> Issue #1: March 2005

School News

 

College Acceptances

In June 2005, Thurgood Marshall Academy’s first class of seniors will graduate. One hundred percent of our seniors applied to college. Most await notification this April. We are pleased to report that three TMA students have already received letters of acceptance:

 

* Shannon Austin—Bennett College (NC)

* Lawrence Chambers—Johnson & Wales University (NC)

* Natasha Williams—Central Pennsylvania College (PA)

 

 

Washington Post DC Scholars

On December 30, 2004, the Washington Post recognized outstanding high school students throughout the city as “Top Achievers.” Two TMA students—12th-grader Quanic Fullard and 10th-grader Derrell Lipscomb—were among this prestigious group, comprised of students from 19 public and public charter schools in Washington, DC.

 

 

Thurgood Marshall Academy’s Academic Honor Roll

TMA has instituted a new academic honor roll system, recognizing student achievement. Students whose grade point average is between 3.0 and 3.59 are named to the Honor Roll. Students with a GPA between 3.60 and 3.99 are Magna Scholars. Finally, those students who have earned a GPA of 4.00 to 4.33 are designated as Summa Scholars.
 

Three students received top honors as Summa Scholars for the 1st Quarter of 2004-2005: 10th-grader Derrell Lipscomb; and 12th-graders Justin Williams and Quanic Fullard. Four more were Magna Scholars: 9th-graders Stephanie Douglass and James Watkins; and 11th-graders Hakeemat Ayodeji and Lucreatia Williams.

 

An additional 24 students in grades 9-12 were named to the Honor Roll for the 1st Quarter.
 

 

TMA Grows to Support Student Achievement

Thurgood Marshall Academy continues to grow and develop our capacity to prepare our students for college and civic participation. On February 28, TMA welcomed a Reading Intervention Specialist, Azalia Hunt, to our staff. Ms. Hunt will help students who have severe deficits in literacy to improve their reading skills. TMA has also recently formed the Test Sophistication Team, which develops and implements strategies to improve students’ critical thinking and test-taking skills. Finally, TMA is taking steps to make sure our students can succeed on standardized tests—we never “teach to the test,” but we recognize that test-taking is a skill, one our students must attain to enter college. In mid-February students took a practice version of the SAT-9 proficiency exam compiled by TMA staff. This test will serve as a benchmark for student progress.
 

 

TMA Grows as a School

This year, Thurgood Marshall Academy is providing—sometimes for the first time—the extracurricular activities of a full-fledged high school. TMA’s athletics department is proud to report that the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have—in their first seasons—made the playoffs. The teams play in the Washington Charter School Athletic Association, made up of 12 teams from charter schools in the Washington area. Thurgood Marshall Academy’s first Junior-Senior Prom will be held this May. Finally, this April TMA’s 12th-graders are going to Disney World in Florida for their senior class trip, chaperoned by staff.

 

 

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