but we found we’re actually building a more positive school community. Eating in the classroom has created a family-style environment for our students, allowing them to get to know each other and their teachers better,” said Principal Crowe.