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Edible Schoolyard New Orleans Hosts Sweet Potato Fest 2023

Each Fall the Arthur Ashe Charter School community comes out to celebrate our favorite fall crop, the sweet potato, with a festival dedicated to this glorious tuber.

On Saturday, October 21, 2023 hundreds of Ashe family members came out to celebrate their children, their school, and the sweet potatoes grown in the school garden.

Sweet Potato Fest began with a parade around the school’s neighborhood featuring the school marching unit. The parade ended at the school’s sweet potato field where a ribbon-cutting ceremony happened to officially open the Fest. All ages and abilities were  encouraged to help harvest our sweet potatoes. After the harvest there were other activities, including a professional sweet potato cook-off, a family sweet potato cook-off, music performances, community partners, bike-powered smoothies, facepaint, and arts and crafts. The day culminated with awards to honor the cook-off competitions winners.

 

Students pose as sweet potatoes!

 

 

 

 

 

The Arthur Ashe Flag Team walking the Sweet Potato Fest parade donning fall-themed flags!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attendants receive their Sweet Potato Fest swag!

 

 

 

The crowned King and Queen of Sweet Potato Fest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bike-powered smoothies got attendants moving and mixing!

 

 

 

Live music and cultural dance performances!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edible Schoolyard New Orleans Welcomes New Leaders

 

FirstLine’s nationally known signature program, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans, is proud to announce the promotion of two new leaders, both of whom previously served as ESY teachers for many years. 

Charlotte Steele began serving as Director of Edible Schoolyard New Orleans in July after eight years as a garden teacher at Phillis Wheatley. She formerly served as a Peer Support Specialist with trauma-informed Safe Schools New Orleans and is trained in Trust-Based Relationship Intervention methods. Charlotte is a lifelong learner committed to the practice of anti-racism – learning, unlearning and confronting whiteness in her work and personal life. She is working on an Early Childhood Post-Baccalaureate certification. Charlotte’s responsibilities as Director include observing and coaching ESY teachers, working with school leaders to make sure the ESY curriculum aligns with FirstLine’s goals for serving its students and families, and ensuring program quality. This year ESY will support FirstLine’s “Wildly Important Goal” of increasing achievement in math by incorporating 3rd grade multiplication skill building into ESY classes through fluency practice with body movements. You can learn a lot of math by following recipes in kitchen class (fractions!) and planning and measuring space for plants in gardens.

Zach O’Donnell is the new Program Manager for the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans. He has been a teacher for 15 years in both traditional classrooms as well as in school garden settings. Originally from Chicago, Zach has a Bachelors in Science in Biology from Saint Louis University, a Science Teaching Certificate from San Francisco State University, and a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture from University of California Santa Cruz. He worked in urban agriculture in San Francisco, and community agriculture and development in Mozambique before moving to New Orleans. In 2014 he joined FirstLine Schools as the Lead Garden Teacher at Samuel J. Green Charter School. An avid gardener, Zach loves using gardens as hands-on teaching spaces to reinforce academics and foster compassion and confidence in young students. His responsibilities as ESY Program Manager will be supervising our small garden team to maintain four school gardens, supporting staff in producing the many ESY events for students and families, and documenting the program’s impact through data collection and analysis.

Back to School Cool

 

What a joy it was to welcome students back at all four FirstLine campuses the week of August 1st. Our teachers and scholars are already working hard to make this school year the best one yet. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @firstlinenola to stay informed with what our schools are doing all year round.

Students and teachers at Ashe working together during their Middle School Assembly.

 

Ms. Cerda’s 3rd Grade class celebrating College Day at Green!

LHA and Wheatley students and teachers jumping right into the beginning of the year!     

A Big LEAP Forward

We are excited to announce that, overall, FirstLine Schools made growth in every single subject area on the 2023 LEAP test!

