We hope your week was as enriching as ours! This week our schedule was packed with learning excursions, insightful guest speakers, and planning our first school “kick-back” (dance), in addition to literary discussions, math blasts, and science experiments. Scroll to see us in action.
Leaving-to-Learn:
Bayou Bienvenue
Each week, in Quarter 2, we have set aside time for off-campus learning activities where students engage in and experience our local landscapes and resources. On Thursday, we visited Bayou Bienvenue, also known as the Wetland Triangle, to learn more about wetlands in urban areas. This week was all about getting our hands dirty.
During our Leaving to Learn, we
Removed invasive plant (and snail) species from the bayou
Went on an architectural tour of the Lower 9th and the industrial canal
Collected data on soil core samples to see whatwhat those results reveal about the past (stratigraphy)
Cleaned up trash around the bayou!
Analyzed soil samples to understand how wetland plants help mitigate erosion
Compared and contrasted Bayou Bienvenue to other wetlands we have studied this year through reflection and synthesis
Annabeth McCall, our guest speaker from last week, leads these experiments with our Education Advisor, Fernando.
Rain boots, snails, snail eggs, bug observation, and muddy hands.
Open House:
Invite your community
Student ambassadors and staff will be hosting a recruitment Open House for prospective 2019-2020 freshman. Our ambassadors will be showing parents and students a day in the life of a New Harmony student. Visitors will also be receiving information about shadow days, curriculum, programs, and more. Please join us and help spread the word to any 7th/8th graders. The main round of OneApp Enrollment begins on Wednesday, November the 19th.
We hope to see you there!
Upcoming Local Events and Learning Opportunities
No Phones Allowed Game Night
A New Harmony student’s Girl Scout Troop is hosting an electronic free game night at the Norman Mayer Library on Wednesday evening, November 28. If you’d like your child to ditch the screens for an evening and engage in some good old-fashioned game night fun, check it out!
A Celebration for the Lower 9th Ward
New Harmony will have a table at the event. Feel free to stop by!
CURRENT VOLUNTEER AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS:
On-going
Open Canoeing and Fishing
Every Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. until Nov. 10
(This program is dependent on volunteer participation and the weather.)
Location: Joe W. Brown Park, 5601 Read Blvd
This is also a volunteer opportunityfor students who are willing to commit to 6 Saturdays, beginning tomorrow! After the completion of volunteering, if your student is interested in becoming a certified lifeguard, NORD will cover the $400 fee.
Parents, if you students are interested in participating in any capacity, please fill out the appropriate permission form and return to school next week.
A few New Harmony students working as trained volunteers
Guest Speaker
This week our guest speaker was William Snowden, Founder of the Juror Project and Director of Vera Institute of Justice New Orleans’ Office. Will practices law and advocates for more diverse juries. He and our students engaged in a Thursday morning discussion about current events, what it means to be a passionate juror, and social justice advocacy in the community.
Thanks for inspiring us, Will!
NHH FAMILIES
LUMCON FIELD TRIP
Next week, we will be taking half of the students to LUMCON on either Monday or Tuesday (October 29th & 30th). LUMCON (Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium) is located south of Houma in Chauvin, LA. From there, we will be taking a boat cruise to the mouth of Terrebonne Bay.
Morning buses will run as normal, and we will return by 5:30pm. Please fill out the mandatory form in order for your student to attend: click here. Stay tuned for more information on Sunday regarding which group your student will be in and what they should bring with them. Please contact us if you have any questions.
STUDENT KICKBACK
(& parent social)
The students are planning to host an old-school kickback with music, karaoke, and general socializing. Parents are invited to mingle with other parents (in a completely separate space from students) throughout the evening.
HARMONY HIGHLIGHT
Stella
What is something you do well?
People say I am good company.
What is something you learned in the past week?
That I can’t shut myself from everyone even though sometimes I try.
What is the biggest misconception people have about you?
People think I am a (not nice word) … until they get to know me.
What is the biggest dream you have yourself that you are afraid to say aloud?
I really only have one dream: I want to get out of the United States. I can’t see myself building a life here.
Who has had a positive influence on your life so far and why?
My grandma because I love her, she is my queen; she is always there for me. She lives in Dubai and she is very independent, which is not common for women there.
What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
I dunno … be more open about where I come from… culture-wise. A lot of my old friends were conservative, and I felt that because my mom is Muslim, I didn’t want to be judged. It’s crazy how people think that being Muslim is the worst possible thing.
