Working Together to Go for the Gold

In the spirit of the 2012 Olympics, FirstLine held its own Olympics…of professional development on Wednesday, July 25, 2012! The theme centered on how the FirstLine team can come together to create great schools and “Go for the Gold.” Hosted at Langston Hughes Academy, the full day was dedicated to providing teachers and staff the resources, contacts, and development to excel in the upcoming school year.

Collaborating in a small group

The all-Network Professional Development Day included sessions designed to foster collaboration across the network, offer a venue at which to share best practices, and train staff in new school technology. Some of these sessions included: Developing an Aspirational Culture, Bar Modeling: A Singapore Math Approach, and Tutorials in Excel and Powerschool.

Getting pumped up for a day of collaboration & learning

In addition to all of this, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESY NOLA) and FirstLine unveiled its newest initiative beginning this Fall: Comprehensive School Wellness! ESY NOLA catered healthy meals for the entire FirstLine staff throughout the day and presented why wellness is so important - it is key to helping children live successful lives. The presentation and “wellness obstacle course competition” was well received, and all schools walked away with a new excitement for making their schools healthier places for staff, students and the surrounding community.

For the “Closing Ceremony,” staff members enjoyed delicious canapés and a time to socialize in the cafeteria. A big thanks goes out to ESY NOLA and everyone involved in making the day a huge success!