NYC Outward Bound Schools

We hope you're enjoying your weekend! Remember to take a moment today to honor those who served, especially those who are no longer with us.

"I’m after a curricular experience that gives students both the space to own their inheritances and the power to reshape our collective present." As we near the end of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we're eager to share a thoughtful piece written by Eric Shieh, a music teacher at Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School - MELS, whose creative assignments challenge students to better understand and embrace each other's cultures via ELeducation:

As we head into the long weekend, we want to celebrate our incredible educators who have gone above and beyond to ensure that our students' needs were met during this difficult year. It's hard to find the words so we'll let the students do that!

As a parent of two Asian-American children and principal of Brooklyn Collaborative, a culturally diverse NYC Outward Bound School in Carroll Gardens, Scill Chan reflects on her commitment to model antiracist behavior at home and at school to create more inclusive communities. Read more in her essay for ELeducation's AAPI Heritage Month series:

Our obligation as educators is to entrust in our students the abilities to create conscious citizens who are vocal about reexamining their society. Jorge Santos, restorative justice coordinator and special education teacher at M.S. 839, a NYC Outward Bound School in Brooklyn, writes on the role of educators in creating a more equitable and antiracist society in this piece via Education Post. #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter

Jose Rivera, Restorative Practices Coordinator & PE teacher at Brooklyn Collaborative, once struggled with his identity as a Dominican-American student in a predominantly White Upper West Side classroom. Today, he helps ensure that all of his students feel valued and affirmed by utilizing culturally responsive practices at BCS via ELeducation:

For us at NYC Outward Bound Schools, the recent surge in anti-Asian attacks across our country is a source of considerable pain, and is both deeply alarming and a clear call to action:

Happy Valentine's Day to our Crew!

9th graders at West End Secondary School, a NYC Outward Bound School in Manhattan, recently wrapped up a learning expedition titled, Mapping Ourselves, which explored how New York City has changed during the pandemic. Check out this site created by Julia, Melany & Evan, featuring interviews with New Yorkers, a science project on air quality, and more:

"Crew certainly has been the structure that has held everything together during COVID." -Pat Finley & Damon McCord, Co-Principals at Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School - MELS Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Crew NYC Outward Bound Schools’ signature advisory structure has kept students connected and supported throughout remote learning at MELS via Edutopia:

Exciting news! Our very own Graham Johnson, the music teacher at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School - WHEELS, is a semifinalist for the 2021 Grammy Music Educator Award!

Do your part to educate & celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day tomorrow with these five ideas from Smithsonian Magazine & Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian: https://bit.ly/3jJBmS4

Today is the LAST DAY to nominate an outstanding individual or team for the inaugural Greg Farrell Award. Learn more & submit: https://www.nycoutwardbound.org/the-greg-farrell-award/

DYK we have free Virtual Crew resources for our community? This lesson on creating a personal wellness kit is perfect for teaching students to prioritize self-care during stressful times: https://bit.ly/3l8X5TK

Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School, a NYC Outward Bound School in Weeksville/Crown Heights, has been utilizing its Distance Teaching model since August. Learn more about how this approach prioritizes high quality remote instruction while also addressing the needs of students who don't have the option of learning at home. via Chalkbeat New York:

Nominations for the inaugural Greg Farrell Award close this Friday! Don't miss this opportunity to nominate an individual or team who "lights sparks, lives boldly, and leaves the world a better place." The award will be presented in December and comes with a $5,000 cash prize: https://www.nycoutwardbound.org/the-greg-farrell-award/

Learn more about how project-based learning is helping students everywhere, especially those affected by the pandemic and racial unrest in our country, make sense of current events via EdSurge:

Hybrid school models can lead to students feeling isolated or left behind. Register today for Tuesday's interactive webinar on Community-Building in the Blended & Remote Learning Environments. You'll have a chance to discuss best practices with other NYC public school educators & leave with a ready-to-use toolkit of activities: https://bit.ly/30r4TZ3

We are forever indebted to our inspiring leader Richard Stopol, who is stepping down from his role as President & CEO after a 33-year tenure with NYC Outward Bound Schools. Read Richard's message to our community: https://bit.ly/30iOFRQ

Our junior board, the New Leaders, is leading a drive to provide refurbished laptops to students and alumni from our network who need them for virtual learning. Donate a used laptop that you no longer need! It's as easy as filling out the donate form and mailing a laptop to GlobeTops, who will refurbish and wipe donated laptops before sending them back to us to distribute to students: http://www.globetops.com/donate-your-laptop/ Note: In the field that asks, "Who do you want to give your laptop to?" please write: NYC Outward Bound Schools.

It's your last chance to sign up for tomorrow's virtual panel discussion on Remote Learning Best Practices! Join us tomorrow from 4-5 p.m. as NYC Outward Bound Schools community members discuss their remote learning and teaching experiences last spring, and the tips and tricks they're applying as online learning continues this fall. Register now: https://bit.ly/2ZEdtmR

Shana Tova from NYC Outward Bound Schools!

"Children may easily spend 13 years in two or three schools and come to see them as places to belong. School is a place for lifelong relationships with others, students and teachers and families." Fifty teachers from Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School - MELS argue that hybrid learning disrupts this community structure that schools have worked so hard to build via The Washington Post: