BCP November 2019 Newsletter
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In this issue:
- School Board Recommends First Ever 8-Year Renewal for Wolfe Street Academy and 5-Year Renewal for Govans Elementary
- Interview with BCP Development and HR Associate Mya Hodge
- City Springs Celebrates Diversity for over 40 Years
- Frederick Elementary Offers Exciting New After School Activities
- Govans Elementary Has Plenty to Be Thankful For ...
- Hampstead Hill Academy's PTO Provides Power-Packed October
- Wolfe Street Academy Welcomes New OST Director and Congratulates Current Director on New Role
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School Board Recommends First Ever 8-Year Renewal for Wolfe Street Academy and 5-Year Renewal for Govans Elementary
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BCP is thrilled to announce that Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) recommended an 8-Year charter renewal for Wolfe Street Academy at the School Board meeting on November 12, 2019. This is BCPS' first ever 8-Year charter renewal recommendation. BCP is equally delighted that BCPS recommended a 5-Year charter renewal for Govans Elementary.
The School Board presented the following results from the Charter School Renewal Rubric for Wolfe Street Academy at the November 12th meeting:
- Highly effective in academics
- Highly effective in climate
- Effective in financial management and governance
The school has had two previous five-year renewals, including delivering high quality programming for all student groups, making it eligible for an extended eight-year renewal.
Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises had the following to say about Wolfe Street Academy at the board meeting:
"I just want to say Principal Gaither is here this evening and it is not with fairy dust that a school can serve large numbers of ELL learners, of recent immigrants, of young people who come from families who are challenged not just with being often times lower income, but are challenged increasingly with psychological assault on their humanity. It is places like Wolfe Street that model the kind of refuge that I referenced earlier.
In a city with many challenges, we should have schools that are refuges for our young people and I want Principal Gaither to know that I know it wasn't a two or three-year process. It takes time to get there. But, the steady consistent focus on the right thing. It's one of the best things that happened today was knowing this recommendation and to be the first, since we're looking at history, I can't think of a better school to get the first 8-year renewal in Baltimore City Public Schools. So, congratulations."
In its first ever renewal attempt, the School Board presented the following results from the Charter School Renewal Rubric for Govans Elementary:
- Effective in academics
- Effective in climate
- Effective in financial management and governance
BCP would like to congratulate Wolfe Street Academy and Govans Elementary on their outstanding renewal recommendations. The School Board will vote on the renewal recommendations at the Board Meeting on January 14, 2020.
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Interview with BCP Development and HR Associate Mya Hodge
Interview by Jon McGill, BCP Director of Academic Affairs
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Mya Hodge is our newest member of the BCP Staff. She is a Development and HR Associate and is working on variety of important projects including grant management and related duties. She joined us in September. Jon McGill interviewed Mya in mid-November.
Jon McGill: Ms. Hodge, tell us a little about your background, where you are from originally, your early educational experiences?
Mya Hodge: I was born and raised in Baltimore. I have always had a passion for the arts, specifically dance and theater, which led me to going to the Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson for high school. I volunteered to teach dance from tenth grade to the present. I also enjoy reading and writing. When I initially volunteered as a dance teacher, I would teach reading through movement. Ultimately, I was teaching kids how to read by putting movement to words in story books and turning it into a dance piece. That was something I really enjoyed!
JM: Where did you go for your higher education?
MH: I received my bachelor’s degree in English from Morgan State University, in 2016. Currently I am pursuing my master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore. I expect to graduate in May 2020.
JM: What were your first adult employments?
MH: My first job was with Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore. I started as a Youth Development professional, teaching dance in 2013. I became an area director, overseeing two sites at Callaway Elementary School and Arlington Elementary/Middle School. I finished my career at Boys and Girls Clubs as the Director of Administration, doing training, grant management and cultivating partnerships. I have always loved organizations that promote education and youth development in Baltimore.
JM: How did you hear about BCP?
MH: I decided to switch gears form Boys and Girls Clubs and I looked into other non-profits in the city and came across the Baltimore Curriculum Project. After doing a bit of research, I decided that the mission and the work BCP has and does was right for me, and here I am!
JM: What are your current responsibilities at BCP?
