The Other 17 Hours

Save the Date! TMA's 2nd Annual Celebrating Our Roots

2012-01-31T14:28:00.001-05:00

Students prepping for last year's Celebrating Our Roots

ThurgoodMarshall Academy is proud to announce our second annual Black History MonthCelebration: CELEBRATING OUR ROOTS! This year’s theme is A Hip Hop Retrospective.

We will celebrate all things HIP HOP, acknowledging the influence of visualart, dance and sound that has made an incredible impact on Americanculture. This year’s feature presentation is a documentary film thestudents and Art Teacher Ms. Nafeesah Shabazz have created, which discusses thestate of HIP HOP.

The day will also showcase professional workshops fromWords, Beats & Life, Inc. (http://www.wblinc.org/),the TMA Dance Team and TMA spoken word artists!

We hope you will join us!

WHAT: CELEBRATING OUR ROOTS: AHip Hop Retrospective

WHERE: Thurgood Marshall Academy PublicCharter High School

Multi-PurposeRoom

2427 Martin Luther King Jr., Ave SE Washington, DC 20020

WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2012

COST: Free and open to the public

PROGRAM: 11am-12:30pm

Workshop 1: MC/Poetry Exhibition andWriters Workshop

Workshop 2: TheseAre The Breaks: The OriginalDance of Hip-Hop Culture

12:35pm-1:35pm: Art Walk & Reception

1:35pm-2:45pm: Performances & Film Screening

Ticketsare limited, so email Nafeesah Shabazz at nshabazz@tmapchs.orgto reserve yours today!

Dance lessons at the 2011 Celebrating Our Roots

Thurgood Marshall Academy Students:See Ms. Shabazz for a permission slip and a ticket!

Mentor Day Takes Flight!

2012-01-30T16:40:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, January 21st mentors and mentees showed their dedication by coming out to TMA amid ice and freezing rain for Mentor Day. Despite the freezing (literally) weather, pairs were still excited to participate in the planned ice skating activities. Unfortunately, the federal government did not anticipate their dedication to winter activities and the skating rink was closed. The mentor pairs rebounded gracefully and the group spent the day at the Air and Space Museum. Pairs enjoyed a 3D IMAX movie, “Legends of Flight” and learned about the Wright brothers’ first flight and Bessie Coleman, the first female African American pilot. Upon returning to TMA pairs were greeted with a feast from Chipotle procured by Ms. Sher. Not a bad end to the coldest day of the year.

Community Service Rocks TMA Library

2012-01-26T16:46:00.002-05:00

Delante Fludd and Te'Asia Capies apply for volunteer opportunities.

Many thanks to the Thurgood Marshall Academy students andstaff who made this week’s Community Service Workshop possible!

Joey Adams works with Mr. Corcoran to fill out an application.

Over 25students applied for volunteer opportunities, including Reading Partners, TeenAction, TMA’s Green Club, The Dr. Bear Ambassador Program at WashingtonHospital Center, and Alley Cat Allies!

Winners! Keneon Williams and Cristal Sandoval.

Congrats to the first five students who successfully appliedfor three volunteer opportunities:

Telvin Walker
Darylquisha Hill
Jasmine Williams
Keneon Williams
Cristal Sandoval

DaQuan Gunn and Ms. Levine work on community service applications!

The Workshop also benefited from some awesome bean dip and crackers provided by the Kids Cafe program of the Capital Area Food Bank--Yum!

Black Bean and Cheese Dip vs. White Bean and Avocado Dip

Cierra Bailey loved the dips!

Did you miss the Community Service Workshop? Don’t worry,you can still check out the Community Service Guide attmacommunityservice.blogspot.com!

Kesha Payton writes down information for a volunteer opportunity!

Save the Date! Community Service Workshop on January 26th

2012-01-17T15:01:00.001-05:00

Thurgood Marshall Academy students: Looking for creative ways to earn your community servicehours? You should come to the Community Service Workshop in the Library on Thursday, January26^th, from 12pm to 2pm!

Stop by the library to search for communityservice opportunities, and apply on the spot amidst loud cheers ofencouragement from the Programs Staff.

Do you have questions about community service? Need acommunity service form? Attend next week's workshop and Programs Staff will answeryour questions!

If you’re the type that likes to get things done early, takea sneak peek at the TMA Community Service Guide: www.tmacommunityservice.blogspot.comand start earning community service hours TODAY!

4th Annual MLK Day Scholarship Event

2012-01-17T14:55:00.001-05:00

The TMA Library, filled with students and volunteers.

