Open House Tomorrow Evening, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM

Open House: A Celebration for our Families, Thursday, March 1, 6:00-7:30 PM!

Our Parents Association will hold a Bake Sale near the side door. Please support our Parents Association!

What you can experience: Displays of student work in each classroom; Technology integration; Use of BrainPOP in mathematics class; Student writing and recording in grade 1; free screenings for hypertension.

Special Demonstrations: Internet safety tips in room 108; Chinese play rehearsal in room 113; Musical instrument demonstration in room 115.

Health and Wellness Activities in the Cafe: Performance by our step team; Basketball team drill practice; Use of Stepmania for wellness; Yoga demonstration; Computer blogs reflecting student wellness.

What this evening is NOT: Individual parent-teacher conferences; Curriculum night; Time for formal presentations by faculty.

What this evening IS: A joyous exchange of student learning and accomplishments; Evidence of the Ross curriculum model and the NYS Learning Standards; A display of a variety of learning styles.

First Grade Visits Mahayana Temple

Yesterday the two first-grade classes went on their longest walking trip yet — to a special guided visit of the Mahayana Buddhist temple, the largest Buddhist temple in New York City. There they saw a 16-foot-tall golden Buddha and were introduced to Mahayana Buddhism (the Greater Vehicle), which emerged about 2000 years ago. It offered a new perspective on the Buddha and his teachings. The most important factor was a renewed emphasis on compassion and the significance of the Bodhisattva (a Buddha-to-be) who is motivated not by winning enlightenment for himself but for the benefit of all living beings. At the temple, the small visitors and teachers were all able to make wishes and pull a scroll to discover if they had a poor, fair, good, very good, or excellent chance of their wish coming true. The kids also got to ring the temple's giant bell. A special thanks to Molly Chen for this visit.

Half-Day Tomorrow

There is a half-day tomorrow for Professional Development.
Children will be dismissed at 12 noon. If your child is staying for after-care until 4:30, please remember that lunch will not be served so you need to send a bag lunch. Please be on time to pick up your children; any parents whose children are picked up later than 4:30 will be billed. If your child is staying, please make sure he/she has the after-care slip with him/her tomorrow.

Letter from the Board of Trustees

February 26, 2007

Dear Parents, Faculty and Staff:

We are writing to inform you that Frank Marchese resigned on Friday as Principal of Ross Global Academy.
The Board of Trustees has unanimously endorsed Dr. Stephanie Clagnaz as our school leader and has offered her the position of Principal. We are delighted to say that Stephanie has agreed to assume this position. Since joining Ross Global Academy as Assistant Principal, Stephanie has begun the implementation of differentiated instruction by leading the kindergarten teachers in developing literacy and math work stations in our Kindergarten classes. She has developed an intensive math program to ensure the success of our fifth and sixth grade students in the upcoming New York State mandated tests. She transferred Joaquin Noguera to his new position, where he will contribute to the Ross cultural history curriculum in addition to mentoring our middle school students. Additionally, Patricia Cabal has moved from the lower school to the middle school where she will use knowledge gained from her theatre arts degree from NYU in assisting in the integration of drama into our programs. Stephanie has also ensured that the newly developed report cards on each grade level are aligned with both the New York State Learning Standards and with the Ross Model curriculum. Attached is a copy of Stephanie's CV that reflects her credentials and achievements in education.
It is our goal for Stephanie to remain primarily focused on the instructional and programmatic aspects of the school and for the design of her administrative team to support this focus. She has requested, and we have agreed, to redefine the position of Assistant Principal to include a role equivalent to that of a Dean of Students in addition to overseeing many of the non-instructional aspects of our school's daily life. The search for the new Assistant Principal will begin immediately. The search will involve the Parent Representative on the Board, Ms. Brenda Shrobe.
The Board has also created a Committee for Quality Assurance that will be working with Stephanie to ensure that the curricular and programmatic needs of our students are being fully met in a manner that is consistent with the Ross Model. This committee consists of Mary Brabeck, Dean of the Steinhardt School of Education, New York University; Jennifer Chidsey- Pizzo, Director of K-12 Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania. Ms.
Chidsey-Pizzo formerly served as Director of Education and Outreach for the Ross Institute in New York City and Director of Curriculum and Assessment and member of the Leadership Council for the Ross School in East Hampton; Robert Torres, an educator and former principal who has taught both K-12 students and teachers, presented at professional conferences on media, education, race and poverty at major universities and middle schools; Courtney Ross, Chair of the Board; and Brenda Shrobe, the Parent Association representative on the Ross Global Academy Board, an educator and counselor . Members of this committee will attend the next regular parent meeting scheduled for March 2 at 8:00 am.

