BLA Magazine - Draft

2022 - 2023

Save Mother Earth Mural Project In the heart of the Bronx, a vibrant burst of color has emerged, radiating hope and environmental consciousness to all who pass by Bronx Charter School for Better Learning (Annex) on Crawford Avenue. This artistic masterpiece isn't the work of seasoned artists; it's the collective effort of young minds who joined forces with a passionate teaching artist Tijay Mohammed to create a visually striking "Save Mother Earth" mural.

In an era where climate change and environmental issues have taken center stage on the global agenda, this Bronx Charter School for Better Learning has gone above and beyond the traditional classroom experience to empower its students with the knowledge and creativity needed to address these pressing concerns.

With brush strokes and bold ideas, these young artists have embarked on a journey to spread a message of environmental conservation, and their stunning mural is a testament to their dedication and passion for safeguarding our planet.

This project started in the bustling hallways of Bronx Charter School for Better Learning, where the voices of 4th-grade students echoed with passion as they delved into spirited discussions about pressing environmental issues during their Social Studies lessons. Two big themes in New York State’s Science/Social Studies curriculum are cause and effect relationships and interdependence. The students studied the relationship between the burning of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, they learned about the harmful effects of deforestation and the benefits of reforestation (and how photosynthesis explains how trees absorb carbon and clean the air); they learned how reusing, reducing, recycling, and repurposing curb climate change and plastics in the ocean. Our students also learned about Great Black Activists during Black History Month, and are also learning, in our collaboration with our ELA team, about how they too can act as activists through persuasive artwork.

Their fervor spilled over into their Fridays, transforming them into vibrant STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) sessions. The young minds of the school embarked on a mission, gathering an eclectic assortment of materials from their homes and school lunches. Old magazines, cereal boxes, paper towel and tissue tubes, and milk cartons became the canvas for their creativity. Armed with paper quilling techniques, they adorned bulletin boards with striking titles, crafted captivating collages, molded intricate sculptures, and painted architectural wonders that transcended imagination.

As their artistic expressions flourished, these budding change-makers pondered the ways they could extend their message to a wider audience. The idea of a grand mural took shape, with one bold student council member approaching Principal Jacobs to spearhead the endeavor. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of Ms. Buckle, who drafted a persuasive grant proposal, the project gained the green light, and the wheels were set in motion.

While awaiting the necessary approvals and the disbursement of funds, the students found another way to channel their artistic energy. In celebration of Earth Day 2022, they invited fellow playground enthusiasts to participate in the creation of a temporary chalk mural, showcasing their flair for graffiti art. Though a downpour washed away their vibrant masterpiece the following day, the essence of the moment was forever preserved through the lens of a camera.

The initiative to prepare the wall for the impending mural took shape under the leadership of Mr. Dubose, the PTA president. With a collaborative spirit, hands eagerly scraped, sanded, and primed the surface, setting the stage for an awe-inspiring artistic journey.

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In the classroom, Mr. Tijay facilitated the conversation about environmental hazards affecting humans. Students were provided with materials to illustrated their ideas for the mural.

All the ideas were merged and a rendering was presented to our school administrators for approval. Different students engaged staff to get feedback.

Principal Jacobs is an artist!

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The Reveal & Celebration The young artists took their creativity a step further by enlisting the support of the entire school community to collect plastic bottles for their typography project on the fence. Through collective effort, we gathered a substantial number of bottles, enough to spell out the event's theme: "SPEAKING OUR TRUTH." Even parents, arriving to pick up their children after a long day, enthusiastically joined in the fun.

On June 14, 2022, all 75 4th-graders had their respective roles to play during the grand reveal and celebration. The audience was treated to a diverse array of performances, from captivating dances to powerful choral recitations. As the morning progressed, we shared the compelling story of our journey, highlighting the dedication and teamwork that made our project a reality.

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I AM MOTHER EARTH I am Mother Earth (all boys) I am the river flowing through valleys I am the sun and the moon and the stars I am the forest breathing oxygen I am the ocean from which life springs I am Mother Earth (all girls) I’m in your hands I’m in your care Together we stand So stop listening to greed I am Mother Earth (all boys) Listen to the animals Listen to the plants Listen to the spirits of the deep Begging you, please!

I send you drought to warn you I send you storms to scold you I send you earthquakes to humble you I send you forest fires to wake you up But you still mar my face

You burn fossil fuels You strip my land of its roots You stain the air with your plumes of smoke You fill my oceans with garbage You take… And take… And take from me Where did my children go?

Where did your appreciation go?

What will you humans do when you’ve lost my heartbeat from under your feet?

I am Mother Earth I will not wait for you to change I will not wait for you to change I will not wait for you to change!

Among our esteemed guests was Mr. Tijay, who graced us with his presence and offered his own heartfelt message. He shared how our project had inspired him, underscoring the profound impact of our collective efforts on our school community and beyond.