Thurgood Marshall Academy marked the 2012 Martin Luther KingJr. Holiday with the fourth annual Martin Luther King Day Scholarship Event.Over 40 students, most of them from the senior class, attended and applied fora wide range of scholarships and summer programs. Each student was matched witha volunteer from the community who helped students edit essays and decipherapplication requirements, and offered advice on college andscholarships. Both the library and the computer lab were packed with studentsand volunteers!

Kathleen Williams works on a scholarship application.

Seren Snow and volunteer hard at work in the computer lab.

Marquise Williams and a volunteer confer about a scholarship essay.

Student Advisor and Alumni Coordinator Emma Levine, whohelped organize the event, stated: “The Martin Luther King Scholarship Day wasan excellent opportunity for seniors to complete scholarship applications, andunderclassmen to complete summer programs applications. Many students saidthat they completed over 5 applications during the event—hopefully this willtranslate into seniors getting a lot of money for college!”

Jasma Grantham fills out a scholarship application.

Students interested in more scholarship opportunities should see Mr. Mitchell or check out the TMA Community Service Guide here.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: TMA Homecoming

2012-01-13T14:28:00.004-05:00

TMA rocked the gymnasium at the Homecoming Pep Rally last month, and we have exclusive footage of the afternoon's greatest moments. TMA Brief reporter Kendra Atchison was on location shooting the video.

After a wild Spirit Week of costumes, hall decorations and activities, the girls and boys TMA Warriors basketball teams emerged to raucous acclaim.

Then the TMA Cheerleaders took the floor.

One of the biggest of the day's competitions was the tug of war tournament. The seniors and freshman advanced to the final round, where, after some pandemonium, the seniors were declared the victors.

The afternoon closed out with the debut of the TMA Music Club's go go band. They rocked the stage with two cuts and showed some chops. Look for more in the new year from these up-and-comers...

A Showcase for Healthy Advice

2012-01-11T11:58:00.007-05:00

There was a flurry of excitement in the air in the gym on Tuesday afternoon as ninth and twelfth grade advisories visited the health fair presented by Mr. Barton and students in health classes. Students learned about a variety of topics including how to read food labels, drugs, Body Mass Index, obesity, and careers in health. Many of the booths featured interactive activities tests, including blood pressure and the student favorite “drunk goggles,” designed to simulate blurred vision due to alcohol and challenges students to walk a straight line.

Freshman Reonte Walker attempts to walk straight while wearing alcohol goggles.

In preparation for exams, students could also learn about different coping mechanisms for stress and try out progressive relaxation, a deep muscle relaxation technique that can be practiced lying down or sitting in a chair. Just a few minutes of series of tightening then relaxing muscles can be effective in reducing tension and anxiety!

Erica Kelly and ShaRhonda Lewis offer coping mechanisms for countering stress.

Dual Basketball Victory!

2012-01-06T12:16:00.003-05:00

It was a double triumph for Thurgood Marshall Academy on Thursday afternoon. Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams defeated National Collegiate Prep on their home court. The mighty Warriors return to action on Saturday afternoon, when they will take on Friendship Collegiate at Edison. Catch the warriors back to back, with the Girls’ tip off at Noon, and the Boys’ at 1:30. Good luck!

There’s Lots of Work to do in the Garden, Even in the Cold!

2012-01-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

This Thursday, students showed up to Green Club for a snackand a quick lesson on crop harvesting and berry pruning, then, braving the coldtemperature, Green Club bundled up and headed out.

Green Club stillhad a lot to do to prepare for next season’s planting, including pulling up andcomposting dead plants, weeding, pruning berries, cleaning out the shed,planting cover crops and moving cold frames.

After a couple of hours of work,Green Club had cleared out most of the garden and gotten a great head start onthe spring season. Over the next few weeks, Green Club will work on plantingcover crops and mulching the raised beds and fruit trees.

Upcoming events include speakers from around DC, a fieldtrip to see “Cafeteria Man,” a new documentary about healthy food in schools,and a possible cooking lesson…stay tuned or stop by Green Club’s next meeting(every Thursday at 3:45) for more information!

Queen and Mickey Show #10

2012-01-02T12:03:00.003-05:00

Check out Queen and Mickey's new podcast! Sophomores Kiman Mickens and Darylquisha Hill discuss all the latest news in music and entertainment. Want to ask Queen and Mickey an entertainment question? Post your questions in the comments below to be answered on air during their next podcast.

