Letter from the MC Principal

Hello MC families,

We began our week with a Morning Meeting that was dedicated to Women’s History and led by 8th grader Rebecca Reedick. Rebecca’s Community Project was focused on highlighting women’s history, so she led an entire Morning Meeting. She taught students about various lesser known women in history such as chemist Maria Telkes, who created a solar distiller to turn seawater into drinkable water during WWII; and Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, who were influential LGBTQIA+activists. After her presentation she quizzed the students via a Kahoot! game with questions based on what the students had just learned. The students were engaged and everyone in the room learned something about women’s history that day.

Congratulations to our girls’ soccer team for making it to the APS soccer championship game. ANCS is the first charter school to make it to the championship. Congratulations to the boys’ soccer team for winning the APS championship! As a small charter school our athletics programs have always made the most of whatever facilities we could access, and we have had lots of success over the years. I’m proud of our kids for bringing home yet another championship to ANCS.

On Wednesday evening, ANCS hosted an Iftar event at the Elementary Campus. During Ramadan, iftar is the meal that people have to break their fast in the evening. The event began with 4th grader Ayla Helal, 8th grader Hyaa Helal, their mother, long time Grant Park resident Carey Helal, and 7th grader Noor Afzal individually sharing about what Ramadan means to them. They talked about time with family, doing acts of service, the discipline necessary to fast, and being considerate of those who are less fortunate.

After the speeches, dates and water were available for those observing Ramadan to break their fast, and afterwards dinner from the restaurant Aleppo was served. There were families of all different backgrounds in attendance, as well as past and present ANCS teachers and staff members. It was a beautiful evening of community building, connection, sharing, and learning. Major shout out to our DEI co-directors Dr. Cassie Leymarie and Humaira Afzal, as well as school Farm Specialist Nichole Lupo, for putting this event together. For those who were not able to make it, please come connect and learn with us next year!

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.