MH: Currently, grant management, development, and marketing, along with some HR and purchasing duties.
JM: How about the future? What do you see yourself doing in the future?
MH: I would love to learn more about non-profit management and grant writing. As far as educational ambitions, I am considering going to law school, with a concentration in family law, with a longer-term goal of becoming a judge. I would also like to start my own non-profit for young ladies that will focus on mentoring and education.
We hope Ms. Hodge will prepare herself for that future by doing a lengthy stint at BCP, where her talents will be put to good use and her ambitions can be supported.
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City Springs Celebrates Diversity for over 40 Years
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City Springs Elementary/Middle School has always embraced students from diverse backgrounds. An article in the Baltimore Afro American newspaper from May 5, 1979 described City Springs as a school that "has 410 children of different races but when they get together Black, Indian, Spanish, German, Italian, Caucasian, they're all one happy family."
Forty years later, student backgrounds may have changed, but the welcoming environment remains the same. A growing number of Latino families are sending their children to City Springs and the school enrolled several Arabic-speaking students last year.
City Springs helps students become well-rounded citizens who are knowledgeable about the world outside of their community. This is one reason why middle school students are required to take a class in a foreign language before they go to high school.
Students and families who speak English as a second language receive the support they need at City Springs. Last year several of the students in Mr. Eddie Pullen's class spoke Arabic as their first language and knew very little English. The Arabic speaking students used Duolingo, a free but powerful (and fun) language-learning program, to learn English. English-speaking students used the program to learn the basics of Arabic.
This year there are 23 students who speak English as a second language. Baltimore City Schools has provided City Springs with the Renzulli Learning program, which helps to effectively educate ELL (English Language Learner) students in English-based academic subjects and develop required skills based upon Common Core Standards. The program begins in Kindergarten and is offered in several languages including Spanish and Arabic.
In December, the school's winter celebration will focus on "Celebrating Our Learning and Celebrating Our Diversity." In addition, the Student Event Action Team is planning an International Night for the spring.
Student exposure to other cultures doesn't stop at the school door. In September, students learned about perspective chalk art at the 5th Annual Madonnari Arts Festival in Little Italy. This annual event showcases elaborate chalk paintings created by artists directly on the streets and celebrates the Renaissance of Baltimore’s historic Little Italy.
The Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM) has been a City Springs partner for years. JMM teaches students about Jewish history in the Jonestown neighborhood, provides Hanukkah outreach programs, and offers other educational programming.
The following letter from one of City Springs' Arabic-speaking parents sums up the school's inclusive environment. (The letter is translated from Arabic.)
Dr. Rhonda Richetta Warm Greetings and Pleased
In this year 2018-2019, my children supervise that they are among the students studying in your wonderful and very beautiful school. From the beginning of the year, I have noticed the good attention of you personally and of all those working with you, which created my son Saad in grade 8 and Ahmed in grade 5, a wonderful educational environment made them insist on staying in this school despite of school had not get ESOL teacher at the beginning of the year. And gave me the option of transferring them to any other school, but my children refused to move to another school because they felt from the lap of warm and sophisticated treatment of teachers and management, even though school did her best to bring ESOL teacher after that, So I would like to thank this upscale school represented by Principal Rhonda Richetta. And with all the educational and administrative staff working with it as there are teachers who have made a big difference with highly communicating Level and handling my kids. Also, I would like to mention some names the teachers Napier and O Messiouz (I think Mr. Nebbia and Mr. O)
Informing you that I feel very sad and I am traveling to my country and losing this kind of educational environment for my children, but after all my good pray for all.
