Baltimore Curriculum Project May 2018 Newsletter
In this issue:
  • In Memoriam: Ray Antwone Glasgow III
  • They Tied! (at Are You Smarter than a BCP 5th Graders? 2018)
  • City Springs Elementary/Middle School Shines in April!
  • Frederick Elementary Hosts Site Visit for Community Schools National Forum
  • Govans Honors the Memory of Ann Doak with "Ann's Reading Nook"
  • Restorative Practices at Hampstead Hill Academy: De-stress for the Test and the Art of Mindful Breathing
  • Learning Extends Well Beyond the School Door at Wolfe Street Academy
  • BCP Schools Participate in WE Day Baltimore
In Memoriam: Ray Antwone Glasgow III
Family members, friends, teammates, students, teachers, and community members gathered to honor the memory of Ray Antwone Glasgow III with a release of balloons at City Springs Elementary/Middle School and during the Division A Championship between City College High School and Mervo on May 7, 2018.
 
Ray, age 17, was killed in a shooting in Southeast Baltimore on May 5, 2018. The tragedy was a case of mistaken identity.
 
Ray was a City Springs alumnus, a junior at Baltimore City College, a football player, and captain of the City College lacrosse team.
 
City College football coach Michael Hamilton said of Ray in a Baltimore Sun article on May 7, 2018: “’What is there not to say about Ray? He’s just the epitome of a good kid. Great student, great athlete, great kid.’” http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-ray-glasgow-iii-20180506-story.html
 
Ronald Phillips, a friend of Ray, said in an article on the Fox45 News website:
 
"Ray was a brother and friend to many. He was a good guy to be around. A two sport student athlete who was very passionate about athletics and academics. I met Ray in ninth grade and we became close ever since. We went at it in practice and pushed each other to be better not only on the field but in the classroom also. We had dreams of going to the same college. We ending up playing next to each other for our sophomore football season. He was a very intelligent leader. Young man with a promising future who got his life cut short." ( http://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/friends-remember-17-year-old-ray-glasgow )
 
Ray was a member of the City Springs family for 10 years, attending from PreK through 8th grade. Ray’s father, Ray, Jr., also attended City Springs.

Ray’s kindergarten teacher, who still works at City Springs today, said of Ray, “He always earned all his points on his point sheet every day and he would always encourage his classmates to work hard “.

Even in kindergarten, Ray stood out as a leader. Another staff member said that Ray was in her first class when she came to work at City Springs. We discussed how amazing it is that at 17 years old he has left an incredible legacy. How many 17-year-olds do we know who have already established an impressive legacy?

Ray Glasgow, III’s legacy will have a presence and will live on at City Springs forever. Many former City Springs students have reached out to City Springs’ principal, Rhonda Richetta, and asked, “What are we going to do to keep Ray’s memory alive at City Springs?”

To ensure that Ray’s remarkable life will forever be honored, his former CS classmates are planning an annual event to be held at City Springs’ athletic field called, “Ray Day”. The first annual “Ray Day” will be held on June 16 from noon to 4 pm.  

The City Springs family and the BCP community are heart-broken by this loss, but we are thankful to the Glasgow family for sharing Ray with us. Our hearts go out to Ray’s father, the entire Glasgow family, and Ray’s friends and classmates.  
They Tied!
(at Are You Smarter than a BCP 5th Grader? 2018)
Another  Are You Smarter than a BCP 5th Grader?  has come and gone. The teams tied, allowing the adults to leave with their dignity intact.

Congratulations to the fifth graders: Natalie Cowans, Glorya Gorham, Julissa Hutchinson, Stephanie Leyva-Camilo, and Melody Owens on an outstanding job.

Thank you to  Baltimore City Public Schools  CEO Sonja Santelises, WYPR's Tom Hall , BCP Founder  Muriel Berkeley,   Brown, Goldstein & Levy Partner Stuart Simms, and Darryl De Sousa for competing!

Thank you to Principal Rhonda L. Richetta for hosting the event at City Springs Elementary; Bob Heck for serving as MC; Brad Gartrell for runnning the Quiz Show PowerPoint; and the AARP Experience Corps team for volunteering.
Proceeds from this year's event will support training for new BCP teachers. Donations can still be made online at: https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/newteachers
City Springs Elementary/Middle School Shines in April!
The month of April at City Springs Elementary/Middle School was jam-packed with awards, honors and activities.

