LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP
And we waited for week #4 to arrive, folding in young journalists, new novelists, graphic artists, and 18 young men and women who are collaborating with everyone through their experience in year two of Ubuntu Academy - a lab for new Americans who have been in this country for two years or less. After day one, the students and teachers began leaping into one another's worlds asking questions and wondering about new possibilities of working together.LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP
The first of the two items that especially put joy on my face, however, was seeing Syracuse and Fairfield University grad (as well as journalist and now teacher), Brynn Mandel standing before a board that articulates her work best -- SMART. The expertise she carries as a writer, motivator of writers, and eye for good story is irreplaceable.
After I left her room, I looked for the twins, Abu and Lossine, and they were outside doing a team building activity with the young people in Ubuntu Academy. This was my second reason to be proud. Our philosophy for day one (despite the 95 degree temperature) was to invest in play and friendship. We hypothesized that it would pay off with the writing we're expecting. What captured the day were the HUGE smiles on the faces of the kids. It was really hot, but they were laughing hysterically at the game and they've already filled several pages in their writers' notebooks. With Ubuntu, the major goal is vocabulary instruction. One of the teachers from last year noted, 'I can't believe how well-spoken the repeaters have become in one year. They're leaders this year."
LEAP LEAP LEAP LEAP. We're LEAPing.
I can't wait to see what today will bring! Oh, yeah. That would be Senator Bob Duff and Historian Yohuru Williams!
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