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Ron Port
NMSA Family Festival – African American Culture
Para una versión en español del blog, por favor vea la parte inferior de esta página
The second NMSA Family Festival brought the community together to celebrate the multicultural school community with a focus on appreciating African American Culture. Families were entertained by a wide range of performers, including: breakdancers, a jazz violinist, African hand drumming, gospel music and spirituals. All performers were wonderfully announced with thoughtful context, curated by Mrs. Tribble and presented by Mrs. Robinson. A local chef and African American business owner who focuses on youth empowerment created a delicious menu of soul food. NCCP also served up free groceries along with recipe books to continue exploring soul food in the kitchen at home after the event.
Dinner tables were lined with shout outs to incredible African American innovators and advocators, which also included presentations created by students from Mr. Hedman’s class. All of the extra décor that transformed the gymnasium into a beautiful event space was created and set up by students in Mrs. Lundstrom’s art classes. The Student Ambassadors volunteered to support everything at the event from greeting guests, to serving dinner, to guiding their peers through cultural enrichment and crafting activities provided by NCCP.
Overall, February 19th was a beautiful evening of celebrating African American culture and for NMSA families to come and enjoy the many experiences offered together. Nearly 100 families attended the event, and over 30 faculty and staff stayed after school to connect with them and to help make the vision into a wonderful reality.
El segundo Festival Familiar de NMSA reunió a la comunidad para celebrar la comunidad multicultural con un enfoque en apreciar la cultura afroamericana. Las familias fueron entretenidas por artistas que incluyeron: breakdancers, un violinista de jazz, tambores africanos, música evangelio y espirituales. Todos los artistas fueron anunciados maravillosamente con un contexto reflexivo, por la Sra. Tribble y presentada por la Sra. Robinson. Un chef local y propietario de un negocio afroamericano que se enfoca en los jóvenes creó un delicioso menú de comida para el alma. North Chicago Community Partners (NCCP) también sirvió alimentos gratis junto con libros de recetas para continuar explorando comida para el alma en la cocina en casa después del evento.
Las mesas de la cena estaban llenas de agradecimientos a increíbles innovadores y defensores afroamericanos, que también incluían presentaciones creadas por estudiantes de la clase del Sr. Hedman. Toda la decoración adicional que transformó el gimnasio en un hermoso espacio para eventos fue creada y decorada por estudiantes en las clases de arte por la Sra. Lundstrom. Los estudiantes embajadores se ofrecieron como voluntarios para apoyar todo en el evento, desde saludar a los invitados, servir la cena, y guiar a sus compañeros a través del enriquecimiento cultural y las actividades de artesanía proporcionadas por NCCP.
En general, el 19 de febrero fue una hermosa noche de celebración de la cultura afroamericana y para que las familias de la NMSA vengan y disfruten de las muchas experiencias que se ofrecen juntas. Cerca de 100 familias asistieron al evento, y más de 30 profesores y personal se quedaron después de la escuela para conectarse con ellos y ayudar a hacer de la visión una realidad maravillosa.
Lunch with our Partners
On December 12th, Neal Math and Science Staff were treated to lunch led by North Chicago Community Partners and First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest. Staff were treated to beef brisket, potatoes, salad, and a plethora of dessert options. This lunch occurs each month and is a regular highlight for all staff members each month.
Jesse White Tumblers Springs into NMSA
This past week, the Jesse White Tumblers visited Neal Math and Science Academy displaying their incredible acrobatic skills. They even incorporated NMSA staff in their performance. Thank you Jesse White Tumblers for an amazing show!
NMSA Family Festival
Neal Math and Science Academy is soaring to new heights to recognize and celebrate the uniqueness and beauty of our students. On October 9th, the NMSA community celebrated our first Family Festival, with a special spotlight on Hispanic Heritage Month. The first NMSA Family Festival showcased the culmination of Hispanic Heritage Month with dance, songs, artwork, games and fantastic food! Approximately 400 guests attended, including many wonderful parents, siblings, and special relatives of our students. It was great to see our community come together and we look forward to more upcoming multicultural events.
