Election Day!

Like the rest of the country, Tuesday was Election Day here at Thurgood Marshall Academy. Students in all grades voted for School President, School Vice-President School Treasurer, School Secretary, and two Class Representatives.

Some students participated in early voting before classes started, while the rest of the student body voted during their lunch period. All students registered with TMA election officials before filing into one of four booths to cast their votes.

Freshman Kahlil Stewart models the “I Voted” stickers students received.

The savvy seniors demonstrated their civic mindedness with a spectacular 92% voter turnout. That number blew away DC’s voter turnout, which registered at a paltry 28%.


Junior Uniqua Wood votes!

Congratulations to all students who ran for office. Each candidate devoted themselves tirelessly to the campaign trail – covering the halls with flyers, delivering wonderful speeches, and engaging their classmates.

In particular, Kadeejah Johnson, Errol Smith Jr., Kaneshia House, Amanda Barnes, Christoper Ridout, and Stewart Gray all ran exciting campaigns and captured the imagination of the school.

The 2010-2011 TMA Student Government is listed below:

School President – Markus Batchelor
School Vice-President – Tykia Shirriel
School Treasurer – Taylor Middleton
School Secretary – Markysha Dickens

12th Grade Class Reps – Andrew Alexander and Moo Ho Bae II
11th Grade Class Reps – Demetrius Begemann and Collecha Newby
10th Grade Class Reps – Jazmin Walker and Telvin Walker
9th Grade Class Reps – Kiyah Avent and Katrina Jackson

Pulsating Pep Rally Electrifies TMA

Students from all grades gathered in the gym on Tuesday for the first pep rally of the year. The event showcased our fall sports teams: girls’ volleyball and flag football. Senior athletes were also honored by their coaches and peers. Later, the bleachers were rocking as the TMA Cheerleaders energized the crowd with a spectacular dance routine.



The Pep Rally also included speeches by 10 students running for school-wide Student Government positions. Students heard from 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders hoping to bring new ideas and change to the school. Those students running for a Class Representative position spoke today at their grade-level lunches. Election Day is this coming Tuesday, November 2. As the rest of DC votes for its Mayor, the TMA student body will select its leaders for the school year.


Above, Taylor Middleton tells the audience why she should be Treasurer.

Each grade has shown incredible spirit this week, and we are excited to keep it going into November.

An Evening Honouring Peter Rohrbach

On the evening of October 21st, Thurgood Marshall Academy was packed with visitors. People came from near and far to honor the memory of Peter Rohrbach, a partner at Hogan Lovells LLP and a huge supporter of our Law Day program. Last fall, Mr. Rohrbach passed away. With the support of his family, the Law Day program has expanded to include six lessons and is partnered with two additional firms.

As our visitors arrived, they were greeted by TMA students. Students were also stationed in a variety of classrooms. They explained to visitors the different educational and extra-curricular opportunities available at TMA. Senior Mignon Hemsley displayed her art work to guests and engaged them in a conversation about the visual arts program at TMA. A number of students represented the green club including newly elected club president Keith Jenkins. In Ms. Yaun’s Spanish classroom, students showed off their videos about illegal immigration. Lastly, in Ms. Scogin’s English classroom, the classroom that will be named in honor of Mr. Rohrbach, sophomore Kijon James told guests about the World Literature course. He highlighted his own experience reading ‘The Kite Runner’.

After visitors toured the classrooms, everyone moved down to the cafeteria. Our students opened the event with music, playing instruments and singing beautifully. Amidst the speeches, two of our very own students spoke; Christopher Ridout and MarKysha Dickens discussed their own law day experiences. MarKysha spoke to her personal experience with Mr. Rohrbach and remember his words of wisdom. In her speech she said, “I learned from his words; I put my best foot forward, knowing that 10 times out of 10, applying to better educate myself is better than not applying at all”.


The evening was a great success and Mr. Rohrbach’s legacy will definitely continue to live on, in the halls of TMA. We were so proud of our students for their essential contributions in making this event as meaningful as it was.

Spirit Week at TMA!

