Jason: NO Outreach Winter Showcase Showdown

New Orleans Outreach has been an integral part of FirstLine Schools for years. As the primary driver of our afterschool enrichment programs, Outreach has brought dance, sports, art, Karate, and some of the students’ favorite extracurriculars to our campuses.

This year, Outreach held an annual Winter Showcase at S.J. Green Charter and at Langston Hughes Academy.  Green held theirs first on December 14, setting the stage with paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling and Christmas lights strung about. Between all the dance demonstrations, it would be hard to say which was the favorite. However, the marching band was definitely a crowd-pleaser.

Other highlights at Green included the Karate club (watching the students play ‘Sensei Says’ was especially entertaining), a very relaxing yoga session on stage, and the baseball team’s warm-up demo. Meanwhile, the packed room enjoyed a variety of treats provided by The Edible Schooyard, including fresh tea and banana bread.

LHA Dance Performance

Langston Hughes Academy followed with an equally impressive show the next week. While their Hip-Hop Dance team’s version of “No Scrubs” was a favorite, Outreach at LHA also included some skits in their showcase. There were lessons on friendship and school life in theatrical format. At the finale, the LHA Marching Eagles wowed the audience with a full band, dance team, and baton twirlers.

After LHA’s Winter Showcase, they offered food and a book sale at their Family Food Night in the cafeteria. The two showcases highlight not only the wonderful programs our students at FirstLine are engaged in, but just how vital New Orleans Outreach has been to enriching the lives of our scholars.

Jason Lacoste is the AmeriCorps VISTA K-8 Outreach Coordinator for FirstLine Schools.

AP Psychology students at Clark Prep focused on school breakfast participation

10th grade AP Psychology students at Clark Prep High School are in the midst of a student-led initiative focused on school breakfast participation. The initiative was born out of the students’ observation that there is a lack of breakfast participation and their teacher’s desire for students to actively engage in research methods. 

The students administered a survey to their classmates and analyzed the data. Since then, strengths and weaknesses of the current school breakfast program have been identified and an action plan developed. The students have also presented their findings and recommendations to their school’s food service provider.


Pictured is teacher Leah Evans and three of her students who are participating in this initiative.

Ashe Students Embrace Composting...and then some

"...And now we have Program Manager Rahn Broady reporting from the field at Arthur Ashe...Rahn?

"Yes, ESY NOLA staff members have now confirmed that students at Arthur Ashe are going rogue with composting. Last week one of our recently-hired Compost CEOs appeared on the scene of an escalating conflict and settled the fact that indeed, lettuce can be composted.

Compost CEO hard at work

"This morning Chef Educator Emily Hagar reported that one of the compost executives appeared earlier this week with a serious look on his face, asking for an apron.  He darted into the cafe as the Chef Educator trailed behind reminding him Ashe only composts at lunch, not at breakfast.  Reportedly he waved her off, reassuring her he wanted to compost, and commenced to dump smaller buckets from each cafeteria table into the larger one.  About halfway through the job, he happened on a small bucket that contained the crust of some breakfast pizza. "You've GOTTA be kiddin' me," he said with distaste.  Isolating the crust into a garbage can, he proceeded to complete his mission, which is to build the soil for his one-acre garden.  Back to you, Alisha..."

Alisha Johnson is the Development Manager and Rahn Broady is the Program Manager for Edible Schoolyard NOLA

Kathleen: Treme Series Writer visits Clark Prep

From left: Nelson, Eric Overmyer, Anthony “Magic”, Shakerin

On Monday, December 3, Eric Overmyer visited Clark Prep. This visit was really something special. Mr. Overmyer is a writer for the HBO show Treme, The Wire and other popular television series. As a visitor at Clark Prep, he didn’t come for what many visitors typically do, such as a tour or attending a basketball game. Eric’s first trip to our campus was to share his invaluable knowledge with some of our students and others from three other FirstLine Schools: Langston Hughes Academy, John Dibert and Arthur Ashe all had the opportunity to show the rough cuts of their semester pieces that they worked on with Kids Rethink New Orleans. After viewing the rough cuts, Eric Overmyer offered constructive feedback and also answered a variety of student questions.

Tulane’s Digital Media Program is partnering with Kids Rethink New Orleans, thanks to partial funding from Gulf South Leadership Institute, at these four FirstLine schools, establishing an after-school media program at each one. Clark Prep students paired up with three Tulane mentors, all in the Tulane Digital Media Program taking a class called Place-based Storytelling in New Orleans.  Clark Prep’s Digital Media Club is working to produce two videos as their semester pieces: one about the Claiborne Corridor and the other about drugs in our community. The Tulane students create videos in their class and bring their experience to the Digital Media Clubs at the four schools, establishing a meaningful, valuable mentoring relationship with members of each club. Tulane is set to host a screening of their works on campus before Winter Break.

FirstLine’s Aspiration Manager Darcy McKinnon, faculty supervisor of Clark Prep Digital Media Club, is working hard to make sure that the program is permanent. By raising funds and maintaining formidable relationships with NOVAC, she also hopes Clark Prep and Tulane maintain a relationship in the years to come so that Clark Prep students can keep making awesome work and continue learning from such valuable mentors. As for members of Clark Prep’s club, they were invited by Eric Overmyer to check out the set of Treme!

Kathleen Duffy is the AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Coordinator for Clark Prep High School.