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These are exciting times! The Stadium School is celebrating its 15 years of existence. Yes, it was 15 years ago that TSS was birthed and became the progenitor of the New Initiative, Charter School movement in Baltimore, and the first public school in Maryland to be designed and operated in collaboration with teachers and parents. We honor the past, present, and future, i.e., the founders, students, parents, teachers, staff members, as well as community members that help create, design, and operate TSS. It has been a great 15 years. Open Enrollment for SY 2009-2010 began November 1, 2008 and ends January 31, 2009 . TSS will be accepting applications primarily for sixth grade. Information for enrollment can be found online. Note after 15 years, TSS has applied to be a charter school. I encourage all of our Professional Learning Community to meet me at the Dr. Alice Pinderhughes building; BCPSS headquarters for our presentation to the New Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Finally, I would like to send get well wishes to Ms. Yvonne Elliott and Ms. Telisa Claiborne, who have been away from TSS and the students, due to surgery and a car accident respectfully. Our prayers are with them. We welcome to our community the following new employees: Angel Consolacion, co-teacher; Natasha Fortune, long-term substitute and Nicole Requer, long-term substitute. |
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New and returning students alike are excited about the new school year. While some new students expressed some anxiety and fears about going to a new school - most of their fears disappeared by the end of the school day. Our returning students expressed excitement about having new teachers, seeing old friends and making new ones. Overall, the transition into the 2008-09 school year has been a great one. Here's What Some Students had to Say Things are going good at The Stadium School. The teachers are very motivating and they try their best to make sure you understand what they are teaching you. This school is very different from my previous school. It's actually way better! Some of things I love about the school is that it's clean, organized, and they care about their students. I'm excited about the school year. For some reason, I think this school gives me hope about being successful. – Shakiara Peaks, 8th grader (new student) So far, my first weeks at The Stadium School is very exciting! I feel a lot of doors have opened up for me in life from attending this school. This school is different from my old school, because I didn't have as many opportunities but here I have plenty. If it is this year, next year or when I'm in the 8 th grade I feel like I can overcome anything. – Bronte Robinson, 6th grader (new student) I think this school is the best school ever. First, for the parents the kids have to read 25 books. I think that's good so we can keep our reading up. Also, we have a program called the Algebra Project where you have someone helping you with math. You have to get 25 math tutorials by the end of the year. Another thing we have is portfolios, we have to select three projects from every class. Then we present them on the last day of school. I think that's good because that gets us used to speaking in front of a crowd. We also have a lacrosse team and we are working on a football and basketball team. This is why I love the Stadium School. My years at The Stadium School have been good. I have learned a lot. When I started here I was thinking “I do not want to be here.” The first day was a good day, I felt so welcome by the kids and by the teachers. After that day I wanted to come back. At my other school I had a hard time meeting friends but when I came here I met so many new friends. I like this school a lot. My school is the best school I have ever been to. You get to learn a lot of things. We have art class and project classes every Wednesday. Project class is fun, we get to pick our project class and every class helps the community in some way. The Stadium School makes school fun, I love coming to school. We do experiments in almost every class and kids are very active in class. |
Board of Commisioner Meeting S.I.T. Meeting Professional Development Report Card Night 1st Trimester Awards Ceremony Thanksgiving Holiday S.I.T. Meeting Professional Development TSS Winter Feast
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On Friday, October 31, 2008 , the 8th grade class presented a debate on the issues most frequently discussed by the 2008 presidential candidates. The debate featured students who spoke as Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. There were several moderators who posed questions to the presidential candidates as well as the audience. Several intermissions through out the debate featured students who presented poems and raps about the candidates, world issues and voting. The audience consisted of eighth grade students who adorned signs of support for their choice for president. This debate was the culminating event of lessons created by the eighth grade team centered around the Presidential Elections theme. All of the eighth grade participants presented very well and were well versed on the current issues. They all are to be commended for their hard work. |