تحيه طيبه مباركه
تشرف ابنائي في هذا العام 2018-2019 بان كانوا من ضمن الطلاب الدارسين في مدرستكم الرائعه والجميله جداً
والتي لمست منذ البدايه الاهتمام الجيد منكم شخصياً ومن جميع العاملين معكم مما خلق لابني سعد المالكي في الصف 8 واحمد المالكي في الصف 5 بيئه تعليميه رائعه جعلتهم يتمسكون في البقاء في هذه المدرسه بالرغم من عدم تواجد معلمه للغه الانجليزيه في بداية السنه واعطائي الخيار في نقلهم لاي مدرسه اخرى لكن رفض ابنائي ان ينتقلوا الى مدرسة اخرى لما شعروا به من حضن دافء وتعامل راقي من المدرسين ومن الاداره والتى حاولت حتى هيئت معلمه للغه الانجليزيه بعد ذالك
لذا فاني اقدم شكري لهذه المدرسه العريقه متمثلة بمديرتها الراقيه جداً الدكتوره ركاد وبجميع الطاقم التعليمي والاداري العامل معها حيث انه هناك مدرسين احدثوا فارق كبير في المستوى والتعامل اذكر منهم على سبيل المثال لا الحصر الاستاذ او O والاستاذ نابيه والاستاذه ميسيوز.
علماً باني اشعر بالحزن الشديد وانا مسافر الى بلادي بفقدكم وفقد ابنائي البيئه التعليميه الراقيه لديكم لكم مني الدعاء بالتوفيق في كل ما قدمتموه وتقدمونه ولكم وافر تقديري واحترامي
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Frederick Elementary Offers Exciting New After School Activities
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Frederick Elementary's After School Program, which is funded by a generous grant from the Family League of Baltimore, kicked off in October. Here are a few of the exciting new activities being offered this school year:
Dwane Jackson has volunteered to teach Bucket Drumming four days a week. Mr. Jackson has been playing drums for 25 years and plays both membranophones (any musical instrument which produces sound primarily by way of a vibrating stretched membrane), idiophones (any musical instrument that creates sound primarily by the instrument as a whole vibrating, such as a marimba), and the piano.
Mr. Jackson taught percussion at Frederick Douglas High School and Edmondson High School. He has been involved in after school programs at Westside Elementary, John Eager Howard Elementary, Patterson Park Elementary, the No Boundaries Coalition, Save A Dope Boy, and Baltimore Free Farm. He has enjoyed bringing drumming to Baltimore City children for the last 18 years.
LET'S GO
Boys and Girls is providing STEM curriculum, teacher training, and ongoing teacher coaching for Frederick Elementary this school year. LET'S GO has supported Govans Elementary's after school program since 2015 and we are happy that they are working with their second BCP school.
Founded in 2009 by Dr. Clark “Corky” Graham, LET’S GO Boys and Girls, (LET’S GO) set out to increase the number of STEM professionals from our urban underserved communities by engaging and supporting elementary and middle school students through the STEM education pipeline. LET'S GO partners with schools and youth organizations interested in offering STEM to their students and provide the materials, training, and support necessary to implement fun, hands-on STEM curricular activities.
http://www.letsgoboysandgirls.com/
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is offering their "Startup Tech Intro" program, a blended learning tech-entrepreneurship course that asks students to identify ways to improve their world and to build marketable digital solutions using
MIT App Inventor. Students create an original app that addresses a community need, develop a corresponding original abbreviated business plan
and marketing materials, and present in a Startup Showcase expo for the chance to win funding and publicity.
https://www.nfte.com/
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Magira Ross will offer a one week session in African Dance and JeliJeli belt creation, a rite of passage for girls. Ms. Ross teaches Dance at Western High School and has worked as an artist in Baltimore City for 38 years. She has taught in the Baltimore City Cultural Arts Program, at Garrison Forest School, Temple University and in the Philadelphia Public School System. Ms. Ross was a founding member of the Morton Street Dance Center, the Return to Goree African Dance Company, and My Sister’s Keeper Collaborative Dance Company.
Ms. Ross has performed with Sankofa Dance Theater, which has created and presented world-class, authentic African art in the form of dance, music, and folkways for national and international audiences since 1989. She also danced with Pearl Primus, an American dancer, choreographer and anthropologist who played an important role in the presentation of African dance to American audiences. Ms. Ross earned a Master of Education in Dance/Cultural Studies from Temple University and a B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts from UMBC.
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Govans Elementary Has Plenty to Be Thankful For ...
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Govans Elementary and BCP would like to thank the following partners for supporting our students:
Days of Taste returned to Govans this fall with Chef David K. Thomas, Executive Chef and owner of Ida B’s Table in downtown Baltimore. Days of Taste, a program of TaseWise Kids, teaches 4th graders about the elements of taste and the journey of food from farm to table.
