Van Bokkelen Students Dream Big In Partnership with No Excuses University

This year, don't be surprised to hear tiny voices singing college fight songs and see college regalia hanging near every classroom at Van Bokkelen Elementary School.

This display of collegiate spirit is a part of No Excuses University (NEU), a program designed to spur academic success in students—starting in kindergarten. NEU was founded with the belief that "every child has the right to attend college, and it is the responsibility of the adults in the school to make that dream a reality," according to the program's website, http://turnaroundschools.com.

No Excuses University was introduced to the Anne Arundel County School District Title I Schools a year and a half ago by Damen Lopez, founder of NEU. Principal Leonard Massie of Van Bokkelen Elementary School, was in attendance that day, and "was sold" after the presentation.

There are no fees to pay to join NEU, Massie said, but there are certain tasks that the school must complete; Van Bokkelen Elementary must create a five-minute video showing the students' enthusiasm for college, said Massie. The students' test scores will also be sent to Lopez to demonstrate improvement, Massie said.

Moving Toward Sucess

Van Bokkelen Elementary School is a Title I School: a school recognized by the state of Maryland as having a high percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students and receiving additional funding. The objective of NEU is "to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards," according to its page at the Department of Education. 

"My goal is to make sure that every child that walks through this door has the mindset of 'I'm going to go to college,'" said Massie. "Kids have to see and believe that they can be successful, and the teachers must also. [The school] needs staff that transcends socioeconomics," he said.

After he saw Lopez's presentation, Massie presented the idea of NEU to his "Title I Team," a term for a group created by Massie indentifying staff members whose salaries are paid for with Title I funds, Massie said. 

Massie's Title I Team includes pre-kindergarten teacher Crystal Carter; school social worker Claudette Robinson; Lizzy Armstrong, a specialiat who helps students who struggle in math; and Sandra Parker, the assistant principal of Van Bokkelen Elementary School.  Next, Massie presented NEU to the rest of his school staff.

"There was a 100 percent buy-in from teachers," Massie said.

The next step was getting parents' approval for the introduction of NEU. "Parents were very enthusiastic about it," Massie said. "They loved the idea."

After gaining the approval of parents and staff, Carter sent out form letters to multiple universities requesting more information about the college institutions and asking permission to use the schools' colors and mascots.

Many colleges have responded, Robinson said. 

"The students are really excited about it," Massie said.

First-grader Joshua Green said: "I want to go to the same school as my teacher went to." Green even knew Johnson C. Smith University's colors: blue and gold.

"The hope is that (NEU) will become a part of the school," said Massie. "NEU is a vehicle to acquiring the American dream."

The school is currently  preparing its five-minute video to submit as part of their partnership with NEU. Look for that video, right here at Severn Patch as the project is finalized.