Spring Break and We're Still Buzzing!

This week is spring break here at FirstLine Schools - which means our students and teachers are taking a well deserved break.  Our network employees are working away this week, keeping some things moving and taking the opportunity to do some work in the schools.  Additionally, we have some other things going on this week:

1. LHA was hopping on Monday when Annette Sisco of the Times-Picayune stopped by.  We had students preparing a play for performance at Jazz Fest, teachers & leadership preparing for the yearly Jazz Fest parking fundraiser, and a whole committee of people working on LHA's annual Jazz Night fundraiser on May 2.
2. Tuesday morning found some of our Green students on WGNO ABC-26 performing a dance routine while their Dance Team teacher spoke about the new "Inspire" campaign going on throughout the city.  Check out the interview here and the dance performance here.
3. Today (Thursday, April 26), Langston Hughes Academy hosted an official visit from the US Department of Education, a Town Hall on Community Engagement in Education.  The panel discussion included Mike Jayes, our AmeriCorps VISTA at Clark Prep who works exclusively on community partnership building at Clark Prep.  Together for Tomorrow is the program that was discussed, its purpose is to spotlight and foster partnerships among schools, families, national service programs, and community-based organizations in order to propel improvement of our lowest-performing schools.  This year we are fortunate to have two AmeriCorps VISTA working on community partnerships.  In addition to Mike, Paul Kramer is at Green this year.

Panel (L to R): Michael Robbins, USDOE (moderator); Erich Caulfield, New Orleans Federal Lead for Strong Cities, Stong Communities; Michael Pizzoltao, Sr Program Mgr, Tulane Center for Public Service; Mike Jayes, AmeriCorps VISTA Member at Clark Prep; and Cheryllyn Branche, Principal, Banneker Elementary & Middle School.

Press Release: LANGSTON HUGHES ACADEMY TO HOST JAZZ NIGHT BENEFIT CONCERT ON MAY 2 AT REPUBLIC NEW ORLEANS

NEW ORLEANS, April 23, 2012 – Langston Hughes Academy (LHA) will host its third annual LHA Jazz Night Benefit Concert on Wednesday, May 2 at 8 p.m., with a stellar line up of New Orleans musical greats, at the Republic New Orleans located at 828 S. Peters St. in the Warehouse District.  Admission is $20 in advance or $30 at the door for adults 18 and up. 

The show takes place annually on the Wednesday in between Jazz Fest weekends and immediately follows the Marcia Ball Wednesday at the Square event this year.  All proceeds will fund students’ end-of-year field trips, band instruments and in-school music instruction.

The all-star line-up of performers includes: Big Sam of Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Jeremy Davenport, Delfeayo Marsalis, Michael Baptiste, Naydja Cojoe, Leslie Smith, Sharon Martin, Gian Smith (performing Jazz spoken word during two interludes), Troy Sawyer, Young Pinstripe Brass Band, and Craig Paddock.  Many of the artists will also feature Grammy-winning bassist and LHA Music Teacher David Pulphus.  A cash bar will be available at show.

“This show highlights not only the local talent of New Orleans but some of the talented musicians that work with our amazing students at Langston Hughes Academy each day.” said Mark Martin, School Director at Langston Hughes Academy. “Our supportive school community, especially Ms. Naydja Cojoe, have worked extremely hard to make this event a success. The concert will help provide the education and opportunities that our students truly deserve.”

Langston Hughes Academy is an open-enrollment college preparatory, public charter school in the Gentilly/Fairgrounds neighborhood.  As a K-8 elementary-middle school, Langston Hughes is committed to providing all scholars with the knowledge, skills and character traits necessary to succeed in high school, college and the world beyond.

To purchase tickets in advance or for more information, please contact Langston Hughes Academy at (504) 373-6251 or get tickets online at www.republicnola.com.

FirstLine Schools

The mission of FirstLine Schools is to create and inspire great open enrollment public schools in New Orleans.  FirstLine currently operates Samuel J. Green Charter School, Arthur Ashe Charter School, John Dibert Community School, Langston Hughes Academy, and Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School. 

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Family Food Night: Bringing Healthy Food Home

Check out this great video about ESY NOLA, focusing on a recent Family Food Night at Dibert.  Special thanks to NOVAC for producing this video.  Ever wonder what you could do at your local school to start the path to healthy eating?  Or interested on how we involve the entire FirstLine Community in healthy eating?  This video is for you!

Dibert Family Food Night from FirstLine Schools on Vimeo.

Press Release: FirstLine Food Service gives students a TASTE of the action!

Students at Dibert enjoy a taste!

FirstLine school cafeterias have consistently been rated some of the best in the city, and FirstLine Food Services ensures that our clients, the students, have input in the creation of healthy and delicious menus for their daily lunches. On April 4th, at John Dibert Community School, 50 students were invited to taste and rate new and existing items for the next school year menu, including: Chicken Etouffee, Asparagus and Brussell Sprouts, Turkey burgers and Garden Burgers.  On April 5th, students at Arthur Ashe Charter school were able to taste and rate two versions of Chicken A La King.

Jasmine completes a survey at Clark Prep.

On April 11, we let the big kids have a say, with Asian Chicken Dinner tastings at Clark Prep!  Over 250 students tasted and rated Teriyaki or General Tso Chicken with whole grain Chow Mein noodles and a fruit kabob garnish and fortune cookies.

Thanks to the support of ESY NOLA, who supported the tastings, Matt Morel and Associates, a local food broker, who cooked and donated all the food for the tastings.  FirstLine students loved the opportunity to try new foods and give input on the menus, and are excited about the opportunity to participate in future tastings!

