"What education is all about:" Lincoln Avenue Elementary celebrates new community partnership

MILWAUKEE -- Two more schools join Milwaukee Public Schools' and United Way's Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership.

Lincoln Avenue Elementary

It was a celebration at Lincoln Avenue Elementary on Friday, September 16th as the students cheered loudly for their new playground.

The playground, open to the entire community, is just one step in making Lincoln Avenue the newest community school.

"We know at Lincoln Elementary we can't do it by ourselves, we can't function independently. The only way we'll be successful is working with our neighbors and support one another," said Yaribel Rodriguez, Lincoln Avenue School Principal.

And they can do that now with the help of United Way.

"This work requires many hands to build on the existing things already here at Lincoln Avenue," said Rodriguez.

Lincoln Avenue is one of two schools that were added this year to the existing roster of four schools in the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership.

Dr. Darienne Driver

"Now, having six schools that will be able to benefit from having these additional resources is really what education is all about and what the village is all about," said MPS superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver.

The Community Schools Model places the focus on the child's entire development by providing academic support, social and emotional learning, health and wellness, and family and community engagement in a safe and supportive climate.

"With those resources, that means students will be able to come to school more regularly, they'll be able to focus more on their reading and their math, and the number of interventions they can focus in the classroom," said Dr. Darienne Driver.

The second school added to the Community Schools Partnership this year was Browning Elementary on Milwaukee`s northwest side. Funding to add the two schools came from MPS' 2016-2017 budget.