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Arts Every Day is pleased to announce Freedom Dreaming: Finding Joy, its sixth annual 10×10 Exhibit featuring art from Baltimore City Public School students and teachers. Guest curated by MICA Curatorial Practice MFA student Nia Ricks in collaboration with a youth curatorial team, the virtual exhibition will be on view at www.10X10exhibit.org starting February 17, 2022.
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beyond memorization: understanding Earth's systems using science textbooks, photography, and abstract paintingCreative City 5th Graders studied Earth’s systems (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere: Next Generation Science Standard 5-ESS2-1) using Discovery Education science curriculum materials. They read texts, watched video clips, and discussed, defined and applied new vocabulary. Student assessment was conducted before and after this regular, standards-based instruction. Two arts integrated extensions were then offered to deepen understanding. Taking a place-based approach, students first used photography to document examples of Earth’s spheres that they could directly observe around the school grounds. Students then wrote about the relationship between spheres as evidenced in their photo. (Fig. 1) As a second arts integrated approach, students participated in a painting project inspired by African-American abstract artist, Alma Thomas. Students researched and selected habitats to depict, and planned their representation through abstract painting. (Fig. 2) Ultimately, they explained to their class and teachers what they had represented about Earth’s systems.   Student assessment was conducted again at the completion of the arts integrated extensions. The assessment tool remained static in all three administrations, and the assessment questions were strategically selected because they mirror questions that also appear on the MISA standardized test, which these students will take later this school year. Results demonstrate the positive impact that arts integrated extension had on students’ understanding and mastery of grade level Science content.  Of the 45 fifth grade students who took all three assessments:
 For questions or more information about Creative City's arts integration program or its alignment to standards-based instruction in all contents, contact us at 443-642-3600 or email Marisa Canino, Executive Director, at MCanino@bcps.k12.md.us.  (Comprehensive definition of Arts Integration from The Kennedy Center)
Creative City students score higher than district averages on Math and ELA assessments at the beginning of their 6th Grade year[January 23, 2022] - This year, Creative City Public Charter School (a K-5 school) conducted an analysis of Beginning-of-Year (BOY) Grade 6 iReady diagnostic scores from former Creative City 5th graders.[1] Three years of Math and ELA data were reviewed.[2] This measure was selected because the September diagnostic captures what students learned in 5th Grade. It also allows comparison with grade-level peers who had attended other elementary schools. In each year reviewed, students from Creative City scored higher than district averages. Because of COVID-19 interruptions to in-person schooling, there is no standardized testing (PARCC / MCAP) data beyond the 2018-19 school year. This analysis was completed to review student academic success during that time. Third grade is the youngest grade tested in MCAP. Therefore, our youngest test-takers from 18-19 are now in 6th Grade, with no standardized data beyond their 3rd Grade year. The findings are clear. Comparing Mean Scale Score from the Beginning-of-Year (Window 1) iReady diagnostic in Math and ELA from each of the last three years, we see that Creative City students who are entering 6thGrade and who completed iReady have a mastery of both ELA and Math content that is greater than their grade-level peers across the district. (See Figure 1.) In addition, the degree to which Creative City students exceeded district averages has increased each year for the three years under study, showing that steady improvements to Creative City's instruction of 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders continue to improve student outcomes.  We also had the opportunity to follow a subset from the above group. Eight (8) Creative City students took the Grade 3 MCAP test at Creative City in Spring, 2019, and then took the Grade 6 Beginning-of-Year iReady diagnostic at Baltimore Design School in Fall, 2021.[3] We had access to student-level data from each of these tests. This subset of students performed well below their district peers in both Math and ELA on their Grade 3 MCAP, but exceeded the district averages on their Grade 6 iReady in both domains. (See Figures 2 & 3.) This data, and Creative City's academic performance and improvement as a whole, should be viewed in light of the fact that as few as 5% of incoming students (versus 39% of all BCPS students) demonstrate readiness for Kindergarten, according to 2019-20 KRA scores.  Weak MCAP performance in the 2018-19 test cycle (and in years prior) prompted multiple changes to Creative City’s instructional program to improve student outcomes. These changes are now bearing fruit and include:
While MCAP and iReady are not strictly parallel assessments, this metric is the best substitute amidst a lack of other options to measure student growth and success. Both tests measure performance in ELA and Math, both tests are computer-based, and both tests are standardized and adaptive. FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, contact Marisa Canino, Executive Director, at 443-642-3602 or MCanino@bcps.k12.md.us [1] Data sources: BCPS Office of Achievement & Accountability; Baltimore Design School; PARCC records; public KRA records
