Clark Prep Students Receive Scholarships to Summer Programs

Four Clark Prep students will receive full scholarships to attend the Southeast’s No. 1 high school media-learning program, the Louisiana Scholastic Journalism Institute’s (LSJI). Sponsored by the LSU Manship School of communication, this intensive one-week summer training program for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors, works to provide students with the skills needed to produce scholastic media. Our very own Clark Prep students will learn how to produce newspapers, broadcast and yearbooks, building skills in writing, editing, design, videography, photography, multimedia production, and social media. In addition to having access to Manship’s production facilities, students will work closely with college faculty and media professionals.

This is an incredible opportunity for Clark Prep students Nelson Powell, Marshante Collins, Henrietta London, and Semaj Davis to develop strong journalism skills and get their first taste of the college experience.

Additionally, four Clark Prep students received scholarships to attend LSU’s MathCircle. The LSU MathCircle is a three-week summer enrichment program designed to cover topics in math that are not taught at the high school level. Students will learn about topics such as: graph theory, number theory, fractals, geometric construction, and mathematical modeling.

A big congratulations to Sada Jones for receiving a $2,500 scholarship, covering the full cost of tuition for the LSU MathCircle summer program. Three other students received $1000 and $500 scholarships.

We are extremely proud of these scholars who are working hard to create their legacy.

Clark Prep helps celebrate the reopening of Harrell Stadium

Thanks to the Saints, Pelicans, Super Bowl XLIVII Host Committee, Chevron, the City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC), Harrell Stadium celebrated its reopening on May 17. Clark Prep was instrumental in the event, performing with NORDC band members for the opening ceremony. The reopening is centered on the decision to use the turf from Super Bowl XLIVII, played earlier this year at the New Orleans Superdome, as the field for Harrell’s football stadium. Others will accompany this renovation effort too; Chevron will be funding a new Harrell’s basketball court, and the NORD Foundation will contribute a brand new stadium scoreboard and PA system.

Clark Prep’s Marching Band, in conjunction with NORDC, played what was described as an "outstanding performance." Mr. Franklin, Clark Prep’s Marching Band Director, and Mr. Blackman are praised by faculty for their dedication to Clark’s music performance program.  The Marching Band program has been excelling at an impressive speed. Dean of Students Randall Montgomery aptly stated of Mr. Franklin and Mr. Blackman’s work, “a price can’t equal the amount of impact you’re making in their lives.”

From Clark Prep faculty and students to outside organizations, all community stakeholders are contributing to the rebirth and revitalization of valuable city resources to ensure NORDC accomplishes their mission to provide secure, educational, recreational, well rounded and culturally engaging opportunities to New Orleans’ citizens at Harrell Stadium.

We are excited to be a part of the reopening of Harrell Stadium, and even more excited to play on the field, building our athletic and musical talents, for years to come.

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan visits Arthur Ashe Charter School!

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan visited with third, fourth, and fifth grade students at Arthur Ashe Charter School to share his enthusiasm for reading as part of Rotolo’s Literacy Program.

During his time at Ashe, Jordan emphasized the importance of reading for academics, as well as reading for life. Literacy skills are vital to success in school and beyond. In addition to spending time with Ashe’s third, fourth and fifth graders, Jordan made impromptu visits with kindergarten, seventh and eighth grade classes.

A big thank you to Rotolo’s Pizzeria for generously providing free pizza to the students!

For more on this story click here.

Green Fest 2013 a recap

 Green Fest takes place each spring at Samuel J. Green Charter School. The event is a showcase for students to demonstrate what they have learned in their enrichment classes throughout the year. Friends, family and the community join in to learn more about the enrichment program and connect with students.

This year featured performances from the following:

African & Caribbean dance, yoga, dance theatre, lyrical dance, karate and band.

Exhibits included visual art and face painting, photography and a photo booth, Freret Neighborhood Center and Neighborhood Housing Services.

There were even stop-animation videos from graphic design and the book club!

Thank you to our partners and vendors including the ESYNOLA Budding Entrepreneurs, Beaucoup Juice, Domino’s and the Scholastic Book Fair.

Green Fest 2013 was dedicated to Mrs. Luke who is retiring at the end of the year.

Mrs. Luke retires from Samuel J. Green Charter School after 15 years

At the age of 84, Mrs. Romona Luke retired from Samuel J. Charter School, a FirstLine School.  FirstLine staff said goodbye to Mrs. Luke last Friday by throwing a retirement party at the Green cafeteria.

Mrs. Luke first joined the FirstLine community at age 69 as a volunteer at New Orleans Charter Middle School.  It wasn’t long before she was offered a part-time position by co-founder Tony Recanser. Mrs. Luke continued with the organization for the next seven years, until 2005 when Katrina’s flood waters destroyed the school. When New Orleans Charter Middle School returned to the city the organization re-opened under the name FirstLine Schools, opening Samuel J. Green Charter School.

Mrs. Luke has been a part of Samuel J. Green Charter ever since. She is the familiar face and warm presence welcoming everyone. FirstLine Schools is lucky to have had Mrs. Luke as a member of our team and we are sad to say goodbye.


Watch Mrs. Luke dance the bus stop and check out the Times Picayune article about Mrs. Luke’s retirement here.

Kathleen: Beautification of the Bulldog Campus

mural progression from left to right, top to bottom

It all started with a few Clark Prep seniors' desire to upgrade the Gymnasium walls. Senior Seandré Napoleon and others saw the dull grey-white walls as blank templates: potential to create vibrant, student-designed and completed murals.

Their artistic vision was encouraged by Principal Reginald Coleman who approved the “sports wall mural” idea and set the students on their way to project implementation. National Honors Society students and their friends worked on the murals in the Gymnasium with Ms. Melanie Padron, artist in her free time and Social Worker for 11-12 full-time, over Winter Break.

Ms. Moore & Marjahn Branch
 with the completed mural

After researching pictures online, the mural took a total of three days: projecting the selected images onto the wall, tracing, blending, shading and finishing touches were finished with over two weeks until graduation on Wednesday, May 22^nd. Left image shows progression from left to right, top to bottom. Ms. Dynte Moore, “unofficial founder” of the mural, explained that shading certain aspects of the design was hardest, but when viewing the mural in its entirety you can clearly see they hit the mark. On Tuesday, May 7 the outside mural was completed. To see this student-driven aesthetic plan through, the Class of 2013 founded a tradition at Clark Prep: moving forward, each graduation class will leave a parting mural gift with their soon-to-be alma mater.

Faculty immediately embraced and realized the beauty of this recently completed artwork, and students feel the same way. The mural is yet another critical component that adds meaning and pride to being a Bulldog. Way to go, Class of 2013! 

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

Kindergarten Students Celebrate the Completion of Food ABCs

--> Arthur Ashe kindergarten students completed their Food ABCs last week, finishing earlier in the year than their predecessors.  During Food ABCs students learn each letter of the alphabet while trying 2-3 foods starting with the letter that they’re studying. Like zucchini for the letter Z and squash for the letter S.
-->

The next phase in learning will include lessons developed between core Kindergarten Teachers and ESY chef instructors.  First on the list are food groups! Kindergarten students will also start donning the tiny, brilliant-blue chef aprons, as they begin to learn the responsibilities attached to working in the teaching kitchen.

 

Pictures show Arthur Ashe kindergarten students writing their ABCs and prepping a delicious lunch of alphabet soup to celebrate the completion of Food ABCs.