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Aim High

The Aim High Empowerment Institute is an exclusive program that gives boys exposure to positive influences, access to academic professional resources, and customized personal and professional development training.

Aim High

Students in the program connect with coaches who are dedicated to helping them build competence, confidence and character.

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Arts & Crafts

Our students used their skills of creativity to make their own two- and three-dimensional works of fine art. Visual Arts is all about allowing an individual to express a message through an emotional and visual way. While children are having fun, they’re also learning. The important role of Visual Arts is shaping our children’s success. This starts with our kindergarteners. See the relations between arts and crafts with your children’s education. Each grade studied the life cycle within their classrooms. They had lots of fun using their fine motor skills to be creative. All grades collaborated by creating a beautiful backdrop of all their work showing each life cycle they worked on.

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Arts & Crafts

Kindergarten

Our lovely five- and six-year-olds enjoyed playing and having fun by being creative while exploring the life cycle of a butterfly. They learned that butterflies start out as tiny eggs. Out comes a larva (caterpillar). Next, is the pupa (chrysalis). Finally, the butterfly. They used many textures such as pompoms, popsicle sticks, tissue paper, and glue just to name a few.

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1st Grade

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These young creative minds acquired the knowledge of the life cycle of a chicken. The famous question arose… “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” They were able to grasp new concepts by paying close attention to each step of the life cycle. They used clay, feathers, pipe cleaners, paint and so much more.

2nd Grade Our young planters mastered their knowledge of planting by recreating each step. Students discussed their thoughts on what it takes to care for plants. They need space to grow, the right temperature, light, water, air, nutrients, and time. They discovered this using their prior knowledge during their classroom science unit.

Being able to create fun crafts based on their experience seem to be intriguing to them.

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Arts & Crafts

Students used their new artistic skills to create independent projects!

BAND Band students at BBL1 collaborated with the Theater department for the performance of Lion King Kids.

Our student musicians performed Danza Africana at both live performances of the musical. All band students recieve small group music lessons from our band director, Ms. Linzer.

BAND

Our student musicians at BBL2 learned and performed excerpts from the Standard Book of Excellence, Book 1.

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COVERED THE WORLD

Center CENTERStage STAGE

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www.reallygreatsite.com

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Chess Students in 3rd – 5th grade learned patience, critical thinking, problemsolving, and reasoning skills.

Chess

Chess tournaments taught them how to respond when they’re not successful, give them the opportunity to develop stamina, selfesteem, and selfefficacy.

June 22nd at the Albert Tuitt Campus Library with coach Mr. Romeo BBL1 Emmanuel Ezema 5B Ethan Asafo 5B Zachary Flanigan 5B BBL2 Emmanuel Ezema 5B Ethan Asafo 5B Zachary Flanigan 5B Derrick Owubokiri - 3A Oreon Gooden - 4C Amari Reeves - 4C Nii Forson - 5A

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CHOIR

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CODING In our Coding Club, we use special computer languages like Python, Java, and HTML to make cool things on the internet, like websites, apps, and computer programs.

Our smart teachers will help you learn by doing fun projects. They'll show you how to understand tricky ideas and how to solve problems, which are really important skills in today's computer world!

CODING

Here's what you'll gain: Coding Mastery: From text to functional programs, you'll become proficient in coding across multiple languages.

Problem Solving: Tackle realworld challenges, sharpen critical thinking, and conquer complex problems.

Creativity & Innovation: Code as your canvas—design interfaces and create innovative projects.

Teamwork: Learn effective collaboration, idea-sharing, and communication while achieving shared goals.

Resilience: Develop patience and troubleshooting skills to conquer coding obstacles.

Digital Savvy: Gain deep tech knowledge for a competitive edge in any career.

Cosmetology Students in our Cosmetology and Grooming program learned the importance of cleanliness, hygiene, and self care.

Our students were introduced to a variety of services, such as cuticle care, manicures, hair washing and hairstyling, and much more!

To show off what they learned, students created their own spas and salons. in which they were tasked with offering services and pricing these services.

Additionally, they spoke of the importance of each service.

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COSPLAY & DIGITAL MEDIA

Additionally, these 4th and 5th grade students participated in several acting workshops. In these workshops, students became more confident in their acting abilities, mastered the art of acting and reacting, gained understanding of how minor facial changes can reflect major emotional changes, and completed acting challenges through improvisation.

In regards to Digital Media, students planned and filmed a variety of small projects. Students researched audio clips that they believe captured the essence of their cosplay characters. Students produced and directed their own introductory videos, as well as wrote the scripts needed for our Capstone project.

In Cosplay and Digital Media, students learned about the magic of Cosplay, and how modern Cosplay utilizes digital media.

Students were introduced to the various types of Cosplay, and even created their own character. Cosplay is more than simply dressing up - it is assuming the character's traits, mannerisms, emotions, and backstory.