[2] While not all middle schools use the iReady diagnostic, a majority of our 5th grade students who remained in Baltimore City schools for middle school (149 out of 175) took iReady in the first quarter of 6th Grade. (58% of these took ELA, 61% took Math) [3] In SY21-22, Baltimore Design School received the largest number of 5th graders (19% of total) from Creative City. These students comprised 16% of Baltimore Design School’s 6th grade in 21-22. We were able to access student-level iReady data to support our analysis. We do not yet have student-level data for the remainder of the students in this study. Dear families,
Words can't express how excited we are to be starting an in-person school year with you. I am also a Creative City parent and this has been a looooong 18 months for my three children (ages 6, 9, and 11). As we prepare to return to in-person learning, I know that my kids will benefit from lots of opportunities to reconnect with the school community and to ease back into the idea of in-person school. We have a busy week planned with several opportunities for you and your family! Virtual Welcome Night! Wed, 8/25 at 5:30pm Get the information you need to know to start the school year off strong. From drop off and pick up instructions, to COVID health & safety precautions, we want to make sure you have as much information as possible. This is a zoom event with the following log on information:https://bcps-k12-md-us.zoom.us/j/83409376822?pwd=cndEMjlCZ0I4dFowNjgwMldSaVNTQT09 Meeting ID: 834 0937 6822 Passcode: Meeting Art with School Administration! Thu 8/26, 3:00 - 6:00pm Thanks to a partnership with Parks & People Foundation and Art with a Heart, we are painting a mural on the storage container in our Outdoor Classroom! Join us for a fun school improvement activity and drop in to help paint. This is also a chance to meet & chat with school administration, ask questions, confirm class assignments, buy t-shirts, etc. Masks required! This event may be cancelled if there is poor weather Take a Peek at Your Seat! Grades 2-5 Fri 8/27, 9:00am - 11:15am Sign up for a slot to come meet your teacher, peek at your classroom, and mentally prepare for the school year! You will also be able to ask questions, confirm class assignments, buy t-shirts, etc. Masks required! There will also be opportunities to help paint the Outdoor Classroom mural, weather permitting. Sign up here:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C45ACAE22A6F85-take "Cozy Opening" Grades K & 1 Sat 8/28, noon - 2:15pm We are taking extra care with our youngest students who may need a little extra time to ease into the school year. Sign up for a one-hour block for your Kindergartener or First Grader to get to know their classroom, meet their teacher and a small group of classmates, and get ready for Monday. We will also hold parent orientations during this time. Please stay for the full hour if at all possible - and then stay for the fun at our Back to School BBQ afterwards! Masks required! RSVP here:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C45ACAE22A6F85-cozy Back to School BBQ! Everyone welcome!Sat, 8/28, 1:00 - 4:00pm Our Back to School BBQ is always the best party in town, and this year it will be better than ever! Free food, kids activities, vendors, and a chance to get to know school staff and families. We really hope to see you there. FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL -Mon 8/30, doors open at 7:45am We really can't wait to begin the school year with you. Please come to as many of these events as make sense to your family, and let us know if we have questions - we are here to make the school year smooth and easy for your family! Sincerely, Ms. Canino Executive Director Exciting news! We have a new online store available for your Creative City Swag needs. Sweatshirts, T-shirts, Hoodies, Polos and more are ready for purchase. We are trying to get orders by December 10th so that everything can be here in time for the holidays! Click the button below. "Students in Mr. Appel and Ms. Griffin's class studied what, where, and why voting happens in a Democracy. They made a list of ways they could encourage people in Baltimore to vote. Two of these ideas were to make posters about voting and make phone calls to tell people to vote (among many, many other ideas). We recorded their short messages and made them into a "Robo-Dojo" call to put out to the entire school!" Listen to the Robo Call Here:   Does your child need a ride to school? Can you give a student a ride? We have a plan to set up a strong system to connect families who need help getting to school (driving, walking, MTA) with families who can help. Please fill out a quick survey to let us know if you can help or if you need help: CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY! As their third trimester project, Mr. Appel's first grade class studied our community in southern Park Heights. They began with a field trip to the Baltimore Museum of Industry where they learned about community and studied common themes about what makes a community thrive. The students then brainstormed locations here in southern Park Heights that are essential parts of our own community. They decided together that they would visit the Save-a-Lot grocery store, Pimlico Race Track, and the local fire station (Engine Company #29). The students worked together to develop interview questions for their visits, read books and did research in preparation of each visit, and worked together to write a summary after each visit. The result of this work is presented here in their Creative City Kids Podcast, which was their culminating project of this long arc of classroom study. We hope you listen and enjoy!  |
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