City Springs & Hampstead Hill Perform at Patterson Park

The City Springs School "Steppers" and Hampstead Hill Academy Drum Line performed at today's Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Patterson Park Youth Sports Center Powered by Under Armour. The event was attended by Governor Martin O'Malley, Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore City Council President Jack Young, Baltimore City Schools CEO Andres Alonso, and Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank.

Congressional Bank Sponsors Leading Minds Forum

We would like to thank Congressional Bank for their generous $1,000 sponsorship of BCP's 2011 Leading Minds Forum, The Impact of Poverty on Education, to be held on September 22, 2011 at Loyola University Maryland.

Congressional Bank is a community bank serving the greater Washington, DC area. For more information visit: https://www.congressionalbankonline.com

US Tennis at Hampstead Hill Academy

Over 400 students from Hampstead Hill Academy enjoyed a taste of tennis at today's school outing in Patterson Park. Staff and volunteers from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) showed up in force to introduce students to this engaging sport.

Students participated in a variety of drills that got them smiling and excited about the game. USTA's "10 and Under Tennis" initiative, using the QuickStart Tennis play format, uses balls that are easier to hit, smaller rackets, and smaller courts than adult tennis. All of this equals more fun and less frustration.

Next school year a partnership between USTA, Friends of Patterson Park, and the Baltimore Curriculum Project will bring tennis to all four BCP schools through physical education, after school clubs, and an intramural tennis league planned for spring 2012.

We would like to thank Marc Kantrowitz (President, USTA Mid-Atlantic/Maryland), Lynn Gertzog (Tennis Service Representative, USTA Mid-Atlantic/Maryland), Geri Swann (Community Outreach Coordinator, Hampstead Hill Academy), Tim Almaguer (Executive Director, Friends of Patterson Park), Katie Long (Recreational/Program Coordinator, Friends of Patterson Park), and all of the USTA staff and volunteers for making this event possible.

Hampstead Hill BUDL Champions on WYPR

On May 18th Baltimore Urban Debate League Champions Katie Spriggs and Deboreah Ross of Hampstead Hill Academy were featured on Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast.

Listen to the interview at:

http://mdmorn.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/518113-dont-argue-with-a-baltimorean/

Garrison Forest Revitalizes City Springs Community Pool

On May 21st Garrison Forest School student volunteers brightened the City Springs Community Pool. Upper School students painted, weeded, and cleaned up the neglected community pool, working alongside students from McDonogh School.

Through the Middle Grades Partnership, Garrison Forest School partners with City Springs School, which is located about a block from the pool. Many of the City Springs girls who enjoy the GFS MGP mentoring program are avid users of the pool.

Thank you to the Middle Grades Partnership and the students from Garrison Forest School and McDonogh School for supporting the City Springs community and City Springs School.

Read more at http://www.gfs.org/news/detail.aspx?linkid=1601&moduleid=98

Arcos & Quiznos Save the Music

Arcos Restaurant held a benefit fundraiser for Wolfe Street Academy 's string instrument program on May 24th. Attendees enjoyed a performance by fourth grader Faustino Cano and instructor/cellist Jill Collier while feasting on fantastic Mexican cuisine and margaritas.

Combined with money raised from a recent Quiznos fundraiser, the two fundraisers earned over $800. Proceeds will benefit Wolfe Street's after-school "Bridges" program, a partnership with the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra which provides 35 Wolfe Street kids with violin, viola and cello instruction as well as Sunday orchestra classes.

The Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance and Goldseker Foundation have pledged a matching grant of $5,500 to support the program. So far we have raised about $4,000 towards our goal of $5,500.

Many thanks to Arcos and Quiznos for their support. To donate to Wolfe Street's Save the Music! campaign online, go to http://tinyurl.com/wsastrings

Wolfe Awarded MAEF Urban Youth Garden Grant

The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation (MAEF) has awarded Wolfe Street Academy a $350 Urban Youth Garden grant to create a community garden. The grant is part of MAEF's AG Returns to the City program and their Edible Classroom Youth Gardening Project.

The goal of the Edible Classroom Youth Gardening Project is to increase the awareness of and appreciation for agriculture in the lives of urban students through hands-on gardening and classroom activities that meet MSDE’s State Curriculum. By implementing MAEF’s mission, this project offers students direct experience with growing, harvesting and preparing fresh foods while learning plant requirements, growing conditions, nutrition and wellness.

Thank you to MAEF for supporting Wolfe Street Academy and congratulations to Kathy Stroup for writing the grant proposal!

To learn more about MAEF visit: http://www.maefonline.com/