Today marked the kick-off of Spirit Week at TMA! There are numerous fun and exciting events going on throughout the week. Today, many students got creative when dressing up for Mismatch Day by wearing clothes inside out, pairing opposite colors, and sporting wacky accessories. Each day this week students will have the opportunity to dress-up for spirit days, here’s the schedule for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: Warrior Pride Day

Wednesday: Decade Day

Thursday: Costume Day


In addition to these dress-up days, today marks the last home game for the Volleyball team while Flag Football plays its final home game on Friday at 4:30 pm. At the school wide pep rally tomorrow, students will deliver speeches for student government in preparation for TMA’s student elections next Tuesday and the Cheerleaders will perform to cap off the day. The week finishes with a cook-out during student lunches on Thursday! Be sure to check back for more photos and posts about Spirit Week!

AP US Visits Mt. Vernon

Last Wednesday, students from Mr. Rohal’s AP US History class visited George Washington’s home at Mt. Vernon. With the second major test of the course looming later in the week, the trip served as a concrete review of the events preceding and surrounding the American Revolution.

Students came equipped with information concerning Washington’s life and shared their expertise with other visitors. Mr. Rohal was impressed with his group. “Students ‘met’ Dr. James Craik, George Washington's personal physician, and asked him about how Washington treated his slaves,” he explained, “they really pressed him about why Washington didn't free the slaves himself.”


Above, a video of Dr. Craik answering students' questions.

The class also had a chance to see all aspects of Washington’s plantation, including slave cabins, blacksmiths at work, gardens (complete with cotton plants), playful animals, and the home itself, with its wondrous views over the Potomac.

Junior Courtney Jones said her favorite part of the trip was “the museum. Everywhere I looked I saw something I remembered learning in class. The trip made everything easier to understand. I also liked seeing the slave memorial but I was surprised by how many slaves Washington owned.” Courtney also liked the sheep: “I had never seen any before. Their little baaa noise was cute.”

Mr. Rohal said the group received a number of compliments from the guides and other visitors at Mount Vernon about how knowledgeable and impressive TMA's students were on the trip.

Below, George Washington poses with students.

TMA Election Day Approaches

Campaign frenzy has swept through the halls of TMA!

As District residents over the age of 18 prepare to vote in the midterm elections on November 2, Thurgood Marshall Academy students will be gearing up for a vote of their own. Election Day will feature 34 students hoping to secure a position in the Student Government as School President, School Vice-President, School Treasurer, School Secretary, or Class Representative.

Students elected to represent the student body are expected to be strong leaders, with a commitment to public service and unwavering convictions concerning TMA’s efforts to become a more effective institution.

Candidates will give speeches next week during class lunches and the school wide pep rally in a final attempt to secure votes.

TMA & Savoy’s Great Garden Of Anacostia

Thanks to Ms. Shannon for the great pictures!

The Thurgood Marshall Academy & Savoy Gym was packed on Tuesday, October 12^th, with D.C chefs, parents, students and visitors! They were all here to celebrate the beginning of D.C. Farm to School Week and D.C. School Garden Week. TMA was honoured to be chosen to host the event, which celebrates the District’s commitment to use local food in healthy school meals! The event included 200 visitors, including special guests Dr. Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Sam Kass, White House Chef and Senior Policy Adviser for Healthy Food Initiatives.

TMA’s green club members were essential in the facilitation of the event. Their personalities shined through as they led guests around the garden, and their artistic abilities were obvious as they made signs, posters, and murals for the TMA and Savoy Organic Garden.

The main attraction for the day was a ‘Top-Chef’ cook-off. Chefs competed to create the tastiest dish using local apples. The chefs that participated in the competition were Chef Tee, Lauren Von Der Pool, Oliver and Will Artley. The chefs were assisted by TMA students: Malachi McCaskill, T’Asia Capiers, Akasha Rodgers, and Darvel Suggs. Others students served as the masters of ceremony for this event. TMA and Savoy students sampled each dish and voted for their favorite. The winners, Chef Tee and Malachi, will have their apple-cranberry crisp distributed in every DC public school one day in October.

