Term 2020-2021 | Issue 4 | January 2021
Steve Says...
Winter can be tough, even in normal times. The days are shorter, and we're inside more. It's important to be active, to get some sunlight and exercise, and winter tends to push us inward and makes us want to settle in. I'm thinking of cozy couches and hot tea. Coziness is great, but with it comes artificial light and not a lot of movement and socialization. And this winter is like none other.
A big part of growing up is trial and error. Each of us needs to discover what makes us feel good and right, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. (For me, I feel at my best when I'm feeding my mind with books, solving problems, supporting teachers and students, cooking, spending time with my family, and enjoying a smart, minimally-bloody detective show.) Adults have the advantage because, well, we've had more time to find that balance and learn what's good (and not so good) for us. But while it's true that each individual is different, there are, I think, universals to a healthy foundation of wellness, which is more important than ever this winter. Here's my list of absolutes: quality sleep, a balanced diet, outdoor activity, and staying connected with family and friends.
So students, make it a healthy winter; get some fresh air and sunlight, reach out to friends, and explore new foods. Widen your world. It will feel good and you'll sleep better. Trust me on this one.
In Exciting College News... Our list of college acceptances has grown, with lots more still to come! Here is the list to
Thank You for Your Support! We’d like to personally thank everyone who donated to The New School Fund campaign in November and December. Because of what you’ve done to help, we raised $8,750. These donations will be used to support the evolving needs of teachers and students throughout the school year, no matter what situation we are all facing. Every donation will help us acclimate to the demands of the world as it is today. You’ve had an impact and made a difference. Thank you for staying with us through these tough times. It means the world to us to have your support.
We are so grateful. Will (Class of 2023), Erika (Class of 2022), Sarosh (Class of 2022), Tay (Class of 2021)
30th Anniversary Celebration Buy Your Tickets Today!
On Saturday, February 27th, The New School will hold our 30th Anniversary Celebration. In consideration of the health of all of our New School families, the event will be virtual so that everyone can come together while staying safe. You’ll even have the chance to participate in some exciting activities!
All registered guests will be able to view our live event program, where we’ll take a look at the past, present, and future of The New School.
After the live program, guests will be able to join activity lounges and participate in a virtual activity. There will be four activity choices:
Telestrations (a mix between Pictionary and the telephone game) A Murder Mystery An Escape Room Games like Among Us and different Jackbox games
All guests will receive a sign-up form to choose which activity they want to participate in.
At the end of our celebration, guests will be able to mingle in Happy Hour lounges. Some will be hosted by current and former faculty members.
Tickets for the 30th Anniversary Celebration cost $10, with all proceeds going to support students and teachers through The New School Fund.
Follow this link to buy your tickets today: https://www.accelevents.com/e/TheNewSchools30th
We are looking forward to seeing you in the Celebration and are so grateful that we can finally celebrate the 30th birthday of The New School!
30th Celebration Sponsorship Opportunities Available Interested in sponsoring The New School’s 30th Anniversary Celebration? We have some exciting opportunities for you and your company to get involved. Reach out to our Director of Development & Community Engagement, Noelle Andreano, at nandreano@newschoolva.com for more info.
What Does The New School Mean to You? For our Virtual 30th Anniversary Celebration we are going to take a look at what The New School means to all of us. We invite all members of The New School community to film a short (30 sec. max) video answering the question "What does The New School mean to me?" If you would rather, you can write and/or illustrate what The New School means to you.
Please send in all submissions via this form: https://forms.gle/ML7ssH6pd6JH7hyJ6 or by emailing Noelle at nandreano@newschoolva.com by Friday, February 12th.
Submissions may be shared during the Celebration on Saturday, February 27th, on The New School YouTube channel, on social media, in the newsletter, etc.
Send Us Your NSNVA Performance Videos! For our Virtual 30th Anniversary Celebration we'd love to share performances throughout The New School's history. This includes plays, talent shows, concerts, anything where students gave a performance. We'd especially love videos from the early days of the school, before we started recording things digitally.