Key highlights include:

  • On average, FirstLine students’ scores in math improved an average of 5.1% in the category of Basic and 4.3% in the category of Mastery from their 2021-22 scores, with 45% scoring Basic or above and 17% scoring Mastery. This was our main priority last school year, and the gains were strongest in this area.
  • FirstLine students’ scores in English Language Arts improved 1.2% in the category of Basic and 1.6% in the category of Mastery from their 2021-22 scores, with 53% of our students scoring Basic or above and 27% scoring Mastery or above. These gains were modest – while we are proud of the improvement, we will also be doubling down on ensuring progress in this area in the 23-24 school year.
  • FirstLine students’ scores in social studies improved an average of 3.4% in the category of Basic and 4.3% in the category of Mastery from their 2021-22 scores, with 32% scoring Basic or above and 12% scoring Mastery. 
  • FirstLine students’ scores in science improved an average of 5.2% in the category of Basic and 1.9% in the category of Mastery from their 2021-22 scores, with 36% of students scoring Basic or above and 12% scoring Mastery.

 

We are extremely proud of all the hard work put in by FirstLine students, teachers, and families to achieve these results, and we look forward to continued growth in 2024.

The Marching Eagles: A Family Tradition

Since 2009, the sounds of the LHA Marching Eagles can be heard practicing up and down Trafalgar Street and performing along multiple parade routes. The over 100-member marching unit is a staple of the community and, for one family, a tradition. The tradition started in 2015 when then 8th grader Jahmad Randolph was selected as the LHA Drum Major. This special position is reserved for a student who has shown dedication and commitment to the band. Band director, Mr. Venable, or “Mr. V” as everyone calls him, selects the student each year. This student is given this honor based on the years they have served in the band, their display of leadership skills, and their ability to give feedback to multiple band members playing different instruments.  “It was such an honor to be the drum major. You are who everyone looks to, you are the first face everyone sees for the marching band. You are the first man up; you set the tone,” said Jahmad.

While Jahmad was busy leading the marching band, he noticed pretty early on that his younger brother, Markiaj, was also interested in music. As it turns out, Markiaj would grow up to follow in his big brother’s footsteps, serving as the current drum major for the LHA Marching Eagles. 

“I had a feeling Markiaj would be in the band and eventually the drum major! It all started when he was about four years old. He would come home from daycare, and I would see him trying to play my trumpet, mimicking my moves in the band,” said Jahmad. “When he was about six and in the first grade at LHA, I  would bring him to practice, and he would be our little mini drum major.”

Markiaj remembers those moments when he was able to learn from his brother and uses what he learned to be the drum major that he is today. “It was a family thing for me; I knew I wanted to take what my brother taught me and become the sort of leader I saw in him. He inspired me to join the band and then to be the leader,” said Markiaj. 

As the current drum major, Markiaj uses the fundamentals of the Marching Eagles: self-control, understanding musical notes, patience, practice, and prep for parade season to help lead, but he holds close to him a lot of what he learned from his brother. “I view my role as the drum major as sort of a big brother. I want to set the same example that Jahmad set for me,” said Markiaj. “I am also still learning from him. Jahmad will call me and ask how things are going with the band and give me tips and feedback on the perfect moves. I am still trying to perfect my crab walk!”

Markiaj sets the tone by making sure his fellow band members are on time to practice, that they are getting schoolwork done, and ensuring accountability is in place. “I want them to see me doing all of these things correctly and know that is the standard for being a Marching Eagle.” Markiaj knows that these things are all key to that moment when they are performing in front of thousands. “When we have all these things in place, we have practiced and coordinated, I have made sure I have my routine down, everyone else knows their parts, then we know we are ready,” says Markiaj. 

“I also like to remind everyone the importance of never playing louder than the person next to you,” Markiaj says with a smile. “We are one band with one sound.” 

For big brother Jahmad, now a music education student and member of the Southern University Human Jukebox, music has continued to set the path for his career. He is currently one of three section leaders in the mellophone section of the band with big plans to return back to LHA after graduation. 

“I know I’d have big shoes to fill, but I would love to come back and be like Mr. V and lead the Marching Eagles,” says Jahmad. “Mr. V was more than just a band director or music teacher for me. He was like a father figure, he was everything that some of us needed and more. He made sure I studied so I could go to a good high school and college. I plan to do the same for LHA students when it is my time.” 