TMA showed incredible heart and spirit throughout the afternoon. We were very proud of our students for doing a great job. A heart felt congratulations to Mr. Ullery who coordinated this incredible event and opportunity for our students.

After School Tutoring Up and Running

Even after a full day of classes, many Thurgood Marshall Academy students stay after school to work one-on-one with tutors who help them with homework and projects. TMA is lucky to have tutors come from all over the D.C. area. Volunteers from local universities such as Howard, George Washington, American, Georgetown and Georgetown Law make their way to TMA to meet with students and talk about difficult classes, college choices, and career goals. Students also have the privilege of working with tutors employed by Health and Human Services, K&L Gates, and NASA.

Precocious ninth grader Darnell Hudson works with Georgetown Law student Joel Fineman for two hours after school on Tuesdays. Darnell has enjoyed the sessions so far, explaining, “It’s like having a mentor who helps me go above and beyond what we do in class. Joel is really easy to talk to and very knowledgeable so we’re able to go over a lot of work.”

With prospective tutor applications flowing into the TMA offices each week, we are working to build upon the 20 pairings we currently have.

Our First Law Day of the Year!

Friday, October 8th, marked the beginning of this year’s Law Day program! This year we have a record number of participating firms. Two buses of ninth graders went to Hogan Lovells, one bus went to Latham & Watkins, and another bus went to Foley & Lardner. Students were given the option of wearing their uniform or professional dress attire, and many students took the chance to dress like the lawyers leading their sessions.


Students left TMA around 12:30 and once they arrived at the law firms, the students were separated into groups and participated in discussions about discrimination. The purpose of Law Day is for our students to engage with the material, think critically and have fun! The ninth graders discussed how discrimination can be bad but also how it can also be used so that society can function effectively. Students, for example, debated whether girls should be allowed to try out for positions on the boys’ baseball team at a public high school. Our students were articulate and argued with passion. After the conversations, they refueled with a snack, provided by the firms. Surprisingly, the yogurt and fruit were just as popular as the cookies.

After the break, students broke into three groups and were given a scenario in which discrimination was a major factor. They discussed their scenario and then presented it in the form of a talk show to the rest of the group. The student’s acting talents were out in full force.

At the end of the day, it was an amazing success! All of the students and volunteers had a great time. A special thanks to the chaperones and volunteers at the firms of Hogan Lovells, Latham & Watkins and Foley & Lardner!

An afternoon at Crowell and Moring

Last Tuesday, 14 students traveled to Crowell and Moring for their third Law Firm Tutoring session. The students seemed well adjusted to the routine as they headed up the elevators to the firm's 13th floor and assembled in the long conference room where the tutoring is held. Shortly after arriving at the firm, students served themselves dinner, filling their plates with chicken wings and salad.

After dinner, the students pulled out their school work as the tutors filtered into the room. Students and tutors spread themselves throughout the room, working on subjects ranging from Advanced Algebra to US History to Spanish. Students thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Howard, the Crowell and Moring coordinator for the program, who entertained the crowd with his witty remarks. Stay-tuned for more inside looks into Law Firm Tutoring in the future!

Warriors Open the Athletic Season

The brand new TMA gym was rocking last Friday when the Lady Warrior volleyball team took on Georgetown Day. Inspired by co-captain Keandra Paul and the dynamic play of Destiny Wilson, the Warriors went up a set before ultimately falling 2-1. Co-coach Ms. Horn praised the energy and spirit of the team, saying they were “amazing.”



(If you look closely, you can see Ms. Horn shushing the competition.)

Equally amazing was the amount of student and community support for the Warriors. Spectators were in full voice, singing in unison with the TMA Cheerleading squad. Come out and join what will be another pulsating atmosphere at the next TMA home game. The Warriors take on Booker T. Washington this Tuesday, September 21, at 4:30.

A new year with Law Firm Tutoring!

