THE MARBUT MESSENGER VOL. 28/ISSUE NO.1

THE MARBUT

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Mrs. Tameka Lyseight-White

MEET MR RICHARDS

“HELLO LEADER!”

The ministry of mentorship and role modeling

MEET CHANDLER SALMON

Learn more about one of our 5th graders who has been at Marbut since Kindergarten.

REPARE FOR AKEOFF

age from Principal Mountain

School Motto: "Commit to the challenge " School Vision: "Moving from good to great " School Mission: "Marbut Traditional Theme School offers each student a challenging educational environment where selfdiscipline and high academic expectations are emphasized Teachers, parents and the community share the responsibility of promoting achievement and success for all "

PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF. FOCUSING ON STARTING STRONG!

Dear Marbut Family,

We are closing out our 7th week of the 2023-2024 school year. The anxiety many of us feel during these first weeks of school is much like what we feel when a plane is taking off and we are strapped into our seats. We feel the pressure from the acceleration of the plane. We brace ourselves, strapped in for safety as the plane climbs to new heights, and think about the destination ahead. We understand that the anxiety and pressure we feel is only for a moment as the pilot pushes the engines that work to lift the plane up to a safe altitude to begin the flight to our destination.

What I’ve just described is very familiar to those who have spent time flying in and out of HartsfieldJackson International Airport. The start of the school year can be a very tense and anxiety-filled time. We hope that at this point in the year, you are settling into some routines and the stress you may have felt is becoming less now. Our teachers are working hard to integrate new resources into instruction. Our leadership team is leading professional development and meeting with teachers weekly to review content being taught in the classroom.

Our PTA is having a banner year with fundraisers and events like the Scholastic Book Fair and Grits for Grands. This issue of the Marbut Messenger is intended to give you a look inside our school community to see the many exciting things happening thus far. Let’s continue to work together as a Marbut family to ensure that our children have the best possible learning experience ever.

Your Partner in Teaching and Learning,

Meet Chandler Salmon

Chandler was one of the students whose likeness was used for one of our new school murals Here, he shares more of who he is as a Marbut scholar

Q: How long have you attended Marbut:

C.S.: I’ve attended Marbut for 6 years. I started when I was in Kindergarten. I’m in 5th grade.

Q: What do you plan to become?

C.S.: I plan to become an NBA player and a businessman. I want to own restaurants and sneaker stores.

Q:What do you believe is the most important problem facing the world?

C.S.: I think the most important problem in the world is homelessness. I think everyone should have a safe place to live and food to eat.

Q: Who are your biggest influences?

C.S.: Kobe Bryant because he had the Mamba mentality to always try to be the best version of himself and to try to be better today than he was yesterday.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

C.S.: I like to play basketball, NBA 2K and draw for fun.

Q: What are your favorite books?

C.S.: My favorite books are the DogMan books.

Q: What do you love about Marbut?

C.S.: I love the teachers at Marbut. My teachers make me feel comfortable and they teach well. I have good friends at Marbut too.

Q: What is one of your favorite Marbut memories?

C.S.: One of my favorite memories at Marbut is Field Day. there are so many activities that are super fun.

Hip-Hop Literacy Lab

Featured on CBS Atlanta News First

Recently, CBS’s Atlanta News First visited Marbut and interviewed students in the Hip Hop Literacy Laboratory. Students shared what the loved about the laboratory and were able to engage in a lesson about the five elements of Hip Hop. Educators are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to register their students for a visit to the lab. They have the option to lead the lesson themselves or enlist the help of another teacher. The media center assistant is also available to assist students with their literacy needs Throughout this experience, students will gain valuable insights into the history of hip-hop and refine their artistic abilities The Hip Hop Literacy Laboratory is based upon Harvard University’s Hip Hop Ex Laboratory where graduate and local high school students can experience, explore, and experiment with the varied roles and possibilities for Hip Hop arts in educational settings.

They also have the chance to analyze the lyrics of wellknown hip-hop artists from Atlanta, providing a comprehensive learning opportunity with a local flare. “Atlanta artists are talking about real social issues the life of a young person growing up in metro Atlanta,” said Mountain. “We don’t want just to honor what was created in the Bronx with the founding of hip-hop, but also honor the stamp that Atlanta has put on hip-hop culture ”

Fifth-grade students London Christen and Jase Kurtz enjoy what the Hip Hop Literacy Laboratory offers “I enjoy it because we get to learn more about hip-hop

When you research what hip-hop means, it won’t tell you the real meaning,” said London. “You have to learn and experience it yourself.” “I love Black history, and Black people created hip-hop,” said Jase. “So, I love coming to the lab. I love learning about hip-hop. It’s really cool.” According to Principal Mountain, the lab aims to encourage other schools to create distinctive learning spaces that foster student innovation and learning.

CBS spoke with Principal Mountain about the intent of the Hip Hop Literacy Laboratory and he said, “The goal is to inspire other schools to think about their curriculum and what you might be able to offer,” he said “It might not be a hiphop lab but something that will ignite a student’s desire to go deeper into subjects that they’re learning.”