Sincerely,

The Board of Trustees

Letter from Brenda Shrobe, RGA Board of Trustees Parent Representative

February 23, 2007

Dear RGA Parents,

The meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Ross Global Academy Charter School took place last evening, February 22nd. The first order of Board business was to officially nominate and elect me to the Board as the parent representative, which took place. The Board then went into executive session and parents present were asked to leave and come back when open session was in place.

The Board discussed Frank Marchese and will have a letter to parents about the outcome during the week of February 26th when school resumes.

During the open session, the Board was presented with a letter addressed to Stephanie Clagnaz with the full list of parents' concerns. On behalf of the parents of RGA, I expressed how critically important it is to have their visibility and involvement. To that end, (1) there will one or more board members present at many of the Friday parent meetings throughout the school year; (2) a sub-committee of board members was formed to work with Stephanie Clagnaz on the pressing needs we face at this critical time. The sub-committee members include: Mary Brabeck, Dean of the Steinhardt School of Education, New York University; Jennifer Chidsey Pizzo, Director of K-12 Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Chidsey-Pizzo formerly served as Director of Education and Outreach for the Ross Institute in New York City and Director of Curriculum and Assessment and member of the Leadership Council for the Ross School in East Hampton; Robert Torres, an educator who has taught both K-12 students and teachers. He has presented on media, education, race and poverty at major universities and middle schools in the northeast and around the country. Mr. Torres is currently pursuing a doctorate at New York University, focused on media and education; and I will act as liaison for parents with my background in education and family therapy; and (3) Board members, Marty Payson, Richard Halperin and Nick Combemale, lending their support on some of the long term solutions.

I left the meeting with the Board being fully apprised of the urgency of RGA's situation and will make a sincere effort in moving forward expeditiously to support Stephanie Clagnaz's leadership and work hard to help move RGA toward what we all hope it to be for our children.

You are invited to attend the next Friday morning Parents' Meeting at 8AM on March 2nd. This and future meetings will be an opportunity for us to build a partnership with the Board supporting Stephanie's leadership as we move forward.

Best regards,
Brenda Shrobe

Message from Ian Pearce, PA President

February 17, 2007

Dear Parents,

Once again we have a change in school leadership. I share the concerns of every other parent about how this upheaval impacts my child’s learning environment. As president of the RGA Parents Association, I am determined that this Association effectively communicate to the parents, teachers, administration and Board of Trustees that our children’s safety and educational welfare remain our first priority.

During our meeting last Thursday evening (2-15-07) with Courtney Ross and Nick Combemale, RGA PA officers expressed parents’ concerns regarding school leadership and the state of the school. This meeting yielded a commitment by the Board of Trustees to an open and unified working environment, which includes the Board, PA, teachers, and administration. At this meeting it was noted that leadership builds trust, and, as we have so far lacked effective school leadership, a lack of trust has begun to dominate our environment. After next week’s hearing and the rendering of a Board decision on leadership, I am confident, however, that we will be able once again to move forward.

On Wednesday February 21s at 5pm, members of the Board of Trustees will meet with parents at RGA in Room 115. The Trustees have stated that this meeting is only to address issues directly relevant to school leadership.

On Thursday February 22nd at 5pm the monthly Board of Trustees meeting will take place at RGA in Room 115. Parents are permitted to attend all monthly Board meetings but are not are not permitted to participate in the discussions.