The 2010-2011 school year is in full swing! On Tuesday approximately 75 students boarded several school buses marking the beginning of Law Firm Tutoring. Law Firm Tutoring is a program designed for all 11^th graders. The program connects students with community members at one of five local law firms: Morgan Lewis, Crowell & Moring, Williams & Connolly, Jenner & Block, and Vinson & Elkins. There students eat dinner and receive help in subjects ranging from Chemistry to Spanish to US History through one-on-one tutoring. Law Firm Tutoring is not only an opportunity for students to receive help with their school work during their most important year of high school but it’s also an opportunity to connect students with working professionals. The tutors, ranging from lawyers to paralegals to administrative professionals, serve as role models to the students and frequently develop personal relationships with students. Many 12^th graders enjoyed Law Firm Tutoring so much last year that they signed-up to do it again this year! We are all looking forward to another exciting year with Law Firm Tutoring!

The Fun Continues

This week is jam packed at Thurgood Marshall Academy! There are so many activities that are going on. Last week, we began Homework Help and that continues to run after school. A special event that happened this week was our Volunteer Kick-Off Event. Yesterday at Morgan, & Lewis LLP, we hosted a happy-hour with food and drinks! This was a great opportunity for potential volunteers to speak to current or past volunteers and receive an accurate sense about what volunteering at TMA entails. Many of these volunteers will participate in either our tutoring or mentoring program. Teachers and faculty were present to answer any questions about Washington DC’s first law-themed public charter high school.

In addition to our Volunteer Kick-Off event, today is our Clubs Fair. The clubs fair is held in the cafeteria every year. It gives students a chance to see what extra-curricular opportunities are available at Thurgood Marshall Academy. The clubs available range from community service opportunities, to youth empowerment to book club to art club to fitness club and many more!! Every club will have a table with information about what activities and opportunities are available. Clubs that are run by external organizations will also be present at the Clubs Fair. We are very excited to have volunteers from Metro Teen Aids, Sister Action Sister Strength and George Washington University all assisting in running programs for our students this year. We are looking forward to the variety of clubs that will be occurring over the course of the school year!

A New School Year Begins!

A new school year has started, and the halls of Thurgood Marshall Academy are once again full of bright, energetic students. In addition to their lessons in the classroom, students have an array of opportunities awaiting them once the school day ends.

Homework Help started Tuesday and gives students a chance to work with teachers and tutors to better understand important concepts and solve difficult homework problems. Students can also stop by on Thursdays to visit the Writing Center.

Next Tuesday, September 14, marks the kickoff for this year’s Law Firm Tutoring program. 11^th and 12^th grade students will work one-on-one with tutors at DC law firms, completing projects, preparing for tests, and discussing college and career goals. Next Thursday, September 16, is the Clubs Fair. Students can sign up and participate in clubs like Drama, Newspaper, and the Debate Team.

And this afternoon is our first ever home volleyball game; the TMA Warriors are taking on Georgetown Day School! Come out and cheer in our beautiful new gym at 4:30.

TMA is Getting a New Garden (and so is Savoy!)

Over the course of this summer there has been a lot of construction going on at TMA. Not on a new gym or parking lot, but on a new garden. TMA and our Neighbors A. Kiger Savoy Elementary have agreed to jointly build and maintain a teaching garden on our shared campus.  For the past few weeks, we had a team of  15 youths from the Mayors Green Summer Job Corps preparing our new garden. They tore up thousands of square feet of grass, cut, painted, and assembled wood for raised beds. built a shed, built a greenhouse, moved 40 cubic yards of soil (That's over 3,000 lbs!) and were really sweaty. They got a ton of work done and did an awesome job. Unfortunately the Mayor's Green Summer Job Corps program ended a week early and left us with some work left to do.

You may remember our garden looking like this. 8 raised beds, an herb garden and a few cold frames. Well, the garden will now be significantly bigger. Below is a picture of the garden as it stands right now.

Once construction is finished we will have 16 raised beds, a greenhouse, a 40 foot long raised bed for berries, trees, a butterfly garden, handicap accessible beds, and even an outdoor kitchen to cook up all the fresh produce! Check out the slide-show below to check out all the fun we had this summer, an awesome greenhouse, and some produce on the grill.

I'm out!