Parent Volunteer Spotlight:

Mr. Chris Hayden and Next Level Basketball

Next Level Parental Engagement

During the summer, Marbut parent Chris Hayden had an idea He wanted to host a basketball camp for Marbut students to help teach them the fundamentals of a game they love He reached out to the administration, worked to pin down a date, and the rest was history Once the event was posted on social media, within 3 hours, all 40 of the available slots were filled Mr Hayden and his team hosted the event in the Marbut gym on August 5th for students in grades 2nd-5th

During the camp, students learned the fundamentals of dribbling, layups, and how to make shots more consistently Coach Hayden encouraged students to be persistent and set goals for their athletic endeavors We are thankful for parents like Coach Hayden who use their talents and passions to create opportunities for our young scholars

Campus Culture

The Hijab in the Hallway

A Culturally Sustaining Art Project Brings Our Lobby to Life!

Hijab is an Arabic word which means curtain The term has often is used by Muslims to describe the headscarf that Muslim women wear Culture is important at Marbut Traditional Theme School Our student body reflects a broad range of cultural backgrounds We work to have a culturally sustaining school community Culturally sustaining school cultures take an asset-based approach, viewing students’ home and community cultural practices as resources “to honor, explore, and extend”. Our art teacher, Mrs Carolita Benton has created a beautiful display in the lobby of our school this year that

serves as a means to honor the students of our school Once aspect of the display pays special homage to the culture of our students who wear hijabs as part of their religious practice In creating this project, Mrs Benton enlisted the students for feedback and assistance as the hijab was created and decorated with gems This beautiful lobby display reflects the diversity of our school community as well as our efforts to include student voice into every aspect of our school

MEET MR. RICHARDS

When you arrive on our campus in the mornings, you will likely see Mr David Richards standing in the parking lot waving at cars as they arrive He may be singing, clapping, and possibly dancing with enthusiasm for the day ahead He greets students with the words “Hello leader!”, a subtle reminder that they all are expected to demonstrate leadership We recently asked him to share what makes him passionate about his work as an educator Here is what he said:

NATURAL ALIGNMENT

“This quest is deeply rooted in my DNA, my Grandmother who lived to be 106 years of age, received her Degree in education in 1915 My mother taught for 70 years and my Dad taught for 30 years after serving 37 years in the US Military

They have been the bridge builders that stand in raging waters of miseducation, yet the foundation of education comes from Edenic -Luxor Aswan Egypt, and Timbuktu Mali Real education is the critical skill that sharpens the mind to strategically think, delineate, extrapolate, and juxtapose the issues of society One of the greatest rewards of teaching is seeing the progress of your students Making a positive contribution to our future A natural alignment with my calling teaching, and developing young people for society I love working with young people They are filled with excitement and they light up when they grasp a new concept

RESPONSIBILITY

As young adults, we have a responsibility to our community’s education and moral training We must get our education! The Reverend Dr Martin Luther King, Jr said, “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education” Education is essential to endless opportunities and success Understand, “book sense without common sense results in no cents for successful living” Although intelligence is the proficiency of retaining and applying knowledge, the success of an individual cannot solely be determined by their level of intelligence Character is a key factor to one ’ s success and socialization in society Character epitomizes who you are and what you are made of, not to be confused with reputation; which is what others think of you

To handle life’s challenges, I reflect on my parent’s guidance We must go back and embrace family, and formal and social education

FAMILY VALUES

Family education is the basic foundation for building character This is where love and respect is experienced and taught Parenting cultivates and nurtures children by teaching self-discipline and respect for others Family values will sustain and provide the uplift necessary to affect change with compassion Formal education prepares the mind scholastically with critical thinking skills Formal education builds on the intelligence of an individual and equips them to compete in the global market

SOCIAL EDUCATION

Social education is the intelligence plus character developed from family and formal education that influences a positive outcome in society Volunteering in the community provides insights for innovation and an understanding of what is needed to affect change Family education, formal education and social education work hand in hand and are essential to successful living”

“Hello Leader”: Service, Bridge Building, and Successful Living

Our Pop-Up Uniform Shop:

The Artis Tribe Brings Ujamaa to Marbut

The fourth principle of Kwanzaa is Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) which is essentially a commitment to the practice of shared social wealth and the work necessary to achieve it. Ujamaa literally means familyhood. This year, the Artis family worked with the administration of Marbut to create a pop-up uniform shop to help families secure uniforms for their scholars at a discounted price Mrs Artis, 3rd-grader Miles, 1st grader Marvin, and Mr Artis all assisted in making this event a tremendous success The journey began during the Spring of 2023, when our students expressed a desire to have a free dress day Students were able to enjoy the Free Dress Day on May 24, 2023 by donating one gently used uniform item to our school’s parent center. During the summer, the Artis family took the donated items home, washed them, and returned them to the school to be organized for the upcoming year for a pop-up shop to help parents out with their back to school shopping

