Letter from the MC Principal

Hello MC families,

Last week we wrapped up our recognition of Black History Month with our Black History Month Celebration and Teach-In, and once again the day did not disappoint. During the Celebration portion of the day we were treated to a Sisterhood/Brotherhood drum and dance performance. There was also a panel celebrating Black excellence that included Dr. Chelsea Marion (CHOA pediatrician), Quenton Washington, Esq. (Lawyer), and Dr. Nikia Showers (our Assistant Principal!). I was honored to host this group as we discussed the hard work and perseverance that earned them their professional accolades. During the Teach-In, sixth grade students learned about the Prince Hall Masons and all of their impactful members in one session, learned about impactful African-Americans in sports in another, and learned about the Birmingham Children’s March in another session. In their fourth session the students assembled and tasted collard green and hoppin’ john wraps, and learned about their connection to West African agriculture. The seventh graders learned about South Africa and Apartheid and were taught a session on “Hip Hop and Fashion as Resistance” as led by the 8th grade members of The Brotherhood. They also participated in a Harlem Renaissance Poetry Cafe and learned about art and music in activism in another session. Eighth graders watched a short film about the history of the Atlanta washerwomen’s strike, learned about music and activism, learned about Ethiopia fighting to maintain its independence (a session taught by former student Amman Messaye), and did some breakdancing in a session led by an instructor. It was another wonderful celebration of Black history and culture and I’m glad that we do it each year.

The previous day we learned about Lunar New Year in Morning Meeting. Lunar New Year was on Tuesday, February 17th, and 2026 is the year of the horse. Specifically, this is the year of the fire horse, a rare Chinese zodiac event occurring every 60 years. During our Morning Meeting on March 2nd, we were also treated to a kung fu performance and a performance by dragon dancers from Phoenix Wellness Arts. The Lunar New Year is the largest and most celebrated holiday in East Asia. Based on the Lunar Calendar, it always takes place in Late January or Early February. Many people in America refer to it as the Chinese New Year, but it is celebrated by many countries. Students also learned about some of the traditions associated with Lunar New Year including: cleaning and decorating houses with red things, offerings to ancestors (honoring the dead), enjoying a family reunion dinner on Lunar New Year’s Eve, exchanging red envelopes and other gifts, setting off firecrackers and fireworks, and watching lion and dragon dances. This was a great way for students to learn about a cultural celebration celebrated by billions of people around the world.

In addition to the great work that we do in the classroom, recognizing and learning about various cultures is a big part of who we are. As is service. We had another successful Service as Action Day this past Friday. It’s always a pleasure seeing the kids’ smiling faces as they return from their various locations for Service as Action Day. Students do service, they bond with their Advisory and Advisors, and they see the fruits of their labor after doing research for better or worse. Sometimes they can do a project where they want, sometimes there isn’t a need. Students in different Advisories visited and cleaned up at Arabia Mountain, did work at a skate park, and even planted flowers around our letter sign here at the Middle Campus. Extended Advisory is such a valuable part of what we do. The research, planning, and communication skills that I mentioned before are all skills that the students will need in preparation for Community Project. 

Community Project is an 8th grade service learning opportunity in which students find a community that they want to work in, research the needs of that community related to a topic of the student’s interest, and then work towards performing a service action in that community. Many students come into their 8th grade year wanting to make sandwiches for the unhoused or clean up trash in Grant Park for their Community Project; and while those are positive activities, part of the intent of Community Project is for students to learn how to research the needs of a community and go beyond their assumptions or anecdotal evidence regarding what they think a community needs. Learning how to work WITH a community, and not to simply impose your thoughts onto a community is some of the most important learning that comes from Community Project. Students are presenting their Community Projects during classes this week.

Next week we have an Asynchronous Work day for students on Tuesday March 17th (B day). School will be closed and students will have work to do from home. This work will be posted in Google Classroom for their B day classes and Power30. Students are also encouraged to read for Sustained Silent Reading. The work that teachers post will be meaningful, but it will also be work that students are capable of completing on their own. If they get stuck, students can talk to their teachers about the work the next day. During the asynchronous day students should also be working on their student led conferences which will be happening the following week – the week of Monday, March 23rd.

During these in-person meetings (we offer virtual options if necessary), students will talk to their parents and their Advisor about how their approach to school and their study habits are impacting their performance in class. Teachers are giving students feedback on how they are doing with the feedback that they received in their end of semester reports in January. This feedback will be assembled in a Spring Commitment to Guiding Principles report that will be published in Toddle on Friday, March 13th. Students will reflect on this and talk about it during their conferences. As a reminder these conferences are student-led – meaning that it’s important for parents to allow the students to lead the conference and go through their presentations, and then parents can ask questions at the end. It can be tempting to take over the conference, but allowing the student to lead is an important part of the process. You also will get to see how well your student prepared for their conference, as they will be given ample time to prepare during Advisory.

Finally, MAP testing will also be taking place next week as well. This will be the final MAP administration for the year. MAP Math will be on Wednesday, March 18th and MAP Reading on Friday, March 20th.

As always if you have any questions 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.