Friends of CPS

Friends of the Community Partnership School Members
As of May 2008
Carolyn Jacobs, Co-Founder and Co-President
Margie Rooke, Co-Founder and Co-President
Betsy Bailey
Christina DiMacali
Matthew Goetting
Lindsay Raden
Sheryl Sargent


Upcoming Events
Please check back soon for our 2008-2009 Friends Schedule!



The "Friends of CPS" Story

Whenever our students spy Carolyn Jacobs or Margie Rooke in the hallway, they know it’s going to be a fun day. The two women are veritable fixtures at CPS, coming in at least once a week to volunteer their time.

Carolyn Jacobs gets a CPS group hug from a group of CPS students.

These two committed women are now continuing their support of the Community Partnership School beyond the school day. They have formed the new “Friends of the Community Partnership School,” a group devoted to planning social activities and fundraisers to achieve dual goals of bringing CPS into the public light and to financially benefit the school.

Co-president Carolyn Jacobs has already hosted a dinner party to raise awareness about the school, and the gathering was such a success the women are planning to hold more such events. They have been brainstorming ideas for original fundraising events as well.

According to Ms. Rooke, one only needs to get a first-hand look at the CPS program to come away with a real sense of the impact the school has and to understand why it’s a mission worth supporting.

“For me, all it took was one visit,” she said. “The children, their spirit, their enthusiasm and their warmth hooked me immediately.”

Some Friends also volunteer in the classrooms with the students. In her dual role as Volunteer Coordinator, Carolyn Jacobs matches volunteers' skills and interests with volunteering opportunities in the classrooms. “It’s truly a win-win situation. Whether it is working with a student who needs extra help or providing one-on-one instruction to an advanced student, the volunteer and the child both benefit greatly,” says Ms. Jacobs. “What you get back from giving to these kids is amazing! And the teachers appreciate the flexibility that having volunteers in the classroom provides.”

For Carolyn Jacobs and Margie Rooke, the Friends of the Community Partnership School represents a commitment to CPS, a commitment to the students and an opportunity to leave a lasting impact where it is most needed.

The Friends organization is currently recruiting members for their organization. “We are looking for people from all backgrounds who are informed and excited about what CPS does,” says Ms. Rooke. Above all, she says, members of the Friends should have enthusiasm, ideas, and energy.

If you are interested in more information on the Friends of the Community Partnership School please contact a.mccole@cps-pk5.org or call 215-235-0461.