Understanding Ujamaa

Ujamaa also stresses self-reliance in building, strengthening, and controlling the economics of our own community. The assumption here is that we must seize and maintain the initiative in all that is ours Ujamaa, the Swahili word for extended family, was a social and economic policy developed and implemented in Tanzania by President Julius Kambarage Nyerere between 1964 and 1985 Based on the idea of collective farming and the "villagization" of the countryside, ujamaa also called for the nationalization of banks and industry and an increased level of self-reliance at both an individual and national level

POP-UP

On Friday, October 6th we will have another Free Dress Day and invite students to donate another uniform item to our popup shop. This will allow us to reopen our Pop-Up Uniform Shop and make discounted uniform items available to families again for $2 00 per item

Marbut Muralist: William “King Pop” Floyd

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

William “King Pop” Floyd is a local Atlanta legend in the art world. He owns a shop in the Little 5 Points area and works with local Atlanta sports teams and corporations on art projects that transform iconic brands One of his most notable clients is Rap Snacks He has designed packaging for the popular brand of chips found in stores around metro Atlanta

This summer, King Pop spent time at Marbut designing and installing 10 murals that now adorn the walls of our school This mural project features images of current Marbut scholars, making it a very personal and unique project that will inspire our students, visitors, and families for years to come.

TEAMOFTHEMONTH

MARBUTPARAPROFESSIONALS

from left to right:

This month, we celebrate our Marbut Traditional Theme School paraprofessionals. This group of dedicated educators supports our scholars and teachers by providing small group instruction, working alongside teachers to manage classroom transitions, and preparing the resources that make great learning happen throughout the school day. From class coverage to supervision during arrival and dismissal, our paraprofessionals play a tremendous role in the overall success of our school and the culture and climate that is felt in every hallway. This month, we recognize them for their contributions to our school.

OUR BOOKS OF THE MONTH

From the Media Center Team

My Side of the Mountain

Tired of things at home, the character runs to the mountains where he creates a life for him He makes shelter in a tree, finds and cooks food, discovers ways to stay warm and cool, and much more I love this book because it takes you back to nature and how you can do anything when you put your mind to it

My Hair is Magic!

When asked about her hair, the girl has many answers to describe it It's a great book about how ones appearance represents who we are

OUR BOOKS OF THE MONTH

From the Media Center Team

Nigel and the Moon

I recommend this book because I believe it is an untold story that a lot of shy/nervous youth could understand and relate to Also, I relate to the main character’s dream to be an astronaut ballerina superhero

Missing Daddy

I recommend this book to everyone so they can understand a perspective that many children live daily. This book is a great teaching tool for empathy, grief, and incarceration.

Dedicated. Responsive. Compassionate. Detailed.

These are all words that can be used to describe Mrs. Tameka Lyseight-White. Mrs. Lyseight-White serves as the Academic Coach for Marbut Traditional Theme School and also provides instruction in our 5th grade in the area of English Language Arts.

Her work as an Academic Coach adds tremendous value to our school’s overall instructional program She conducts focus walks with members of our staff, supports staff members with ideas to increase the quality of instruction, and helps staff members to navigate the many online resources at their disposal.

In addition to Mrs. Lyseight-White’s work to support teachers and students during the day, she also extends her impact beyond the school day by working with our school’s after-school program, sponsoring our Young Ladies of Marbut Mentoring Group and being the lead sponsor for our Marbut Reading Bowl Team

We are thankful for her many contributions to the overall culture, climate, and operations of our school Congratulations!

This month we recognize Mrs. Tameka Lyseight-White as our September Employee of the Month!

CONGRATULATIONS!

We would like to recognize our 2023-2024 Employees of the Year.

Educational Support Professional of the Year I: Mrs Patricia Scott-Harrell, Paraprofessional

Educational Support Professional of the Year II: Ms Camille Blakely, Assistant Principal Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Lillian Owens, Music Teacher

Character Trait of the Month

KINDNESS

Definition: the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

Call a friend that you haven't spoken to for a while.

Send a letter to a grandparent.

Send flowers to a friend.

Offer to pick up some groceries for your elderly neighbor.

Send someone a handwritten note.

Offer to babysit for a friend. Walk your friend's dog.

Draw a picture for a friend and present it to them as a gift.

A U G U S T 2 0 2 3

Pre-K

Dodd - Kaiden Shackelford

Williams - Khleah Smith

Kdg

Crowe-Harris - Amanah Draughorne

Morgan - Laithan Cornish

Thomas - Kenzie Smith

1st

Henry - Skylar Bennett

Manning - Dava Agyekum

McElveen - Laila Brown

2nd

Morris - Mckenzie Douglas

Thomas - Kaelan Bey

3rd

Idlette - Karsyn Moody

Key - Joliyah Moore

Mitchell - Sarii Benson

4th

Gilley - Quaniyah Brunson

Martin-White - Muadh Ahmed

Reddish - Jordyn Martin

5th

Draughorne - Karissa Dowdie

Lyseight-White/Card - Londen Christen

Zeno - Janiyah Hinton

COMMIT TOTHE CHALLENGE

VOLUME 28 ISSUE NO. 1

SEPTEMBER 2023

THE MARBUT MESSENGER