And, Yet Again, Everything Felt Right in the World…
When walking my dog this weekend, I noticed the first moments of spring pushing their way through a blanket of dried leaves and what had begun to feel like dry, barren land. I heard the delicate lavenders and pinks whispering in my ear that spring is soon to come. Isn’t it amazing when the days become a little bit longer, the temperatures become a little bit warmer, and the landscape becomes a little more colorful, how all of the problems in the world seem a little bit more manageable?
I celebrate the moment of transition in seasons similarly as I celebrate the transitions of trimesters. With our feet firmly planted in the second week of Trimester 3, we see the culmination of a good year’s worth of learning, look forward to a summer filled with good books and summer camps, and dream about what next school year will bring. Even though we know we have April showers still to come, we are excited for the full blossom that follows.
Happy Week 29, everyone!
–Dr. Shyla.
A Look Ahead:
- March 25: Lobby Night in Annapolis
- March 27-29: Sixth Grade to North Bay
- March 27: Open Mic auditions, 1:00 – 2:30
- March 28-29: Drumming and Storytelling workshops for Kindergarten through 2nd Grade with artist, Baba Jamal
- March 29: Report Cards mailed home
- April 3: Mandatory Open Mic Rehearsal for those students participating, 1:00 -2:30
- April 4: Zeke’s Coffee Fundraiser deadline
- April 5: Final Open Mic, 2:30, Auditorium (see below)
- April 11: Zeke’s Coffee Orders Delivery/Distribution
- April 15 – April 22: SCHOOL CLOSED for Spring Break — School resumes on Tuesday, April 23
- April 29 – May 4: 8th Grade to Puerto Rico
In the Spotlight
Mr. O. saw a need for more academic opportunities for our students, reached out to the National Academic League, and signed us up for our inaugural season of NAL as a school. In our first year, he, along with Mr. Smooth, coached the students to becoming Citywide Champions! The team also received the Good Sportsmanship award and Mr. O received the coaches award! Congratulations, NAL team of City Neighbors Hamilton!!!
Earn Family Participation hours AND have fun!
City Neighbors Hamilton is hosting the DewMore Baltimore Youth Poetry festival on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6th. If you haven’t attended this before (formerly called Louder Than A Bomb), you must join us for the festival! It’s incredible!
Youth poets from all over the city (including students from all three City Neighbors schools) share their spoken word poetry. It is personal. It is powerful. It is inspiring.
The Final Stage (all finalists from around the city) will be on Saturday, April 6th from 5:00-8:00 in the auditorium. This is open to the public so bring a friend or two!
We are looking for volunteers — If you are able to come and help out at any part of the event Friday or Saturday, we would greatly appreciate it! We are looking for people to greet people as they enter, help with sign-in, direct people through the building, set up food in the cafe, or simply be here to lend a helping hand where needed.
Below are all of the events of the festival:
- Friday 4:00-7:00 — Crossing the Street — All school teams who work with DewMore will come to CNH for workshops with teaching artists. The goal of these workshops is to mix students from different teams so that they build relationships and cheer each other on the next day, during the competition, rather than think of them as competition. Crossing the Street is a beautiful way that DewMore minimizes the competition and builds the community among poets.
- Saturday
- 12:00-4:00 — Middle School Bouts and High School Prelims — During this time, middle and high school students are competing in small groups to determine who will make it to the Final Stage
- 4:00-5:00 — The Mixer — Students, coaches, and families will hang out in the cafe, get to know one another, and prepare for Final Stage
- 5:00-8:00 — Final Stage — All community members are invited to cheer on the youth poets. It’s seriously amazing. You must join us!
Please complete this Google Form if you can help with any part of the poetry festival. It’s a super fun (and easy) way to earn Family Participation hours! Hope you can join us as either a volunteer or audience member!
Encourage our Representatives to Fully Fund Education!
In the next two weeks, elected representatives in Annapolis will determine if and how much to fund education next year. The House of Delegates has decided to fully fund Kirwan Commission recommendations around Special Education, pre-Kindergarten, poverty and more in the next two school years. The Senate has voted to fund less. In the coming weeks, members of each chamber (the Conference Committee) will gather to determine the level of funding for education here in Baltimore and throughout the state.
Here’s what you can do.
1. Sign this on-line petition! http://bit.ly/FullFundingNow
2. Call members of the Conference Committee and push them to fully fund education! Here are the directions. Use this 1 pager that has numbers and a script
Likely, within the next two weeks, decisions will be made. So, please act today!
Final Open Mic of the School Year!
Calling all performers! Interested in sharing your talents with the CNH community at All School? The final Open Mic All School of the year will take place on Friday, April 5 at 2:30 PM in the Auditorium. Students interested in performing must return permission slips to Ms. Novak by Friday, March 22 (extra copies are located in the school lobby.) Auditions will be held on Wednesday, March 27 from 1:00-2:30 PM and a mandatory rehearsal will be held on Wednesday, April 3 from 1:00-2:30 PM. Any questions? Contact Ms. Novak at anovak@cityneighborshamilton.org
Support our School and Buy Some Delicious Coffee!!!
Zeke’s Coffee, our neighborhood coffee shop partners with our school to make the City Neighbors Blend of coffee that serves as a fundraiser for our school. Zeke’s will give us $5 for every bag sold. Please submit your orders by April 4. Delivery and distribution will take place on April 11. You can pick it up, or we can send it home with your child. If you have any questions, contact Lynette Svoboda at lsvoboda@cityneighborshamilton.org. Paper order forms will be sent home with students, will be available in the front lobby of the school, and will be attached to our weekly “What’s Good” emails.