Dear Coralwood Family,

 

Shining a Spotlight on Engagement…we’re all Coralwood @Heart!

 

We are thrilled to extend a heartfelt welcome to each of you as we embark on a new school year! The start of school is an exciting time filled with anticipation and a wide range of emotions for both students and families, especially those beginning their educational journey. Whether you are a returning family or new to Coralwood, you are part of a welcoming, engaging family that is Coralwood @Heart!

​

Coralwood is a unique and special place. The inclusion model creates a diverse community drawing from over 40 home schools within DeKalb County that not only values and promotes all individuals and abilities but benefits from their contributions. The dedicated staff and teachers create an environment for every child to learn and develop. And there is our Coralwood community that you are a part of. Coralwood has a strong history of support from its families. Once you become part of the Coralwood family, you stay part of the Coralwood family! So many families continue their involvement after their children have graduated, whether its student alumni marching in the Homecoming parade or parents attending our annual Auction in the spring. Our families’ dedication to keeping Coralwood a magical place is what makes this community so extraordinary.

​

We’re thrilled to share that not just our families are seeing Coralwood’s excellence shine. Dekalb County has chosen Coralwood to continue on as a “Spotlight School” for a second school year. Last semester, Coralwood was recognized for our exemplary practices in community and parent engagement. This semester, Coralwood is highlighting our excellence in equity and access. We are incredibly proud of our school and are thrilled Coralwood is getting the recognition it deserves!

​

Despite this exciting news, Coralwood still faces the impossible task of providing quality educational programming with very constrained financial support. While hard to believe, Coralwood’s budget is based solely on the number of neurotypical kindergarten students enrolled. For the 2024-25 school year, Coralwood’s budget is set at just $8,000.

​

The Coralwood Foundation can help! The Coralwood Foundation’s mission is to support excellence in early childhood inclusion education. To execute this mission, the Foundation funds programs, training, and facility improvements that benefit current and future students. Since our start in 2005, the Foundation has supported many areas of Coralwood, including educational programs for staff, Alliance Theater performances for students, classroom and specials (art, music, motor and library) supplies, curriculum resources, playground equipment, the outdoor classroom, the nature trail, and the sensory hallway. And collectively, we can do even more for our children and Coralwood!

 

The key to the Foundation’s success is the wonderful, generous community we've built over the years. Whether you volunteer your time, serve on the board, donate, or locate generous donors, we need your support! This year, the Foundation is Shining a Spotlight on Engagement, highlighting that we all have a role in ensuring that Coralwood continues to have the funding necessary to maintain its excellence and outpace its success year after year.

​

Throughout the year, we look forward to collaborating with each of you, leveraging your expertise, and working together to achieve our shared goals. Afterall, we are all Coralwood @Heart!

 

Caryn Murillo and Raven Huggins, Co-Presidents

​