click to enlarge BRIAN O'CONNELL ESL teacher Keary Ritchie with her young pupils in a scene from Day One. For nearly ten years, Nahed Chapman New American Academy has helped refugee and immigrant children adjust to a new life in St. Louis. Now the transitional public school and its students are being featured in Day One, a documentary set to premiere at the 2018 St. Louis International Film Festival. Day One is directed and produced by Los Angeles filmmaker Lori Miller. Miller has acted as a producer for documentaries in the past and has directed segments of those films, but Day One marks her first time directing an entire film. "It has been a great transition. I guess as a woman, I kind of saw myself in a supportive role to other people,” Miller says. “It was exciting for me to try and tell the story without relying on somebody else.” Part of the St. Louis Public Schools, Nahed Chapman New American Academy helps children coming from war-torn countries … [Read more...] about A St. Louis School Teaches Only Refugees and Immigrants. Day One Tells Its Story
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N.O. developer pulls plan for hotel at old Bay St. Louis school: report
A New Orleans developer has backed away from plans to convert a historic school building in downtown Bay St. Louis, Miss., into a hotel, a Mississippi coast newspaper reports. The Sun Herald reported that Jim MacPhaille, who owns a number of buildings in Bay St. Louis, dropped the hotel plans in order to concentrate on other projects he has in the town. MacPhaille, according to the story, said he didn't want to continue fighting with neighbors who didn't like the hotel plan. The school building dates to the 1920s and once housed Bay High School, the story said. MacPhaille had been seeking permission from the Planning and Zoning Board for a 70-room boutique hotel, the story said. MacPhaille and his wife, Catherine, own numerous other buildings in the town, which has strong ties to the New Orleans region. They are refurbishing the iconic A&G Theatre on the bay near the restaurant they own, 200 North Beach Restaurant and Bar. MacPhailles have brought on MetroStudio, the … [Read more...] about N.O. developer pulls plan for hotel at old Bay St. Louis school: report
East St. Louis School Board votes to save track season, which had been canceled after brawl last week
EAST ST. LOUIS • The East St. Louis School Board voted unanimously Monday to reinstate the boys track season, which was canceled after a brawl in the stands at a meet last week.The altercation started in the stands, but some members of the track team joined in. Superintendent Arthur Culver said he had canceled the track season because he was worried for safety at future track meets.That decision had drawn a small group of protesters who rallied outside the East St. Louis School District's administration office early Monday morning seeking to have that decision reversed. Brawl in the stands involving some athletes postpones conference track championships in East St. Louis "This is their one key to getting out of here, to be somebody," said Erica Brooks, an East St. Louis alumna of Lincoln High School and a former track athlete. "Please don't take this opportunity away from the kids."Brooks was among 16 people who held a press conference Monday morning.The school … [Read more...] about East St. Louis School Board votes to save track season, which had been canceled after brawl last week
Police called to St. Louis school after ‘senior prank’ use pepper spray, arrest student, officials say
Police called to a St. Louis high school Thursday afternoon following an apparent senior prank used pepper spray after finding more than 100 students outside and arrested an 18-year-old student, school officials say. The student has since been released and there were no injuries reported, St. Louis Police said. The officers had been called to Clyde C. Miller Career Academy around the school's dismissal time for a "large group of teens throwing eggs." Responding officers found "nearly 100 to 150" people outside the building with water balloons, squirt guns and eggs "as part of an apparent 'senior prank,'" police said. Additional officers responded after an call for aid was sent out, but the call was canceled after officers gained control of the scene. In a statement, St. Louis Public Schools officials said police "dispersed Mace" outside the school during dismissal and took one student into custody. "SLPS will cooperate with local authorities and take any subsequent … [Read more...] about Police called to St. Louis school after ‘senior prank’ use pepper spray, arrest student, officials say
Racial discrimination is alive and well in St. Louis schools; now let’s end it
If you thought school segregation was a thing of the past, guess again. The practice of denying educational opportunities to African-American kids is alive and well in St. Louis schools. That’s unacceptable.We’re helping to lead the fight to end St. Louis schools’ segregation policy, and our goal is to take this fight to the Supreme Court. But for that to happen, we need to hear from families in the community who have been affected by this unconstitutional policy.Many people may be shocked to learn segregation persists in their community’s schools, believing we won that fight in the last century. But it’s sadly true — the only difference is today’s segregation has taken on a new face. Let’s take a step back to explain how we got here.In 2016, we represented Edmund Lee, a bright 11-year-old boy, in a lawsuit to vindicate his civil rights. When Edmund’s mother, La’Shieka, moved her family to a safer neighborhood, she sought to … [Read more...] about Racial discrimination is alive and well in St. Louis schools; now let’s end it