Students crafted details about their characters to make each one unique.

COSPLAY & DIGITAL MEDIA But that's not all!

"It [Cosplay & Digital Media] changed my thinking about both acting and making videos because it showed me that sometimes you have to accept other ideas besides mine." - Mila "I learned to be confident and try things outside of my comfort zone." Elisa "These ideas and skills are important because they can help you share your ideas with other people." - Sara "My learning changed my thinking because I thought that people could act without practicing. But actually, you really have to practice your scenes and be confident." - Sydney

In addition to gaining acting and digital media skills, students also made connections between their new knowledge and real life situations.

Students shared how their participation in this group changed their thinking and helped them grow as individuals and scholars.

COSPLAY & DIGITAL MEDIA

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CULINARY ARTS

"The team provided us with unwavering

assistance

since Day 1. I will definitely recommend

getting

your

dream home with Warner."

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Cybersecurity Cybersecurity...it's the name of the game Protecting yourself, it's not just a claim Keep your info safe, like a secret treasure Stay smart and secure beyond measure.

Hey BBL gather 'round, let me tell you a tale About a world online, where you check your mail It's called the Internet, a digital space But beware my friends, there may be danger to erase!

Passwords...oh passwords, they're your keys to the gate Make'em strong and unique, don't underestimate Use a mix of letters, numbers, and signs No pet names or birthdays...that's not fine!

Phishing emails, oh what a sneaky trick They pretend to be real, but it's all a flick Don't click on suspicious links or download the unknown It's better to be cautious, the responsibility is your own.

Be careful with sharing, and think before you post Personal info online can hurt you the most Your full name, address, or where you go to school Keep them private and safe...don't be too cool!

If you see something wrong, like cyberbullying or hate Tell a trusted adult, don't hesitate Together we can make the online world a better place Kindness and safety...let's make haste!

So, BBL friends, remember as you surf the net Stay wide awake, and don't fall into the threat With cybersecurity knowledge, you're the hero in the fight Keeping yourself safe, both day and night.

Cybersecurity...it's the name of the game Protecting yourself, it's not just a claim Keep your info safe, like a secret treasure Stay smart and secure beyond measure

DANCE

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DANCE

The dance program focused on building students’ knowledge of genres like Stepping, Hip Hop, Reggae, and free, improvised styles. Students developed coordination, balance, and body awareness, all while building selfesteem and confidence.

Throughout the program, students learned and applied choreography and blacklight theater techniques while preparing to showcase their work in front of a live audience.

DANCE

DANCE

DANCE

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DRONES We strive to inspire and direct our students to become future leaders in technology.

DRONES

The drone program exposes students to a range of real-world possibilities using the latest technologies. In the program, students learn how to deploy drones for aerial photography, search and rescue missions, mapping, and inspections.

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Financial Literacy

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G A R D E N I N G

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HYDROPONIC GARDENING & NUTRITION

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During last school year '22-'23, our scholars participated in a pilot for discovery of hydroponics. They explored the basics of hydroponics and made fun recipes along the way to make better food choices. This year they are part of the first Green Our planet Magic garden portal filled with STEMworks accredited curricula specialized for use with hydroponics systems.

As our souls get folders and community gardens along with other outdoor spaces transition to hibernation mode here in the Bronx, we understand the need to promote plant growing efforts indoors. Hydroponic farming offers our students and community a viable option to integrate next generation standards with food security and literacy for her better nutrition.

Interactive

E n g i n e e r i n g

I

nteractive engineering introduced students to various projects within three distinct themes: Mechanical, Marine, and Aerospace.

Students tackled challenges together while also learning about engineering principles. These challenges included the creation and use of catapults, parachutes, and zip sails.

Interactive

E n g i n e e r i n g

Students also learned about boat basics, cartesian divers, straw rockets, and tried to defy gravity with an egg drop challenge.

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Lion King Kids

Students make history: First ever BBL musical

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Lion King Costuming

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Lion King Set Design

MAKERSPACE

MUSIC ENGINEERING

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This curriculum is designed to serve students of many different ages and backgrounds by facilitating student-authored compositions using graphic notation while embracing a modern approach to music education.

Graphic notation is the process by which youth create a visual image or symbol to represent a sound, and then a series of symbols are developed and arranged sequentially in patterns to craft melodies or rhythms to bring about the final score.

MUSIC ENGINEERING The process of symbols representing metrics of time helps students practice mathematical principles in a fun and creative process, where one symbol might be two beats, one might be four beats, or one beat of rest, and so on.

Alongside the scores, utilizing modern instrumentation is a method of engaging with technology and electrical engineering at a conscious level.