Congratulations!!!

2011-12-16T15:38:00.003-05:00

Portfolio has finished and students, teachers and staff are off to begin their Winter Break. Before we leave we want to congratulate TMA senior Shamir Fauntleroy on a very exciting accomplishment. Shamir has been accepted to be a Posse Scholar at Pepperdine University. Through the Posse Foundation, Shamir's four years of tuition will be covered and he will receive support a college mentor through the Posse Foundation. Congratulations Shamir!

Law Firm Tutoring Spotlight: Williams & Connolly

2011-12-13T12:22:00.002-05:00

Elcid Johnson works on AP US History.

The LFT group that heads to Williams & Connolly each week comes prepared to work hard and have fun! Although Law Firm Tutoring partner Williams & Connolly hosts one of the largest LFT groups in this year's program, the firm's sessions run smoothly under the guidance of Linda Dunbar, the LFT coordinator, and the tutors from the firm.

Renita Robinson and her tutor work together on an assignment.

As is the case with several other LFT partner firms, Williams & Connolly matches each TMA student with a tutor or two for the entire year, and students and tutors get to know each other well during the LFT sessions. At the final LFT session before the break, students and their tutors buckled down to work on everything from US History essay prompts and outlines to Algebra assignments on perfect squares.

Malachi McCaskill and his tutor tackle perfect squares!

Throughout the hour of tutoring, students and tutors worked together on homework, but also took time to catch up with each other and to learn more about each other’s lives and goals for the future, exemplifying one of the many extra-curricular benefits of LFT for students.

Rachelle Turner gets input from her tutor.

Marion Washington and her tutor work on a History prompt.

As students packed up to head down to the bus, we discovered that some students were still hard at work with their tutors, and didn’t want to leave LFT!

Lexus Harkum and her tutor discuss an assignment.

Warriors in High Spirits for Homecoming

2011-12-12T17:07:00.011-05:00

Students from all grades donned their class colors and kicked their TMA spirit into high gear for Friday’s pep rally, which culminated Homecoming week. Following a week of spirit days including Mismatch day, Twin day, and Decade day, students proudly displayed their class colors for last Friday afternoon’s event in the gym. Ms. Bobo led the students through a series of competitions including a three-legged race, free throw competition and a tug of war. In the free throw shootout, the freshman team of Edwin Louallen, Donte Hatcher, Kiana Ingraham, and Kaprise James outscored the sophomores, and then defeated the senior team in a one point victory. Also debuting at the pep rally was TMA’s very own Go-Go group led by music teacher Mr. Van Siclen.

Although both the boys and girls basketball teams spent the weekend playing games on the road, the Mighty Warriors will be back in action tomorrow at home with a double header tomorrow versus Booker T. Washington Charter School. Lady Warriors play at 6, and the boys’ game will follow at 7:30. GOOOOO Warriors!

Sekerhi Anderson (right) in the free throw contest.

TMA's Go-Go group led by Mr. Van Siclen (center) on saxophone.

Law Firm Tutoring: Spotlight on Morgan Lewis

2011-12-09T14:42:00.001-05:00

Each Tuesday, a group of twelve juniors heads over to MorganLewis for the Law Firm Tutoring Program. After a quick bus trip downtown,students arrive at the firm and are greeted by Lisa Thompson, one of the LFTcoordinators at Morgan Lewis.

Students and Ms. Thompson eat dinner together,often discussing current events or life skills for the first few minutes of theevening. The group also uses their time to catch up about the week and discussstudents’ upcoming assignments and projects.

After dinner, students head over to the study area and beginworking on homework with tutors, who help with anything from AP US Historynotes to Pre-Calculus projects!

Morgan Lewis has been a LFT partner since the program’sbeginning in 2001, and it’s easy to see how committed everyone at the firm isto helping students succeed and stay on track with their classes. Whether it’smotivational discussions with the students or one-on-one check-ins, studentsand tutors work together each session to make the most of their sharedexperience.

As Lisa notes: "I remember when I received anemail from our former Chair, Tom O’Brien, about the upcoming training meetingthat would take place for those who were interested in tutoring students fromThurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School. I was so excited becausethis was the perfect opportunity for me to give back to the community and alsonever leave my building. What started out as just a passion to give back,has blossomed into me co-chairing the program withMichael Berenson, Senior Counsel, here at our office.

"EachTuesday, I look forward to seeing the students come to our dining center sothat we can talk, find out how they are doing with their studies and also givethem some practical life-skills help when necessary. I have also kept intouch with many of the students who have now graduated from TMA and gone on tocollege. I love working with the TMA Law Firm Tutoring program."