The program is a three-part interactive learning experience that introduces students to the elements of flavor - sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, encourages them to try mixing flavors to change the way food tastes, and allows them to participate in food’s journey from farm to table. The program takes place in the classroom and on a working farm, and includes activities led by a local chef and local farmer.
https://www.tastewisekids.org/
Chesapeake Employers Insurance Company donated Ravens tickets, which the school raffled off as part of an attendance contest for Back to School Night.
https://www.ceiwc.com/
Dionne Waldron McNeal, Community Outreach Officer at Fulton Bank, taught a class on financial responsibility for students in grades three through five.
https://www.fultonbank.com/
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Barn Hill Preserve brought the zoo to Govans! Students enjoyed an oral presentation with live animals from Barn Hill Preserve in Delaware. They were able to get up close and personal with the animals and get involved in the demonstrations. Thank you to fourth/fifth grade teacher Ms. Kelley for organizing this event.
https://www.barnhillpreserve.com/
Broadmead Retirement Community welcomed after school students for a Saturday of intergenerational pumpkin decorating.
http://www.broadmead.org/
The Church of the Redeemer held their annual coat drive and donated 75 new winter coats for students.
Wire and Honey, an online clothing store dedicated to social change, donated 184 brand-new sneakers for students at a special assembly on November 13, 2019. The shoes were purchased from Shoes that Fit, a California-based nonprofit that partners with corporations, volunteer groups, and individuals to provide free sneakers for children. This is the second year that Wire and Honey has donated sneakers.
https://www.wireandhoney.com/
Blair Wellness Center held a generous Holiday toy drive for Govans students.
Front Porch Church is going to provide Holiday gifts for every student in the school as well as breakfast for teachers several times throughout the school year.
https://frontporchbaltimore.org/
Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance will be providing Holiday gifts for Govans families through their 11th Annual DBFA Adopt-a-Family program. Wolfe Street Academy is also one of the participating schools.
http://www.baltimorefamilies.org/
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Hampstead Hill Academy's PTO Provides Power-Packed October
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October was a very busy month with several important Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) events including our BEE FIT fall fundraiser, fall movie night, a happy hour social mixer and the inaugural Día de los Muertos family potluck dinner celebration.
Thank you to Ms. Douglas, Ms. Lefever, Ms. Costello, and Ms. Chris for giving HHA a presence at the Baltimore marathon cheer. All PTO events in October were made possible by the efforts, time, and contributions of more than 70 parent and teacher volunteers!
Bee FIT Field Day Fundraiser
This month, HHA students raised over $24,000 for BEE FIT which is an all-time record amount! Students in all grades enjoyed tug of war, relay races, different versions of dodge ball, stretching, moving, and just being outside on a gorgeous, sunny day on Utz Field.
This fitness and field day fundraising event would not have been possible without the amazing efforts by Shelbi Brookshire, Alison Bucklin, Jim Hanson, as well as time and donations from over 50 other volunteers. A special thank you also goes out to Living Classrooms for providing space for our kids and teachers to enjoy the field day; Jodi Naaz of Charm City Fitness for her command of the field; and Mark Larkin and his Coppermine staff that provided a fantastic variety of fitness activities. THANK YOU!
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Día de los Muertos Celebration
For the first time ever, the PTO sponsored a Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead family potluck dinner celebration. Over 200 people enjoyed homemade international cuisine, music, and dance performances, and learned about how different cultures pay respects and celebrate loved ones who have passed.
Special thanks and appreciation go out to Magdalena Gaspar, Crecenciana Cano, Laura Naula, Adriana Rojas, Rosa Martinez, Alejandra Flores, Jacqueline Sánchez, Alexandra Gonzalez, Yesenia Mejías, Flor Gallegos, Jill and Sean Vasbinder Morrison, Molly Burger, Kim Rice, Tony Berry, John, Polanco, Marta Orellana, Arturo Fagoaga, Melanie Macías, Shelbi Brookshire and Felicia German for their amazing efforts setting up and running the event.