Due to prior commitments, I will not be in town next week. Vice Presidents Elina Cardet and Chandra Osborne will chair the Wednesday meeting. I understand that the timing during our holiday week is challenging, but I truly encourage you to attend both meetings and to reach out to other parents to attend as well. As we all know, there is power in numbers. Class representatives will be making phone calls to encourage parent participation at both meetings. The PA relies on each an every parent to come forward in the best interests of our children.

Sincerely,
Ian Pearce
RGA PA president

Time Out New York Kids: Subscribe for $10 and RGA Gets $5

Subscribe to Time Out New York Kids for just $10 per year, and $5 from each subscription gets donated back to our Parents Association! Time Out New York Kids is a monthly guide for families with comprehensive information on how to best spend free time, from what films and plays to see to where to eat, drink and shop. Eclectic, useful, entertaining, and educational, TONY Kids presents families with more than 2,000 things to do in New York City. A unique mix of features, listings, reviews and previews, all supplemented by a website that is updated weekly, gives you all the news on what’s up and coming. Just click on our school's name to get your subscription and help get our PA—and your kids!—up and running!

Board of Trustees Committee Meeting with Parents on Wednesday, February 20th at 5:00 PM

A committee of RGA Board Trustees—Richard Halperin, Marty Payson and Nicolas Combenale—will come to RGA on Wednesday, February 20 at 5:00 PM to meet with parents regarding issues of school leadership. Please refer to the emailed letter from Nicolas Combenale for full details. The RGA Board of Trustees will hold a public meeting in Room 115 at RGA on Thursday, February 21 at 5 p.m.

The Late Great Ladies of Jazz

Saturday, February 17th, 2007
Time: 1:30pm
Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Fee: $25 (mention GoCityKids for 2-for-1 ticket deal)

Celebrating the last 80 years of black women in music, Sandra Reaves-Phillips recreates the essences of the fabulous Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington and Mahalia Jackson in a perfect concert for young audiences during African-American Heritage Month. Backed by a live jazz band, Sandra weaves their personal stories into the music they made famous. From her legendary roles as Mrs. Powers the music teacher in “Lean on Me” and Buttercup in “Round Midnight” to her award winning cabaret performances, Sandra Reaves-Phillips will give your children a great introduction to the world of vocal jazz and blues. Ages 6 & up. Tickets are still available.

Lunar New Year Flower Market at Columbus Park

Flower Market 2007
Lunar New Year Flower Market at Columbus Park
Friday, February 16, 2007: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm; Saturday, February 17, 2007: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: Columbus Park, Mulberry Street between Worth and Bayard Streets
Fee: Free

See the playground where RGA lower-school kids love to play transformed into a winter floral spectacle! For the fourth year, MoCA and partners United East Athletic Association and the Asian American Arts Alliance present the Lunar New Year Flower Market, which kicks off New York’s Lunar New Year celebrations. The Flower Market, held in a heated tent, is a gathering place for families to enjoy arts & crafts activities, performances by Chinese-American artists, and to see a range of auspicious flowers and blooms, used to decorate one’s home to bring luck and prosperity in the New Year.

Around the Sun We Go!

From Anna Lacina: Pictures from the Kindergarten unit of study on the Sun. Check out NASA's Kid's Eye View of the star that makes life on earth possible. Ask your kids to guess how many Earths could fit inside the Sun, or how many tons of dynamite you'd have to explode every second to match its energy.

Notice of Public Board Meeting

ROSS GLOBAL ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL WILL HOLD A PUBLIC BOARD MEETING ON:
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2007
FROM 5:00 P.M. UNTIL 6:00 P.M.
LOCATION:
TWEED COURTHOUSE BUILDING
52 CHAMBERS STREET
1ST FLOOR ROOM 115
NEW YORK NY 10007
IMPORTANT NOTICE: IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TWEED BUILDING & THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF CITYWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO BE NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE OF INCOMING VISITORS. IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND, PLEASE GIVE 24 HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE TO ERIKA ELLISON, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, AT 212-374-3884.