Please send in performance submissions via this form: https://forms.gle/PzZaZmWjNxomTThd7 or by emailing Noelle at nandreano@newschoolva.com.
Submissions may be shared during the Celebration on Saturday, February 27th, on The New School YouTube channel, on social media, in the newsletter, etc.
Ethan Ocasio Named One of the Top 300 Student Scientists in the Nation 
Congratulations to Ethan Ocasio who was recognized as a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar! #RegeneronSTS is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. http://bit.ly/3npzX3S
Earlier this month, Society for Science (the Society) announced that Ethan Ocasio was among the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Ethan will receive $2,000, and The New School will receive $2,000.
The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,760 applications received from 611 high schools across 45 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and 10 countries.Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists,and hail from 198 American and international high schools in 37 states, Puerto Rico, Chinese Taipei,and Singapore.
The full list of scholars can be viewed here: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2021-scholars/
The Regeneron Science Talent Search provides students witha national stage to present original research and celebrates the hard work and discoveries of young scientists who are bringing a fresh perspective to significant global challenges. This year, research projects cover topics from bioinformatics to public health and energy efficiency.
“The remarkable drive, creativity and intellectual curiosity that each one of these scholars possesses represents a hopeful outlook for our future and our collective wellbeing,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science, Publisher of Science Newsand 1985 Science Talent Search alum. “At a time when many students’ educational experiences are being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic,I am incredibly humbled to see gifted young scientists and engineers eager to contribute fresh insights to solving the world’s most intractable problems.”
Congratulations Ethan!
SUPR Tips: Update on Sustainability Initiatives 
One way that we have retained some of the normalcy of our in-person New School community is by continuing our "morning announcements" (now held in the afternoons during ET). At the end of announcements, when we were still in the building, the heads of morning meeting would remind students which advisory is "doing recycling" that week--one way students are regularly involved in environmental stewardship at school. Well, it's pretty hard to collect recycling bins when we're not at school and they're empty! Just like our "morning" meeting, our "recycling" efforts continue in a slightly different form.
Each week, students and/or faculty from one advisory now create SUPR tips videos to help encourage our school community in our at-home environmental efforts. We were inspired by our Earth Day guest speaker last year who showed us that we can be SUPR heroes--saving the planet through Single-Use Plastic Reduction. Tips have included making our own bread so we don't have to use single-use plastic bags, refilling reusable water bottles instead of buying bottled water, picking up trash on our neighborhood walks, and even making creative crafts from things that might otherwise be trash! Students and faculty alike have showcased their creativity and their efforts to make the world a better place--reinforcing essential skills such as problem solving and social and global responsibility.
These tips, plus our Elkay water bottle refilling station in the gym that was installed last year, are part of ongoing activities of a Planet Stewards grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [from the website:] "NOAA Planet Stewards provides formal and informal educators working with elementary through college-aged students access to opportunities and resources enabling them to build scientifically literate individuals and communities who are prepared to respond to environmental challenges monitored by NOAA. NOAA Planet Stewards also supports educators’ efforts to implement hands-on action-based projects that conserve, restore, and protect human communities and natural resources from environmental challenges monitored by NOAA." Because plastic represents a significant portion of marine debris, an environmental data point actively tracked by NOAA, we are working within our school--even while socially distanced--to make positive changes and reduce the amount of plastic we use that could end up as marine debris.
Are you a SUPR hero? What are some ways you and your family are reducing single-use plastic waste at home? We would love to hear about them! Students can talk to their advisor to volunteer to make a video for our morning announcements, or you can send us pictures and a description of what you've been doing. The first 40 students who contribute (or have already contributed) to our SUPR efforts will receive an awesome incentive that will help them continue to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic water bottles: a brand new Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottle! (by Diana Gibson) 
The Election: A Minority’s View Disclaimer: This piece is one minority’s opinion. I do not speak for all Black people, and I do not speak for all minorities.
