Graduation and One Last Chance
Tomorrow we will have the first graduation of City Neighbors High School. In 2010 we opened and students came from all over the city, they decided to take a chance on a new high school and be the first class of freshmen. (Check out our current enrollment map above with all four classes). Our school was designed based on the question, "What would it take for every student to be Known, Loved, and Inspired?" And the class of 2014, our first class, helped us learn what it takes. During the first year we only had part of the building renovated, no lockers, half the faculty we really needed, and all the start up difficulties faced by any new school opening up determined to innovate. But through that struggle we forged strong relationships. There is a sense of ownership that is strong and steady.
Here is a great quote on our values from our Principal, Danique Dolly:
"WE REALLY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER. WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ON PURPOSE. WE HAVE ALLOWED [STUDENTS] TO HAVE A VOICE AND TO LEARN THROUGH THEIR INTERESTS AND BECAUSE OF THAT THEY BECOME STRONGER INDIVIDUALS. INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MAKING HISTORY AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE."
You can listen to our students talk about our school and more from Danique in the TV spot on WBAL.
Graduation is the one last chance we have to make sure our students feel Known, Loved, and Inspired. There will be dancing, there will be singing, and speeches, and laughter, and storytelling. But after tomorrow, they have got to step into the world and take it with them. We will miss this class. Our pioneers. But I can tell you this, I'm not worried about this world. When our students have a hand in fighting poverty, racism, ignorance, and homelessness, and when our students are the ones to build and create, and inspire others, and dream powerful dreams of change and possibility, then we are going to be ok. After four years of watching the class of 2014 help create what a great High School can be in this city, I look forward to a future that will include these students as they forge ahead in college and careers. Congratulations, class of 2014! Thank you for making City Neighbors High School a special place!