As the evening of tutoring wraps up, students and their tutors talk as they head toward the elevators, with pairs at times continuing the conversations right up to the time students board the bus!

Law Firm Tutoring Spotlight: Vinson & Elkins

2011-12-09T14:05:00.001-05:00

Whether in rain, shine, or freezing cold, fifteen TMA students board a bus after school on Tuesdays that winds its way through the National Mall and monuments to the law firm of Vinson & Elkins, a long-time LFT partner.

Japaira Ellison and Kennika Massie working with a tutor.

The Chemistry group gets ready to talk about elements!

Once at the firm, students quickly get down to business, pulling out assignments and letting the LFT coordinator know what they need to work on for the session. Although some students work individually with tutors on assignments, there are also students who work collaboratively on assignments for classes they have in common.

Delante Fludd and Destiny Long think intently about a problem.

While Seren Snow and his tutor discussed the necessary edits for an AP Government paper, the group in one corner of the table was having a heated argument about ionic elements. One tutor noted, "I never knew Chemistry could be so exciting!"

Japaira Ellison works on History.

Students and tutors in the midst of great discussions!

At the end of the session, students reluctantly packed up, some even continuing their discussions with their tutors as they walked out to the elevators!

Homework Help's Holiday Meal

2011-11-30T15:21:00.001-05:00

Cornbread prepared by Programs Staff.

Last Monday TMA students gathered in the cafeteria tocelebrate an early Thanksgiving. About 30 students feasted on green beans,sweet potatoes, corn, and cornbread, all washed down with some delicious applejuice. The dinner was a huge hit, with several students coming back for secondhelpings! Many thanks to the Kids Café program of the Capital Area Food Bankfor donating the components of our Holiday Meal!

Allente Clark poses with his food.

Students waiting in line for portions of food...

Isaiah Anderson and Treasure Shields dig into their dinner!

The TMA Brief Hits Newstands

2011-11-29T15:33:00.004-05:00

The wait is over.

After months of hype, the first issue of this year’s TMA Brief is out on campus. With 12 pages of news, entertainment, photography, art and creative writing, this issue covers the creative energy of TMA and its students.

On the front page, Carlos McKnight reports on the results of the 2011 Student Government Association elections. Bryn Baffer writes in smart, funny prose about her experiences living on both sides of the country. Keneon Williams sits down with Ms. Shabazz to get the inside scoop on life, art and the influence of Picasso. Rounding out the reportage, Stewart Gray narrates the play-by-play of the year’s first Mentor Day in stunning detail.

Want more? Kimon Mickens dishes on the new Beyonce video alongside poetry by Anthonya James and Keneon Williams and photographs by Sydni Foshee and Jasmine Williams.

And, of course, don’t hold back on tackling The CoCoRon Puzzler. The first student or staff/faculty member to turn in a completed puzzle to Mr. Corcoran in Room 006 wins a prize!

Kicking yourself for not contributing to the issue? Don’t worry. The TMA Brief is looking for writers, artists, business-types and student leaders. See Mr. Bein in Room 210 or Mr. Corcoran in Room 006 for more information.

The TMA Brief is now published worldwide. A pdf version is available on the TMA web site. Click the link below.

http://www.thurgoodmarshallacademy.org/tma-publications/

National Treasure: TMA Edition

2011-11-18T10:58:00.010-05:00

While many students spent last Friday’s day off from school sleeping in late, twenty of Ms. Enrich’s chemistry students scurried across DC in a city-wide treasure hunt. The treasure hunts demanded problem solving, critical thinking, persistence, and cooperation. The hunt led students to sites including Lafayette Park, the Martin Luther King library, and the National Portrait Gallery.

Treasure Hunts began as a brainstorm three years between Ms. Enrich and her former colleague from Cesar Chavez, and this year students from both schools participated. All students persevered to finish the hunt this year, but coming in first place was the dynamic trio of Malachi McCaskill, Telvin Walker, and Chris Ridout. Organizer Ms. Enrich commented, “Treasure Hunts pushes students to think extremely hard while also having fun exploring the sights in their own city.”

Winners Telvin Walker, Malachi McCaskill, and Chris Ridout

Want to be involved in a future treasure hunt? There will be another opportunity to participate in a second treasure hunt at the end of fourth quarter. It’s open to teachers as well, so start forming your teams now! Talk to Ms. Enrich for more information.

