January 2023

1. Remembering Dr. Rex Fortune
2. Fortune Rise, Math Tutoring Program Launches
3. Campus Highlight: Fortune Preschool
4. Partnership with Center for Fathers and Families Focuses on Improving Scholars' Life Skills
5. Fortune School Basketball Teams Get Ready For Playoffs

Remembering Dr. Rex Fortune

Fortune Rise, Math Tutoring Program Launches

We are excited to announce the launch of Fortune Rise.  Fortune Rise is a free after school tutoring program focused on building math proficiency for scholars who are at grade level or nearly there. “Scholars work with instructional aides from 4:30PM -5:30PM to receive small group mathematics instruction and personalized learning on Moby Max,” said Joseph Gambino, Director of Education Technology for Fortune School. This program is by invitation only.  If your child has been invited to participate in the program, please take action now to enroll them.  You don’t want to miss this opportunity to accelerate your child’s learning in mathematics.  Citing the Commitment to Excellence Contract that parents, scholars and teachers sign, Mr. Gambino continued, “We ask our families to commit to helping their children learn in the best way they know how. Fortune Rise provides an opportunity for families to deliver on that commitment.” 
 

Fortune Rise scholars get extra math tutoring at Fortune School

We have been holding Family Information Nights to discuss Fortune Rise and to get scholars started with the program.  It's not too late to attend a meeting.  Please keep an eye out for announcements from your child’s principal for upcoming Family Information Nights for Fortune Rise.  You can also reach out directly to Mr. Gambino for more information at [email protected]. 

Campus Highlight
Fortune Preschool

Fortune Preschool is now open with campuses in Elk Grove and San Bernardino. Serving two- year olds through five year olds, Fortune Preschool is a tuition-based program where we accept child care subsidies from your local resource and referral agency.  “Now Fortune School prepares scholars for their future college dreams, starting with a play-based early childhood education,” said the school’s founder, Dr. Margaret Fortune.  

“The program, which runs from 7am to 6pm creates a high-quality learning experience for children and adults alike by allowing students to learn through play”, said Myra Espinoza, Executive Director of Fortune Preschool. Preschool teachers will facilitate learning units based on student interests, in a beautiful space where the environment is the third teacher alongside teachers and parents.  “Objects in and around the classroom act as both a mirror - so scholars can see themselves, and as a window - so scholars can see others around them,” Mrs. Espinoza said.
 

The Fortune School Elk Grove Campus

Fortune Preschool is also a lab school where early childhood educators will be trained from public schools around the Sacramento region. Kellie Bliss, Program Director for Early Childhood Education at Fortune School of Education will be responsible for creating field-based learning opportunities for teachers participating in the lab school program. “Fortune Preschool is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, an educational philosophy based on the idea that children see themselves in the world around them and through intentional facilitation of age-appropriate learning, children can explore their potential,” said Bliss,

Partnership with Center for Fathers and Families Focuses on Improving Scholars' Life Skills

Fortune School  and the Center for Fathers and Families has forged a new program to build scholars' social skills in partnership with the Center for Fathers and Families. It's called Life Skills 911. The Center for Fathers and Families, led by Rick Jennings is a non-profit agency with a strong history of responding to the needs of fathers and their families by offering programs and services that lead to family growth, enrichment, and empowerment. An active member of the Sacramento community, Jennings is member of the Sacramento City Council and won a Superbowl ring with the then Oakland Raiders. 



Held at several Fortune School campuses, “Life Skills 911 is a culturally-relevant class for scholars who need extra support with their interpersonal relationships and is a way for them to learn acceptable ways to respond in challenging situations with their peers,” said Terry Moore, Director of Adult Services at the Center for Fathers and Families. In a 3 week pilot that lasted from November to January, scholars met 4 times a week with behaviorists and specialists from the Center for Fathers and Families to create community, roleplay difficult interactions, and develop healthy social skills.

The focus on fathers ties in with a new Fortune School club, Fathers of Fortune founded by Athletic Director and Fortune grandpa, Coach Derek Swafford. Fathers of Fortune is a group of men with children at the Fortune Education Complex in Elk Grove who volunteer to be a presence on campus during school dismissal.  Volunteers recently received training in de-escalation and conflict resolution from Fortune Dad, Mr. William Hancock. Mr. Hancock, a long-time volunteer, joined the staff of Alan Rowe College Prep upon his retirement from the Elk Grove Police Department.

Congratulations to the scholars who completed Life Skills 911 and the Fathers of Fortune who have committed to being a positive presence!

Fortune School Basketball Teams Get Ready For Playoffs