Clean Up, Clean up, Everybody, Everywhere!

If cast onto an island, with a few pairs of gardening gloves, grabbers, and trash bags, what would you do? Members of TMA Unplugged: The Wilderness Club found themselves with these essential tools this past Saturday for a clean-up of the Potomac River watershed on and surrounding Theodore Roosevelt Island.  After meeting at TMA for an early breakfast, students traveled with Ms. Campot, Ms. Horn, and Ms. Gang to the Roosevelt Island parking lot, just off the GW parkway.  National Park Service rangers and staff from the Potomac Conservancy provided a brief introduction and safety advice before sending the group of volunteers on their clean-up areas throughout the island.  The Wilderness crew headed to the rocky shores on the south part of the island facing the Georgetown waterfront. 

Tenth grader Marcelus Newell teams up with Ms. Campot to find trash buried beneath the island's edge.

 While along the edge, Darnell Hudson worked tirelessly to procure a cardboard box deeply embedded in the muddy marsh.  With the help of Ms. Horn and the careful placement of several logs, his mission was a success.  Check out his efforts below!

Ms. Horn and Darnell sizing up the situation.

Almost there....

Mission Accomplished!

Students also earned community service for their participation—a good chance to secure a few final hours before the end of the year.  For future events with The Wilderness Club, come join our meetings on Friday mornings and for more volunteer opportunities with Potomac Conservancy, check out http://www.potomac.org/site/volunteer/

TMA on Two Wheels

Members of TMA Unplugged: The Wilderness Club are putting their off-roading skills to the test on two wheels. Thanks to a partnership with Trails for Youth and the National Park Service, students are learning to mountain bike this spring on Tuesday afternoons.  After an introductory skills session in TMA’s courtyard, students traveled to Fort Dupont Park this past Tuesday to ride the trails.  The mountain bikers meet every other Tuesday and will also work with the National Park Service on trail work and will continue to develop their biking skills in preparation for a nature-based adventure competition at the end of the spring. 

Sophomore Joey Adams gets ready to ride.

Volunteer Pat Childers helps Sophmore Jessie Watkins onto her bike. 

Jessie Watkins sets out  to practice her skills!

¿Cómo se dice New Best Friends?

A group of Thurgood Marshall Academy’s Spanish 3 students had a great extracurricular experience last Wednesday, when they traveled to the National Portrait Gallery to meet their pen pals. For the last year they’ve been writing letters to students in Mr. Joe Addison’s English class in Pachuca, Mexico. 

Although some students were nervous about meeting their pen pals, once the students from Pachuca arrived, they had a great time getting to know one another face to face. Some students ate lunch together, while others perused the Gallery’s various exhibits. TMA 11^th grader Chris Ridout used the hour to help his pen pal, Marco, find an American girlfriend: 

All too soon, it was time to say goodbye. After one giant group photo opportunity, students hugged and promised to keep in touch. As the TMA group returned to campus, some students talked with Ms. Garcia about what they'd learned about Mexico from their pen pals, while others pondered this life-changing experience silently.

Pen Pals at the National Portrait Gallery

 

“I didn’t expect to make a new friend today,” Sophomore Darnell Hudson said, “but now I feel like the time we spent together was too short. I’ll have to study abroad in Mexico soon!” 

TMA Students Jada Blackwell and Moli Dobbins talk with their pen pals

Warriors in High Spirits for Homecoming

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.

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.

TMA Unplugged: Blazing Trails in the Great Outdoors

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!

Endless Possibilities: Fall After-School Preview

The clock strikes 3:30 pm flooding the hallways with students, but once the locker rush subsides where will you go? Are you itching to get outdoors? Or are you looking for a non-competitive and fun way to exercise and stay-in shape? Do you want a means to channel your creativity energy? With more than 20 after-school activities and clubs at TMA, deciding what to join can be daunting. Here’s your guide to navigating the clubs fair that will take place next Thursday, September 15 after school in the cafeteria. If you’re looking for a creative outlet to dance, sing, or act try the Drama Club with Mr. Lloyd. Rumor has it they will be producing and performing the WIZ this year.

Listen up outdoor enthusiasts because there’s something for you. Do you have a green thumb? Returning this year is the student-initiated and favored Green Club spearheaded by Ms. Lee and Ms. Fried who are already cooking up secret plans for a live compost system in the garden. If you like the Green Club, you might also try out a new shade of green—TMA Unplugged: The Wilderness Club (brought to you by Ms. Horn) which will expose students to the world outside the city through activities such as hiking, camping, rafting, and wilderness safety training. Weekly skills trainings and local outdoor trips will conclude with an end of year camping trip. Want to experience nature’s beauty but scared of the risks? Not to fear because The Wilderness Club is for all students regardless of comfort and expertise.