Award-Winning Photojournalist Talks Travel, Careers and Storytelling

2011-11-18T10:48:00.002-05:00

Take risks and follow your creative passions—that was the advice award-winning photographer Andre Lambertson offered a group of about 15 students after school on Tuesday, November 8.

Lambertson told the group, which included members of the HERO Club, Art Club and Media Club, that when he was young he knew only that wanted to tell stories. After a stint in college as an apprentice for a news photographer in New York City, Lambertson decided to devote himself to visual media. You might not make money starting out, Lambertson told students, but if you are passionate about the daily grind then you will find a way to make it work.

Lambertson showed a series of photographs from his travels to impoverished regions of Liberia and Haiti. Speaking at length about the relationships he built with the people he met, Lamberston explained the stories behind each photograph. Students learned about child soldiers in Liberia and about Haitians surviving after the devastating earthquake that took place there in 2010. Lambertson explained that he develops personal relationships with his subjects and in doing so can often tell their stories in a more truthful way than what is portrayed in typical media reporting.

He advised students to travel widely as a means of broadening their perspectives.

“Traveling changes you,” Lamberston said.

Lambertson has published photographs in many publications, including Time, The New York Times Magazine, the Baltimore Sun, and National Geographic. Currently, he is working on a documentary film about marching bands that work to reduce street violence in New Orleans.

Lambertson’s visit to TMA was arranged in cooperation with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, a DC-based non-profit that funds international journalism projects.

Students interested in photography, journalism, media or related career tracks should see Mr. Bein about contributing to TMA student media. Sophomores should also speak with Mr. Bein about developing potential placements for Job Shadow Day in the spring.

Fall Farmer's Market a Huge Success!

2011-11-18T10:38:00.001-05:00

Green Club members with their tables of produce!

Chard, tomatoes, peppers, and sage, oh my! TMA’s Green Clubgot the garden ready for winter by sponsoring a Farmer’s Market this pastThursday after school with the season’s final harvest. Green Club members soldherbs such as thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, lavender, parsley, mint, and dill,as well as other vegetables, including green tomatoes, several kinds ofpeppers, eggplant, and chard.

Ms. Lee rings up a customer.

All of the produce was grown in TMA's Garden!

Elegant bouquetsof zinnias, marigolds, and mums, made by Sydni Foshee, were also a huge hit!

Green Club was also fortunate to be joined atthe Farmer’s Market by Candice Sullivan, a personal chef matched with TMAthrough the Chefs to Schools Program.

Chef Candice Sullivan and Ms. Lee at the beginning of the market.

Ms. Sullivan gave recipe ideas tointerested buyers and explained how to store herbs until ready to use (wrappedin a damp paper towel in in the fridge).

Selling the produce at the packed farmer's market

The Farmer’s Market sold almost all ofthe harvested produce and made nearly $100 to support the efforts of GreenClub! Not a bad way to end a season!

Law Firm Tutoring Highlight: Crowell & Moring

2011-11-14T17:42:00.001-05:00

DaQuan Gunn works on homework

With eight weeks under their belts, TMA’s 11^thgrade class continues to excel at the Law Firm Tutoring program each Tuesday.This past Tuesday, students who attend Crowell & Moring arrived at the firmand sat down to dinner (some of them already working on homework!). Once theirtutors arrived, students and tutors turned their minds to essays, historyprojects, close readings of poetry, and math homework.

Monee Ford and her tutor

Each student at Crowell & Moring is paired with 2-3tutors who rotate each week; often, students will have two tutors helping them!Students and tutors at the firm usually sit side-by-side at small tables, sothat the two are working together to help students improve. Throughout thesession, students and tutors talked both about homework and life outside ofLFT, with tutors explaining their day-to-day work at Crowell & Moring, andstudents discussing classes and TMA’s social life.

Charell Williams gets some help from a tutor

After another successful evening of tutoring, studentswaited at the elevator to head back down to the bus. “I really like cominghere,” said Tabria Green, “I get more work done here than I would at school!”

Charell Williams agreed: “It’s better when there’s someoneright there to help you with your work!”

Press Pass Mentors

2011-11-07T12:44:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to juniors Beverly Carpenter, Malachi McCaskill, Earica Parrish, and DeNiyca Short on their acceptance to the Press Pass Mentor Program! Through this program, students are matched up with journalists from the Washington Post who serve as their mentors for two years. Students and their mentors travel across the city for behind-the-scenes field trips to the White House, Redskins games and more. Press Pass students will then write articles about their trips which will appear on the Press Pass Mentors blog. This great opportunity allows students to learn more about the field of journalism and develop their writing skills with help from a real reporter. To find out more about the program or get involved next year, find one of these lucky juniors or speak to Ms. Sher in the Dean’s Suite.

