Spring 2013 - D'Youville College

D’YOUVILLE PARTNERS WITH WEST BUFFALOCHARTER SCHOOLD’Youville College has become aninstitutional partner with the brand newWest Buffalo Charter School through ateacher education program and membershipon their board.Located a short distance from the collegecampus at 113 Lafayette Avenue, in therenovated former Lafayette Hospital, theschool opened its doors on August 13, 2012.West Buffalo Charter School offers gradesK-2 and plans to expand to K-4 in thefuture. Its curriculum is aligned with theState Common Core Learning Standardsand classes stress literacy skills for themultilingual and diverse student body.The school, headed by Andrea Todoro,currently has 138 students enrolled. Thestaff includes eight classroom teachers,eight teaching assistants, and threelanguage and literacy instructors.Twelve different languages are spoken bythe students. Instructional hours run from8 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. and there is a “JumpStart Program” from 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. Art,music, physical education and technologyare included in the curriculum, accordingto Todoro.“West Buffalo Charter School allowsstudents to explore their interests, establishand maintain positive relationships andmaximize their individual successes,” shesays. “Our mission is to instill a love oflearning in all children.”The school has approval for 270 studentsand plans to grow one grade level each yearuntil reaching grade four.It is also a site for student teaching forD’Youville’s education majors, allowingthem to work with the Charter Schoolteachers in elementary and specialeducation classes, according to Dr. ArupSen, vice president for academic affairsat the college, who sits on their six-personboard of trustees.“I would like to strengthen this partnershipwith more of our education studentsand faculty engaged in teaching andresearch activities in literacy, other areasof education, and speech and languagedevelopment,” he said.D’Youville plans to build partnerships withother charter schools.A charter school is an independent publicschool, free, and open to residents of NewYork State.Sister Denise A. Roche, GNSH, president of D’Youville College, listens intently as a studentreads from a journal at the West Buffalo Charter School.PHONATHONCALLERS ENJOYGREAT SUCCESSThis past year, an energized, wonderfulgroup of DYC students diligently workedto call alumni and let them know all theexciting things that are happening oncampus and seek support for the LoyaltyFund. On behalf of all D’Youville students,thank you for your support!The D’Youville College student phonathonstrives to build a greater awareness of,interest in, and support for D’Youvilleamong alumni and friends throughrelationship building and fundraising.Each semester, a team of students thatincludes all majors from across campusare employed part-time to call alumniduring our annual phonation appeal togive updates about current campus eventsand ask for continued support. This appealraises more than $150,000 in pledges,cash and matching gifts for the collegeeach year. Callers are ready and willing totalk about the great things happening oncampus, their experiences as students andall of the ways your support benefits the3,000 students currently on campus. Thankyou for answering your phones!continued on page 6alumni.dyouville.edu 5