From the Principal's Desk
This edition features: Building Community
Thank you to Cody Swan, our Vista community member, for contributing to this edition.
Masterman Shares Community Building Strategies at the Middle States Colloquium
The Masterman Middle States Committee hosted a colloquium on Friday, January 25th entitled Building Community: How to promote social well being through student partnerships and relationship building activities. Once a month our high school students are paired with our middle school students during an extended advisory. The students are charged with a task during each meeting time which is fun, creative, and stress free. The idea is to build relationships between middle and high school students, thus building one community.
As part of the 7 year accreditation process Masterman had to host a colloquium for other administrators to attend and provide feedback. On January 25th, local administrators and teachers from schools as far away as Delaware and Maryland joined Masterman faculty and parents in our library. This Middle States protocol, Sustaining Excellence, is set up for highly successful schools and tasks schools to create an initiative to help improve something in their school community. We chose building one community.
The Masterman committee enjoyed presenting to and collaborating with our guests. We would like to thank Mrs. Neu, who is leading the Middle States Committee, and parents Yvonne Clayton and Barbara Dallao, and student representatives, Ranim and Thanos.
Middle States Colloquium in Action
HAMS Fosters Dynamic Discussions on Cultural Issues
A handful of eager, socially conscious Masterman high schoolers have established a model in which older students mentor their younger peers in the name of cultural awareness. Like the Middle States mission, this effort aims to build community among students of vastly varying ages and backgrounds, only with a more explicit focus on minority issues. The organization, sponsored by CIGNA Global IT, is a blend of HOLA (Hispanic or Latino Association) and AACC (African American Cultural Committee), aptly named HAMS (HOLA & AACC Middle School).
At a weekly meeting, HAMS members might expect to hear from a guest speaker such as a faculty member or alum, participate in a discussion about popular culture or political events, and explore solutions to sensitive issues they face in their lives. Each team of 7th and 8th grade students is assigned one of 12 high school mentors. Mentors offer support as well as academic tutoring and serve to facilitate critical conversations in a compassionate and insightful manner. The goal is for both parties to learn from one another.
“That support system is really important,” sophomore Brandon Archer, President of AACC said of the initiative. Brandon Archer and Senior Andrea Gonzalez, both leaders of HAMS, like to see these clubs evolve based on the needs of the students as well as the general school climate
Throughout Black History Month, AACC plans to bring the discussion about race to 5th and 6th grade students and offer educational lessons to the entire Masterman community through movie screenings and other special events.
A trip to the African American Museum in Philadelphia
Mr. Tannen Leading a Step Class
Masterman HSA’s Annual International Potluck Dinner
On the evening of Thursday, January 17th over 200 students, teachers, administrators, families, and friends convened in Masterman’s cafeteria for a night of tasty, diverse home-cooked cuisine, local entertainment, educational games, and a special presentation on Immigration policy. Led by Social Committee Chair Michelle Brown-Nevers, the Home and School Association spent months preparing for the special night, which required multiple subcommittees, precise agenda-setting, weekly conference calls, and support from students, faculty, and staff.
With ample homemade offerings ranging from Japanese fried chicken to Indian tandoori chicken to Dominican platano maduros, there wasn’t an empty stomach in the house. Once served their meals by HSA members, the guests enjoyed 4 unique dance numbers performed by Masterman’s own high school students. Physical Education teacher Ms. Curran organized two performances by the junior class student dancers - salsa and merengue - after which sophomore Laura Shin captivated the audience with an ethereal Korean fan dance. Additionally, DOSA (Desi Organization of South Asians) members provided a charming and lively group number, and two leaders of the new pep squad closed the show with Beyonce’s “Formation.”
After dinner, the adults headed down to the library where Masterman parent Jaya Ramji-Nogales, a law professor at Temple and expert on immigration, presented a talk on Immigration policies. Everyone had a great experience and enjoyed the evening.
Reba Manacheril, Kesia Sam, and Mariel Sajan
Laura Shin
Alumni College Panel Speaks to Seniors
As is tradition at Masterman, recent Masterman graduates returned to speak to high school students about the college application and acceptance process. Fresh out of winter break, our juniors and seniors attended the Q&A panel event in the auditorium on January 4th. Usually held for seniors, many of whom have already chosen their school of choice at this point in the year, the event welcomed the junior class for the first time.
Consisting of mostly college freshmen alumni, the panel answered questions about roommate issues, campus diversity, cafeteria food, courseload, and scholarships. The panel is just one of many ways that our three counselors guide students along their college search. It's also an opportunity to keep connected with our Alumni. In addition to at least two one-on-one meetings with each student, counselors host junior and senior seminar courses, college night, financial aid night, as well as organize a college fair and expose students to a variety of scholarship and grant opportunities. We are so fortunate to have a team of counselors who are truly invested in our community.