[embed]https://youtu.be/qALTNQHgLBM[/embed] The main story this week was on the U.S. government shutdown. News around the school includes last week's Conversation with writer Rafael Alvarez, an art seminar with Kini Collins, a special Restorative Circle semiar with Sister Helene Cooke and more. This week's edition was produced by Hector Rivas and Ruth Rivas with production support by Mohamed Cisse....
Japanese Calligraphy was the theme of this week's art seminar with special guest artist Kini Collins. Kini learned this art while studying martial arts in Japan. Each student was given a brush and rice paper and was able to practice various symbols that stood for words. The students learned the very physical techniques in shaping these words that make each recognizable though unique. The workshop ended with a group project where the students used what they had learned to communicate with each other through their calligraphy. Thank you Kini Collins for your generous sharing of time and talent, and thank you Cheryl Fair for curating this series....
Learning ways to resolve conflict and restore relationships was the focus of aa special seminar today. This Restorative Circles seminar was facilitated by Sister Helene Cook who traveled from Scranton, Pennsylvania to join us at the invitation of Lisa Knickmeyer, her former colleague. In this time that is often immersed in division and alienation, we wanted to give the students an opportunity to talk about the conflict in their lives and share methods they have used to find resolution. This was a deeply personal and meaningful seminar that we hope will lead to more understanding and stronger interpersonal relationships. Thank you Sister Helene....
Journalist, author, screenwriter and extraordinary storyteller, Rafael Alvarez, returned to the school to talk with the students for this week's Conversation series. He started the Conversation by interacting with each student learning about his or her interests and plans while sharing ideas and contacts to support each one. Rafael then fielded a broad range of questions from the students on topics as varied as his travel experiences to his inspiration for writing to the issues of the day. He had taken two trips on merchant ships earlier this year - one across the Atlantic and another across the Pacific. While he speaking highly of our school, he also said one of the best ways to get an education was to travel and experience places and lives very different from your own. Rafael 's connection with our school goes back nearly 50 years when he was a reporter for the Baltimore Sunpapers. Since that time, he has written many books and also worked in Hollywood writing for television and film including two years on The Wire with David Simon. He reinforced the teaching in the school that everyone has a story and that much is to be learned from taking the time to interact and listen. The students have started reading his book "Don't Count Me Out: A Baltimore Dope Fiend's Miraculous Recovery" as part of their English literature class. We appreciate Rafael's generosity of time with us over the years and for always responding when we ask him to come in to talk with the students. https://baltimoretraces.umbc.edu/projects/greektown/rafael-alvarez/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Alvarez...
[embed]https://youtu.be/MSyrjBvSS40[/embed] This edition of TCS Student News gives details about the United Nations annual General Assembly gathering. In news around the school, learn about the recent Conversation with environmentalists Zaire Camino and David Smith, a special art seminar with Christianne Knight, a special spotlight on new student Tallulah Cord better known around the school as Mingo, and our first Financial Literacy Seminar by Berman McAleer. This edition was put together by Kennedy Lewis and Mohamed Cisse with production assistance from Hector Rivas....
As part of this weekly effort that introduces the students to a diverse set of Baltimore artists, Christianne Knight came into the school today. Christianne is a fiber artist who shared how she spins fiber into spools that she then uses to make her work. Each of the students was given a crochet needle and picked out yarn to create a work. For most of the students this was the first time they had ever attempted anything like this. Christianne generously encouraged the students to bring the tools and materials home to continue their work. This was an especially interactive and enjoyable session for the students. Thank you Christianne and our appreciation to Cheryl Fair for curating these workshops....
We had a Conversation with two special environmentalists today - Zaire Camino, a Community Forestry Specialist with the Maryland State Department of Natural Resources, and David Smith, A community Engagement Specialist with Patagonia Baltimore. Each shared their personal stories of how they became involved in the environmental movement and also talked about their collaboration in Baltimore. This includes efforts to plant millions of native trees in Maryland and wed our non-native invasive species. They highlighted the many conservation efforts in Baltimore City and the multitude of parks that are accessible to its citizens. both David and Zaire encouraged the students to spend more time outside in nature and also to take steps to create a better environment. Zaire offered to take the students on a special tour of Druid Hill Park just minutes away from the school. David also offered to return with other representatives of Patagonia to talk about positive workplace culture and the ways they are integrating positive environmental practices into their business model....
[embed]https://youtu.be/40NWkDwba6U[/embed] The main story in this week's edition focuses on the youth uprising in Nepal. Stories around the school include a Conversation with musician John Tyler, an art seminar with photographer Nicholas Rudolph, the kickoff of our monthly theatre seminar at The Lyric, a close up look with Marc Steiner at issues from the war on Palestine, a Spotlight on teaching artist Mitch Harris and more. This week's edition was produced by Danny Buck and Khori Mitchell with production assistance by Mohamed Cisse....
Money management was on the minds of TCS students today as we welcomed back our friends from Berman McAleer, The first monthly Financial Literacy class of the year was introduced by Kathleen Gower who designs this series and Ashley Wilkinson who co-taught today's seminar. The class started with a game that broke the students into two groups that each had to answer financial questions such as comparing college costs or the cost of car insurance for teenagers. This was followed by a session where the students shared what they would like to learn this year from cell phone plans to credit cards and investment. Kathleen is collecting this information to design the seminars for this year to make sure they are relevant to the student's interests. Thank you Berman McAleer for the great seminar, delicious lunch and the planning for the rest of the year!...
Baltimore photographer Nicholas Rudolph shared his talent and tips with students today is our new weekly art seminar featuring local artists. The students learned about lighting, composition and equipment as part of this unique experience. Nicholas is cofounder of Studio 5 located in the Station North Arts District. He set up his backdrop and lighting equipment in the school so the students could witness firsthand some of his techniques. this was a fascinating and engaging seminar. Thank you Mr. Rudolph!...