Blog

Young Playwrights Seminar Wraps Up

Today we wrapped up the final seminar session for the Baltimore Center Stage Young Playwrights Festival. For nine weeks, instructor Parker Matthews has been leading the students through exercises to prepare each student to write their own short play. Mr. Parker started each seminar with physical exercises to loosen the students up and get them thinking creatively. He then used the rest of the classes to teach about various elements of playwriting, such as character, plot, and setting. The students then had the opportunity to draft their stories in writing sessions with Mr. Parker there to answer questions and give feedback.

After nine weeks of intensive creative writing process, the students have completed their plays! For today’s final session, each student presented an excerpt of their writing. Mr. Parker helped each student “cast” their play with other students in the room, and each part was read aloud to the class. This was a fun way to celebrate all of the students’ hard work and showcase their creativity. In January, the students will be submitting their pieces to Baltimore Center Stage along with other young creatives from second grade to twelfth grade. Up to six plays will be selected to receive a professional production at Center Stage. We are proud of our student’s work this past nine weeks and even if they don’t get selected, it is impressive to be able to say that you have written a play! Thank you so much to Mr. Parker and all of our friends at Baltimore Center Stage for giving us this opportunity.

TCS Student News December 6, 2019

This week’s news broadcast from The Community School was researched, written, produced and anchored by students Claude Nicholson and Keith Cooke.

Third Sponsor Meeting Recognizes Students’ Hard Work

This Thursday sponsors and students gathered for the third sponsor meeting of the school year. Thursday’s sponsor meeting wrapped up the first trimester, handed out report cards and recognized everyone’s hard work so far this year. The meeting was chaired by Lisa Knickmeyer, who has taken on the role of Sponsor Coordinator for the 2019-2020 school term. 

After a brief report from Mr. Tom and a presentation on all of the special activities of the 1st trimester by Olivia and Jacob, Lisa had everyone break down into 5 different groups that scattered around the building.  Each group did brainstorming on student recruitment, social activities, facility maintenance, fundraising and the structure of the sponsor program. Everyone came back together and each group reported their ideas to be compiled by Lisa and circulated for future action.

The meeting ended with handing out report cards. Seven students made the Honor Roll, qualifying with a total average of above 90% and no subject below 80% – congratulations Ethan, Keith, Ronan, Sara, Aidan, Claude and Olivia. 

This trimester saw great attendance, with a 99.1% overall attendance record and 76% of the students having not missing a single day – good job to Ethan, Faith, Keith, Jacob, Destiny, Ronan, Sara, Aidan, Claude, Le’Onnie, Salma, Joshua, and Olivia. 

We also recognized two special academic achievements. Great job, Aidan, for completing all of your high school math credits as a Junior, and Olivia for being accepted into college!

Thank you to our student leaders this trimester- Jacob as Cleanup Coordinator and Studio Coordinator, Destiny as Cleanup Coordinator, Sara as Greenhouse Coordinator, and Aidan and Salma as Gratitude Coordinators. 

Thank you to everyone who attended the sponsor meeting, to all of the students for their hard work and to everyone who has volunteered so far this year. You all help make TCS a special place.

Conversation with Zack Austin

This Thursday, alumnus Zack Austin joined us for a special Conversation With. Zack, a soldier in the U.S. Army, is home in Baltimore right now for a 2 week leave. Zack graduated TCS in 2013. When he turned 18, he enlisted in the Army and spent time in Alaska at Fort Wainwright. After his first contract ended Zack reenlisted and is now stationed in Hawaii. We are happy that Zack has chosen to spend some of his leave visiting his TCS community, first attending the Thanksgiving Potluck and the AIAC banquet, and now coming in for the Conversation With. 

Zack described for the students all of the different opportunities in the army and the steps in the enlistment process. He also described the three stages of boot camp and the benefits you receive as a member of the military along with some of his personal stories from his enlistment. We have several current students who are interested in the possibility of joining the military, so the conversation today was very informative. Destiny enjoyed hearing about Zack’s experience with scuba diving. For Jacob, the conversation reinforced that the only person who can hold you back from achieving your goals is yourself. Faith and Salma also appreciated Zack’s advice on how to confront and overcome fears. Thank you for giving time out of your short leave to talk to the current students, Zack! The TCS community is grateful for your service. 

TCS Honored at AIAC Banquet

Through the consistent kindness of Tom and Jacque Iacoboni and Mike and Jean Gallo, The Community School was honored with a generous donation Tuesday night at the Associated Italian American Charities fundraiser banquet. TCS staff and students attend this event each year with the generosity of our friends in the AIAC. The dinner, devoted to charity and education, featured members of the AIAC awarding donations to many organizations and scholarships for local high school and college students.

 All of the students and teachers accompanied Tom to the stage when TCS was called. Mr. Tom’s cousin Tom Iacoboni presented the donation to the school, and then turned the mic over to the students. Sara gave a speech about all the activities in the school that the AIAC donations help fund, and Tyleiah gave a speech thanking all of the AIAC members who have supported the school over the years. Thank you to the AIAC for their investment in our amazing students, and a special thank you to Felix Dialioso and Tom Iacoboni for having the students and staff of TCS attend the banquet as their guests. We all had a wonderful night sharing in good food and the AIAC’s giving tradition.