Hundreds of millions of people around the world have been waiting for this day for four years: the opening day of the FIFA Men’s World Cup, in the sport we call soccer but the rest of the world knows as football.  The games are being held in Africa for the first time, with South Africa – a country that was banned from international competition from 1964 until 1992 because of its apartheid system of racial segregation – the proud hosts.  As is tradition, the home team, known locally as Bafana Bafana (or just “the Boys”) plays the first match, against Mexico, at 10:00 EDT.

The United States may be the most powerful nation on the planet in many respects, but it’s not in the top tier of powers in soccer.  For 32 years (1954-1986), we did not even qualify for the World Cup.  In 1994, when we were the host country, the U.S. team made it out of group play for the first time since we came in third in the first “World” Cup (which did not include European teams) in 1930; and in 2002, the U.S. team made it to the quarterfinals.  But the U.S. lost all three games it played in 1998, and four years ago, a loss to Ghana meant another elimination during the group stage.  Notwithstanding that history, there is a positive buzz surrounding the team this year.

The last time the U.S. team played in South Africa was in the Confederations Cup last year, where they improbably survived group play (despite losing to Brazil and Italy) by defeating Egypt 3-0 while Brazil was beating Italy by the same score.  They then won a semi-final match against Spain (one of the best teams in the world and a favorite to win the World Cup this year) by two goals and faced Brazil in the finals.  I happened to be visiting Doha the night of the finals.  Gari Voss picked me up at the airport, and we went to a Qatari version of a sports bar to watch the game amid an international contingent of mostly Brazilian fans.  The Cinderella U.S. team was winning 2-0 at half time, but their glass slippers fell off (and I tore my voice out) during the second half, as Brazil won, 3-2.  Still, it was the U.S.’s most respectable showing at a FIFA tournament and generated hope for this year’s World Cup.

For me, the World Cup is the most exciting sports competition in the world.  But it is far more than a sports competition.  Books have been written about how soccer mimics life, how it reflects geopolitical realities, and, indeed, how it “explains everything.”  Teamwork trumps individual skill, and attention to detail, sustained mental focus, awareness of everything happening on the pitch, knowledge of the game, the ability to anticipate teammates’ and opponents’ movements, poise under pressure and, yes, fancy footwork (not to mention a hot goalie) are all critical, but the game is also a humbling reminder that justice does not always prevail, that sometimes the best team doesn’t win.

The nationalistic fervor the tournament provokes can be whipped out of proportion, the organizational politics are Byzantine, and rampant commercialism in sporting events of this magnitude can be off-putting.  But the passion evoked by a global focus on the simplest of games, a 90-minute marathon of repeated spurts and sprints in an incredible demonstration of stamina and athleticism – the closest thing we have to a universal sport – makes the World Cup special.  Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s President, has acknowledged as much, saying that everyone “must be aware that football is more than kicking a ball around.  It’s the social and cultural aspects” that make it extraordinary.  In furtherance of that thesis, FIFA and political leaders around the globe have established an organization named 1GOAL as the “lasting legacy” of this year’s World Cup.

Chaired by Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, 1GOAL will hold an Education Summit in Cape Town during the last week of the World Cup, focused on the 72 million children in the world (including a disproportionate number of girls) who do not receive even a primary school education.  World leaders and private sector funders are expected to commit to a plan to ensure that they are all in school by 2014, when the next World Cup will be held in Brazil.  Team Mosaica certainly supports that goal, and we are doing our part to make it a reality.  If FIFA can use the tool of soccer to publicize the importance of education to society and to expand schooling opportunities throughout the world, it would indeed be a wonderful legacy.

In furtherance of that ambition, throughout this year’s tournament, players, supporters and political leaders will raise their index finger, not to indicate that their team is Number 1, but in the 1GOAL hand sign of support for universal education as a global commitment.  [If they are raising a finger other than their index finger, that’s probably intended to communicate a different message.]

Enjoy the games.

Michael J. Connelly
Chief Executive Officer
Mosaica Education, Inc.

Atlanta, Ga. (Mosaica Education, Inc.) June 9, 2010 – A hundred percent of the first grade students at the Atlanta Preparatory Academy (APA) exceeded or met the reading standard on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), according to preliminary data. The academy is located at 569 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30314 in the historic Jordan Hall on the Morris Brown University campus.

In addition to the extraordinary performance of the APA’s first grade class, 83 percent of the school met or exceeded the reading standard.

