August Martin High School is a Renewal School. The vision of a Renewal School is to do the following:

• Transform Renewal Schools into Community Schools 
• Create extended learning time
• Supply resources and supports to ensure effective school leadership and rigorous instruction with collaborative teachers.
• Performing school needs assessments across all six elements of the Framework for Great Schools (rigorous instruction, collaborative teachers, supportive environment, effective school leadership, strong family-community ties, and trust) to identify key areas for additional resources.
• Bring increased oversight and accountability including strict goals and clear consequences for schools that do not meet them

We the Students of August Martin High School AGREE with the vision of the Renewal School. We believe that we should be in a school that supports us through positive enrichment activities, community engagement, and strong family-community ties. We are clear that students need leadership and that we have resources and support.  

THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR: 
Even though August Martin High School has had many setbacks academically, last year several extra curricular programs and organizations were established. Last year we were proud of:

• STAY HUNGRY was a culinary competition bridging hip hop and food.
• #OperationSkittles was a project created and led by students to transform 100% of the hallways at August Martin HS in partnership with 5 Pointz, Ron Draper and Walter Cruz. 
• We traveled around NYC, Philly, Newark and New Haven.
• HYPE Team has created 10+ events to inspire school spirit and get students engaged after school.
• Kings of Martin was a student and staff basketball tournament in partnership with Voyages HS. It allowed us to come together and provided visitors with a  "we are in it together" approach.
• We had a number of organizations that supported us in leadership development, sexual health, exploring our passions, fulfilling dreams and student organizing such as: HYPE Team, Urban Arts, The Future Project, Sound Mynd Music, Teen RAPP, Kings of Kings, The United Black Men Of Queens, Child Center of NY and LIFE Camp Inc.

WHAT WE DON'T AGREE WITH:

• Our new Principal Ms. Rory Parnell, coming into our school and making drastic changes without the student body or community she serves.
• Principal Parnell getting rid of The Dreamers Way (part of #OperationSkittles), light bulbs with positive #'s done by Meres One (Curators of 5 Pointz), gotten rid of many of our organizations and programs, and most importantly removed teachers/staff.

LIST OF DEMANDS:

• DOE finds a more suitable, student/community oriented principal for August Martin HS
• Teachers that were fired are reinstated, teachers that left are given an opportunity to come back
• Bring back extra curricular programs 
• Allow the remaining art from #OperationSkittles to remain on the walls, institute The Dreamers Way scholarship that provides scholarship funds to the classes of 2016, 2017, 2018 (students who participated in the creation of the 40k+ Dreamer’s Way project)
• Create customized schedules as previously instituted or create alternative schedule options
• No extended learning unless needed

THE SHOULDERS WE STAND ON:

We want to shout out all the students organizing around the world, we are standing on their shoulders:

• Seattle Ferguson Walkout in 2014 at Seattle High School 
• Colgate Occupation in 2014 at Colgate University 
• Syracuse Occupation in 2015 at Syracuse University 
• NCSU Budget Walkout in 2014 at North Carolina State University 
• British Student Protests in 2010 throughout England 
• Knickerbocker Case in 1948 at the City College of New York

 
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT:

• Stand with us by signing this petition
• Share this petition via social media
• Reach out to us via Instagram at @QueensDreamers OR email StudentsOfAmhs@gmail.com
• Share our voices via medium.com/@queensdreamers14

In signing this petition you will become a part of the movement to reestablish balance, our fundamental programs as well as saving our art. You are our community and your voice matters!