How Sweet the Sound

The kids in First Grade will be singing today from "How Sweet the Sound: African-American Songs for Children" (Scholastic). Wade and Cheryl Hudson's "How Sweet the Sound," with atmospheric illustrations by Floyd Cooper, showcases lyrics from gospels and songs that spotlight key periods in African American history, from "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" to James Brown's "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud").

Multicolored Crayon Hearts

From Meilyn Soto-Chapman's "Secret Family Recipe" for Multicolor Crayon Hearts: In a 250-degree oven, melt down leftover bits and pieces of crayons from school and home, using silicone heart-shaped pans (found at Crate and Barrel). Then put the molds in the freezer to harden—and then just pop out the technicolor hearts. "The hardest thing was to take the paper off the crayon."

Candid Camera

Photo: Meilyn Soto-Chapman

The Sacred Ground Beneath Us

Celebrate African-American Heritage Month by taking a moment to remember that more than a decade ago in New York City, archaeologists excavated one of the most significant finds in American history: the largest known intact colonial African cemetery in America, the African Burial Ground. Stretching more than five city blocks, from Broadway beyond Lafayette Street to the east and from Chambers beyond Duane Street to the north, the cemetery was discovered in 1991 during the construction of a federal office building at 290 Broadway. Explore the Burial Ground and learn what was discovered beneath Tweed Courthouse and City Hall Park, stretching out over five acres.

Happy Valentine's Day!

While parents might not have been thrilled to slog through today's slush, at least the kids—who were thrilled by the rare snow-ball opportunity—had smiles ready for the camera! Thanks to all the parent volunteers who helped with the class photo sessions today! Stay dry and warm and enjoy your families!

Winter Recess: Kids Get in Free at the Museums of Lower Manhattan

You want your children to experience the cultural heritage of the city, but you also want to stay warm! That's why the Museums of Lower Manhattan are offering a Winter Break Special, granting free admission for kids ages 12 and under in the participating museums: the New York City Police Museum (100 Old Slip at the East River Piers), the New York City Fire Museum (278 Spring St between Varick and Hudson Sts), the Skyscraper Museum (39 Battery Pl at Little West St), the Museum of Chinese in the Americas (70 Mulberry St at Bayard St), the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial of the Holocaust (36 Battery Place at Little West St), and the Eldridge Street Project (12 Eldridge St between Canal and Division Sts; open only Sundays this month).

Say Cheese!

RGA's first Class Picture Day is tomorrow, February 14th! Remember to send in those order forms and checks—and to get the kids to school on time and in uniform!

Stephanie Clagnaz Named Interim Principal

The Board of Trustees announced today that Stephanie Clagnaz will assume the duties of Interim Principal. Since she started at Ross Global Academy, Stephanie has earned the respect of parents, faculty and students alike. She has many years of experience in all facets of K-12 administration and instructional leadership and was most recently Principal at Plainedge Middle School in Nassau County. She has already brought greater support to each classroom and student, including the incredible program she has put together for our 5th and 6th Graders as they prepare for their upcoming New York State tests. Please open those backpacks or check your email for the Board's notice.

The British Are Coming!

From today's New York Sun: The adults were nervous, the children were rambunctious, and the two middle-age British women who arrived to help them were armed with clipboards, a jolly sense of humor, and firm advice that few would dare question. The scene could have been from "Nanny 911," the reality TV show about a crew of British nannies who swoop in to rescue parents struggling to tame their unruly children. In reality, it was a public middle school in Greenwich Village, and the visitors were reviewers from the British company Cambridge Education, which has a contract with the Department of Education valued at about $6.4 million a year to evaluate how city schools evaluate themselves. The role of the for-profit company isn't much different from that of the nannies, however. The mostly British reviewers are among a growing group of outsiders Chancellor Joel Klein has turned to in his quest to transform a school system that — though it has seen many improvements during his tenure — still has more than 300 failing schools and a graduation rate near 50%. Read all about it!

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?