Also new on the menu this year is Treasure Hunts (sponsored by chemistry teacher Ms. Enrich) that will give 11^th and 12^th graders the chance to apply critical thinking and problem solving skills to solve scavenger hunts throughout the city.

Old Favorites including Book Club with Mrs. Hanson, Fitness Club with Mr. Barton, Art Club with Ms. Shabbaz will also be returning this year. Still unsure what to choose? Attend the Clubs Fair this Thursday, September 15 after school in the cafeteria. The possibilities are endless!

Vote for TMA's Resident Poet John Tucker!

Senior John Tucker is a finalist in the DC-Capital Stars Talent Competition. Only the top ten contestants with the most votes will perform at the DC-CAP Gala on Monday, March 28. See a video of John preforming and vote for him here!

Amongst The Movers: Business Suits & Blackberries

On the morning of April 28, 2010, I as a 17 year old high school student had the great opportunity to do something that people in my age bracket seldom do. Thanks to my mentor I had the privilege of sitting in on a congressional hearing. During that time and the conversations that followed, I learned a lot about the flow and actions that take place in political hearings or in the government period. Here is my account depicted in a vivid storyline detail:

I entered the Russell Senate Office Building curious as to what the morning would hold. Alongside my mentor, Curtis Johnson, the Associate Director for Governmental Affairs at D.O.T by way of FMCSA, and a team of his skilled colleagues, I felt as if I belonged, though I had no clue of what the hearing even entailed! Walking through the signature marble hallways, passing many established politicos in the process, the "feel" of business happening around me was evident. And of course strolling past the offices of officials like John McCain and John Kerry, added to my notion that serious work was being done here.

Soul of the City Spring Break with India Young

Soul of the City, organized by the Humanities Council of DC, hosted a spring break program for youth in DC. The program invited students to take an incredible journey into the lives of three immigrant communities in Washington D.C. The final result of all of their hard work was a performance about the city's immigrant life. TMA senior, India Young (far left in photo above), participated and I had a chance to speak with her about her experience.

Ms. Gall: Why did you decide to apply for the Soul of the City Spring Break program?

India Young: I like theatre and I didn't have anything else planned. I also received a $100 stipend.

M.G. Tell me about the week.

I.Y. We talked about three different immigrant groups and then we had food that was part of those cultural groups. We did play bills of different stories they told us.

M.G. What was your favorite part of the week?

I.Y. The end performance on the 15th, a lot of people were there and we reviewed all we did during the week and did our final performance.

M.G. Would you recommend this program to future TMA students? Why or why not?

I.Y. Yes, because it gets you out of the house for spring break, you meet new people, you get experience acting, and it's fun!

Thanks to the Humanities Council of DC for hosting such a successful week, and to India Young for representing TMA!

Heading Home

This past Wednesday I woke for school and proceeded with my regular morning routines. My alarm clock rang, I rose and my day began. I stayed on schedule but I had a little extra incentive because I knew that day Thurgood Marshall's "incredible junior class" had a college trip scheduled. But not to just any college trip; the colleges were found in my home state of Delaware! Of the two colleges we would visit, I was more than familiar with one, Delaware State University and less familiar with another, University of Delaware.

The first stop on our college tour was Delaware State University. I am very acquainted with this college and campus because it is where my mother graduated with a bachelors degree in business administration. On top of that I have been to numerous activities and events there myself from a pre-k program to sports camps and from academic enrichment programs to homecomings. Yet, as we entered the campus, I myself saw things that were new to me. In the past couple years Delaware State has been actively taking steps to improve their school's view and student life with upgrades such as the addition of a state-of-the-art student center, fully equipped with two full basketball courts, an overflow work out area, a full length track that surrounds the top floor and a Olympic-style aquatic center. The campus has improved in numerous areas and those improvement showed. At tour's end, many TMA students expressed their new found interest in learning more about or possibly attending Delaware State; citing the calm and cool campus life and intimate class and population size as major reasons.

The second tour took place on the grounds of the University of Delaware, where the feel was a little different but still was positive. UD is home to a considerably larger population of students than Del State, almost seventeen thousand more, but the opportunity pulled many students in. The Blue Hens also have an amazing student center where we, the "prospects" could see where and how students spend their down time or choose to study. The campus style at UD is different from DSU's as well. The University of Delaware gave a relaxed rural feel to everyone that entered the area.

By way of areas on campus like "the green", an area were many students met and conversed or did work. But what stood out most was the talk of the educational opportunities that varied from those at Del State. UD offers many diverse majors, that definitely provied something for everyone. For example the authentic business center caught the attention of many students from Thurgood, saying that they would love to work in such a realistic center in preparation for their actual jobs. I myself was even interested in what the school had to offer, being that my group's tour guide majored in the exact subjects that I plan to, assuring me that the programs were very exciting and hands on.

