Tom – Page 32 – TCS High School

Another Great Day!

November 21, 2022

It was another exciting day at the school! Two of our good friends from The Franciscan Center came by for a conversation. We welcomed Mishonia Lee and Marquis Pritchett who staffing at the center includes the operation of the culinary chefs training program. Many of our students have volunteered at the Franciscan Center and have come to know their staff. It was a lively and enjoyable conversation about life, work and so much more. This was followed by a delicious lunch made by Kathleen Gower. Kathleen is the lead teacher for the Financial Literacy Seminar that followed the lunch. This seminar is sponsored and staffed by the good folks at Berman McAleer. Today's presenters were Kathleen and Bree Beach. In addition, Kathleen's daughter, Lizzie Gower, who is on break from attending Ohio State, talked with the students about the importance of dealing with finance as a college student and also fielded questions about college in general. Today's seminar continued to look at budgeting and also at how to interpret payroll stubs and the W-4 form. Both of these events added to a really great day! ...

Believing In Yourself – Rhys Guilfoyle

by Tom

Student's Writings

November 16, 2022

Rhys manages to tell his story with an eclectic array of touchstones, from “The Little Engine That Could” to Arnold Schwarzenegger to NBA YoungBoy and even Liz Truss. BELIEVING IN YOURSELF I believe everyone grew up with a favorite cartoon or tv show. One of my favorites was Thomas the Tank Engine. He always believed he can, he can, he can. I always believed I can’t, I can’t, I can’t. Anything that was remotely challenging in my life, I would just give up. One day, I was hanging out with my dad and he asked me to move some furniture. I don’t know why he asked a ten-year old whose arms were weaker than Liz Truss’s financial plan to move furniture. I accepted anyway, and we began to move the end table next to our couch and it was easy. It gave me a little confidence boost. We got onto this piano in the dining room and, thankfully, it had some wheels, so we were good. The last thing was the shelf that stored all my dad’s records. Every shelf was stocked with records. I had to get every single one off the shelf and then move the shelf with him. Who does my dad think I am: Arnold Schwarzenegger? The Rock? I thought we could do it because we moved those other things with ease. But no matter how hard we tried, that thing wouldn’t move an inch. Who knew that IKEA furniture was so heavy? Every time we got IKEA furniture, the thing would collapse like...

Believing In Yourself – Kendall Curtis

by Tom

Student's Writings

November 16, 2022

Kendall takes us back to the bad old days of COVID and her mom’s clever ploy to help Kendall successfully pass the 6th Grade, her “hardest school year ever.” BELIEVING IN YOURSELF The 6th grade was the hardest school year ever. The beginning of that school year I started out strong, but it didn’t last. I was suspended. That was bad, but low and behold, I was about to be in for a really rude awakening. One Thursday in March, everyone was sent home for the next two years. I was suspended already so I couldn’t even empty my locker or get my work or even say goodbye. I just had to deal with it. Most days during virtual learning I was either asleep or just didn’t sign on. In the beginning, the teachers would call my mom every day, but after a while no one was showing up to class, not even the teachers sometimes. On top of that, a majority of the days I was home alone, which meant why should I even sign on? Who’s going to know if I do or don’t? So I didn’t. This became a constant cycle for me. If I didn’t go to class, I couldn’t do my work. If the work is not done, it wouldn’t get done. End of the year rolled around and I got an email stating that if you have three failing grades, you fail. My heart sank. All of my grades were failing. I looked at my missing assignments and something just clicked in my head. I ended...

TCS Student News 11-16-22

by Tom

TCS Student News

November 16, 2022

[embed]https://youtu.be/SkzGe9rU8ik[/embed] This week's news by Hector Rivas and Chase Christou starts with reporting on the midterm election. Also check out the stories around TCS including the visit by Senator Mary Washington, Delegate Regina Boyce and Councilwoman Odette Ramos who responded to a presentation by the students on changes needed in Baltimore for students to thrive. Learn about the Conversation with Associated Italian-American Charities members Tom Iacoboni, Tony Culotta, Felix Dialoiso, Mike Gallo and Ray Marocco and the electrical seminar with Done Construction. Hear about the remarkable play the students saw at The Lyric Theatre entitled The Channeling of Ms. Sybby Grant. You'll also catch up on other news including our salute to TCS alumni who are actively serving in the military on Veterans Day and a visit by the Baltimore Women's Giving Circle....

Students Present Their Vision to elected Officials

by Tom

News

November 14, 2022

Today, the students presented their vision for what it takes for young people to thrive in Baltimore to State Senator Mary Washington, Delegate Regina Boyce and Councilwoman Odette Ramos. Issues included education, safety, housing, environmental concerns, conflict resolution and opportunity. This was part of the CO-VISION project led by Maya James and Denise Gantt, education Director at The Lyric. It is important that youth voices are heard around the issues that affect their lives. ...

Household Electric Workshop Part 2

by Tom

News

November 10, 2022

Done Construction is in the house! They are conducting their monthly home repair workshop today. This month is part 2 on basic electrical repairs. The students are learning how to wire outlets and lights and to add outlets to existing ones. In addition to expanding the students' skills, the folks at Done keep adding tools to each student's tool bags including needle nose and linesman pliers and side cutters, Thank you Beth and crew!...

TCS Student News 11-9-22

by Tom

TCS Student News

November 9, 2022

[embed]https://youtu.be/HynMlYj0Le8[/embed] Conversations with Author D. Watkins and musical artist Wendell Patrick. Halloween Happenings. A ZOOM conversation with students from Ireland. Financial Literacy. Sisters Cricle. Theatre Seminar with The Lyric. A notable birthday. And some special thanks. Check out this special two week edition of TCS Student News to learn about all of the great happenings around the school. This edition was produced by Ethan Christou and Jayla Nickens-Gill....

CO-VISION Brings Students Together Across the Atlantic

by Tom

News

November 7, 2022

The students had a unique experience today with an hour and a half ZOOM with a group of students in Dublin, Ireland. This is part of an international project called CO-VISION that our students have been involved in for the past several months. This project was created to give youth a voice in both analyzing the impact of the COVID pandemic on young people and promoting changes should remote learning be necessary again. CO-VISION Ireland has partner projects in Australia, Taiwan, Mexico and ours in the U.S. Our project is led and staffed by Denise Gantt, Education Director at the Lyric, and Maya James. TCS students have been focusing on changes that need to be made for young people to THRIVE in Baltimore. Next week, the students will be presenting their ideas to local elected officials. Stay tuned to hear their ideas....