Blog

Conversation with Dylan Low Part II

TCS Volunteer and JHU PhD candidate Dylan Low came in today to continue his Conversation with the students. In the first he mainly talked about his home country of Singapore, but this one was far more personal.  Dylan talked about his early life and his educational journey.  This included schooling in Singapore, college in Thailand and Taiwan, military service all before landing in Baltimore.  He also talked about his research interest in cognitive neuroscience and linguistics. The students were particularly interested in his time teaching in a camp in Thailand for refugees from Myanmar.

In addition to his rigorous schedule at Johns Hopkins, Dylan makes time to volunteer at the school preparing curriculum materials.

We are fortunate to have Dylan as part of our community and thank him for his generous sharing of time and talent.

Environmental Science Course Begins!

We welcome Professor Sandra Nonyerem Bunmi Ukoh to TCS where she will teach Environmental Science. This three credit college course comes to us through our partnership with Baltimore City Community College. Especially in this time, learning about the environment and the natural world is critically important.

Professor Ukoh was born in Nigeria and studied at the University of Lagos. She holds three degrees in science.  She describes her interest this way: “My interest is in environmental pollution, health and toxicology which is the branch of public health that focuses on the relationships between contaminant, people and their environment; so as to promotes human health and well-being; and fosters healthy and safe communities.The study and effects of these chemicals on human health and the environment using the principles of biology and chemistry to ascertain the behavior of man-made and natural chemicals. The impact of this study is to advance policies and programs to reduce chemical and other environmental exposures in air, water, soil and food to protect people and provide communities with healthier environments.”

Students in the 11th and 12th grades are taking this course and they are already eagerly learning.  Thank you Michelle White from BCC for bringing this opportunity to our students. Welcome Professor Sandra to our learning community!

Conversation with Mario Armstrong

We had a high energy Conversation with Mario Armstrong, two time Emmy Award–winning talk show host and Digital Lifestyle Expert® on NBC’s TODAY Show, CNN, NPR, and more. Mario shared with the students lessons from his life while engaging with the students about their lives and goals.

After the Conversation, one student remarked, “This was one of my most favorite conversations. When people give life advice, they don’t usually use the people in the room as an example. He used everyone in the room as an example and told us things we could do to improve ourselves and grow. He was extremely passionate about all his projects and works. My favorite piece of advice was whatever you’re doing, give your 100%. If you are working, 100%, if you are with your family, give them your 100%. I really respect and want to apply that advice.”

Mr. Armstrong pledged to return for a followup Conversation in the upcoming weeks and also to plan a three seminar series for the next school year.  We are very thankful for his generous sharing of time and talent and are looking forward to his return!

Students Win Awards in Regional Writing Contest

Once again, our students won multiple regional Scholastic awards from the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers for their excellence in writing. Students submitted their writings that they produced in Mr. Don’s weekly Creative Writing Seminar and revised after meeting one-on-one with Mr. Don in a separate session. Some students submitted multiple works to the contest and won multiple awards for the deeply thoughtful and creative works.

Gold Key Award Winners are Ethan, Kendall, Madison and Ruth.

Silver Key Award Winners are Ethan, Hector, Madison, Mohamed, Quinn, and Ruth

Honorable Mention Award Winners are Hector, Jordan, Karla, Kendall, Madison, Mohamed, Quinn, Rhys, Ruth.

Scholastic wrote the following to us:
“Your students works were reviewed by a panel of creative professionals, and awarded for its outstanding merit in originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice and vision.

Since 1923, the Awards have recognized some of the nation’s most celebrated artists and writers while they were teenagers, including Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Jose Parla, Amanda Gorman, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol! We are proud to count your students among these esteemed Scholastic Art & Writing Awards alumni!”

We are proud of all of our students and their skill, creativity and drive. We salute them and Mr. Don for this honor!

Code in the Schools Now in TCS!

We are proud to announce a new partnership with Code in the Schools! Their mission states: “We empower Baltimore City youth to thrive in the 21st century economy by expanding access to quality computer science education and building pathways from school to jobs and higher education.”

This has yielded a new weekly seminar that will have each student building and programming a small computer and then using it to analyze and solve problems. This seminar is entitled “30 Days Lost in Space” and was developed by a former NASA researcher and college professor, Dr. Greg Lyzenga.

Today’s seminar began with a welcome of Jacob Ferragmo who will be teaching this course and remarks by Code in the Schools Co-Director Stephanie Alphee. Stephanie, a neighbor of TCS, recently visited the school with fellow Co-Director Andrew Pham to establish what is hoped to be a long term partnership that will expand our students’ education and opportunities.

The students enjoyed this first session and are excited to get underway. Welcome Jacob and thank you Code in the Schools!