Flag Football Flies to Championship

2011-11-04T14:14:00.003-04:00

After a 21-0 victory over National Collegiate yesterday, the mighty Warriors will be going to the championship game! The Warriors will take on IDEA Academy this Monday, November 7th at 5:00 at Cardozo High School, 1200 Clifton St. N.W. Thanks to all the fans and cheerleaders who came out to cheer them on to victory. A special shout out goes to Ms. Ames and Ms. Moore for helping to supervise the "little warriors".

Interested in coming to the game on Monday? A fan bus will leave the school at 4:00 if you want a ride to the game. See Ms. Thompson for a permission slip and more information. GOOOO WARRRIORS!

TMA Unplugged: Blazing Trails in the Great Outdoors

2011-11-02T14:48:00.019-04:00

After a surprisingly snowy Saturday, the sun broke out in full force through the autumn leaves this past Sunday afternoon as fearless members of TMA Unplugged: The Wilderness Club set out for a hike in Rock Creek Park. Starting at the Park’s nature center, the group set off for a trail head hidden behind the horse center and riding ring. Seeing the horses were a telling preview of the first foot on the trail. The first half-mile a steep downhill challenged the TMA trailblazers to maneuver around piles of horse manure and carefully place each step. The route then traversed along Rock Creek leading to a bridge back onto Beach Drive. In the spirit of Halloween, the path veered outside the park for a visit to Battleground National Cemetery, a burial ground for Civil War Union soldiers who fought at nearby Fort Stevens. Students relished the opportunity for a bonus and Halloween-inspired history lesson while munching on Halloween treats and their homemade GORP.

After leaving the cemetery, the hearty trailblazers returned to the park and followed a different uphill route to return to the nature center. Special guests on the outing included mentors (and former TMA teacher) Mr. Kaplan and Devin Johnson, Mr. Campot, and Riggs, the Wilderness Club’s resident mascot (pictured below).

Interested in exploring the great outdoors in DC and beyond? Join the Wilderness Club for breakfast every Friday at 8 AM and help to plan the next outing!

Green Club Goes Orange for Halloween

2011-11-02T10:55:00.000-04:00

Green Club members explored the spooky side of gardeningthis week…with Halloween-themed pumpkin painting! Donated by the Capitol AreaFood Bank and harvested from TMA’s very own garden, the pumpkins became thecanvas for a variety of artistic styles. Whether spotted, striped, grimacing orgrinning, these pumpkins proved to be a huge hit!

Pumpkins waiting to be painted.

Veronica Davis and Shandale Scott prep their pumpkins.

Green Club members in the planning stages.

Troy Stringer's ghoulish design...

Malachi McCaskill hard at work!

Ms. Fried shows off her pumpkin!

Michaelann with her sunny, but scary pumpkin!

What will these intrepid Green Club members think of next?!?Stay tuned…

New Show from Queen and Mickey

2011-10-31T15:44:00.001-04:00

Get the latest entertainment news from Queen and Mickey

Doors Opening: Mentor Program 2011

2011-10-21T10:58:00.007-04:00

The excitement in the air was palpable last Saturday morning at TMA as 60 new mentor pairs met each other for the first time. Joining 20 returning mentor pairs, all students and their mentors spent a fun-filled day together. TMA students and mentors participated in a Metro-themed series of activities and made stops in different rooms where they participated in a scavenger hunt (U Street Searchozo), planned their first outing together (World Wide Webly Park), interviewed each other and then participated in a quiz game (Quiztal City) and then played teambuilding games including the human knot (Fort Knotten). The day culminated with a cookout where family members gathered to meet students’ mentors.

Look for another Mentor Program update in November. The next Mentor Day is November 19^th!

Mentor Rafia Zahir-Uddin and mentee Derricka Black at Quiztal City.

Mentor Omar Newland and mentee Malik Clark after planning their first outing at World Wide Webly Park.

Candidates Ramp Up Campaign for 2011 SGA Election

2011-10-20T15:54:00.004-04:00

The field is set and the race is on for leadership positions in the TMA student government. Candidates submitted applications to run last week, and the campaign began Monday ahead of this year’s Student Government Association elections, set to take place November 8.