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Ms. Shalonda Wallace 6th Grade Language Arts Teacher TSS: As a returning teacher, how are you feeling about the new school year? SW: I am so blessed to have another opportunity to teach here at TSS. We have an awesome school and our children are the best students in Maryland! TSS: What is special or unique about the 6th grade class? SW: The 6th graders this year all seem to have very interesting outlooks on life. They're optimistic, energetic and interested in learning new things. TSS: What does education mean to you? Education is a gateway to new beginnings. Before I pursued education as a second career, I worked in marketing. It was fun and I was pretty good at it. But it was only when I began to teach that I felt as though I was making a difference. I can now maximize my potentials, to heighten my students perspective on life and to enlighten my community on issues that's meaningful to them. Education is my catalyst to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills to do one of the things I love to do; teach. TSS: What is the most joyful and fulfilling part of teaching? TSS: For the past two years you have been the co-facilitator of the Choose Life project class, which strives to prevent the spread of HIV. How has this project class impacted you? Needless to say, this project class has definately impacted me in so many ways but the most prominent is how I feel today about HIV/AIDS verses how I felt prior to co-teaching this course. Because of Choose Life I am more compassionate toward those who have HIV/AIDS. Because of Choose Life I have a greater understanding of how this disease has impacted Africans and African Americans around the world. Approximately, 16,000 Baltimoreans were diagnosed with HIV in 2006 alone. Other than abstainance, nothing is 100% proven to protect us from contracting this disease. Becauase we're all either infected or affected by HIV/AIDS it's detrimental that we educate the community and Zambia about it. With all this said, I am just so greatful to have the opportunity to set forth this initiative with Ms. Chisha. I learn so much from her. She's not only the co-facilitator of Choose Life but also my mentor, confidant and my inspiration. Thank you Ms. Chisha! TSS: Is there anything you would like to say to the TSS Community? |
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Ms. Ziva Ritchie 7th Grade Language Arts Teacher TSS: This is your first year teaching here at TSS, how have you enjoyed it? I understand that you have transitioned from teaching elementary students to middle school students. What has that transition been like? ZR: Interesting. I enjoy teaching middle-aged students because this stage in their development allows me to teach them more about the writing process, literature and history. TSS: What is unique about the 7th grade class? TSS: Can you tell us about your lesson when you dressed up as a Black Panther? A faculty member sat in on your lesson and was very impressed. She noted how engaged the students were and how you connected it all to the text. How did the students receive your lesson? TSS: You are also the facilitator of the Dance project class. What is it that you hope to teach them through the medium of dance? TSS: What is the most joyful and fulfilling part of teaching for you? TSS: What words of advice or wisdom would you give to our young people?
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Student Reflections on Ms. Ritchie Ms. Ritchie is a very fun teacher with a lot of energy. She enhances my favorite subject with large quantities of words and expressions. She has a way to intrigue you that is magical. I hope Ms. Ritchie is here for a long time. Jade Creek, 7th grader I believe Ms. Ritchie is one of the best teachers I ever had. She is always encouraging us to do our best at writing. She is also encouraging us to speak better, too. I love language arts class and I can't wait to go again. - Justing Sharp, 7th grader Ms. Ritchie is a teacher who keeps her children awake. She is a person who makes sure you do all of your work. Also, she makes sure you participate in everything. In Ms. Ritchie's class we learn and have fun at the same time. I never had a teacher like Ms. Ritchie. - Zyionna McKinstry, 7th grader Ms. Ritchie is a very different language arts teacher. She is very energetic. She wants us to express our writing with colorful and exciting words. Ms. Ritchie makes me see language arts in a whole different way. What I really enjoy about her class is that she really makes you think. - Joi Washington, 7th grader |
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Ms. Telisa Claiborne TSS: What is special or unique about the 8th grade class? TC: Catholic school was all I knew before starting my teaching career 14 years ago. I attended St. Mary's Govans K-8 and Mercy High 9-12. So my only reference point in terms of education was the discipline and rigor of the nuns. My teachers were strict and no nonsense but they were also comedians. That is what I remember most about school. Excuses were never accepted but learning was fun. I wanted to learn, I was excited about school and so were my classmates. I am still in contact with friends I met in kindergarten. TC: If you're not first you're last. Quote. Ricky Bobby. I am an only child and being first is all I know. I have the best middle school debate team in Baltimore City and this year we will annihilate all the other middle schools that attempt to take away our reign. You will have to ask my students if it has affected my style of teaching. I just personally believe in creating winners!!!!!!!!! My most fulfilling teaching experience was in 2003 when I was teaching at Mt. St. Joseph High School and I took 12 young African American men to Spain and France. It was wonderful watching them experience different cultures and interpreting the Europeans responses to them as young American males. They were experiencing things that most adults never get to do yet alone leave the country. My boys are now all in college and one has even graduated and I am happy that I was able to share that unique experience with them. |