The love of music that Jahmad and Markiaj share is also shared with their younger brother Aiden, who is also a member of the Marching Eagles. Jahmad is proud of both of his brothers and knows the future is bright for them. 

“It is humbling to know Markiaj has looked up to me as a drum major. I always tell him nothing is too hard or too big for him to accomplish,” says Jahmad. “ I am proud of him, and in terms of skills, I think he has me beat!” 

 

Be sure to check out the LHA Marching Eagles in the Knights of Chaos on 2/16, Krewe of NOMTOC on 2/18, Krewe of Okeanos on 2/19, and closing out the Mardi Gras season with the Krewe of Zulu on 2/21. 

 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at FirstLine Schools

FirstLine Schools is proud to announce the launch of our new Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) section on the FirstLine Schools website. This section will serve as an online learning space to learn more about our history in DEI work, our current goals around DEI work, and our commitments to the future of DEI at FirstLine Schools.

The DEI section will provide staff, students, families, funders, partners, and the community insight into the work we’re doing to ensure DEI becomes a woven thread in the fabric of our organization. We hope it results in a clear shared reflection on actions, systems, policies, and practices throughout the network that leads to successful student academic achievement.  “The website will highlight how intentional and committed we are to creating change in our efforts to become an anti-racist organization,” said Chief Equity Officer Sivi Domango. 

“Our goal is to keep this section of our website constantly evolving,” added Domango. “We will strive to update the site as we make progress on our goals, aim to share stories from all stakeholders, and we hope to make it a space where valuable resources can be shared, and open collaboration can take place.” 

You can check out the new Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) section on the FirstLine Schools website by clicking here. 

FirstLine Schools Receives $7 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott

FirstLine Schools has received a $7 million gift from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This gift will allow FirstLine to advance its teaching model, which has achieved extraordinary post-pandemic student growth across all four of its New Orleans schools. This is the largest single unsolicited donation FirstLine has ever received, and it is a vote of confidence in the work our leaders, teachers and support staff do in schools across the city of New Orleans every day.
FirstLine’s highly effective, data-driven instruction resulted in major improvements in student outcomes reflected in their 2022 Louisiana Assessment of Educational Progress (LEAP) performance. FirstLine achieved some of the highest student growth scores in the city using a precisely constructed combination of high-dosage tutoring, small group instruction, social and emotional learning, and a wide variety of experiences designed to stimulate student engagement and critical thinking, including FirstLine’s nationally acclaimed garden and culinary education program, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans. FirstLine students’ scores in English Language Arts and mathematics improved significantly across all of our schools in the 21-22 school year. These improvements occurred despite frequent interruptions in instruction, including a three-week closure for Hurricane Ida and multiple pandemic quarantines.

“We are so proud of the work that FirstLine teachers, leaders, and support staff have done, particularly in some of the most challenging circumstances any of us have ever encountered. The pandemic gravely impacted learning. We have a long way to go to recover from the pandemic and accelerate much further than pre-COVID levels of learning, but MacKenzie Scott’s gift is a tremendous affirmation of our work and approach. It ensures that we will have the resources to refine our approach and innovate further so that students may thrive,” says Sabrina Pence, CEO of FirstLine Schools.

FirstLine, a 24-year-old New Orleans based charter management organization, embraces a whole child education philosophy that nurtures students in mind, body, and spirit. Since its inception, it has worked to develop a Vision of Excellence that includes rigorous academics, effective professional development for a diverse group of teachers and leaders, a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, social and emotional learning for students and staff, and the creation of school environments that promote a sense of belonging and community.

FirstLine board chair Charles West says, “We are deeply grateful for MacKenzie Scott’s visionary philanthropy, her belief in the importance of high-quality public education, and her recognition of FirstLine’s pioneering work. Her investment in FirstLine’s approach to teaching and learning will change the life outcomes of thousands of New Orleans children.”

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