Monarch Global Academy Laurel, a public contract school with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, was reauthorized as an International Baccalaureate World School for the next five years. The school provides the Primary Years Programme, which offers a curriculum designed to prepare kindergarten through sixth grade students for future education and careers.

“We’re proud to announce our reauthorization as an International Baccalaureate World School,” Principal Donna O’Shea said. “Evaluators were astounded by our knowledge of the program and gave us a stellar report regarding our growth of the Primary Years Programme. Our commitment to inquiry and excellence was evident.”

As an International Baccalaureate World School, Monarch Global Academy Laurel develops students’ academic, social and emotional wellbeing, focusing on international-mindedness and strong personal values. The program incorporates local and global issues into the curriculum, asking students to look at six related transdisciplinary themes, including “who we are,” “where we are in place and time” and “how the world works.”

The evaluation report for reauthorization recognized Monarch Global Academy’s understanding of the Primary Years Programme philosophy, collaborative learning structures and commitment to student-centered learning. The school was encouraged to serve as a model program by participating in school visits, regional and global conferences and professional networking.

Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate is a nonprofit educational foundation offering four programs of international education that develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

The Children’s Guild Alliance named Jenny Livelli as president and CEO. Livelli brings more than two decades experience in education, human services and nonprofit leadership. She is the first new CEO of The Children’s Guild Alliance in 26 years and the first woman CEO in the $86-million organization’s 67-year history.

Since January 2020, Livelli has served as chief operating officer of The Children’s Guild Alliance. In that position, she was part of the executive management team and worked to improve the organization’s operating effectiveness and build organizational capacity. Livelli previously served as director of continuous quality improvement for The Children’s Guild.

“Her expertise in special education and continuous quality improvement, her familiarity with behavioral health, strong problem-solving skills and systems orientation and her experience as chief operating officer make her the outstanding choice as our next CEO. Over the past 26 years, Dr. Andrew Ross has built a strong and dynamic organization, and we look forward to Jenny continuing our growth as we reaffirm our dedication to putting kids first and transforming the way America cares for and educates its children,” said Chris Zimmerman, chair of the board of directors of The Children’s Guild Alliance.

Before joining The Children’s Guild Alliance, Livelli owned and consulted for Kids First Educational and Behavioral Consultants and provided educational and behavioral consultation services to families and private schools working with children with special needs.

Previously, she was a senior school administrator at Sheppard Pratt Health System in Towson, Maryland and focused on compliance and risk management, program development and school leadership. Livelli also held positions including vice president and director of administration and program development at Koba Institute Inc. in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“I am excited and honored to have been selected to lead The Children’s Guild Alliance and continue to ensure that we are making an impact on our children and families every day. As a human services organization, we must ask ourselves the critical question: will what we do make a positive impact on our children and families? Influencing their lives is not enough; we must make an impact,” Livelli said.

Livelli remains involved with the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities, the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the National Association of Private Special Education Centers. She holds an advanced professional certificate from the Maryland State Department of Education as well as certificates from Life Space Crisis Intervention Inc. and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

Monarch Academy Annapolis will hold “I am… Series Finale Featuring Rashad Jennings,” a free public virtual Facebook Live event on Friday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m. with former NFL player Rashad Jennings, who will discuss the people in Black culture who have influenced him. The event will conclude the school event series celebrating Black History Month.

Rashad Jennings played eight seasons in the NFL before retiring with the New York Giants in 2017. Jennings won season 24 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” with professional dancer Emma Slater as his partner. He wrote The New York Times best-seller, “The IF in Life: How to Get Off Life’s Sidelines and Become Your Best Self,” followed by the children’s book “Arcade and the Triple T Token.”

Jennings founded The Rashad Jennings Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring youth by making education fun, providing mentorship for individual success and promoting health and fitness worldwide. He has given motivational addresses to thousands across the country and appeared on TV shows on Starz, NBC, and Fox Sports.

To learn more and register for the event.

Monarch Academy Annapolis, a public contract school with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, announces the launch of Transformation Theatre Company, a performing arts summer camp July 5 to Aug. 13. One- and two-week camp programs will be available for rising prekindergarten through eighth grade students in performing arts, instrumental rock music, choral music, songwriting, dance, and drama.

Campers will have the opportunity to discover and develop their talents under the guidance of performing arts educators with performance experience. Each program will culminate with a showcase event for families. Academic tutoring will also be available upon request for children who would benefit from academic support during the camp day.

“We are thrilled to offer a robust theatre performance camp this summer at Monarch Academy Annapolis,” said The Children’s Guild Alliance’s Chief of Educational Services Kathy Lane. “We are committed to the integration of the arts in our curriculum and school environments. We are excited to offer the families of budding thespians and musicians in our Monarch community, and throughout Anne Arundel County, this transformative opportunity.”

Broadway Bound, for students in third through eighth grades, is a weeklong camp from July 5 through July 9 focusing on the three main components of musical theatre: singing, dancing and acting. Director Vicki Smith is a performing arts and production specialist for The Children’s Guild Alliance and Monarch Academy schools and owner of StageWorkz Theatre Arts Project.

Monarch Rocks! is a weeklong music camp from July 12 through July 16 for beginner and intermediate students in third through eighth grades. Instruction will include making music and songwriting using guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and vocals. Students will work collaboratively writing songs and playing in a band. Monarch Rocks! Director Sean Lane is a music teacher and registered music therapist at The Phoenix Academy in Annapolis. He has maintained a full schedule of performances for the past 20 years and has performed at inauguration events for the past three presidents.

It’s Showtime is a two-week camp from July 19 through July 30 for students in third through eighth grades. On the first day, campers will learn the auditioning process, an opportunity for beginning performers to practice in a safe environment. It’s Showtime Director Karin Abbott has been teaching for 22 years and is the arts integration specialist at Monsignor Slade Catholic School. She formerly worked at Monarch Academy Annapolis. Abbott has provided musical theatre workshops and camps for children and teens in Anne Arundel County for 13 years.

Merry Tales is a weeklong camp from Aug. 2 through Aug. 6 for students in prekindergarten through second grades. Campers will explore and perform fairy tales. They will be introduced to theatre, speaking and stage presence, while they practice reading comprehension strategies. Merry Tales Director Meg Nemeth is the arts integration teacher at Monarch Global Academy Laurel. Additionally, she teaches middle school theatre and leads the school’s drama club in full-scale plays and musicals.

Kids First Chorus offers a one- or two-week camp for the weeks of Aug. 2 and Aug. 9 for students in third through eighth grades who want to gain skills in singing, performing, a cappella, show choir, hip-hop, and a bit of pizzazz!

Campers will learn skill sets in: vocal technique, harmonizing, stage presence, choreography, and vocal projection for theater and concerts.  Campers will also learn the teamwork skills necessary to join their voices together in harmony!

In addition to learning skills in the two-week camp, there is potential for Monarch Academy and Children’s Guild students who take part in the Kids First Chorus camp to perform with the Kids First Chorus later in the school year at different events.

The camp is open to children living in Anne Arundel County, and scholarships are available on a sliding scale on a first-come, first-served basis for Monarch Academy families.

For more information on Transformation Theatre Company, including dates and costs, visit MonarchAcademy.org/camp.

The entire Children’s Guild Alliance family mourns the untimely death of 18-year-old Simeon Mukuna, a student in our TAWS (Tranzed Academy for Working Students) program. Our sincerest sympathy and prayers go to Simeone’s family and friends. He was an excellent student and athlete and was an all-around great young man, loved by many. He will be truly missed. A GoFundMe link has been set up for the family to cover funeral expenses.