The gymnasium was transformed with banners of paper flags hand-cut with care by the students of Ms. Lundstrom’s art classes and paper flowers designed by NCCP After-School Enrichment Program youth, in honor of the rich and vibrant histories within Latin America. Creativity continued during the event. Teachers and community volunteers facilitated craft and game stations provided by North Chicago Community Partners. Families enjoyed traditional Mexican bingo, as well as Pirinola Toma Todo, a game popular throughout Latin America. Children also created decorative skulls for Day of the Dead to God’s Eye ornaments, an ancient symbol made by the Huichol of Mexico and the Aymara of Bolivia.
While the activities ensued, the Mariachi Band and Folklore Dancers were a hit. Students in the Mariachi Club with Mr. Rivera were inspired to continue developing their skills. Families listened while enjoying beef Barbacoa tacos courtesy of The Otherdoor in Lake Bluff, while others got up and danced! Between Mariachi sets, Folkloric dance routines were performed by Flor de Corezon, sponsored by Opportunities for All.
Families brought the fun home with crafted Pirinola games to play and an assortment of rice, beans and fresh produce to cook together, accompanied with recipe books by students in the Fresh Start Program.
Neal VIP Room
NMSA is proud to reveal our student VIP room. Students with positive behavior in class are nominated to visit the VIP room each week. Special thanks to our student support team for putting this together!
Report Card Pickup
First quarter report card conferences are quickly approaching. We at NMSA are looking forward to seeing all of our parents and guardians to review your students progress to date. As a reminder, the 1st quarter conference will take place on Thursday, October 24th, from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. & Friday, October 25th, from 8:00 – 11:00a.m.
Parents, did you know that the Illinois Department of Labor, passed the School Visitation Rights Act? This law provides parents the right to unpaid time off of work, to attend these conferences. For more information, please click here. The school visitation leave form is attached to this posting.
Se aproxima la fecha de conferencias para el primer cuatrimestre. Nosotros en NMSA esperamos ver a todos los padres y guardianes para hablar sobre el avance de su hijo/hija en sus clases. Por favor recuerde que las conferencias se llevarán a cabo el 24 de Octubre de 3:00 a 7:00 de la tarde.
Padres, ¿sabían que el Departamento de Labor de Illinois pasó la Ley sobre Derechos a Visitas Escolares? Esta ley provee a padres el derecho de conseguir permiso para salir del trabajo y asistir conferencias escolares. Para más información, haga clic aquí.
After School Activities
This week kicked off the start of the first session of after school activities for Neal Math and Science Academy. Please review the following list of all of the wonderful activities that we are offering this session.
If you are interested in attending or are interested in having your student attend, please fill out the following English Form or Spanish Form. Additional forms can be found in the NMSA Main Office. For any questions, please reach out to Mr. Hunter at [email protected].
NMSA Hosts Welcome Back Dance
On Friday, August 23rd, Neal Math and Science Academy hosted the first dance of the school year! All students in all grade levels were invited to attend and welcome the new school year, and for the sixth graders enjoy their first middle school dance. There was a huge turnout from all grade levels, so much so that that concession stands SOLD out of pizza and juice! Many staff report that the Welcome Back dance usually has the highest turnout for students.
6th grader, Lianna Reed described the dance as “very lively, if you were in a bad mood, all the bad emotions stopped at the door.” Additionally, this was Lianna’s first dance and she says “it was really quite amazing, and I hope to see more!”
Lucky for Lianna, the PBIS team at NMSA plans and hosts multiple dances throughout the school year as celebrations for positive behavior and maintaining SOAR behavior. The next dance is tentatively planned for Halloween and PBIS looks forward to seeing just as many students as they did for the Welcome Back Dance!
