Middle School Choice Mayhem Part II

It's a little confusing, the new middle school application, which gives Mark Twain its own spot. In previous years, parents pre–applied to magnet programs at Mark Twain, Bay Academy, David A. Boody and other schools in District 21, a result of a 1974 desegregation court order. Those children who met the ELA and Math cut-off scores received a special application, students auditioned/tested and then the fortunate received acceptance to two middle schools: the one in their district and the Mark Twain/Bay Academy.

Although the court order was overturned in 2008, Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented remains the only school in District 21 that still accepts applications from all five boroughs. This little hot house of self–selected over–achievers at the very end of Coney Island produces a high ratio of graduates accepted into the specialized high schools.

Let's hope that the Office of Student Enrollment, Planning and Operations (OSEPO) has shaken out all the kinks that high school applicants experienced in their school selection process. Not to make you soon–to–be middle schoolers scared for the next three years, but there were accusations that Brooklyn students were purposefully excluded from the Millennium High School pool — even though all Department of Education publications indicate that there was no geographic restriction. Also, according to insideschools.org, three popular high schools were allegedly accidentally omitted or not filled from the Main Round (occurring after the specialized high school round); no one received acceptances to Bard HS-Manhattan and open seats mysteriously remained at Millennium and Leon M. Goldstein in Brooklyn.

Middle school choice is much simpler, since the vast majority of students will stay within the district of their elementary school, with the exception of NEST+m, Professional Performing Arts and Mark Twain.

But I worry… a new application with a new option… does that mean new ways for the DOE to mess up?

Sesame Street Ode

Well, parents of teens can't believe that Sesame Street is 40 years old.

I remember my first grade teacher telling our class about a new television show that we should watch. I went home not knowing what to expect — would it be a cartoon? A variety show? Was she tricking us into watching some news show?

I remember asking my mother to turn to channel 13. How weird, the pacing, normal–seeming people talking to puppets. It wasn't shrill, or wise-cracking; it was respectful, and cool.

Sesame Street changed my little life, and changed children’s television.

Saturday Workshops at Bard HS

www.knowledgecollege2010.com 

Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) PTA presents 

KNOWLEDGE COLLEGE   

Please join us for an afternoon of engaging workshops and seminars by BHSEC faculty and special guest lecturers.

When: Saturday, February 6, 2010

Time: 1:00 to 4:30 PM, Cafe open until 5:00 PM

Who: Everyone! Current students and parents, alumni, alumni parents, faculty, friends, family and anyone looking for a stimulating way to pass a February afternoon!  This is a public event so please FORWARD THIS EMAIL. 

        

Tickets: $50 in advance, $60 the day of the event. Purchase online at www.knowledgecollege2010.com - select the 2 classes of  your choice. 

Where: 525 East Houston Street (just west of the FDR Drive on Mangin Street) 

IMPORTANT! You must bring a photo I.D. to enter the building!

                   

Need directions? Here’s a map.  

Classes include:

Madman, Architect, Carpenter, Judge: A Writer’s Workshop

Instructor: Peter Hedges; novelist, playwright, screenwriter, film director. He wrote the novel and screenplay for What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

Have you wanted to write a novel, a play, or a screenplay, and you don’t know where or how to begin? 

Light and Dark: A History of New York City in the Early 1900s

Instructors: Daniel Freund, PhD and Michael Lerner, PhD; BHSEC Manhattan

Explore the history of New York City in the early 20th century through the framework of Light and Dark. 

The Wrath of Achilles

Instructor: David Clark, PhD; BHSEC Manhattan

Homer’s Iliad, as the poet tells us in the very first line, is about the wrath of Achilles. How does Achilles’ wrath define this epic? 

The Mexican Muralists of the 1920s: Artists and Agents of Renewal

Instructor: Patricio Hernandez, PhD; BHSEC Manhattan

With the triumph of the Mexican revolution in 1920, the Mexican government commissioned artists to create murals on public buildings. Who were these muralists, and what were their role and influence? 

A Discussion: Why is Obesity an Ethical Issue?

Instructors: Tom Berner, JD and Wendy Phillips Kahn, MS; BHSEC Manhattan

What is responsible for the significant rise in levels of obesity in this country, and the world, during the last 30 years - and what should we do about it? 

Developing Your Voice: A Workshop on Storytelling

Instructor: Meghann Walk, MSLIS; BHSEC Manhattan

Does the mere thought of public speaking inspire anxiety or, perhaps, fear in you? 

Strength and Conditioning for High School Athletes

Instructors: Chris Gagstetter and Maryah Nardone; BHSEC Manhattan

Building Crosswords: Your Clue to Solving Crosswords

Instructor: Caleb Madison; crossword puzzle constructor, BHSEC student

Do you love solving crossword puzzles? Are you ready to start building crosswords yourself? 

Human Rights Violations and the Media

Instructor: Thomas Keenan, PhD; Bard College

What are the effects of media on situations in which human rights are abused or challenged?  And do the media actually play a role in these situations? 

Transitions and the Turbulent Teen Years: The Psychology of Adolescence

Instructor: Susan Spieler, PsyD; clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, BHSEC parent

Many adults and teens find adolescence puzzling. Why is there often so much turbulence? What if there is no drama? What are the key concerns of most teens? What do teens need from parents? 

Oriental Medicine: Ancient Origins, Modern Applications

Instructor: Peggy Schubert, MS, LAc; acupuncturist, BHSEC parent

Oriental medicine is thousands of years old and is considered mainstream medical care in Asia. Why has it been used for so long, and how can you apply it to your life? 

Embodied Yoga

Instructor: Roxlyn Moret; World Yoga instructor, BHSEC parent

Peace. Quiet. Contentment. Don’t know how to find them anymore? You may discover them again in this class. 

What Should I Do With My Banana Peel?  (If I’m Concerned About Global Warming)

Instructor:  Kendall Christiansen; expert on solid waste recycling, BHSEC parent

What can we and our communities do about the challenge of disposing of food waste?  “Food fights”—intense competition over re-directing food “scraps” (no longer “waste”) —are emerging into one or more forms of beneficial reuse. 

  

WALKING TOUR:

East Side, West Side, and In Between: An Architectural Walking Tour of 57th Street 

(an off-campus event held on June 5th)

Guide: David Fishman; architectural historian, author, and BHSEC parent

Explore the architectural treasures of 57th Street, Manhattan, from river to river! 

See complete list of classes at www.knowledgecollege2010.com

Questions? Email bhsecpta@gmail.com

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

www.knowledgecollege2010.com 

Inspiring People Across the Earth

More than 25 years ago, four kids from another country wrote a couple of songs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Here's one.

And here is U2 in 2009, singing the same song at the Barack Obama Inauguration Concert on the Mall in Washington DC. I wonder what was going through their minds?

Even four boys from Ireland felt Martin Luther King, Jr.'s impact. Will American and children all over the world always remember and take heart?

Pride — in the Name of Love.