The Weekly What: Friday, October the 12th 2018

October 14th, 2018
Happy weekend! We are moving right along into our second quarter with our students but are already asking our students to consider who they would like to see join our New Harmony community next year as a freshman! If you know one of those people, we would love to be introduced in order to extend an invitation to our “Day-in-the-Life” Open House on November 7th.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS:EARLY RELEASE TIME ON FRIDAYS CHANGED

Students will now be released at 1:00pm instead of 2:00pm every Friday. Bus schedules have been adjusted for next week, and students will begin the new early release schedule next Friday, October 19th.
Thank you for your continued support and patience during our start-up year. The reason for the shift in time is because as a staff, we recognized the need for more time dedicated to collaborative planning. Early release time for the following quarter will be reevaluated as we near the end of the quarter two. If you have questions about this update, please contact us.

Upcoming Local Events and Learning Opportunities

Recycling Drop-Off (Iron Mountain Shred Day)

Citizens can drop off the following household items for recycling every second Saturday of the month:

When
Saturday, October the 13th from 8am-1pm
*Reoccurs every second and fourth Saturday of the month*
Where
2829 Elysian Fields Ave.

What to bring

  • Newspapers/junk mail/phone books/catalogs/office paper
  • Plastics #1 through #7
  • Small metal cans
  • Cardboard/boxboard (cereal boxes)/wax board (juice boxes)
  • Mardi Gras beads
  • E-waste (computers, laptops, cell/phones, telephone systems, cable, x-Boxes, Playstations, Wii, MP3s, DVRs, DVDs, UPS, circuit systems, televisions (limit 4)
  • Batteries (AA, AAA, AAAA, C, D, 6, & 9volt)
  • Light bulbs (incandescent and fluorescent)
  • Tires (limit 4)
  • Glass (limit 50 lbs)
  • Composting

More Information
To register for Free Curbside Recycling, call 311. Free Curbside Recycling is available only to Orleans Parish residents.

CURRENT VOLUNTEER AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS:

Swamp Science Fest at Jean Lafitte

Parents, learn your rights with the
Urban League of Louisiana

Discovering Family Histories:
An Inter-generational Project

This is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore and preserve your collective history through the collection of stories, documents, recipes, etc

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 opportunity for 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

We began our day with Energy Wise‘s Education Manager, Emily Snyder. Emily earned her Masters of Science Degree in Environmental Education and has since worked with children and communities across Louisiana to reframe and develop their personal relationships with the natural environment. She joined our students this morning to offer them an opportunity of reflection upon their own perspective of and relationship with nature. She offered a poetic view, as opposed to a scientific view, of experiences in nature through a series of questions posed to students. With this, she encouraged students to see these relationships as reciprocal, long lasting, and valuable to our mental and physical well-being. Thanks for being a fantastic influence and environmental steward, Emily!

NHH FAMILIES

      H A R M O N Y      H I G H L I G H T:

Vera

What is something you do well?
Climbing.  The movement makes sense to me, and I have the right kind of strength for it.  I feel really dedicated to it, and the community is amazing. Climbing really motivates me; there has never been a day when I woke up and said, “I don’t want to climb today.”  I have woken and said, “I’m really sore, it may not be the best idea to climb,” but I always still want to.

What is something you have learned in the past week?
When I was climbing in my brother in Colorado this week, even when I was falling, I was still having fun.  I am usually pretty critical of myself, and it happens a lot, but this week I realized that I will not be amazing everyday, but someone reminded me that I am still showing up. I want to keep improving and remember not to be so harsh on myself.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you?People are often very intimidated by me.  I’m not sure why. I have had people tell me they are afraid of me, but I have had people older than me be open with me because they are more comfortable talking, but I guess kids my age get intimidated by that.

What is the biggest dream you have yourself that you are afraid to say aloud?Coming out to my mom was really hard.  I know she is a super-understanding person and would never feel any different about it, but I kept building it up in my head.  I was kind of crying when I told her and she said, “It’s okay, I knew since you were born.”

Who has had a positive influence on your life so far and why?
My coach.  He has always been very important to me and has helped me get through a lot of things.  He is the first person I called when my dad died. He dropped everything to come over to be with me and my brother.  I have only known him for two years, and he is very invested in my future and helping me pursue my future.

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
I guess when I am around other people who I am not really close to, I don’t always act myself around them because I want to fit in. I don’t like the feeling, and it doesn’t happen that often, but those are the times I know I just want to be by myself and that’s fine.

What do you like about New Harmony?
The freedom. And the teachers. Everyone feels really invested in everyone.  Sunny and Amanda have been thinking a lot about my internship. I have also experienced people with Autism, and I realize how much I like getting to know these people.

I think I have connected a lot more to the teachers than any teachers I have ever had. I actually think I can connect to the teachers here more than the students.

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