School Garden Love

On Saturday, April 14th, groups of volunteers wearing bright purple t-shirts showed up at various school and youth gardens around DC, ready to use their brain power, muscle strength, and good cheer to help these gardens better serve their student populations.

The volunteers hailed from Food Corps, an organization that places motivated individuals in limited-resource communities for a year of public service.

Food Corps Volunteers in front of the A-Frame trellis they built!

Working under the direction of local partner organizations, volunteers deliver hands-on nutrition education, build and tend school gardens, and bring high-quality local food into public school cafeterias.

Thurgood Marshall Academy was one of a few lucky school gardens around the DC area to host a group of these dedicated Food Corps volunteers. The purple-shirted school garden experts quickly set to work mixing and pouring concrete, digging holes for trellises, hammering in t-posts, and using drills and saws to build cucurbit (melon, squash, and cucumber) trellises. While they worked, Food Corps volunteers talked with TMA students and staff about their years of service in school gardens throughout the country.

TMA Senior Justice Long talks with a Food Corps Volunteer.

At the end of the volunteer day, the group stood back and surveyed their accomplishments: together they’d built two large A-frame trellises, two pea trellises, and a berry trellis; weeded and tilled the fruit orchard and five raised beds; and re-filled the garden’s rain barrels. We were sorry to see them leave, but are excited to hear about their many accomplishments in the coming months!

Students Challenge Discrimination through ADL

Twelve Thurgood Marshall Academy students spent last Thursday in a day-long training session put on by the Anti-Defamation League. Students learned skills that would help them become Peer Trainers and combat discrimination and bullying at school and beyond. 

 

The training was put on by facilitators from ADL’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE^® Institute. The Institute is a leading provider of anti-bias education and diversity training programs and resources. The Institute seeks to help participants: recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society; explore the value of diversity; improve intergroup relations; and combat racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.

Students began the day by introducing themselves and agreeing on ground rules for their discussions throughout the training. The activities ranged from brief discussions on issues that face high school youth, to games that encouraged students to recognize similarities between them and the other participants. 

Sophomore Joey Adams noted: "I learned about discrimination from bias to individual stereotypes, and I was surprised to learn that just one stereotype can escalate into genocide."

Joey also had advice for other TMA students and hopes for applying what she learned today to TMA: “Be careful about what you say because even little things you say can affect another person and hit the core.”

 Interested in joining ADL? 

We meet every Monday at 3:30pm in Room 108, and have many projects lined up for this semester, including another training day in May!

Ease On Down The Road...To The WIZ!

Thurgood Marshall Academy’s Drama, Dance, and Art Clubs are proud to announce the school’s second annual musical performance: THE WIZ!

This year’s performance will take place March 8^th at 7pm at THEARC, and will feature TMA students Ashia Downing,  Shamir Fauntleroy, Tiona Rollerson,  and Marquise Williams, among others.

Tickets are on sale in the Programs Office; student tickets are $4 and adult tickets are $5.

Don’t miss out on this musical extravaganza! Buy your ticket today!

Community Service Rocks TMA Library

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

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

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

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

Winners! Keneon Williams and Cristal Sandoval.

Congrats to the first five students who successfully applied for 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 at tmacommunityservice.blogspot.com!

Kesha Payton writes down information for a volunteer opportunity!

Homework Help's Holiday Meal

Cornbread prepared by Programs Staff.

Last Monday TMA students gathered in the cafeteria to celebrate an early Thanksgiving. About 30 students feasted on green beans, sweet potatoes, corn, and cornbread, all washed down with some delicious apple juice. The dinner was a huge hit, with several students coming back for second helpings! Many thanks to the Kids Café program of the Capital Area Food Bank for 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!

National Treasure: TMA Edition

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.