Kenge Kenge Dancers

Thanks to Anne Stewart, mother of Burke students Catherine ’16 and Maria ’13, Burke had the opportunity to view a live performance from the music and dance group Kenge Kenge. The Kenyan group from the JoLuo tribe performed on handmade instruments and played traditional music in the Benga style. Their high-energy music was accompanied by traditional chants and dance. It was a perfect combination of education and invigorating entertainment; (they taught the students a lot about their instruments and culture).  They even got David Shapiro and Burke students to get up, and dance with them!

The group hails from Nairobi, Kenya and stopped by Burke as part of their US tour.

Check out this amazing performance! First in the Assembly Series!

You can also check out their interview on NPR. It is fun to hear them again! Click Here to listen.

Also, thanks to Chris B for the video!

Last Friday, the whole 9th grade class got together to learn about one of DC’s coolest parks while helping clean it up. Working with Parks and People at their Riverside Center, students learned about DC history while putting in some focused work outside. The 9th grade Service Learning programs asks students to reflect on their environment and how they can impact their communities through green living and their carbon footprint. Thanks to the 9th grade team of advisors and parents for a great day of learning and service!

Check out the brick wall from Marvin Gaye’s house!

Click here to check the 100 great(!) photos at BurkePix or just click here to go right to the Slideshow!

Part of being a teacher is modeling for students what I expect, and so this summer I took a trip of my own to find stories about the human cost of war and nuclear weapons. There is no better example of the effects and dangers of nuclear war than Hiroshima, Japan.

With a grant from Fund for Teachers, I traveled to Japan for two weeks to meet with two Hibakusha (literally “explosion affected people”) and the footage I collected will be made into a movie with the help of my students in Artivism-Moving Image. I also spent two days in the Hiroshima Memorial Museum, learning more about Hiroshima through stories and artifacts. I learned that the issue of nuclear weapons is complex and difficult, but that the clear bottom line is that we can never again repeat Hiroshima. Witnessing the effects of the bombing, in terms of stories of pain and survival, have brought me to a new level of awareness with teaching Activism and helping students understand the realities and costs of war..

I’ve been meeting some (super) cool people.  And I’ve been getting to know a lot about autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities by talking and meeting with parents and students and teachers, and by spending time with researchers.

I’ve spent most of my time at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, with my Great Aunt Martha Denckla (she’s a research scientist there, and a professor of Neurology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the nearby JHU medical school.)  I’ve sat in on conferences full of (difficult!) scientific talk and (crazy-freaky) statistical language (hi Rachel!)  But everything is really so fascinating once it starts to make sense (Oh, and there’s some good free food.)

Today, Martha was teaching JHU students how to test for executive functioning.  She discussed an interesting case of a young boy who was initially diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, but was later diagnosed with minor ADHD and tourette’s (a VERY unusual case…)  Anyway, I’ll have lots to talk about for my presentation. Missing Burke, and can’t wait to see everyone soon.

SENIOR PROJECTS!

For two weeks after AP’s, seniors can now choose to undertake their own self-designed adventures. In its pilot year, 5 brave seniors have decided to be the pioneers in what will hopefully become another Burke tradition.

All this week we’ll be highlighting each of the Senior Project Seniors and their amazing work.

First up: Michael Curcio working with F.O.R.C.E. (Friends of Rock Creek Environment)

In his own words:

“For my senior project, I am working for Friends of Rock Creek Environment (FORCE) in Chevy Chase D.C. I have been working on a video that discusses the groups construction of a Rain Garden at Chevy Chase Library. Rain gardens help absorb rain water so it does not go straight into Rock Creek, which carries trash and pollutants. During the project I have spent time filming in Rock Creek and have learned much about the environment and watershed there. When I complete the video, it will be posted to the blog.”

Here’s some more info about F.O.R.C.E.

Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment (FORCE) is a nonprofit organization working in Montgomery County, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., to protect and restore Rock Creek.  Since its founding in 2005, FORCE has become just that–a force for positive change in the Rock Creek watershed.

Let's Get it Clean

The Burke 9th grade is the link!

This past Saturday, 48 9th graders spent their Saturday working with Parks and People (www.washingtonparks.net) to help clean up Marvin Gaye Park in NE DC. You may know that Marvin Gaye grew up in Washington, DC, but did you know that our 9th grade sat in one of the venues where he performed? Parks and People held orientation in the very spot where Marvin Gaye entertained DC crowds in a former nightclub.

The service project was a resounding success, with students helping to clean up a playground, stream bed, planting trees and filling up around 20 bags of trash. The students displayed a great attitude and energy, and the 9th grade parents were outstanding volunteer drivers. Dan Berkman (Science Teacher) and Amanda Bozarth (9th Grade Dean) also worked hard to make the day a success.

The 9th grade Service Learning program focuses on exploring our local and city resources to learn how humans impact the environment. They also learn how race, class and income affect health and life choices. Burke has also partnered with the National Park Service to help clean up Pierce Mill Park.

Check out the pix!

Over the past 5 years, over 80 Burke students and 12 faculty members/parents have traveled to New Orleans and we have provided over 3,000 hours of service to the region.

Since 2007, Burke has also offered a 13 week Senior Values class on Hurricane Katrina, where students have been able to understand how and why Katrina happened through exploring race, class, history, the environment and culture.  Part of our work during this trip is to create a documentary to help other schools continue teaching about New Orleans.  The worse tragedy of all is forgetting Katrina ever happened.

The faculty leading the trip are Amanda, Cory, Anike, Evan and Iman (Burke’09), and they’ve all developed a curriculum using New Orleans as text.  We’ve got classes on Katrina theater, Vodoun (Voodoo), Filmmaking, Hip-Hop in New Orleans and Reflective Writing.

We held our trip orientation last week, and the students are very excited!  We have a full agenda which includes serving at ARNO (Animal Rescue New Orleans), McDonough 42-a school in the Treme neighborhood where we will be working on a rooftop garden and a local homeless shelter.  We also have a wetland tour planned, a tour of the Lower 9th Ward and of course, some jazz and delicious food.

Enjoy the pictures of last year’s trip and 2010 Orientation and stay tuned as we live blog our trip over break!

[UPDATE: Don't forget to scroll down to see the other posts from Burke Community Service Week 2010.]

After learning about homelessness, students then move on to research a topic of their choosing and record 3 minute podcasts PSA’s, educating the public using statistics, stories or examples.  Those podcasts will be available in the future.  For now, enjoy the pictures of my Activism class helping the homeless through making meals and friendships through service.

So where does MTV come in?  Last summer, and just airing last week, the film crew from the Real World DC decided that the Summer Leadership Academy would be one of the places where cast members intern…check out this link to see a couple of Burke seniors (be warned-there’s some colorful language and imagery throughout the episode in typical MTV reality style…go to the 20:00 minute mark for Burke)