City Springs Teachers Elena Gagnier Simmons and Dorothy Glewwe were two of the the top 10 semi-finalists for the 2018  Baltimore City Public Schools  Teacher of the Year Award.

City Springs student Tajma Burnside received  The Baltimore City Youth Commission  "We Are the Dream" Award. This award honors civically engaged youth under the age of 25 from Baltimore City, who emulate Dr. King's dream and passion for empowering and uplifting the community.

Principal Rhonda Richetta gave a presentation on Restorative Practices at the  Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts’ Tenth Annual Urban Child Symposium: Restorative Practices and the Urban Child: Rethinking School Discipline on April 4, 2018 at the  John and Frances Angelos Law Center . City Springs 5th grader, Cavoi, closed out the Symposium by leading attendees in a mindfulness breathing exercise.

The Maryland State Senate passed a resolution on April 5, 2018 to recognize City Springs Elementary/Middle School teacher  Wyatt Oroke  for his "dedication and commitment to education through empathy, critical thinking and social justice while fundraising for the victims of Hurricane Harvey." 

City Springs Academic Coaches  Stacey Hicks, Jenae Toulson, and Tiffany Key  held their second training for Hopkins students who volunteer at City Springs at the  Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School  on April 6, 2016. They trained students in reading intervention strategies (Step Up and Duet Reading); gave an overview of Direct Instruction (DI); showed a video on how students learn to read using the DI curriculum; and provided a synopsis of Singapore math.

P  rincipal Richetta participated in a panel discussion at EduLab@LightCity  on April 18th with  Atman Smith  and  Ali Smith  of the  Holistic Life Foundation . The discussion was moderated by Karen Webber of  Open Society Institute-Baltimore .
Frederick Elementary Hosts Site Visit for Community Schools National Forum
Frederick Elementary hosted a site visit for over thirty attendees from the 2018 Community Schools National Forum on May 1, 2018. Visitors included Community School Coordinators and other education professionals from across the U.S. and Canada.

Two other Baltimore Curriculum Project schools, Hampstead Hill Academy and Wolfe Street Academy, also hosted site visits during the conference.

Frederick Elementary is both a neighborhood charter school and a community school. Bon Secours Community Works serves as the school's Community School Lead Agency.

During the bus ride to Frederick Elementary, conference attendees learned about the planning and community engagement processes for the new school facility, which opened in August 2017.

Kelly Connelly, the Communications Coordinator for Baltimore's 21st Century School Buildings Program and an employee of Brailsford & Dunlavey, talked about the 21st Century School Buildings Program, which will create new and renovated schools across Baltimore City in order to help transform student opportunities and achievement, provide jobs and resources to families, and help revitalize neighborhoods.

Jennifer Leonard, INSPIRE Program Manager for the Baltimore City Office of Planning, talked about the INSPIRE program, which focuses on improving the neighborhoods immediately surrounding each of the modernized schools that are part of the 21st Century School Buildings Program.

After arriving at Frederick, the visitors enjoyed a presentation about Frederick Elementary. Topics included: what it means to be both a conversion charter school and a community school; planning and community engagement for the new school facility; and recent educational interventions implemented by BCP.

Presenters included Principal Harold S. Henry, Jr., Jenee Tucker (Program Director of Community Schools at the Family League of Baltimore), Sabrina Wiggins (Bon Secours Community Works Community School Coordinator for Frederick) and Larry Schugam (Executive Vice President, Baltimore Curriculum Project).

Following the presentation, attendees toured the school's collaborative learning spaces and community use spaces. They also had the opportunity learn about the school merger committee and the walking school bus program.

Frederick Elementary and BCP would like to thank all of the partners that participated in the site visit: Baltimore City Public Schools, the 21st Century School Buildings Program, the Family League of Baltimore, the INSPIRE Program, and Bon Secours Community Works.

About the Coalition for Community Schools and the 2018 Community Schools National Forum

The Coalition for Community Schools, housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership, is an alliance of national, state and local organizations in education K-16, youth development, community planning and development, family support, health and human services, government and philanthropy as well as national, state and local community school networks. Community schools are both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. http://www.communityschools.org/

The 2018 National Forum brought together over 2,000 practitioners, advocates, and policymakers from across the country and around the world. The Coalition for Community Schools, together with the Family League of Baltimore and partners from Maryland Coalition for Community Schools (MD4CS), the City of Baltimore, Baltimore City Public Schools, and other local community partners, convened the 2018 Community Schools National Forum.
Govans Honors the Memory of Ann Doak with "Ann's Reading Nook"
Govans Elementary recently dedicated "Ann’s Reading Nook," a beautiful reading area in the school library, to the memory of Mrs Ann Doak, a long time volunteer who passed away in June 2017.

