The Weekly What: Friday, February the 14th, 2020

February 18th, 2020

The Weekly What:
Friday, February the 14th, 2020

Your Ongoing Support to the Augustin’s

You can still donate Kahi’s memorial fund to support his family. Services will be held tomorrow morning.

Gentilly Baptist Church at 5141 Franklin Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122, at 10 a.m., with visitation from 8-10 a.m.

We’d also like to thank Living School for donating a Satsuma tree in his honor. It will live and grow with New Harmony for years to come.  
Support Kahi’s Memorial Fund Here

Leaving to Learn:
Sugar Roots Farm
On January 30, our 9th graders traveled to the West Bank to visit Sugar Roots Farm and Studio in the Woods. Students mucked out pens, befriended a very curious llama, and shoveled a whole bunch of mulch. They were a huge support to the farm! At Studio in the Woods, they went on a guided tour of the property and picked grapefruits before settling into the peaceful cabins for a writers’ retreat reflecting on the folklore of Louisiana’s native Chitimacha tribe. After analyzing historical examples, students wrote their own stories incorporating characteristics of native storytelling. Della Hasselle, a reporter from The Times-Picayune joined us for the day; you can find the article a little lower down in this edition of the Weekly What. 

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s Youth Coastal Stewardship Award
“Mervin Smith, a student at New Harmony High School, is a regular volunteer for CRCL’s many volunteer restoration activities and helps by planting native trees to combat subsidence and rising sea levels. Throughout 2019, Mervin was integral at recruiting his high school peers for volunteer events throughout Louisiana, and he also participated in the Gulf Equity Water Corps to help raise awareness of sea-level rise. He presented his findings at his school and at the HBCU Climate Change Conference.”
-CRCL on Mervin’s contributions

Mervin’s Insights

How did you feel when you found out that you won the award?

I didn’t think I was going to win but when I found out I was super surprised and super happy because of all my hard work and volunteering with CRCL and work around the Louisiana coast was recognized.

What did it take to get the award?

It just took a lot of volunteering hard work, and getting into the environment to restore louisiana coast over time

Who were the people who helped you accomplish your goal to get the award?

My number one biggest person is Ms. Kitty who always informed and drove me to volunteering with CRCL and Anthony helped me accomplish many presentations on my work with the coast along with Izzy ( another NHH student) who was amazing to work with.

What are your goals moving forward?

I just really want to get back into the environment and continue to work on the Louisiana coast and do all I can to keep Louisiana and the city of New Orleans here for as long as I can.

Would you like to leave a positive note for people? 

Do things that matter to you and make you happy, if you have the ability and or opportunity to make a change for the better than let nothing stop you and go for it.

NEWS FLASH!
We’re in the Times-Picayune 

“New Harmony’s goal isn’t just for the students to learn about climate change and land loss, but also to expose them to practical solutions being implemented by residents and businesses around Louisiana.”

New Electives at New Harmony:

Jaron’s Journalism Captain’s Block

The journalism Captain’s Block, now known as Harmonizing News, is meant to help give students a voice and place to share news about the school community. It didn’t make sense for us to put out a physical paper (dated and wasteful!) so we’re doing all-digital news – both video and audio. We’re hoping to start putting out a roughly 10-minute “news drop” each Friday starting this week. These are stories the students chose to pursue- thoughts on the new schedule, information about clubs, upcoming events, advice, a deeper look at internships, etc. We’re really excited about it our product and hope the students and the school community enjoys it! Keep your eyes and ears peeled.

What’s the Tea in Jaron’s Captain’s Block!
What are you currently doing in your Captains Block?

We are to name the news network and hopefully publish our first set of storied this Friday or the next.

What have you done in your Captains Block so far?

Began the process of creating a news entity at school. We have students who are interviewin, editing, etc.

What encouraged you to start your Captains Block?

I was the editor of my high school newspaper and always loved journalism and I did journalism in college and I wanted to start it here.

Are there any lessons/projects you are excited to teach in your Captains Block?

The art of the follow up questions.

Did you have a class like this in high school? If so what did you do in it? If not, would you have wanted a class like this in school and why?

Yes, I also helped run the student newspaper at the previous school and I loved it! I reads the newspaper everyday.

Internship Highlight: 

Mervin, Liam, and Jamiah
at Bricolage Academy

Mervin, Liam, and Jamiah have always shown an interest in youth education. They believe that every child has an equal right to a good, fair, and creative learning experience. They help provide this learning experience for grades 3-5 in a innovative class, filled with amazing projects and super cool activities from day to day.

Upcoming Events

SOUL Tree Planting
Have you made it to a SOUL tree planting this year? Join fellow community volunteers to help SOUL reach their goal of 1,500 trees planted this season, which in turn will help decrease flooding, clean the air, help stop subsidence, and beautify our city. Planting season ends mid-March, so don’t miss your chance to plant trees with SOUL! The next planting is on Saturday, February 8th, in Broadmoor, where they’ll be planting 100 native, water-loving trees. Volunteers can see a list of SOUL’s upcoming plantings and register using this online sign up form, and can contact Emma Butler at ebutler@soulnola.org with any questions. Sign up to enjoy some time outside by planting trees with SOUL!

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
ational Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is teaming up with the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program (SCIPP) at Louisiana State University (LSU) to host a 1-day regional meeting to access and understand the information needs of small- to medium-scale water utilities, improve on existing tools, and build additional resources to meet water sector needs at different scales.

For more information contact, Amanda Lewis at 225-578-8374.
HARMONY HIGHLIGHT:

Eric, Class of 2023

What is something you do well?

I would like to say I am pretty good on the PS4 any game I play I’m the best at.

What is something you have learned in the past week?

I learned how invasive species can really impact our ecosystem and why we need to stop them.

What is a misconception people have about you?

People say since I’m short I can’t do a lot but even at my height, I can do anything!
What is the biggest dream you have for yourself that you do not often say aloud?

I really don’t have one I just want people to know my name and be famous.

Who has had a positive influence on your life so far and why?

My mom is one of my favorite people in my life because she supports everything I do and doesn’t judge me for who I am.

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you? 

I probably would try to make music because I can’t live without music and making music I feel like would be fun and will have an impact on people.

What do you like about New Harmony?
I like how free I feel here and how this school is so different from other schools and I feel like I can really find my passion here.
Happy Valentines Day!(Which means show some love!!)
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