Phyllis and Darius discuss the options at Clark Prep.

Clark's Ms. Magee enjoys the tasting!

Ashe's New Building

As you probably know, Arthur Ashe Charter School is moving to its permanent location in the Lake Park section of Gentilly for the 2012-2013 school year.  The new building is close to completion and we thought we'd share a few pictures with you (click on each picture to see a larger version).  These pictures were taken on March 29, 2012.

Interior Courtyard of the School
will be a grassy play area

School Cafeteria
check out that natural light!

The Teaching Kitchen is taking shape!

The Library is going to be beautiful!

We're all really looking forward to the
Garden Science Classroom

Middle School Hallway (lockers!)

The back of the school when looking
across Oak Park

Clark Prep Students Visit NASA Assembly Facility

During a recent tour of the Michoud Assembly Facility,
students from Clark High School inspect a friction-stir-welded panel 
as Jacobs Technology employee John Alt explains the process.

Students from Mr. Contreras’ Robotics class at Clark Prep recently visited the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility.  The ninth graders got a firsthand look at several projects, including a rocket booster that will be used to send a spacecraft to Mars and a classified Department of Defense helicopter.  Students were also given a tutorial on a process called friction welding which enables NASA to build durable pieces of metal that are light enough to launch into space. 

“It was great for our students to have the opportunity to connect what they are learning in the classroom to the real world,” noted Contreras. 

The Michoud Assembly Facility is responsible for building spacecraft for many NASA programs and houses several aerospace engineering contractors including Sierra Lobo and Lockheed Martin.

A big thanks to Sierra Lobo employee, Denise Sanders (Clark class of ’85), for connecting Clark Prep students with this opportunity!

Press Release: FirstLine CEO & Co-Founder Honored by Tulane University

Tulane University honors Entrepreneurs of the Year

Released: April 9, 2012

Press Contact: Keith Brannon, Phone: 504-862-8789

Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business will honor Jerry Greenbaum (B ’62) as Tulane Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year and Jay Altman as Tulane Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year on Friday, April 13, at the Tulane Council of Entrepreneurs Awards Gala at the Audubon Tea Room.

Freeman Dean Ira Solomon and John Elstrott, executive director of Freeman’s Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship, will present the awards.

Greenbaum is chairman of CentraArchy Affiliates, a family-owned business that includes upscale restaurants, retail alcohol outlets and industrial real estate companies throughout the Southeast. Last year, he opened his latest restaurant, the acclaimed Chophouse New Orleans steakhouse, to be closer to Tulane and New Orleans. Greenbaum is a lifelong supporter of Tulane University. He played a pivotal role in the construction of Goldring/Woldenberg Hall II, the business school’s center for graduate and executive education, and in 2011 he joined the Board of Tulane and donated the lead gift to develop a hospitality curriculum at the Freeman School.

Altman is co-founder and CEO of FirstLine Schools, a charter organization that operates five open-enrollment public charter schools in New Orleans. Since 1990, Altman has partnered with like-minded parents and educators to provide quality educational opportunities for students in New Orleans public schools. A former New Orleans teacher, Altman co-founded New Orleans Charter Middle School, James Lewis Extension School, New Orleans Outreach, New Orleans Summerbridge and Leading Educators. He also served as director of education for London-based ARK Schools, where he helped develop a network of British academies, charter-like schools located in complex urban environments in the U.K.

The Distinguished Entrepreneur of Year Award honors individuals who embody the true spirit of entrepreneurship and philanthropic generosity, while the Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes individuals dedicated to improving the community through entrepreneurial initiatives.

Calvin Mackie Visits Clark Prep

Today Calvin Mackie spoke to the Clark Prep juniors and seniors.  Calvin talked about his life, his accomplishments and the hard work it took to get him where he is today.  Mr. Mackie brought copies of his book and gave a copy to each of the seniors and the majority of the juniors.


The students were excited to welcome Mr. Mackie and hear about his life - he grew up in New Orleans, struggled with low SAT scores, and persevered to get his PhD from Georgia Tech in Mechanical Engineering.  


The students of Clark Prep would like to thank Mr. Mackie for visiting the school today and sharing his story.

Upcoming FirstLine Events

Here are a few easy (and fun!) ways to help support our mission:

• Thursday, April 5, 6pm-10pm at d.b.a. - Dan Forman memorial fundraiser for Friends of Louisiana Outdoor Outreach Program (LOOP).  More about the benefit for this wonderful organization that benefits FirstLine students (as well as many other students across the city), can be found here.  
• Saturday, April 7, 10am-5pm at Green Charter School - ESY NOLA Plant Sale!  We will be selling seasonably appropriate vegetable starts, annual flowers, and perennial herbs and ornamentals. Support the five school gardens of The Edible Schoolyard New Orleans as you prepare your garden for the spring! 
• Saturday, April 7, 12pm-5pm at the Freret Street Festival - the Budding Entrepreneurs will be selling hand-made jewelry and canned items, plants, produce, and the official Edible Schoolyard NOLA "How's it Growing?" t-shirts for only $15.
• Thursday, April 19, 6:30pm-9:30pm at Corks n Canvas - Painting With a Purpose: Langston Hughes Academy.  Langston Hughes Academy believes in helping all of our scholars reach their dreams. Some of our scholars dream of writing as a way to communicate, but require assistive technology due to their exceptionalities. We are raising money to purchase ipads with word processing and other educational programs so that our scholars can share their thoughts with the world!

We hope you will join us at one (or more!) of these upcoming events!