eNewsletter February 2017
Save the Date!
PHILLIPS Programs 22nd Annual Gala will be held Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner! The gala is PHILLIPS largest annual fundraising event, which ultimately helps raise funds to benefit our youth. This year's theme is The Great Gatsby: A roaring good time for a swell cause! Visit our event website to learn more. For sponsorship opportunities contact Debi Alexander, Development Director at 703-941-8810.
PHILLIPS' Young Professionals Council Kicks Off at Tupelo Honey Cafe on February 28th!
Come out on the town for a great evening of social networking, learn how to make an impact by serving in the community, and build relationships with a peer network. Enjoy fabulous food and drink specials and enter to win terrific door prizes!
Please rsvp to
nancy.lu@phillipsprograms.org
PHILLIPS Growing Futures is on Instagram!
PHILLIPS Programs Growing Futures program is on Instagram! Visit Laurelhydro to keep up with this exciting project! Students in both science and Career Tech Ed are producing micro greens.
2016-2017 Annual Giving Campaign
This year's Annual Campaign goal was to raise $25,000 to fund Family Partners, Food For Thought and Scholarships. Thanks to our incredible community we have raised $26,550 to date! Help make a difference at PHILLIPS by making a fully tax deductible gift to support our youth. There is still time to impact these three vital programs. Please visit our website to make your gift today.
Volunteer with PHILLIPS!
Whether you help as an individual or through your company, we welcome your involvement.
Contact the Debi Alexander, Development Director at 703-941-8810 or debi.alexander@phillipsprograms.org.
PHILLIPS Staff and the Chamber!
Dr. Rose Ann Rentiera, Director, Evaluation and Research and Governor McAuliffe at the Northern Virginia Chamber "Mapping New Economic Opportunities" event.
PHILLIPS Advocacy Day
On May 4, PHILLIPS' CEO, Piper Phillips Caswell will be spending the day on Capital Hill with NAPSEC talking to legislators about issues important to our youth and families. PHILLIPS parents who would like to join in this effort should contact piper.phillips@phillipsprograms.org for more information.
Fair & Appropriate Public Education
The Supreme Court will decide a historic Fair and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) case this summer. This is important because the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) states that each child who has a disability and needs special education and related services will receive a free and appropriate education (FAPE). The issue before the Supreme Court is the level of benefit.
Kudos
Dana Bell, LCSW-C, (Clinical Supervisor at PHILLIPS School~Laurel) completes two one-year terms as Chair of the Montgomery County Commission on Children and Youth. The Commission focused on Homelessness and Youth and My Brother's Keeper.
Thank you to our Volunteers & Friends!
Happy Valentine's Day to our volunteers and friends. Thank you for your continued support. You are the heart of PHILLIPS!
A Message from the President
Greetings all,
This year's 22nd Annual Gala is to raise awareness of and support for two developing programs under our Career and Technical Education (CTE) umbrella: Growing Futures and Culinary Futures.
These programs center around urban agriculture paired with a culinary arts program. Urban agriculture is defined as growing crops within the context of a city. This can include on the ground farms and gardens,rooftops of buildings,controlled environment spaces such as greenhouses or indoor microgreens operations. PHILLIPS Programs in partnership with Blue Planet Consulting operates a Micogreens Learning Lab. This educational lab uses indoor hydroponic systems to grow, harvest and distribute microgreens. This “superfood” has up to 40% more nutritional value compared to mature greens. Using several tiered, vertical, growing systems complimented by a Science and Food & Nutrition curriculum, the students are engaged in project based learning around science concepts. They gain critical thinking and problem solving skills and cultivate healthy food choices while learning about food deserts. The microgreens learning lab is only one component and the first phase of a robust Farm to Table CTE program titled PHILLIPS Growing Futures. Career Partners will focus on the planning, development and implementation of the next phases of this program, which will include opening and operating a MicroFarm as well as a Culinary Kitchen.
To fully fund this program we are working to raise a total of $700,000. We need to raise an additional $300,000 and hope to raise half of that at this event!
Please join us on April 29, 2017 for a wonderful evening showcasing student talent and celebrating our innovative programs! It's a night not to be missed including dinner, dancing, auctions and entertainment. Buy your tickets here!
Warmly,
Piper Phillips Caswell
President & CEO
703.941.8810
piper.phillips@phillipsprograms.org
Join us for a great evening of networking on Tuesday, February 28th!
To RSVP, please email Nancy.Lu@phillipsprograms.org
PHILLIPS Harvest Ball Showcased in Washington Life Magazine
PHILLIPS' 2nd Annual Wine Country Harvest Ball & Art Show was featured in the January/February edition of the WASHINGTON LIFE magazine. View the article here. Special thanks to City Celebrations, the decor sponsor for creating an elegant aura for a magical evening!
PHILLIPS School ~ Laurel Partners with the Science and Technology Center at Charles Herbert Flowers High School
Charles H. Flowers HS is one of 3 schools in Prince Georges County offering a specialized Science and Technology (STEM) Program. Eight students from biology, engineering and computer science are working with the MicroGreens Learning Lab at the Laurel School. Additionally, the students are consulting with Dr. Alison Cawood of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Md. Each student has a specific research question involving the growing of microgreens. This three way partnership between PHILLIPS, Flowers and the scientific community allows everyone to learn together.
The Laurel MicroGreens Learning Lab houses three different indoor hydroponic growing systems. Each Flowers student has a hypothesis. They are setting up a research design to test their hypothesis. Some of their research questions include: how does using filtered tap water versus water collected in a rain barrel affect the growing of microgreens and how do different irrigation systems affect the growth of microgreens. In addition, two of the students are working weekly in the PHILLIPS Microgreens Learning Lab. They are assisting with the maintenance of the systems, as well as the growing and harvesting of the microgreens. PHILLIPS is excited to discover what this research tells us!
Join us for an evening of information sharing and how your business can make a difference in the community.
To RSVP please contact Nancy.Lu@phillipsprograms.org
Coming Soon: 3D Design & Print Classes!
3D Design and Print quickly is becoming a demand industry in today’s tech driven society. This spring PHILLIPS ~ Career Partners will offer an 8 week Saturday morning class for youth ages 15 - 19 on the Autism Spectrum. Participants will have the opportunity to explore this career pathway while having fun on the computer. Throughout the class, youth will put together a portfolio of their work that showcases their talent.
Participants will: Learn to utilize 3D Computer Assisted Design Software to create and print 3D objects; Showcase/Unleash their creativity by taking an idea through the design process and transforming it into a 3D object; Gain confidence in their talents and build resiliency by understanding that “Failure is not Final”; and with positive support and modeling from the instructors, engage in problem solving and critical thinking, skills needed for any career.
