FirstLine Teachers Visit New York!

Group of FirstLine staff who made the trip to NYC!

A group of FirstLine staff took a trip to New York to visit excellent schools. The trip included site visits to Uncommon Leadership Prep, Success Academy, Democracy Prep, and Achievement First. All of these schools are leaders in education. While we are extremely proud that FirstLine has seen eight consecutive years of academic growth, we know there is still a long way to go. To ensure New Orleans becomes the first city in America where every child goes to a good school we must continue to be innovative and look to leaders in education for best practices. Schools across the country are working to provide all students access to high quality public schools which close the achievement gap. As we are not alone in this endeavor, we view school visits as a critical opportunity to learn from others and take away best practices in terms of culture, instruction and professional development.

The trip focused on academic rigor and engagement, student culture, and adult culture. Staff had the opportunity to explore each school and converse with colleagues.

Collaboration!

Overall the trip was a positive experience for staff:

"This was such an amazing opportunity to see some really great schools in and around NYC as well as wonderful time connecting with colleagues from various schools in the network. I am so thankful for this trip. It really opened my eyes to what's possible and has caused me to be very reflective in my own practice as well as looking for ways to influence change at my school." - FirstLine Teacher

AAOS Built Ashe a New Playground!

Working hard in the rain to build "The Web"

On Tuesday, March 11, over 200 volunteers worked from 8:30am to 2:30pm to build a brand new, safe and accessible playground, for the students of Arthur Ashe Charter School and the surrounding neighborhood.  The volunteers kept up their spirits and delivered a beautiful playground - all the while working through a very rainy day.  The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons made this amazing new playground a reality!

The rain won't keep this rock wall from
being built!

Volunteers started work in a downpour and continued throughout the day.  This amazing new playground will bring joy to the students at Ashe, as well as to all the children in the neighborhood.  In addition to volunteers from AAOS, and FirstLine Schools, many college students, from local and out-of-state universities, also volunteered on the build.

Volunteers that built "The Web" testing it out

The volunteers were thanked throughout the day by Ashe students in a variety of ways.  Students walked around at lunch, handing out thank you letters.  The fifth grade came out and performed a thank you song, as well as sharing why this playground is so important to them.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured the Ashe band; Dr. Frederick M. Azar, incoming president of AAOS; Brian Egana, Vice-Chair of the FirstLine Schools Board of Directors; Cynthia Hedge Morrell, New Orleans City Councilmember; and Sivi Domango, Co-Director of Arthur Ashe Charter School.

Thank you to all the volunteers for an amazing accessible playground that will serve ALL children.

Ashe Band at the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Wheatley Update!

John Dibert Community School is getting ready to move into their new home - the former Phillis Wheatley Elementary School campus. The school will open August of 2014.

The new building will feature a gymnasium (with views of downtown New Orleans), a computer lab, cafeteria, and even a reading porch! The new space has plenty of natural light and space for us to grow.

If you are interested in enrolling at John Dibert Community School at Phillis Wheatley, for the 2014-15 school year, please visit www.enrollnola.org. We accept the RSD OneApp! Main round applications have closed, but you can still visit a Parent Resource Center to enroll.

School entryway, which will be covered with a mural!

Classroom hallway

Clark Prep Boy's Basketball wins District Championship!

Clark Prep Boy's Basketball team wins District 10-3A Championship, their first district championship since 1986. The team finished the season 17 and 12 and will be heading to the regional round next week to face-off against the winner of No. 16 Union Parish and No. 17 North Websters.

A big congrats to coach Marcell Fisher and all the guys on the team! We wish you the best of luck in your upcoming games.

To read more about the championship on Nola.com, please click here.

To help support the Clark Prep basketball team, along with other Clark Prep enrichment programs, come to the 2nd Annual Treme Day 5K Run/Walk and Health & Wellness Fest. All proceeds from race registration will go directly to Clark Prep's Athletic and Enrichment programs. The event is Saturday March 29th at 9AM.

LHA Families Write a Book!

The authors and illustrators of What the Sleepy Animals Do at the Audubon Zoo visited Langston Hughes Academy during Prime Time Family Reading Time. The groups led families in an exciting shared writing experience to create Biscuit Burning for Hair on the Bayou.

Families worked to incorporate all elements of a story, including characters, setting, problem, and solution. Please see below excerpts from their story.

Mardi Gras Safety Tips

As we approach the Mardi Gras holiday, we want to ensure the safety of our students. On Thursday, January 30, 2014, NOPD Crime Prevention Officers John Dobard and Clarence Cornelius presented and discussed Mardi Gras safety tips with our very own Clark Prep 11th and 12th graders. Our students and teachers welcomed the tips and we think it is important to pass that information along!

Mardi Gras Safety Tips:

• Don't keep your money out for any longer than is necessary. You don't want to make yourself the victim of a professional pickpocket.
• Don't park in front of driveways, fire hydrants, or anywhere you would not normally be allowed to park. And be sure to lock your vehicle!
• Keep your children (or little brothers, sisters or cousins) close, and don't let them wander off. Be sure that they know to stay behind the parade barricades.
• The Neutral Ground (median) is public property, and it is illegal to block off areas for private use.
• Glass containers are prohibited along parade routes.
• If your children are in ladders to view the parade, be sure that they are placed as many feet behind the street curb as the ladder is high.

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

NOLA Tech students visit The Laitram Corporation!

On Friday, January 31st,  NOLA Tech students visited The Laitram Corporation. Laitram is a global manufacturing company that has been part of the Louisiana business landscape for more than 50 years. The company is comprised of four operating divisions - Intralox L.L.C., Laitram Machinery, Inc., Lapeyre Stair, Inc., and Laitram Machine Shop L.L.C. and employs over 1,700 people worldwide.

Students toured the facility and learned about job opportunities including Welding, Machining, Electrical-Electronics Engineering Technology, Assembly, and Customer Service. Venturing through the 1 million square foot facility students were able to tour Laitram Machinery, Intralock, and the Laitram Machine shop. Students got a first-hand look at product manufacturing, processing, and shipping, while also learning about Laitram customer service standards and what it takes to succeed at one of the top global manufacturing companies.

After touring the facility students enjoyed a delicious conference style lunch provided by Laitram. As students sat to enjoy their food at the large executive style conference table they were met by Laitram's Treasurer and Human Resources Coordinator. During lunch students had the opportunity to discuss key employment factors such as internship and job opportunities, starting pay scale, and the Laitram culture.

At the end of the visit students were energized and excited about their visit and many of them intended on applying for internship opportunities.