Students running for school-wide office will speak at the Pep Rally on Tuesday, October 25, while candidates for class representative will speak to their classes at lunches next week.

Here are the candidates for office for the 2011 election:

School President

Collecha Newby (12^th grade)

Kesha Payton (9^th grade)

Nick Tucker (10^th grade)

Vice-President

Taylor Middleton (12^th grade)

Elsie Mayo (12^th grade)

Secretary

Doneeisha Brown (9^th grade)

Treasurer

Allanxandria Hall (12th grade)

Freshman Class Representative

Carlos McKnight

Anthonya James

Cericia Wallace

Sophomore Class Representative

Kadeejah Johnson

Stewart Gray

Junior Class Representative

Kijon James

Frances Jackson

Darah-Rose Allen

Nadean Talley

Senior Class Representative

Aleah Mass-Covington

Law Day Launches Off for School Year

2011-10-20T13:33:00.007-04:00

Braving the steady downpour last Friday afternoon, TMA’s ninth graders boarded four school buses and set off to three different DC law firms, Hogan Lovells, Foley & Lardner, and Latham & Watkins for their first law day of the year. Law Day is a year-long program in which TMA ninth graders join DC lawyers six times throughout the year to discuss various aspects of the legal system and law-related careers. Each month, students explore a new topic and combine real-world situations, group activities, and brief lectures about the finer points of the legal system.

This month, students engaged in exercises focused around the central theme of Negotiation. Working in pairs and small groups, the budding lawyers argued opposing opinions over cellphone use and school uniform policies. At Foley Lardner, students excitedly took to the podium to present closing arguments both for and against school uniforms. An impressed Foley Lardner attorney acted as Principal and announced the final ruling, “Students will wear uniforms, but there will be dress down options two or three times per week.” The board room erupted in cheering.

Students boarded buses back to TMA as the sun broke out from the clouds. Skills learned from the first lesson on negotiation will be useful to students when they return for Law Day next month and tackle a case on individual rights. At the conclusion of the lesson, attorneys from each firm come together to nominate and select two “Lawyers of the Day” from each group. The following students were selected as October’s “Lawyers of the Day”: Amorri Jackson, Anthonya James, Cedric Harper, Cericia Wallace, Chanita Platt, Cristal Sandoval, Damon Carrington, Doneeshia Brown, Eric Izzard, George Harris, Isiah Anderson, Joseph Staten, Lamont Street, Marie Edmonds, Olivia Wilson and Tyree Phillips. Congratulations! This month’s recipients were awarded chipotle gift cards for their exemplary performances. Check back here next month for November’s nominees and a recap of the Individual Rights lesson.

Community Service 101

2011-10-20T09:53:00.000-04:00

As fall gets into full swing in the District, TMA studentsare knuckling down for Math projects, Biology reports, English papers, and …communityservice hours. As is the case with other DC high schools, students at ThurgoodMarshall must complete 100 hours of community service in order to graduate.

While raking leaves and cleaning out gutters may be greatservices for their communities, students were also reminded this past week thatDCPCHS have more rigorous community service requirements; namely, that studentswork without pay for a structured and supervised program run by someone who isnot related to them. They were also advised that colleges look for students whodemonstrate commitments to specific programs or sites by volunteering thereover a long period of time.

Most students are familiar with these guidelines, but forthose who aren’t, Programs staff are hard at work putting together the annualCommunity Service Opportunities Guide. Packed with information on local programsthat focus on everything from animal therapy to multilingual youth education,the guide will help even the most stellar of TMA-ers to find new andchallenging ways to complete their service hours.

For those who can’t wait, here are a few highlights from theguide:

Looking for something nearby?Head to:

Children of Mine Youth Center

2263 Mt. View Place, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20020
After-school program located in Anacostia. Includes tutoring and playgroundrecreation with youth.

Want to volunteer for lots of differentprograms? Check out:

Latin American Youth Center

1419 Columbia Road, NW
Washington, DC
The LAYC provides education, recreation,culture, skills training, and support services to Latin@ and other youth. TheCenter has many different volunteer opportunities and events; check under theVolunteer page for specific info.

Want to work with otherteenagers? Check out:

Sasha Bruce House

741 Eighth Street
Washington, D.C. 20003
* An advocacy network for young people all over Washington. Outreach programsinclude a residence for teenage mothers, a crisis intervention telephonehotline, a run-away shelter and neighborhood "safe houses." There aremany opportunities available, including tutoring, peer counseling, and hotlineattendant. This program involves considerable training. Minimum age forvolunteers is 16.

