Here is a message from our committed Parent Coordinator, Marlene Daniels:
“On Wednesday, February 1st, our very talented, spontaneous, clever, observant, well-prepared CAFE Mock Trial Team (CMTT) participated in their first competition, which took place in FUMC’s Chapel on the 2nd floor.
CAFE competed against High Point High School from Beltsville, Md. – - a sharp all girls’ team.
I am so excited and proud to say………………….”WE WON”………………………………..YAAAAY!!!
GOOD LUCK AT YOUR NEXT COMPETITION!”
Start fulfilling those New Years Resolutions NOW! CAFE offers beginning and intermediate/advanced steel band classes for adults and seniors. Students with no musical training can learn to play songs on the steel pan in just a few sessions. It is fun, and dancing is great exercise! (more…)
On December 10th, CAFE produced its 15th annual Holiday Concert. The crowd, which included community members, family, friends, and dignitaries, was enamored all evening as each of CAFE’s performing ensembles took to the stage. The first half of the concert featured not only the award-winning Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra, but also the venerable Georgetown Choral, and four-time Grammy winning tenor, John Aler! PVYSO started the show with Musical Director Adam Grisé’s great arrangement of the Led Zeplin classic, Fool in the Rain. After breathtaking renditions of Horkstow Grange, by Percy Grainger and Salvation Is Created, by Pavel Chesnokov, the group was joined by the Georgetown Choral and John Aler for rousing numbers from Handel’s Messiah and powerful version of Vivaldi’s Gloria, before closing the first half with a heart-felt “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”!
The second half of the concert was introduced by Honorable Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards before moving directly into PVYSO’s tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces. Throughout the remainder of the concert, all of CAFE’s wonderful ensembles enjoyed their time in the spotlight. The Rhythm Starters (also known as the world’s shortest steel band) received a standing ovation after their performance of the traditional carol “Good King Winceslas” and the Rhythm Runners got the moving with an upbeat treatment of “Amazing Grace” and a funky arrangement of Luther Vandross’ “Never Too Much”. CAFE’s adult steel band, the PanTones, surprised the audience (and probably themselves) with excellent performances of Calypso Rose’s “Fire in Me Wire” and Paul Simon’s “Late in the Evening” before making way for PVYSO to once again take the stage. After the Christmas “Soul” standard, Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”, PVYSO was joined on stage by the PanTones for a jamming closer in Scrunter’s “Madame Jeffery”, a parang classic. If you missed this concert, you definitely won’t want to miss CAFE’s joint benefit concert with the Georgetown Chorale on Sunday April 29th.
To see the rest of the pictures visit the gallery!
Rhythm Starters (elementary band) will rehearse this evening from 6-7:30
Earlier this year, the Cultural Academy For Excellence was selected by the University of Maryland College Park Scholars’ Art and Science of Philanthropy course to be recipients of a special grant initiative. This relationship has continued to develop throughout the year and has resulted in wonderful opportunities for students and faculty from UMD to partner with CAFE’s students. (more…)
Naila Adams is a fellow at Duke University School of Medicine. She has been involved in her school’s Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) since her first year, and through her leadership efforts has helped create a much more active group.
“Students can do sports medicine through family medicine, they can do geriatrics through family medicine, there’s global health— there are so many opportunities available through family medicine,” she said. ”I just wanted to make students really aware of and excited about those things.”
Nailah serves as National Coordinator of the FMIG Network for the 2011-12 academic year.
On Saturday October 22nd 2011, some of the CAFE art students spent the afternoon visiting some of theart galleries in the Hyattsville/Brentwood Maryland area. First on the list was The Prince Georges Community Center’s Art Display on Adelphi Road. The art display was made up of artworks from members of the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance, and the students had a chance to chat with one of the featured artist, and enjoy some of munchies provided. The Lustine Center Gallery on Route One was next on the list. Exhibits at this venue are not usually open to the public, but the visit was prearranged to accommodate the CAFE students. The scale and variety of the items on display captured the student’s interest, and they left with much enthusiasm about creating similar pieces of their own. Next was the Gateway Arts Center.At the Arts Center the students got the chance to experience “The Sky’s the Limit” exhibition.The exhibit featured a variety of artworks from cast glass sculptures and ceramic pieces, to mixed media and award winning photography. Students were also allowed to enter a “Painting with Felt” class conducted by artist James Brown. Mr. Brown explained the process of creating original felt paintings using colored wool and a felting needle on foam. This was a class for adults only, but they were quite happy to have the CAFE students visit, and were very impressed by the questions the students asked. The students rounded out the trip with a visit to the Bladensburg Waterfront Park, where they stopped to enjoy snacks, and watch some of the boating crews on the water, before returning to CAFE.
We received this wonderful email from one of our proud parents! Congratulations to CAFE student Ashley Thompson, participant in the National Junior Young Leaders Conference, 2011!!!
Yesterday was a busy day! Ashley started her educational journey in Washington, D.C. by experiencing the Museum of American History. There, Ashley participated in a “Learning to Look” activity, during which she studied artifacts from our nation’s history and reflected on their importance.
The scholars were then led on a tour of an exhibit where they examined the seven different roles of an American President. In the afternoon, Ashley continued her investigation of Washington, D.C.’s rich history with an exploration of some of our most iconic historical memorials, including the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
In the evening, she reconvened with her LFG to engage in a discussion about students’ First Amendment rights in schools. Employing her communication skills, Ashley debated with her fellow scholars, citing relevant support for her side. Be sure to ask Ashley which side she took!
To view photo slideshows from Ashley’s day, click here.
If you have any questions about the Conference, please contact our Office of Admissions at (703) 584-9533.
Sincerely,
Marguerite C. Regan, Ph.D.
Dean of Academic Affairs
P.S. While your student is attending JrNYLC, you may contact the Conference staff by e-mail. If you prefer to do so you may send an e-mail to JrNYLCfieldB@cylc.org and our staff will reply several times throughout the day.phone: (703) 584-9533
e-mail: jrnylc_adm@cylc.org
web: www.cylc.org/jrnylc
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Thanks to a generous grant from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, CAFE students visited three Veterans Administration Medical Centers during October and November to honor those who have served our country. Positive Vibrations Youth Steel Orchestra performed spirited military and popular tunes and taught veterans to play a simple melody on the steel pan, while middle schoolers interviewed veterans and researched patriotic songs which they introduced at the concerts. Special thanks to trumpeter Staff Sargeant Kevin Gebo for his guest appearance!
