Letter from the MC Principal
Hello MC families,
I hope your week is off to a great start. Last week our 8th grade students went on a field trip to see the musical Young John Lewis. I heard great things about the show. The performance dug into the difficult truths of the Civil Rights movement and the students grappled with some heavy history. When we came back to school we debriefed what was a heavy, educational, and powerful performance. Please check in with your students about it.
This was a big week in ANCS sports. Shout out to the volleyball team for their win on Thursday night and shout out to the flag football team for beating our rival Wesley Friday night! Of course we began the week with Van Coss winning the City Championship in Cross Country, the Girls’ team came in 3rd overall, and the Boys came in 2nd overall. Big shout out to our coaches (Ms. Mitchell – Cheer; Ms. Scott and Mr. Heacock – Cross Country; Coach D., Mr. Ty, and Mr. Hinton – Flag Football; Mr. Boardman – Ultimate Frisbee, Mrs. Hinton – Volleyball), for all of the hard work and the extra hours that they put in. It makes such a difference for our school.
When it comes to athletics at ANCS, student safety is extremely important to us. A few weeks ago a student was injured during a flag football game and after that experience we decided to review the medical coverage that is in place for each of the sports in which our students participate.
- For Flag Football and Cheer the Metro Atlanta Charter Athletic League (MACAL) now has contracted with an outside service to have emergency medical services on site moving forward.
- For Volleyball there is a school nurse (typically from Westside Atlanta Charter School or from KIPP) who is hired to be on site during games.
- Cross Country always has emergency medical services on site through Atlanta Track Club or the other administrators of their meets.
- For Ultimate Frisbee, they have a medical professional on site for each of their tournaments.
We will continue to push to maximize student safety in all sports that ANCS students are participating in.
Regarding safety around our building, an issue that was recently brought to my attention is the safety of student dropoff in the morning. We have had some parents cutting others off, driving in front of other cars, and generally driving unsafely on Essie Avenue while parents are dropping their students off in front of the school. I understand that sometimes we’re rushing to work, but it’s important that we’re still driving and operating safely for the safety of our children and in courtesy to other drivers in the morning.
Switching gears, by now you should have heard from your student’s Advisor about scheduling your student’s fall student-led conference. The conferences take place the week after the break (Monday, October 20th – Friday, October 24th). These conferences are truly student-led. Students spend two weeks preparing for their conferences. Last week students looked at feedback that they have received from their teachers and compared this feedback to their own reflections. This week they are focusing on preparing their talking points for their conferences. While it can be tempting for parents to take over these conferences and ask their own set of questions, your students will have their own presentations prepared. Please follow your student’s lead, as students reflecting and sharing about their own learning process is a big part of how we help our students learn how to use their minds well (Coalition of Essential Schools).
Finally, we have Fall Break next week. School will be closed to students all next week (teachers have a work day next Friday) and then we return to school on Monday, October 20th. Have an enjoyable, safe, and restorative break. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to reach out.
Kind regards,
Mark
Mark Sanders
Mark Sanders began teaching at ANCS in 2011. Before coming to the school, Mr. Sanders worked in New York City. He spent three years teaching 7th and 8th grade mathematics at Middle School 50 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and two years at Harlem Village Academies teaching Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry. He taught 8th grade Math/Science/Technology at ANCS for five years.