Keep your eyes peeled for other volunteer opportunities thatare right up your alley—coming soon to a cafeteria near you!!!

Nuclear Nuances: Chemistry Experts Visit TMA

2011-10-07T10:43:00.009-04:00

Earlier this week, students in Ms. Enrich’s chemistry classes got a chance to make connections between their classroom learning and real world examples. On the agenda in chemistry class this quarter is a study of nuclear energy so students put their knowledge and questions to the test!

Six speakers including Nuclear Engineer Amanda Anderson, Senior Department of Energy Systems Analyst Bradley Williams, Lauren Gibson and Suzanne Schroer from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and nuclear energy lawyer Arthur Domby led small group discussions with the students. The intimate atmosphere provided students a distinct opportunity to gain insight into possible careers in the field of nuclear energy as well.

An enthusiastic Ms. Enrich commented about the event, “True learning entails taking that knowledge and skills and applying and connecting it to something that matters to students, our community, and our world.”

Book Club Goes Multimedia

2011-10-04T14:12:00.000-04:00

Those who think books and technology can never work together,think again! TMA’s Book Club is putting a multimedia spin on the standardreading group.

When participants aren’t devouring this month’s choice (Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin), ormeeting after school to discuss what they’ve read, they’re continuing theirconversations on Good Reads, a website that allows them to discuss the bookonline whenever they have internet access.

The Book Club is tech-savvy in otherways, too: students can choose to read each month’s book on one of TMA’sKindles, or they can stick to the old-fashioned paper version (which they getto keep!).

Kijon James, TMA junior (and Book Club secretary), had thisto say about Book Club: “Book Club is a great club to join because it’s notasking for a lot of your time…and it’s not time-wasting, either. You read abook and then every other Wednesday you discuss it!”

So, whether you’re looking to settle the debate betweenprogress and nostalgia, or just want to read a good book, you should check outthe Book Club, every Wednesday after school. (Rumor has it that October’schoice is so scary it’ll give you a case of the creeps, the heebie-jeebies, andthe fraidy-cats!)

And finally, the Book Club is planning an event for TeenRead Week, which starts on October 17^th, so keep your eyes peeledfor random acts of bookishness happening around TMA…

Up On Cripple Creek: TMA Students Pair With Top Scientists

2011-10-04T14:00:00.003-04:00

Students from the Environmentors program took to the banks of the Chesapeake Bay last Tuesday in search of fish, creek farts and a few good scientists.

On the first of a full schedule of environmental science field trips planned for this year, students visited the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD and got their hands dirty conducting research with volunteer scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

In one of several explorations of the conservation area, a group of students and NOAA scientists canoed a quiet creek near the SERC campus. TMA junior Nadean Talley drove her paddle deep into the murky water and a slew of bubbles emerged on the surface. A minute later, an unpleasantly familiar odor wafted across the cluster of canoes gathered in the middle of the creek.

Ms. Talley’s face crinkled. “What’s that smell?” she asked.

“Creek farts,” replied the group’s guide, Julia Elkin. She explained that deep within the water’s muddled depths lay a collection of methane gas, a substance that sours the nostrils when emitted from creeks and humans both.

Environmentors spent the rest of the day fishing the Bay with nets to count marine species, digging up earth worms to analyze their effect on plant life, and traversing the Bay in a boat. The participants from NOAA—top scientists in their fields who volunteered to work with TMA students for the day—accompanied the groups and worked with students on every project. At the end of the afternoon, each team presented their findings.

For the TMA students who plan to continue in the Environmentors program, it was the start of a year of scientific inquiry and research alongside scientists from all fields of study. TMA students interested in joining the program should contact Ms. Johnston in room 112 or Mr. Bein in room 210.

TMA Media Reboots, Shuffles

2011-09-23T15:17:00.010-04:00

Newspaper tycoon William Randolph Heart once said: “If you make a product good enough … the public will make a path to your door … But if you want the public in sufficient numbers, you better construct a highway.”

TMA students broke ground on their own journalism highway on Tuesday at the first meeting of the newly formed Media Club. The group will augment publication of the monthly newspaper, The TMA Brief, with podcasting, photography, videography and daily reporting on every aspect of TMA activity. Look out for sports, news, commentary, investigative writing and multimedia production from the school’s best and brightest.

Students looking to join this media conglomerate at the ground level can attend next week’s meeting after school on Thursday, September 29 in Room 104. See Mr. Bein or Mr. Corcoran for details.