Ann was born in Texas and, due to her father's army career, was raised in Berlin, Tokyo and Northern Virginia.

After graduating in 1961 from St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia, Ann began her college studies at Wheelock College in Boston, where she majored in early childhood education.

She married John Hunt Doak in 1964 and later earned her bachelors degree from Towson University.

Ann taught first grade at the Park School, then joined Garrison Forest School in 1977 as director of publications and external affairs. She was director of publications at the time of her 2008 retirement.

In addition to volunteering at Govans Elementary, Ann was a former member of the Junior League of Baltimore, a former communicant of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Ruxton, and a parishioner of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer.

Ann was so loved by her preschool children at Govans Elementary and their teachers. She was a dedicated classroom assistant. "Ann's Reading Nook" is used daily by children, staff and parents. 
Restorative Practices at Hampstead Hill Academy: De-stress for the Test and the Art of Mindful Breathing
By Stephen Plunk, Director of Restorative Practices, Hampstead Hill Academy
Restorative Practices are a hallmark of Hampstead Hill Academy's (HHA) school culture. Two to three times a week, teachers facilitate community building circles
with their homerooms with the goal of helping students and teachers build and strengthen connections with one another.

One of the ways I support teachers at HHA with Restorative Practices is to provide a bank of monthly circle prompts they may use for these circles. While teachers are encouraged to (and often do) create their own questions, many use the ones provided. Given the PARCC and other end-of-year assessments, circle prompts for the month of May are focused on self-care and stress management.

What follows are some of the questions from the teacher question bank.

Self-Care Theme: Sleep
  • While we know that it’s important to get a good night’s sleep, sometimes it may be difficult to fall asleep. What do you do to help you fall asleep at night?
  • What is one thing you need with you (for example, a favorite pillow or stuffed animal) or on you (for example, favorite pajamas or eye mask) to get a good night’s sleep?

Self-Care Theme: Nutrition
  • It’s important to eat a good breakfast before school to fuel your body and your brain. What is your ideal breakfast
  • If you had to choose one restaurant to eat at for the rest of your life, which restaurant would you choose? Why?

Self-Care Theme: Lucky Charms, Gaining Focus and Relieving Stress
  • Besides eating a hearty breakfast, getting a good night’s sleep, and having your lucky charm at hand, what else helps you focus before a big test?
  • What is one way you like to decompress or relieve stress after a stressful day or event?

Quotes to Inspire Success!

During the morning announcements throughout the two weeks of PARCC test administration, HHA students heard an inspirational quote about success and trying your best. These quotes included:

  • “As knowledge increases, wonder deepens.” -Charles Morgan
  • “Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.” -Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
  • “If you try to do your best, there is no failure.” -Mike Ferrell
  • "You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose." -Dr. Seuss

Mindfulness and the Art of Breathing

A final way HHA is helping students perform their best is incorporating mindfulness into their daily routines. One of the ways HHA embraces mindfulness is to start each day with mindful breathing during the morning announcements.

The benefits of mindful breathing are well documented. Not only can deep breathing help with stress reduction and instilling a sense of calm, it has also been shown to improve learning, memory, and
concentration. Very important skills to have coming into PARCC testing!

Using a smart phone application called Breathe2Relax , students are led through deep breathing at the very end of morning announcements before instruction begins. Students inhale on a five second count and exhale on a six second count. This is then repeated 8 times. By making the exhale longer than the inhale, the heart rate slows, blood pressure drops, and muscles relax. This rids the lungs of all carbon monoxide and other toxins.

What started as a test run after winter break, morning mindful breathing has been embraced by staff and students alike and has become an important part of HHA's morning routine.
Learning Extends Well Beyond the School Door at Wolfe Street Academy
Wolfe Street Academy (WSA) students were busy learning about nature and science, and engaging in community service during April and M ay....

NorthBay/Buddy Bison Camping Trip: Forty 4th and 5th graders traveled to NorthBay in North East, Maryland for an overnight camping trip on May 11, 2018.