Practice, practice—or with $8 tickets for family concerts!! Tickets are still available for the Carnegie Hall Family Concert: Orchestra of St. Luke's "Cowboys, Caballeros, and Copland" on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at 2:00 PM! Pre-concert activities, featuring musical demonstrations and storytelling, begin at 12:30 PM and are free to all ticketholders.

Kindergarten Space Cadets

Classes KA and KB are going into orbit on Wednesday, February 28th (the week after the Winter Recess) with a trip to the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The kids have had sunny dispositions this winter throughout their studies of the fiery center of our solar system.

Junie B. Jones Goes to The Theater

Dear first-grade journal,
Hooray, hooray! TheatreworksUSA is making a brand-new musical (that is a play all jumbled together with singing and dancing, I believe). And what do you know! It's all about me, Junie B. Jones. (The B stands for Beatrice, only I do not like Beatrice. I just like B and that's all.) This is the bestest musical ever, I tell you! It's got loads of funny songs, and it's based on a bunch of books this lady, Barbara Park, wrote about me and the things I do in first grade. And guess what? My bestest friends ever from Classes 1A and 1B will be at Town Hall on May 9th to see me! I just can't wait to see all of those crazy guys!

Cupcakes for Cash

Those who attended the recent Parents Association meetings were greeted with tables brimming with cupcakes of all shapes and sizes. Hard-working middle-school parents have been industriously organizing these events — selling everything from hot dogs to home-baked brownies to benefit the 5th and 6th grade classes. While the recent brisk sales might not be good news for waistlines at Ross Global, the class piggy banks are cheerily jingling. Stay tuned for the final cash count from the multiple, delectable sales events!

Valentine's Day is Picture Day

This Wednesday, February 14, is Picture Day for all grades at Ross Global Academy! Please make sure all kids are at school and in uniform for the historic first-ever set of class pictures for our school! And please put a comb or brush in those backpacks! We also need day-of parent volunteers to help with those flyaway hair strands. The photos must be pre-paid, so please do not forget to send in your order form and check before Wednesday!!

This Little Pig Celebrates Chinese New Year

Not even the big bad wolf will keep the 2007 Year of the Pig away from the largest Chinatown in North America as the historic neighborhood invites families and revelers to celebrate Year 4704-4705 on the Chinese lunar calendar. Also known as Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival, Lunar New Year is a two-week celebration that begins on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar — a period that typically falls between late January and mid-February— and ends on the full moon 15 days later. This year, Lunar New Year is Sunday, February 18, 2007. It is considered a major holiday across the globe, and is celebrated by many Ross Global Academy families and in Asian countries worldwide. During Lunar New Year, revelers celebrate family and the rejuvenation of the earth and, with it, the start of a new beginning with endless possibilities. FREE EVENTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Class 1B Takes Poetic License

Class 1B took a voyage into verse last Tuesday for a special reading at The Poets House in SoHo. Michael and Margaret Chan hosted an amazing class lunch at Lombardi's Pizza, where the kid's got a peek at America's first pizza oven!

RGA's First Grade

RGA's First Grade classes went last Thursday to the American Museum of Natural History to participate in "Poly-Rhythmic Explorations with David Pleasant/NowGriot!," an African American Heritage Month special program. The kids and teachers were invited up onto the stage by Pleasant, a multi-faceted percussion virtuoso and rhythm-effects vocalist, for a performance highlighting the history of African-American music traditions. Pleasant demonstrated the unique percussion approaches of Gullah/Geechee (Ring Shout, ring play, Juba, hand jive, tambourine, Janissary, hambone, banjo/banja, rhap etc.) that predate other acknowledged styles. The hands-on, intensive music performance incorporated poly rhythms, voice, tap and alternate improvisation with choreography for an exciting historic journey for the 1A and 1B kids, parents and faculty into the “shout.” As a prelude to the performance, the kids broke into small groups for hands-on explorations of the Hall of African Mammals, where they touched a shield made of rhinoceros leather, an ostrich egg, a gazelle horn, and even a lion's skull.
(Photo: Roberta Berman)