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With just weeks left in this school term, members of the Board of Trustees shared lunch and conversation with the students today after observing the class in action.  Trustees Dave Bayer, Eddie Gavin, Barbara Foltz and Aduke Hubbard were keenly interested in the student's views on their school experience. Eddie explained how 4 generations of his family have been involved in the school and how important the school has been in his life since first being involved when he was a young teenager.  He stressed the broad support that exists for the students and the school that is much larger than the students can see. The students shared their dreams and experience of this past year and how much they have grown and accomplished since coming to the school in September.  The Board expressed their pride in the students and saluted them for their efforts this year....

There was a terrific turnout for the Girl Rising movie showing at the school today.  This stirring film explored the lives of nine girls around the globe from Afghanistan to Peru striving to overcome the obstacles to bettering their lives. Girl Rising illuminates issues such as sexual assault and child marriage, denial of education for girls, human trafficking and slavery, and poverty. The students from The Community School raised issues that are faced by girls in our own community as well.  There was a good representation of girls and boys, women and men in the room and many poignant observations were raised in the discussion that followed. It was announced that the school will initiate a series of movies with discussion next year that will focus on the issues faced around the globe and in our own communities.  Thank you to everyone that attended and supported this film.  For more information about Girl Rising Click here.  ...

The students attended a performance of the percussion dance troupe, Step Afrika! today.  It was amazing!  This dance style, that developed through African-American fraternities and sororities, had everyone moving.  The troupe also explained how a form of this dance was used  among South African miners as a way of communicating when language between them was a barrier. We found out that one of our students, Claivonda Taylor, was in a step group and now she is being encouraged to start a group in our own school. The performance was sponsored by Arts on Stage and took place at Goucher College. To learn more about StepAfrika!, Click this link. To learn more about Arts on Stage, Click here....

Larry Gross, spoke with the class via Skype from Los Angeles to share the story of his journey to retrace his family's life before and during the Holocaust.  As part of a roundup of Jewish people, his family was removed from their home after a normal life in the village of Munkacs, then part of Hungary.  They were transported by rail car to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration & Extermination Camp. Larry visited this site in 2005 and walked the ground where his family was personally examined by the notorious Nazi doctor Mengele when they arrived there by boxcar.  Larry's Mother and Grandmother were in the gas chamber where they were to be killed when there was a malfunction and then were taken back to the barracks.  Larry's mom, Alice Sylvester, survived the Holocaust and today still stands as a witness to the Holocaust and the power of the human spirit. The students were keenly interested in this very personal story that both shed light on the history that they are studying as well as the human condition and the need to stand up to hatred and discrimination. Larry has been a friend of the school for many years through his leadership of the Coalition for Economic Survival in LA. We are very grateful for his sharing with our students. You can read the letters that students wrote to Larry by Clicking this link....

[caption id="attachment_1823" align="alignleft" width="300"] Frasier's Bake Sale[/caption] The Spring Bake Sale was a large success thanks to great coordination by the students and the support of so many people who baked, bought, and helped out.  It was a beautiful day on the Avenue and many former students and old friends stopped by to show their support and sample some terrific homemade sweets. It was a real pleasure to catch up with so many old friends. Special thanks to all of the bakers and sellers including Andi Witt, Char Smith, Kimberly Triplett, Claivonda Taylor, Justin Switzer,  Sherry Salazar, Sierra Salazar, Danzel Pridgett, Brenda Peddicord, Linda McCauley, Angela McCarty, Amanda McCarty, Mary Grace Mazzulli, Sierra Martin, Natasha Martin, Lisa Larrimore Spitler, Kelsey Larrimore, Amanda Larrimore, Maria Jasion, Dominic Jasion, Lynda Gomeringer, Ryan Gavin, Cathy & Gary Froman, Carol Berman, Samantha Bell, and  Zack Austin with a special thanks to Frazier's for giving us the space and being so kind....

"Think About What You Saw" was displayed on posters around the Holocaust Museum as the students viewed the exhibits today. Yet this admonition wasn't needed for our students who were deep in reflection and engagement as they moved through the permanent exhibit of the horrors of the Holocaust. Today's visit to the museum made their U.S. History studies of World War II even more real. This was the first trip to Washington D.C. for most of the students and will remain etched in their memories. To learn more about the Holocaust or the museum in Washington D.C. Click this link....

The long winter also gave way to a late planting this year in the greenhouse.  Today Ryan McCauley, Alex Polyak, Ryan Gavin, and Tom Culotta prepared the growing areas and planted seeds for lettuce, zucchini, beans, peas, Swiss chard, onions, squash, basil, rosemary, cilantro, parsley,and cucumbers. Looking forward to good growing and great eating at The Community School....

[caption id="attachment_1759" align="alignleft" width="302"] Ron Halbright[/caption] Regaling the students with stories of his climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, Ron Halbright enjoyed lunch and conversation at the school today. He also shared stories of his organization that is engaged throughout Europe dealing with prejudice and racism especially against immigrants. Ron, who now lives in Switzerland, used to live and work in Baltimore on a jobs and weatherization project with the school.  The students were especially impacted by the story of Ron's grandparents who were in the Holocaust during World War II.  This sharing of personal stories is a key component of the education at The Community School. You can learn more about Ron's work by Clicking this link....

[caption id="attachment_1674" align="alignleft" width="300"] Billboard[/caption] When you're driving by the corner of 36th & Falls Road in Hampden, be sure and look up to see our new billboard. It was designed by the creative team of Don & Sande Riesett, long time TCS volunteers.  Don developed the idea from a pattern he noticed in working with the students on their writing where they often mentioned that they are in the school because they want to "Be Somebody." There are posters with the design popping up all over the area as we seek out students for the new term beginning in the fall. Thank you Don & Sande for developing this campaign and to you both and all of the other kind people who put up the resources to publicize it....

[caption id="attachment_1679" align="alignleft" width="300"] Fumiko Campbell[/caption] The students were privileged today to  be invited to lunch by friend of the school Fumiko Campbell.  Ms. Fumiko was born and raised in Japan, but came to live here after marrying Arthur Campbell. She has been involved in community service for many years and sits on the board of the Maryland Science Center.  Most of her activities center around St. Agnes Hospital where she once worked and has been a volunteer putting in more than 25,000 hours. After lunch, Fumiko shared her traditional culture with the students showing them various items from Japan.  It was a terrific experience and enthralled the students....