According to Lynette Walker, APA Chief Administrative Officer, the school differentiated instruction to meet the needs of students and also provided after-school tutoring, twice a week, with a focus on reading and mathematics to prepare for the CRCT. In addition, the Mosaica Education’s Paragon® curriculum, an interdisciplinary language arts and humanities program was instrumental in giving students an extra boost.

“APA will continue to implement the Mosaica instructional model with fidelity, differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners and offer after school tutoring services,” Walker said. “We will also incorporate Saturday School during the upcoming school year and launch a school-wide reading initiative.”

About Atlanta Preparatory Academy
Atlanta Preparatory Academy is a K-6 charter school for students residing within the Atlanta Public School district.  Atlanta Preparatory Academy offers a college preparatory experience to all students at no cost.

ATLANTA –  The Georgia Parent Advocacy Network (G-PAN), a service of the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA) will present a world-premiere screening of the gripping documentary, The Lottery, at the Landmark Midtown Art Theater.

A limited number of tickets are available without charge on a first-come, first-served basis due to the generous sponsorship of Georgia Parent Advocacy Network (G-PAN) and Mosaica Education, Inc.  Advance tickets will be available at the Georgia Charter Schools Association office and the theater box office (for information, call 404-835-8900 or email scoleman@gacharters.org).

Tickets will also be available at the door as long as they are available.  Because of the size of the theater, there is a limit of 250 total tickets for this exclusive premier in Atlanta. The film is rated PG.

The Lottery, produced and directed by Madeleine Sackler, tells the stories of four families living in Harlem, trying to get their children into high-performing, quality public schools. It is one of the first docudramas of its kind that seeks to move beyond the data and policy arguments, and put human faces on the need for reforming our nation’s public school system. More information about this compelling documentary may be found at www.thelotteryfilm.com.

The film will be debuting simultaneously in several cities, including Denver (as well as Colorado Springs and Ft. Collins), Houston, Dallas, Milwaukee, New York, San Diego as well as several cities in North Carolina (Ashville, Durham, Greensboro and Raleigh). A panel discussion on public education reform and school choice will be held immediately following the viewing of the film and will feature GCSA Chief Executive Officer Tony Roberts, Ph.D., Dawn D. Eidelman, Ph. D., Chief Education Officer of Mosaica Education, Inc., which is helping to sponsor the event, and Folami Prescott Adams, Ph.D., an educator, author and board president of Atlanta Preparatory Academy.
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WHAT:  World premiere screening of The Lottery, a documentary that tells the stories of four Harlem families working to get their children enrolled in quality public schools. A panel discussion on public education reform will be held after the screening.
WHEN:  6:30 p.m. (with panel discussion to follow), Tuesday, June 8.
WHERE:  Landmark Midtown Art Theater, 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA  30308.

Panel discussion will follow showing of documentary chronicling the lives
of four families from Harlem fighting to enroll their children in quality public schools

For More information about this event contact: Thailla Tisdale, Director of Marketing at 404-841-2305 Ext. 1080

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WESTERVILLE, OH (June 3, 2010) – Cornerstone Academy, a public charter school in Westerville, Oh.,  was recently recognized as one of the Healthy Ohioan’s-Governor’s Buckeye Best (BB) Healthy Schools.

BB Healthy Schools demonstrate a commitment to the health and wellness of their students and staff through the establishment of programs and policies that foster these goals. The program is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health in partnership with the American Cancer Society – Ohio Division, as part of the Ohio Department of Health’s Healthy Ohioans campaign.

“We were awarded at the Bronze level this year and have a goal of being Gold next year,” said Jamie Scott, Chief Administrative Officer of Cornerstone Academy.

Each fall the BB Healthy School Program accepts applications and ranks schools based upon their progress. All winning schools achieve a “gold” standard in the areas of tobacco, nutrition and physical activity. Ms. Scott is encouraging parents and the community to increase physical activity and involvement in nutrition and activity-based programs.

“We would love to purchase a fitness station that could be used for both physical education classes and the community surrounding the school,” Ms. Scott said.

Cornerstone Academy’s parent advisory committee is working with the school’s lunch director and vendor, to create an even healthier food program. More whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables will be incorporated into the menu for next year. The school is also researching grant opportunities to build a greenhouse and garden. The garden will give the health food program a big boost by giving students the opportunity to enjoy fresh produce grown on the school grounds.

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