Our final all-school field trip of the year took us to Fitness for Health (FFH), in anticipation of FFH partnering with SFT next year to create a state-of-the-art, customized fitness program for our students.  This fun-filled visit to FFH proved to be the most physically demanding of all of our inaugural year fields trips, which have included sojourns to:  The White House; the Newseum; the October Countryside Artisans Studio Tour; Baltimore’s National Aquarium; Black Hill Regional Park; the Solar Decathlon 2009 on the National Mall; the Terra Cotta Warriors special exhibit at the National Geographic Museum; the Da Vinci special exhibit at the Maryland Science Center; the new Hall of Human Origins permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History; and Homestead Farm.

On Friday SFT students and faculty returned to Homestead Farm, a spring repeat of a field trip we first took in the fall. This time we picked strawberries (last time, apples). A good time was had by all (or at least almost all, for allergies and mosquitoes substantially diminished the enjoyment of some).

Special thanks to SFT student Sam Pinczuk for taking these beautiful photos! Visit us on Facebook to see more.

Our extended search for the right Haitian organization for SFT to support on an ongoing, long-term basis has now connected us with the Art Creation Foundation for Children (ACFFC). ACFFC is a non-sectarian, apolitical arts based nonprofit dedicated to the personal growth, empowerment, and education of children in need in Jacmel, a historic town in southern Haiti known for its artisans. Please visit their web site to get a sense of all the good work they are doing.

Our students learned a lot from their research and discussions following the January earthquake in Haiti—and decided to try to find an organization in Haiti that SFT could support not merely in the short-term but for years to come. Our students learned a lot from the local couple who visited SFT and their friends in Haiti whom we met online; but it was agreed that it would not be best for SFT to support the sectarian organization with which they are associated. Subsequently, a group of four students, along with Head of School Alan Shusterman and Field Studies Coordinator Ellen Pearl, met with Stéphane C. Rosenberg, Cultural Affairs Counselor, at the Embassy of Haiti; and Ms. Rosenberg, impressed by what she heard, identified ACFFC as a good match for us. To solidify a relationship begun over the phone, this past weekend Ellen traveled to Wilmington, Delaware to meet in person with ACFFC Founder Judy Hoffman, who was there for a fundraiser. Below (in italics) is an update from Ms. Hoffman on Haiti and ACFFC that was posted on the ACFFC web site.

Our students are now in the process of collecting school supplies, clothing and other items needed by ACFFC kids. Moyer & Sons Moving and Storage has generously agreed to transport everything, free of charge, to Florida, from which ACFFC already has some free shipping to Jacmel arranged. Moreover, we are eagerly anticipating holding a big fundraiser for ACFFC next school year as well as establishing personal connections between SFT and ACFFC kids (and adults) in the coming months.

__________

May 3, 2010

I returned from Haiti last week, only to report that nothing is changed, but for rubble being cleaned up. Despite the fact that many government agencies are pulling out of Haiti, declaring the emergency over, it is far from over. Rainy season is upon us. Shipments are getting held up in customs which makes relief supplies that much more difficult to send/obtain.

And the need becomes all the more great.

We are fortunate that our children are back in school, eating and all are sleeping in tents, rather than under woven banana leaves and bedsheets. However their extended families and neighbors are not and this troubles them, and us. They are distracted and absolutely terrified at the idea of sleeping indoors. The cost of food is skyrocketing. Cases of typhoid and malaria are being reported. And tension is building.

So please do not forget our children, and do not forget their reality. Help them to be the hope for Haiti that they are. They are trying so very hard.

I know that I keep asking for donations – please know that by supporting these children ongoing, you have become a part of a larger family which, by its size and generosity, moves mountains. And while we can not help every person in Haiti impacted by this horrific event and the start point of unimaginable poverty, by helping our children to be the hope of Haiti, we are helping to do so.

I was asked the other day whether or not all of our staff in Haiti is Haitian. Many NGOs are run a ‘blan’ or foreigner on site and the Haitian staff reports to him or her. Not us! All staff is Haitian. In fact, we have provided 14 jobs within the community (all staff paid fair and equitable wages), contribute to the economy (as a market researcher, I need to compute and project economic impact), and help to prepare our children for the future.

So, yes, it is about our children. And they glow. And they giggle in the night, whispering from one tent to the next in the cluster. It is also about those whom they love and who love them.

I will be returning to Haiti in the month to come and will continue to provide information related to our children, their amazing accomplishments, and the situation at hand.

- Each child has selected a piece of rubble from the earthquake, meaningful in terms of place, written about it and painted about it. This is to be curated and will become part of an exhibition of ACFFC and post-earthquake art.
- We will begin a Memorial Wall project (thanks to Mayor Edwin Zenny who has provided approval and location, as well as Laurel True, mosaic artist and Nancy Josephson, mosaic artist, musician and ACFFC Board member) which will be completed before January 12 2011 and a Remembrance Ceremony is being planned.
- Some of our children are working with the Canada Globe & Mail to provide images ongoing for the newspaper’s Jacmel Project (thanks also to Jen and Guy Pantaleon, Zanmi Lakay and the photo workshops they conduct at ACFFC).
- And having met Georges Valris, some of our children have designed and are now working on sequin and beaded flags under his guidance. Incredible.

It is good that they are busy for otherwise it would be harder for them, as it is for so many children in Haiti. School has started for some of our children and will start for others this week. All a part of the ‘new normal.’ All I know is that Haiti is a struggling and vibrant nation and that our children are the hope of and hope for Haiti.

Mesi anpil.
Judy

The statewide competition provided an enlightening lesson in Maryland geography, attracting students from throughout the state. And the 26 group exhibits competing in Rollin and Jordan’s category were uniformly impressive.

Unfortunately unable to attend was SFT Language Arts teacher Nancy Jakubowski, who introduced the History Day opportunity to Rollin and Jordan and has marvelously guided and supported them throughout the lengthy, rigorous process.

This year’s National History Day theme is “Innovation in History,” and Rollin and Jordan’s project is “The Transistor: The Beginning of the Modern Information Age.” They now advance to the June 13-17 National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland, College Park, in which students from throughout the United States and beyond will be participating.

We had theorized that, given our individualized learning paths for each student, customizable daily and weekly schedules, and sensible approach to homework, new students joining us mid-year would have a relatively smooth transition.   We are so pleased that this has proven to be true!

Other all-school field trips we’ve already had the privilege of taking this year include visits to:  the Newseum, Black Hill Regional Park, the October Countryside Artisans Studio Tour, the Solar Decathlon, and Homestead Farm.

Upcoming field trips include visits to:  the Maryland Science Center and the Terra Cotta Warriors Exhibit at the National Geographic Museum.