WSA is one of 65 schools nation wide that participate in the National Park Trust’s Buddy Bison program. The purpose is to connect kids in under-served communities to these unique, iconic places – because kids need parks and parks need kids. The trip’s mission was to educate students, promote health and wellness through outdoor recreation, and foster park stewardship for future caretakers of our parks and the environment.

Through a collaboration with the National Park Trust, Mike Hill from the U.S. Forest Service, and North Bay Adventure Camp, WSA students were able to experience this trip for free. It was an amazing and inspiring experience for the students and teachers. 

Kindness Campaign: Second graders spent much of April spreading kindness and love. They wrapped up their Kindness Campaign on April 26th by planting kindness signs and hiding their kindness rocks around Patterson Park.

Girls on the Run Community Service: WSA's "Girls on the Run" team completed their community service project on April 27th. They wanted to spread some joy in the WSA neighborhood by leaving potted plants on neighbors' doorsteps with a note to bring a smile.

SACNAS DNA Day: The Johns Hopkins Medical Institute & University of Maryland Baltimore
Hopkins-UMB Chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) hosted Dia del ADN (DNA Day) -- a day of science, fun and DNA related activities for WSA students on April 23rd.

DNA Day marks the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. The day began with a brief, interactive lecture on DNA for approximately fifty 4th and 5th graders. Then the students broke into groups to explore the magic of DNA by engaging in hands-on activities relevant to DNA.

Activities included: Strawberry DNA extraction, DNA bracelets, DNA straw race, Edible DNA double helix, DNA tattoos, Color Fingerprinting, Photos with double helix inflatable balloon, and DNA origami.

SACNAS also also raffled off two DNA puzzles and a mini microscope.

The event was sponsored by grants awarded to SACNAS from the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion as well as the UMB AAPS chapter.

Wolfe Street Academy and BCP would like to thank SACNAS for providing this wonderful learning experience for our students.

About SACNAS
SACNAS is an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.
BCP Schools Participate in WE Day Baltimore
Students and teachers from City Springs Elementary/Middle, Frederick Elementary, Hampstead Hill Academy and Wolfe Street Academy had a wonderful time participating in the first annual WE Day Baltimore at the Hippodrome Theatre on April 11, 2018.

WE Schools provides helpful resources for educators and exclusive learning opportunities for students, including Advanced Placement courses with WE Service, and Indigenous programming. WE Schools also gives educators the opportunity to host perspective-changing speaking engagements in their classrooms.

WE offered BCP 200 free tickets to send students and teachers to the eve nt, which brought together world-renowned speakers, A-list performers, and youth to celebrate a year of action that transformed communities and changed lives.

Speakers and performers included City Springs' own Wyatt Oroke, Montell williams, Martin Luther King, III, Lizzy Greene, Shawn Hook, In Real Life, Rasheda Ali, Millie Davis, Craig Kielburger, Kenyan Boys Choir, Celebrity Marauders, Spencer West, Tai Young, Mecca Verdell, Grace Callwood, Darius Craig, Hannah V. Sawyerr, Dr. Jacqueline Sanderlin, Sarah Criscimagna Hemminger, James Piper Bond, Adair Newhall, Charles Ashton Newhall, Nardia Boodoo, and "The Band" Marching Unit.

"We have a student in 4th grade who attended this event," said Geri Swann, Hampstead Hill Academy's Director of Community Outreach. "Mom stopped by to tell me that her son barely shares anything with her but could not stop talking about his experience at the WE Day. This is a testimony to the effort you put in to making this an occasion that the students will remember for a long time to come. Thank you so much for making this possible."

"A huge thank you from Wolfe Street Academy for inviting us to join in this event" said Leah Beachley, SWCOS Community School Coordinator at Wolfe Street Academy. "Our students had such a wonderful time and found the experience both fun and inspiring. We appreciate all the effort that went into making the event such a success."

BCP would like to thank Craig Kielburger, Co-Founder of WE; Jacquelyn S. Bullock, Director of Education Partnerships at WE; and Paris Wilson, Program Manager at WE, for including the Baltimore Curriculum Project in the event.

For more information about WE Schools visit: https://www.we.org/we-schools

(Photo above - left to right - WE Director of Education Partnerships Jacquelyn Bullock, BCP Executive Director  Larry Schugam  and WE Co-founder Craig Kielburger)
Baltimore Curriculum Project | 410.675.7000 | bcpinfo@baltimorecp.org | www.baltimorecp.org