Local School Rises from the Dust To Plant Positive Seeds

East Palo Alto, CA June 9, 2004 -- A local charter school is defying the odds. The K-8 school was previously closed by the school’s Board of Directors and then re-opened by the parent body. Many predicted that The School of Wisdom and Knowledge would not make it through the school year. Despite these opinions, the school has undergone a year of stabilization and has received unanimous approval for a five year continuance of it’s charter by the Ravenswood City Unified School District. The school's stabilization plan called for a name change and additional financial support. To this end, The Phoenix Academy was born and announces it’s first annual benefit banquet “Planting Positive Seeds”. "Planting Positive Seeds", promises to be a fundraising party to remember. It will be held Saturday June 12, 2004 from 5:30pm – 12am at the Cabana Hotel, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California 94306. (650-857-0787) This event features Honorable Willie Brown, former Speaker of the House and past Mayor of San Francisco. The evening will include live entertainment, gourmet dining, dancing and silent auction. The friends and supporters of both the outgoing School of Wisdom and Knowledge and incoming Phoenix Academy encourage all to join in the celebration and attend. Charter schools are public schools that were established on a smaller scale to address the needs of students that were not met in the traditional school environment. The Phoenix Academy has been able to address the educational development of our students through personalized lesson plans and innovation in our educational approach. The Phoenix Academy works collaboratively to create a supportive, innovative, and academically challenging educational environment that nurtures its students and prepares them for high school and beyond. The Phoenix Academy emphasizes preparation of its students for a successful and rewarding future by developing both academic and non-academic skills. The Phoenix Academy is a Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation, all donations are tax deductible. Support can be in the form of corporate sponsorship, donations of products or services for the silent auction, volunteering, or monthly pledges. Additional information is available at http://www.thephoenixacademy.org or http://www.geocities.com/phoenixacademygroup For sponsorship and donations contact Heliena Walton, 408-608-9022. For volunteer opportunities contact Elaine Bryant, 510-706-7119. For more information about the event, contact Janet Lash, AVSO Events at 650-843-0694 or info@avsoevents.com.