On thursday, we visited the Ogden Museum of Southern Art for a guided tour of their exhibits “New Southern Photography,” “Louisiana Contemporary,” and “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Students reflected on the history, meaning, and social impact of the art. Thanks for hosting us, Ogden!

Artist Newton Howard’s oil painting from the Sportsman’s Paradise exhibit

On Friday morning, a few of our students attended the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s performance at Mahalia Jackson theatre, presented by the New Orleans Ballet Association. Our students learned about the basics of ballet, the importance of perseverance, and how art and athletics intertwine more often than we realize. Students also had a chance to gain points in their Physical Education course through ballet lessons. The performance ended with a unique dance choreographed to James Brown.

NOBA offers after-school tuition free ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap, and contemporary. We encourage any students interested in dance to register. In addition, they also offer a variety of teen and adult dance classes at no additional cost. We encourage New Harmony parents and friends to register. No experience necessary! 

Next Thursday, we will be heading out to Bayou Bienvenue to discuss the history of the wetland triangle and coastal erosion. We willl also be doing several experiments and tests on the water, plants, and soil at the bayou.

CURRENT VOLUNTEER AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS:On-going
Open Canoeing and Fishing

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

This week we invited Annabeth McCall, an LSU graduate student, who studies Coastal Sustainability through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Annabeth discussed the various types of soil and sediment found in coastal areas, how they change, and the importance of healthy samples to our environment and ecological. We really *dug* into this lesson when she brought us samples from her lab, the coast!

Annabeth presenting her samples. 

Your student’s first progress report from New Harmony will be sent out via mail on Monday, October the 22nd. We will also be sending a letter home explaining their grades, courses, and credits they are currently receiving. Here is a digital copy of the letter:

Students will now be released at 1:00pm instead of 2:00pm on Fridays. Bus schedules have been adjusted for next week and students began the new schedule today, Friday, October 19th.
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.
Thank you for your continued support and patience during our start-up year.