First Week of School!

All five of our schools welcomed scholars for the 2013-14 school year starting yesterday.  Many of our schools have a staggered start, with some grades arriving on different days.  There are a variety of exciting things that happen in these first few days of school.

Dibert's 8th graders arrived back at school yesterday and were introduced to "Instant Recess".  The below video shows the enthusiasm and excitement about this new addition to their school day.  Green scholars experienced "Instant Recess" last year - and we're excited to see this fun and easy activity take hold at more FirstLine schools this year.

Ashe's middle school had an ispiring morning meeting today, welcoming students back and setting the tone for the year.

Welcome back, scholars - we're thrilled to have you back with us and look forward to a successful and fulfilling school year.

City Council Honors Clark Prep Students

Councilmember Palmer presents the proclamation

This morning the New Orleans City Council recognized Clark Prep's Digital Media Club's First Place award with a formal proclamation.  Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer presented the proclamation to the Digital Media Club as well as Tulane University students who acted as mentors.  Present for the proclamation from Clark Prep's Digital Media Club were Nelson Powell, Alexia Laneheart and Anthony Bingham, along with principals Alex Hochron and Reginald Coleman.  Amelia Senter, one of the Tulane mentors, was also present, along with local filmmaker, Louisa Dantas, who taught the Tulane University Place-based Storytelling in New Orleans class.  Darcy McKinnon, Executive Director of NOVAC, and also the advisor for the club, spoke to the chamber about the project.

We are so proud of our students and excited that our city has recognized their hard work!

Revenge of the Nerds

NERD Blvd!

Network-wide Professional Development is about collaborating to hone our skills as educators and administrators and prepare for the coming year, and FirstLine teachers and staff took it a step further this year when they came together for “Revenge of the Nerds”. Faculty from all five schools (and the central office) arrived at the Arthur Ashe campus bright and early this past Monday morning (August 5), full of enthusiasm. With some in goofy glasses, some in suspenders, and some with colorful socks, it was clear that they'd embraced the theme (“Revenge of the Nerds”), and the majority wore tee shirts that declared their pride for their respective schools.

Clark Prep's staff all nerded out and ready for 2013-14!

After exchanging greetings over a healthy breakfast buffet, the enthusiastic participants filtered into the gym, where a lively “pep rally” set the tone for the day. Kelly (ESYNOLA's Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator) kicked things off by applauding the days theme, and contemplating how we redefine and celebrate “nerdiness” in our schools. She made a point of recognizing the nerdiness of enthusiasm and engagement and passion: applicable to any subject, invaluable to any pursuit, and evident all around her. A trumpet sounded from the Green section. Two teachers in Clark led their colleagues in a Bulldog chant resurrected from the 1970’s, a rallying cry with which they tapped into the history and legacy of their school. (B-U-L-L-D-O-G-S!)

This abounding energy was then ignited with a relay race in which participants balanced books on their heads  and answered trivia questions while their colleagues cheered from the stands (LHA led the way, winning the relay race). An inspiring speech from CEO Jay Altman then channeled the energy of the athletic interlude, to unite the gym once more around the FirstLine mission.

Green's Staff - loving Pi and ready for a new year

Charged with the excitement of the rally and infused with a sense of purpose, the FirstLine “nerds” left the pep rally ready to make the most of the day. Teachers from all five schools met with others at their grade level (or by subject area), to collaborate around the launch of this year’s revamped curriculum (tied to our transition to the Common Core). Other sessions addressed a wide array of topics, ranging from Crisis prevention to Interventionalist and CY training, to Assistive Technology. With such abundant opportunities to “nerd out,” the day was a great success!

We Love Volunteers!!

Volunteers hanging new signage

The summer is a very busy time here at FirstLine Schools.  While our teachers are taking a much deserved (and needed) break (though a short one), our operations team is hard at work ensuring all of our buildings are ready for the next school year.  This includes deep cleaning, reorganizing rooms, retasking rooms from one function to another - and in some cases, even building computer labs for our Personalized Learning Project.

We believe that beauty is the art of caring - beautiful buildings really do make a difference.  We couldn't do all of this work over the summer without the help of volunteers.  Over the summer, we have many different volunteers (in groups and individually) help out at our schools.  Last Friday, August 2, we had a group of 37 from Barrasso, Usdin, Kupperman, Freeman and Sarver join us at Clark Prep.  This group split into smaller groups to take on a number of different projects.  They painted rooms, helped reorganize rooms, hung new signage throughout the building, and helped move supplies and books to their new homes.

While we are putting the finishing touches on our buildings, our teachers and administrators have been working hard on professional development - new teachers joined us four weeks prior to the first day of school and returning teachers joined us last week (two weeks prior to the first day of school).

Thank you so much to this group of wonderful volunteers - as well as the myraid others who have joined us this summer to ensure we are well organized and well prepared for our students.  We can't wait to welcome our students this coming Monday, August 12!