“Tonight, America is Great.” ~November 7, 2020
Tears streamed down my face as President-Elect Joe Biden said he would be an American president before a partisan one. “Finally,” I thought as I smiled and felt proud of this country for the first time in years. For me, and for many minorities, this election had life or death on the ballot. Many don’t understand why that is, so here is my experience to- hopefully- shed some light on how crucial this election was.
When the US electorate voted in Donald Trump, I was terrified. From “fine people on both sides” to “my button is bigger,” President Trump never failed to scare or disappoint me. His last year in office seemed to exacerbate all of the worst things about his administration. 2020 was awful in so many ways; however, the worst part for my family, friends, and the greater Black community was the extreme injustice we had to face on top of all the other bull-poop. There are too many names for me to write- all killed because of their skin color. There are too many unwarranted police calls to list- all placed by people who refused to allow black people to simply go about their daily tasks. There are too many glares, stares, and suspicious eyes to mention- all given by those who claim to be “not racist.” There are too many.
Racism is a daily reality for many Black people in the US. Almost everything we do is affected by race. It’s hard to explain if you’ve never experienced it- I always have to think about the impact of my Blackness. Snap judging, immediate assuming, knee-jerk reacting, and habitual stereotyping dictate how minorities are perceived. When many people look at my skin, as much as they want to believe they don’t, they automatically view me differently. The way I walk, speak, dress- all under a microscope because of my skin color. That is why having a presidential administration made up of people like me is so important. They help to normalize our communities- many silenced Americans who refused to be silenced any longer- being heard.
On inauguration day, I felt overwhelmed by the unity I saw. I felt like I was being represented. Seeing Black women, Hispanic women, LGBT+ women, Asian women- almost every type of minority woman on that stage with Joe Biden made me so happy. For the first time in years, I felt seen- but it’s more than that. Not just seen, not just represented, not just heard. I felt known.
tears wash away fears that have built up for years I can breathe again years spent drowning in fears that are now washed away by tears of Joy of Victory of Relief I CAN BREATHE even if George can’t i can for him the air in these lungs- these collective lungs- expand as if for the first time we’ve come back to no more hate, no more fighting we’ve realized we’re not built to be separated so let’s NOT be separate anymore as words flow from my pen sheer elation that has been BUBBLING up inside of me since i realized Thank God terror couldn’t reign forever
(by Taylor Jones)
Science Fest The New School is holding our annual Science Fest online on Wednesday, April 14th! Volunteers should plan on being available that evening to prepare, judge projects, and submit forms. All projects will be pre recorded and sent to you Wednesday evening and all forms should be completed by Thursday afternoon. You may also forward this to anyone who has a career or interest in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math, etc.) that may be interested in participating. Thank you in advance for your help in making our event successful!
Google Sign-Up Form:
https://forms.gle/a96vNcZRgr9TNGhQ6
Contact Rachel Lewis at rlewis@newschoolva.com or any members of the science department if you have any questions.
New School Bonus Programs The New School participates in bonus programs that generate donations for the school when you do your everyday shopping online. They are easy to sign up for, and can have a big impact for students and teachers.
Increase the Impact of Your Donation Many corporations offer matching gift programs for employees and their families. This is a great opportunity to increase your gift in support of The New School. You can check with your employer’s human resources department to find out if they offer matching gifts. This information can also often be found in the list of benefits provided to you by your employer. Please let us know what you need from us in order to process a match through your organization. Contact our Director of Development & Community Engagement, Noelle Andreano, at nandreano@newschoolva.com with any questions.
Our Contact Information Info and Contact
Why are we sending you this newsletter? One of the distinguishing features of our school is our sense of community. This newsletter is one more way to build and maintain that community among our current students, parents, faculty, and alumni. We hope you like it! Please send feedback to info@newschoolva.com Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for weekly updates and photos of what’s happening in our school community! |