Overall I think each experience was eye opening , allowing many to get an idea of what type of college lifestyle and atmosphere they really wanted. The difference between the two colleges also gave a prime example of just how diverse each college really is from each other. As I made my "bittersweet" departure from my beloved state, I couldn't help but be proud of the impression that my hometown colleges made on others. The pride and joy of a state nicknamed "the Little Wonder" still lives in the colleges.

Address to the Senior Class

Back in August of 2009, the seniors at Thurgood Marshall were gearing up for an exciting door to their life. This door both closes their time as High School students, as well as opens the door to a bright future filled with college success stories.

Although the future looks bright, the road along the way has been a bit bumpy. Many students have stressed over which schools to apply to, who got accepted where, scholarships, FAFSA, family, friends, and on top of all of that, MORE SCHOOL WORK. Teachers at Thurgood Marshall continue to remind Seniors to not catch any cases of "Senioritis," and for many, this has been hard. But I am proud to say that we as a class have progressed forward, creating memories along the way, to a time close to what some view as the end. But as we approach prom, graduation, and college life, we must remember that this is the beginning to more memories, more success stories, and more opportunities to enrich the lives of one another in our Warrior Family.

I encourage you all in the senior class, and even those who will soon rise to the position of senior, to continue to work hard and to finish strong. The stress that we are experiencing now is only the weight we need to pump up our intellectual muscles so that we can go into college and adulthood swinging.

This is OUR last year, last semester, and last quarter as seniors, but is certainly not the end to a pride that we have developed - TMA Warriors.

Thurgood Marshall argued 19 cases before the Supreme Court

And he won 14 of them.

So, when Thurgood Marshall Academy fields a mock trial team, there are considerable shoes to fill. On Monday night, at the opening round of the annual Street Law Mock Trial Tournament, sixteen TMA students did their part to uphold his legacy.

The Street Law program at Georgetown University has been a TMA partner since our inception. Each year, a law student works with a group of seniors in a traditional classroom setting, both to teach the complexities of the law and to prepare students for the year-end tournament. During each round of the tournament, schools serve as both the prosecution and as the defense in multiple hearings of the same case. And after one round, the 2010 TMA mock trial team is undefeated, having won both as the prosecution and as the defense in a case about domestic violence.

Four students were recognized for outstanding performance: Melvin Atcherson and Mache Chase (for their work as attorneys) and Tashayla Savage and Tevin Brown (for their efforts as witnesses). Please come out to support the entire group this Thursday night at 6:00PM at the DC Superior Court House (500 Indiana Ave, NW) for round two.

The 2010 TMA mock trial team consists of:

Melvin Atcherson

Tevin Brown

Christine Cauley

Mache Chase

Rashada Coton

Shavari Cox

Andrea Daniels

Tiesha Dowing

Quentonio Hickman

Cin’Cerae LeaBough

Brittany McGhee

Franki Miller

Parris Roberston

Tashayla Savage

Imani Walker
Caprice Wilson

The Community and TMA Students Cope With Loss

Over TMA's Spring Break, there was a rash of violence in Southeast DC. Young males and females alike have lost their lives for reasons less significant than a five dollar debt. Numerous Thurgood Marshall students were directly affected by these losses. Many knew one or more of the recent victims personally, and if it affects our students it affects the entire TMA community. For those who may not be aware of these sad occurrences, here is a brief report:

The first event occurred the night of March 25, when two young men, both of whom are widely known in the area, lost their lives in a car crash. The community was shocked and saddened at the event and have grieved openly for the two beloved young men. Yet, on the Washington Post website, there were many comments that cast aspersions and made statements that were blatantly disrespectful, full of derision and held no regard for the friends and families of those young men. I was filled with anger at the sight of these ruthless posts. People are entitled to their own opinions but not at the expense of others. I do not advocate for comments that ignore the feelings of the family, friends and loved ones of victims.

Stories where young people have lost their lives are not hard to come by, sadly.

Just a few days after and only blocks away, there was another senseless death that was allegedly a response to a conflict over missing jewelry. The community is still at a loss for words as they saw four more young adults fall to the unreasonable violence of the D.C. streets. The shooting was classified as a"drive-by" in which the driver of the perpetrator's vehicle was only 14 years old. The mini-van, was occupied by three men, two of whom were adults. Two adults who allowed a 14 year old boy to drive a vehicle that was about to shoot into a crowd of teenagers in ruthless retaliation.

These stories are hard to digest, but these are the things that students at TMA and all over the DC area are forced to deal with on a daily basis. Dealing with a loss is never easy and most times unexpected but the least anyone can do for a person in that position is to offer a shoulder to help. Something to let them know that they do not have to deal with the hurt alone.

So this post is dedicated to anyone and everyone who wants to pay their respects to their fallen friends, family or loved ones. As well as for those who want to offer support in this time of need for many. A warrior's only trait is not strength but heart. And a true warrior's heart is just as big as her will. Post your thoughts, feelings or condolences. This post is dedicated to you.