Thank you as well to the numerous other parent and staff volunteers from the PTO and Padres Unidos/Parents United who helped with setup, serving food, clean up and more.
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Wolfe Street Academy Welcomes New OST Director and Congratulates Current Director on New Role
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BCP and Wolfe Street Academy (WSA) would like to welcome Alexa White, WSA's new Out-of-School-Time (OST) Director. Ms. White joins WSA with experience in environmental education and after-school coordination. Locally, she has worked with the Patterson Park Audubon Center and Hampstead Hill Academy.
We would also like to congratulate current OST Director Tiffany Long on running this outstanding program for over five years. She will be transitioning to a new role at WSA.
WSA has offered its own after school program for 12 years. In 2008 the school consolidated the after school and summer school Director positions into one, full-time Out-of-School-Time Director position. The after school and summer school programs moved to a new level of professionalism with this shift. Over the last 11 years WSA has provided a comprehensive and robust program. For the past five years the program has served its highest number of students ranging from 65% to 80% of the K-5 school population.
Each year the program adds 400+ hours to the school year. The program runs Monday through Thursday for an extra 3.5 hours per day. Each day students receive a snack, have an hour of additional academic instruction, an hour for enrichment opportunities, and time for recreation and supper.
The WSA After School Program is comprised of multiple moving pieces. The team that makes this happens is a mix of day school staff, after school staff, volunteers, and partners.
All WSA students are invited to participate in the program. The day schools' Student Support Team (SST)/Individual Education Program (IEP) Chair, along with the Principal, work with Baltimore City Public Schools to have any support services that are usually provided during the school day carried over to the extended hours.
Each year Targeted Assistance School (TAS) supports are put in place and any accommodations needed for meals, transportation, etc. are provided. The day school Mental Health Counselor also works with the OST Director to carry over any behavior plans and/or accommodations needed for students.
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The goal of the WSA After School Program is to provide an inclusive, extended learning environment that supports and extends the day school curriculum and provides students with engaging and enriching experiences they would otherwise not have access to. The program does this through a 3-pronged approach that includes Academics, Enrichment, and Electives.
Academics
Each student in the program receives four hours of academic instruction each week, provided by WSA Teachers or Para-Professionals. The academic program focuses on STEM and Literacy. Because over 60% of WSA students are English Language Learners, every lesson focuses on enhancing vocabulary development. The Academic Coordinator, who also serves as the Day School Academic Coach, oversees the academic staff, curriculum, and student progress.
Enrichment
Every student in the program rotates through a variety of enrichment courses. Enrichment Educators come from a variety of backgrounds including the arts, sciences, education, social services fields, and more. Many are young adults with degrees or pursuing degrees and some are day school staff. The enrichment courses offered may vary from year to year based on student interest and need. Courses have included: art, science, computer science, history, health, nutrition, character development, Spanish, creative writing, and community service.
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Electives (Clubs)
The elective courses are the “extras” that students may opt to participate in throughout the year. They are taught by day school teachers, volunteers, and individuals through partner programs like the BRIDGES string instrument program. Electives are particularly important to the program as most of these activities would cost parents a great deal elsewhere. Electives have included: soccer, baseball, tennis, Girls on the Run, chess, robotics, dance, theater, violin, viola, cello, cooking, health, photojournalism, book clubs, boys groups, sailing, and more.
Tutoring
In addition to these activities many students enrolled in the program benefit from one-on-one or small group tutoring. Graduate students from Johns Hopkins University and other local universities, as well professionals from various fields, volunteer their time in the afternoons to tutor students. Students are assigned tutors based on teacher recommendations.
WSA’s Extended Day Program is 100% grant funded with Baltimore Curriculum Project providing management of the grant. The main funders include the Family League of Baltimore City and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Additional funds received from the SACHS Foundation and private donors are pieced together to support the full program expenses.
In addition to grant funding the program's success relies heavily on its many partnerships with corporations, community agencies and individual volunteers. Primary among these are our long-time relationships with Johns Hopkins University, the Julie Community Center, the Fells Point Corner Theater, the Baltimore Kids Chess League, The BRIDGES Program, the Downtown Sailing Center, and the Upper Fells Point Improvement Association.
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