Arianna Dastvan wanted to be a teacher since she was in elementary school. But after achieving her dreams, she left the job in 2020 after six years due to the stress from the job. She now works remotely for Realestaged, a furniture staging company for real estate agencies. (Courtesy of Arianna Dastvan).
By Shannon Clark, Capital News Service
Arianna Dastvan remembers using her birthday money as a child to buy an overhead projector for her bedroom. There, she would emulate the teachers she admired as she instructed her stuffed animals.
Dastvan recalled how she would stay late and arrive early, so she could assist her elementary school teachers with their work. She loved being in the classroom.
So, she became a teacher, but six years into her career, Dastvan, 31, quit her job with Baltimore County Public Schools.
A joyful learning experience. Inspiring teachers. The space to grow authentically and with confidence. These are just some of the themes that emerge from the voices of Garrison Forest students Ella, a senior, and Sunny, a junior.
A National Aquarium staff member teaches children about aquatic life. Photo courtesy of National Aquarium.
The National Aquarium and Enoch Pratt Free Library are bringing back their Read to Reef program next month to encourage reading about aquatic life and conservation with the incentive of earning free admission to the aquarium.
Boys’ Latin’s small size promotes the formation of tight bonds among both students and faculty. Two rising seniors, Jacob and Jimmy, share how this deep sense of connection and school pride permeates Boys’ Latin, from the athletic fields to the hallways to the classrooms.
THE BRYN MAWR SCHOOL, GILMAN SCHOOL AND ROLAND PARK COUNTRY SCHOOL
The Bryn Mawr School, Gilman School and Roland Park Country School share more than two bridges that physically connect their campuses. Often referred to collectively as the Tri-School, each individual school offers coordinated classes during the upper school years, providing students access to broader course selection and perspectives. The students appreciate this opportunity, while remaining committed to thriving within their respective single-sex communities. Here, student leaders Ben (GS), Grace (RPCS), and Olivia (BMS) provide some insight into what they treasure most about their schools.
Searching for an independent school can be exciting, yet overwhelming. Visit any number of them and you’re likely to find sprawling campuses, small class sizes, and an array of extracurricular activities. But look beneath the surface and you’ll note distinct differences that can’t necessarily be discerned by a quick trip to a school’s campus. So, how can you tell them apart and find the best match for your child?
Left to Right: Leena Rao, Jack Sheehy, Mia Gogel, Mike Leonard.
Baltimore has a rich culture and history of independent schools. These institutions dispense inspiring mentors, instill enduring values, and provide foundational experiences. We sat down with four graduates of Baltimore’s independent schools, all at different points in their professional lives, to discuss their education’s lifelong impact on them.
How the pandemic pushed educators to embrace the best of technology for learning
Students at Gilman School are taking more virtual field trips. At Roland Park Country School (RPCS), students are using platforms like Quizlet and Kahoot to make their own in-class learning games. The Bryn Mawr School is launching a fully accredited online high school.
Educators throughout Baltimore say the technologies they relied on in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when classes abruptly shuttered and learning went remote, are still in use now that students are back in the classrooms.
The software, apps and other tools don’t replace hands-on, in-person learning, but instead provide new opportunities for creativity and collaboration. Zoom can help students connect with off-campus experts and learn from virtual tours. Combined with devices like the Swivl robot or Owl camera, it enables students to participate in classroom discussions from afar. Technologies like Google Docs and Office 365 allow teachers to critique assignments collaboratively with students, who can see and respond in the same document in real time.
Families are often wowed by first impressions of independent schools: scenic campuses, state-of-the-art labs, modern athletic facilities, theaters, and more. But it’s the things you don’t see on tour that truly make independent schools special.
Locally, there’s no shortage of independent schools heralding these intangible traits, nor families who choose to enroll their children in them. Maryland is home to 66 schools within the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) that educate more than 25,000 students annually. To uncover some of the awesome invisible advantages that lure families to these special learning institutions each year, we turned to their champions—from committed families to staff members.
For many families, the beginning of the school year starts the process of looking to the next school year for enrollment in middle and high school. One of the best ways to get to know a new school is to take part in an Open House or School Visit Day.
At Notre Dame Preparatory School, the annual Open House is a signature event in which prospective students and their families to get to know the school, tour campus, and learn how NDP’s academic programs and extensive co-curricular offerings can help prepare a young woman to graduate ready and eager to transform the world.
Notre Dame Prep welcomes you to its annual Open House on Saturday, October 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Here are some tips to follow to have a successful and enjoyable Open House experience:
Recently, Beth H. Goldsmith, former Chair of the Board, went out into the community to meet with experts from The Associated system, who are making sure your kid’s back to school is the best ever.
Join Beth as she sits down with Rabbi Aaron Levitt, Director of Jewish Educational Services, and talks about the challenges educators and families face in the aftermath of COVID-19 and how what they’re doing about it. Next, hear from Martha Goodman, Coordinator of MDSnap, and how this program under The Macks Center for Jewish Connections is supporting families with children with learning disabilities. Finally, walk through the Jewish Library of Baltimore with Executive Director Jessica Fink, and learn how the Library’s collection of over 20,000 books and other educational resources support Baltimore’s Jewish community through their Jewish journey.
Our seventh annual Baltimore Fishbowl Guide to Independent Schools is out! Over the next few weeks, we’ll share on Baltimore Fishbowl stories you’ll find in the guide about the students, teachers, administrators, and programs that make up the independent school community. Check out the digital version above, and read our Notes from the Editor, below, to learn more about this year’s guide.
Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen stands in front of Baltimore City Hall accompanied by parents, students, teachers, and community leaders to encourage restorative practices in schools. Photo courtesy of Zeke Cohen/Twitter.
After two Baltimore City students were shot — including one who was killed — in separate incidents within the first weeks of the new school year, community leaders are calling for a new approach to reducing violence.
Last week, Baltimore City Council member Zeke Cohen (District 1) and supporters assembled in front of City Hall to call for a resolution tackling violence in Baltimore City schools.
It’s not too late to sign up for Boys’ Latin’s TOUCH-A-TRUCK event. Bring your little ones and join us on Saturday, September 17, from 10 AM – 11:30 AM. Families will have the opportunity to experience up-close encounters with a wide variety of things that go.