Synthesizers, samplers, electronic drums, hand percussion, electric guitar, and effects are all in the cache of equipment for student use, and during their introduction, we enjoy discussing their circuitry, design, sound properties relating to fundamental physics and pragmatic use in a musical setting, all to delve deeper into the joy of music and its application across many subjects and professions.

MUSIC ENGINEERING

All these lessons are taught through a filter of the teachers’ own experiences as composers, refining experimentation in compositions of minimalism, drone, and combinations of electronic and acoustic instrumentation. We hope to record our music and safely perform for families and the community as the culminating event to uplift our youth.

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Podcasting

Podcasting is more fun with friends!

EDITING TOGETHER

Our 3rd – 5th students have excellent imaginations and creativity, but they often do not know how to harness it and develop it.

RECORDING IN PROGRESS The Podcasting club provided the vehicle

and

creativity

the

and

fuel

to

let

imagination

their soar.

Students developed and improved their

PRODUCER AT WORK

writing

skills

confidence.

as

well

as

their

Podcasting Each

student

engaged

in

the

writing

process by selecting a topic of interest, developing

characters/settings

in

the

genre of choice, drafting his/her story, editing after receiving feedback from their peers

and

their

teachers,

and

publishing their work.

COLLABORATING

Each student’s published book will be showcased.

WRITING OUR SCRIPTS

PODCAST CREATION IN PROGRESS

lastly

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PUPPETRY

Buses

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Science Lab

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Science Lab

SOCCER

SOCCER

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Stop motion is an animated filmmaking technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames so that they will appear to exhibit independent motion or change when the series of frames is played back.

Students at both campuses constructed their own stop motion mini films, creating their own storyline through illustrations and specific movements.

Students first applied their new skills to the creation of a short film featuring a bird flying. Students had to determine what movements would best show those actions to their viewers.

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Additionally, students crafted short films about superheroes flying through the air. Students made small adjustments to their artwork to show capes flapping in the breeze and the superheroes soaring to varying heights, on their way to fight crime,

For their final creations, students collaborated to draw, color, film and animate a short story, depicting the steps of making a sandwich.

Despite having the same prompt, all groups presented their own unique twist on the narrative.

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(Verse 1) it's time to make a change, We're on a mission, let's rearrange.

Talking 'bout clean energy, let's go green, Environmental health from The Bronx to Brooklyn (Verse 2) Clean energy, we're on the right track, Saving the Earth, we ain't never turning back.

Renewable power, wind and solar rays, Together we'll make a brighter future, come what may.

(Verse 3) Wind turbines spinning, capturing the breeze, Generating power, no pollution, it's a breeze.

Solar panels shining, soaking up the sun, Reducing carbon footprint, we're getting things done.

(Verse 4) Recycling our trash, reducing waste, Composting food scraps…let's make haste.

Planting trees, cleaning rivers and streams, Protecting habitats, fulfilling our dreams.

(Verse 6) We're the eco-warriors, standing strong and tall, We're gonna save the Earth … for one and all.

With love for our planet, we'll make a stand, Hand in hand, we'll protect this land.

(Verse 7) So, join the movement, become a part, Let's spread the message, right from the heart.

Together we're powerful, we'll make a change, Clean energy for a better world, that's our aim.

(All) BBL, we hope you're inspired, To be eco-friendly, the Earth's desire.

Let's be environmental activists, united and strong, For a cleaner, greener world, where we all belong.

NINEDOT CLEAN ENERGY MURAL

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sustainability sustainability The BBL 2 sustainability department is working on creating a new reusable bottle initiative to limit waste from plastic water bottles. The objective of this initiative will be to provide every student at BBL2 with a reusable water bottle that can be refilled throughout the school day, to limit the effects of plastic bottle waste.

This program will teach students the direct effects that plastic waste has on our school and community and give students the opportunity to teach their peers about the importance of recycling. The reusable bottle initiative will begin at the start of the school year.

paper clay

As the Sustainability Coordinator here at BBL1, I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you today. We are embarking on a fantastic journey to repurpose shredded paper from our main office into an artistic venture that will not only nurture creativity but also promote sustainability.

Paper clay, for those who are unfamiliar, is an ecofriendly alternative to traditional clay that's made by mixing shredded paper with a few simple ingredients. It's a wonderful material for sculpting, and it dries to a hard, durable finish that can be painted and used for various purposes.

We plan to host exhibitions showcasing the incredible sculptures created by our students and the broader community. These exhibitions will be open to the public, allowing us to share our message of sustainability and creativity with the wider community.

Using paper clay in our art projects not only diverts paper waste from landfills but also promotes creative thinking and resourcefulness among our students. It's a fantastic way to teach them about recycling, reusing, and reducing waste while having fun making art.

We will make a difference, one sculpture at a time.

WRITER'S CORNER

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YOGA Practicing Mindfulness

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BETTER LEARNING ACADEMY SHOWCASE

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BETTER LEARNING ACADEMY SHOWCASE

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