The classroom was packed with new students and their families tonight. They were at the school to complete registration for the 2014/2015 term and to learn more about the school program, culture, and teaching methods. The active interest shown by the students and families promises a terrific new year ahead. There are a very limited number of new student slots available and the second phase for applications is available through July 31st....
The Board of Trustees of The Community School met last night to review the evaluations of the 2013/2014 school year. These included evaluations of the school by students, sponsors, and staff volunteers as well as student self-evaluations. This activity has been an important part of the planning process in the school for over 3 decades. It is another way that the students, families and staff have significant input into the operation of the school. The Board includes 2 former students and 3 former sponsors and has a combined history with the school of over 174 years! The Trustees also adopted a budget for next year, approved the school calendar and reworked the sponsor program for the school. We're all looking forward to an even better new school year....
Just one year ago the students took a trip of a lifetime to the Southwest. It was an amazing journey, beginning with the whole community effort to raise money to send the students to the welcoming into their homes and communities of our many friends in that part of the country. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can read about the journey in the booklet that was produced after we came back. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8...
Thank you to everyone who supported the Sidewalk Sale today! It was a big success! Much appreciation to the people who helped spread the word by hanging up signs and sharing on Facebook. And a very special thanks to all of those who helped today and in the weeks leading up to the event: Dave Bayer, Ed, Lisa & Ryan Gavin, Barbara Foltz, Aduke Hubbard, Lisa Larrimore Spitler, Kelsey Larrimore, Jeanette Norris, Samantha Bell, Claivonda Taylor, Zackary Austin, Peggy Lashbrook, Gary & Cathy Russo Froman, Char Smith, Joshua Mooney, Kirsten Bayer, Houston Barker, Risasi Hubbard, Matt Wendler, Fleesie Hubbard, Danny Whitcomb, Cheryl, Shawn, Shannon and Tom Culotta. Many people walked away with some great deals on some good stuff and the school is able to do a bit more because of it....
The Community School will be holding a gigantic Sidewalk Sale on Sunday, June 1st. There will be loads of terrific buys from clothes to electronic equipment to furniture to a full size portable basketball hoop. Save the date and click here for updates and a list of items for sale...
[caption id="attachment_758" align="alignleft" width="300"] TCS Banner Photo[/caption] The final Sponsor Meeting of the year will take place on Wednesday,May 28th at 7:00. Report Cards will be given out, plans for the new term will be discussed, and sponsors will participate in an evaluation of the 2013/2014 term. Looking forward to seeing everyone there....
The Community School is deeply appreciative for the students from Johns Hopkins University who have been helping us this year. We will really miss tutors Alex Polyak and Noah Saganski who will both be graduating next week and have each been with TCS for the last 3 years. We want to wish tutor Hemen Muleta well as she studies abroad and will return to us for her 3rd year next January. Thanks also to tutor Sarah Krasnik for her help this semester. Sarah will be assisting us this summer before also studying abroad. Special thanks go to all of the terrific volunteers from JHU-Community School Initiative. Thank you Bryan Brensinger, Quenton Bubb, Gaby Frid, Lydia Hellwig, Deanna Loh, Andrew Mao, Becca Obniski, Simon Pan, Kathryn Rees, and Joseph Sloan. This group will be entering its 6th year at TCS in September under the new leadership of co-presidents Quenton Bubb and Kathryn Rees. We are also grateful to the JHU Center for Social Concern under the new leadership this past year of Rollin Johnson Jr. and with the kind support of Gia Grier McGinnis and Carolyn Mack. You all have added a depth and quality to the program at The Community School and are held in high regard by our students and community....
Thanks to our friends at The Johns Hopkins University - Community School Initiative (JHU-CSI), the students had the opportunity to tour one of the labs in the new wing of the Mudd Building. Dr. Carolyn Fitch generously shared her time explaining the use of the equipment, lab procedures, and experiments that take place in the lab. The students also had a chance to see some of the high tech equipment in action and they were particularly amazed at the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze protein pellets that had been isolated in the main lab. It was an amazing experience to tour with the enthusiastic Dr. Fitch and we are thankful for the opportunity. Special thanks to CSI members Deanna Loh for setting up this experience and to Rebecca Obniski and Joseph Sloan for touring with us. We look forward to another year of weekly labs with JHU-CSI....
Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke brought Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake by the school today so the mayor could become familiar with our work. There were students, alumni, volunteers, staff, and college support program participants present for the occasion. In addition to learning about the school, there was a discussion about the need to extend support for students who are going to the county to attend community college and are forced to pay higher rates. The students had an opportunity to speak about what the school means to them and Mary Pat spoke about why TCS is important to Baltimore. Tom Culotta gave the history of the organization and explained our mission and program. It is our hope that this is the beginning of a dialogue that will benefit young people, the community and the school for many years to come....
The seedlings from the greenhouse are being transplanted to containers for outside growing. Peas, yellow squash, bush beans, zucchini and cucumbers are growing fast. The tomatoes and peppers will be going in next. We'll be selling herb and vegetable seedlings and plants at the Sidewalk Sale on Sunday, June 1st. If anyone would like to join the Greenhouse Project, let us know. A pledge of as little as 20 minutes one day a week to water plants will put you on the team!...