Happy Last Week of School Warriors,

Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
Our soon-to-be alumni have had an incredible ride. We are thankful that we could be in our building all year and participate in the traditions connected to the senior year. We have one event left; graduation is later this week.

9th -11th Grade families and students are one step closer to college!
Thank you for all you have done to support your students' growth this year. It has been challenging, but we have learned a lot. 

As a reminder, 9th-11th grade students have portfolios this week. It is a graduation requirement, and students must complete it each year. Students have the time and dates in their email. Please work with them to get to TMA at their designated time. 
Raymond A. Weeden, Jr.
Executive Director
“I was born to make mistakes, not to fake perfection.” 
- Drake 
Student Opportunities
SDX fellows are high school students from all over DC who come together over the course of the school year to build the skills, knowledge, relationships, and courage they need to make change in their communities. Over the course of the year-long SDX experience, students learn how to interrupt injustice in their communities, connect with adult leaders and other students from across DC, and develop important skills and powerful relationships to continue leading for change.

SDX fellows choose one core injustice to spend the year learning about, identifying root causes of, and working to disrupt by advocating for their freedom dreams of a more just world. 

Students attend monthly sessions, conduct independent work, participate in mentor sessions with SDX alumni, and meet with SDX leaders and adult allies to refine their project ideas.

The fellowship is open to rising 10th–12th graders in DC who have the passion and interest to make a difference in their communities. We meet once a month in person on Saturdays, often at the MLK library. We will also be taking a trip outside of the DMV to deepen our learning about organizing and establish connections with other changemakers. 

Students receive access to seed money to get their projects off the ground, in addition to receiving a stipend of $1,000 for their participation in the program.

As a snippet of what we did in Cohort 1: We held a human library where fellows got to meet with local and national organizers, activists, advocates, and educators. We had guest speakers such as Markus Batchelor (the youngest-ever elected member of the DC State Board of Education), Jamal Holtz (lead organizer with 51 for 51), and Ms. Judy Richardson (SNCC veteran and filmmaker). We took a tour with a historian to explore the rich history of organizing and activism in Mount Pleasant and Columbia Heights. We visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture to engage with artifacts and make historical connections with fellows' social justice projects. If these opportunities excite you, apply today!

Applications for Cohort 2 are now open! Apply today to become a part of a citywide community of 10th–12th graders interrupting injustice in DC. Applications are due June 30th. 
PCSAA Track and Field Champions! #warriorstrong
Jermaine S's first time competing in the Long Jump. He placed 4th overall!
Erica W, the champion of Girls Long Jump!
High School Journalists Invited to
Apply to Free Howard University Media Academy
Howard University Multicultural Media Academy will host high school students online at a free journalism workshop. The virtual 10-day program is open from June 20 to July 1, 2022. 9th - 12th grade scholars attending any U.S. high school, or new graduates who will enter college in the fall are eligible. The program will focus on how to use the power of multimedia journalism to cover health and wellness in underserved communities. READ MORE HERE. 
Families and Students
Technology Action Items
Thurgood Marshall Academy is committed to supporting the technology and Internet needs of students and families. We need your help with this effort!

1) Attention students and families using TMA-issued MiFi Hotspots.
 
Our provider is phasing out some hotspot models, which will stop working on June 30.
 
We also need to inventory the devices and collect those that are no longer needed.
 
Any student who has a TMA-issued MiFi Hotspot should bring that device to Nora Moore in the 102 Suite between 9 am - 3 pm between June 6 - 10 (note: 9 am - Noon June 8).
 
2) Chromebook collection -- Any student who has a TMA Chromebook and will not be enrolled at Thurgood Marshall Academy for the 2022-23 school year is asked to turn in the Chromebook to Nora Moore or Security when they are finished with classes, exams, and portfolio. Please leave your name with the device if you turn it in to Security.

Thank you for your help!
--The Operations Team
Get a Running Start on Childhood Vaccinations 
Childhood vaccinations across the country are down and especially low among DC children. This puts the entire DMV community at risk for a serious outbreak of a dangerous disease. DC has a number of resources available designed to help families get all students up-to-date on all childhood vaccinations required for school attendance. It is critical that families take the following steps to keep your child and our community safe:

  1. Schedule your child’s annual wellness visit
  2. Make sure your child has received all of their immunizations
  3. Submit immunization documents to your school