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Student Reflections on Ms. Claiborne Ms. Claiborne is the greatest teacher ever! She always has something funny to say. But if you are wrong she will set you straight! She knows how to keep you in line, but she has fun with it. She is my favorite teacher. I am a proud student of Ms. Claiborne. I really enjoy being in her class. I think that she is a nice lady and a very lovely teacher. I mean her teaching is very unique. She teaches in a way that no other teacher has ever thought. Even when she is pushing us I believe it is because she know that we can go far and we can do it. Sometimes, that push is something that we need. Like in her class she only makes us write in pen and in cursive. I think this is good because at first I never wrote in cursive, but now I am writing in cursive in every class. Ms. Claiborne is a wonderful role model for many students. |
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Exciting things are happening in TSS project classes. This year, we have thirteen project classes that include the National Academic League (NAL), Youth Dreamers, Jason Horich Art Project Class, Choose Life: HIV Prevention, Tomorrow's Professionals, Green Neighbors, Zoo Exchange, MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science and Achievement), Math & Technology, Dance, Drama, Cultural Vibrations, and Urban Debate League. Continue reading below to find out more about the great learning experiences students are having in project classes. |
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 Click to see the N.A.L project class practice for an upcoming game. |
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National Academic League In this project class we are learning about math, language arts, social studies, science and spelling. We also compete academically against other schools. Mr. Roycroft helps us to get prepared to go against schools. We enjoy working hard because it pays off when we win games. N.A.L. has enhanced my learning ability. I have been on the team for three years. Mr. Roycroft teaches us things we don't learn in my different classes. He has prepared me for the next grade. N.A.L. provides students the opportunity to be successful in all subjects. This is a good project class to join when wanting to improve your learning. |
| Jason Horich Art Project Class The Jason Horich Art Project Class invited Garrett Davis to come share his animations. Garrett is an artist from Philadelphia that makes drawings that he then transforms into animations. The students learned about narrative art by creating their own flip books, sequential drawings, and stop-animations. The students had a great time working with our guest artist who has the same love of comics as they do.  |
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Drama Project Class Bake Sale The Drama Project Class had a bake sale to raise funds for field trips. Ms. Bev, Drama Project Class facilitator, wants to her students to go on many field trips this year primarily to see plays. Money raised at the bake sale will be used to lessen the financial burden for her students to go on trips. Ms. Bev reports that the bake sale was a great success. |
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Cultural Vibrations Project Class   My project class is called Cultural Vibrations and it is about different cultures like Africa, India, and China. This week we were learning about Africa and money. The different types of money we learned was about Jamaican money which is dollars; China money which is yuan; Africa which is nara; Phillipines which is peso; and India which is rupes. The tribe I am studying is the Maasai tribe. Their costumes are colorful and long. We made mask that were part of different tribes. My mask was called Yohure, which looks like a bunny with decorations. I put different colors and sparkles on it; it looks very pretty. We learned that not all African tribes have dark people in it. In South Africa there are white people who live there and do African dances and eat goat and other things. In the future we are going to be learning African dances and do the dancing too. My project class is the best! -Briane Butler, 7th grader |
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Youth Dreamers On October 11, 2008 , over 200 volunteers of all ages came out for James W. Rouse Community Service Day, an annual event organized by Struever Bros. Eccles and Rouse. For several months leading up to this day, Youth Dreamers organized community meetings at the nearby Shepherd's Clinic and invited key players and residents to brainstorm ways to make the two acres of shared space between the Shepherd's Clinic and the Youth Dreamers Youth Center safer, cleaner and more beautiful. From those meetings came plans that were implemented on October 11th. Volunteers landscaped around the clinic, made mosaic stepping stones that will be used for pathways, built a picket fence, and more. Prior to that day, volunteers removed excess shrubbery, fences and trash to create clean, easy, safe access to the clinic and the future youth center. |
