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First Week of School Reflection by Don Danforth

First Week of School Reflection by Don Danforth

This week, we launched our twentieth school year. It was exciting to see the optimism and excitement of everyone, especially our students. One parent shared that her daughter bounced out of bed, fully dressed and ready to go, having slept in her school uniform!

For me, first days are a time for reflection. I am reminded of how far we have come since opening the school in 1999 at Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club with only 42 students. As we celebrate twenty years of exceptional education, we are excited to open our doors to a record number of students: 202!

First Day of School 1999
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Painting a Transformation

2018 Graduation Speech by Taniyah Whalen ’18 (Villa Duchesne ’24)

Good evening, my name is Taniyah Whalen.

This evening I will be sharing 2 paintings that I painted to represent my story as a scholar at City Academy.

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Titanium

2018 Graduation Song by Derrick Pitts ’18

Good evening my name is Derrick Pitts. Attending City Academy has taught me many things and I am grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been granted through my time here.

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Medanie Dance

2018 Graduation Performance by Lillie Harrison ’18

Good evening, my name is Lillie Harrison.

Today, on my graduation day, I will be performing a West African dance called Medanie. Through this dance I will express how I have risen from a person who lacked confidence and a positive mind-set to a person who has gained confidence and resilience through her journey.

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Amazing Grace

2018 Graduation Song by Kenneth Cunningham ’18 (Life Academy ’24)

Good evening my is Kenneth Cunningham and this evening I will be playing one of my favorite, songs Amazing Grace. I selected this song because City Academy has shown grace to me and this evening, as I say goodbye to my City Academy family, I am so thankful for the amazing things I am able to take with me. So I thought it would be appropriate to play this song.

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From Grain to Slab

2018 Graduation Speech by Shayla Danzie ’18 (John Burroughs ’24)

If the many years I’ve spent at City Academy have taught me anything, it’s that hard work provides you with opportunities. Since the very beginning of my career as a scholar here at City Academy, I have been given numerous opportunities that have shape me into the student and person I am today. The poem I’ve written, titled ‘From Grain to Slab’ represents the hard work that I’ve had to put forth in order to get these opportunities and how I’ve used them to benefit myself.

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The First Day

2018 Graduation Speech by Al-Amin Anderson-El
 ’18

I can very vividly recall my first day at City Academy. Walking through the doors, I froze. Everything seemed so massive. The hallways seemed to run miles long, the steps where like stepping stones and I was for sure to need a map just to find my way to the cafeteria or the art room for that matter.

Thinking back on my first day, I remember gathering outside to line up and being mesmerized by the sea of kids on the turf field. There were crying kids, laughing kids, screaming kids, and excited for the first day of school kids. And then, there was me, frozen, overwhelmed by my first day of “real school”.

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Frosty Velvet Moon

2018 Graduation Speech by Caeley Wilson ’18 (Villa Duchesne ’23)

Good Evening, my name is Caeley Wilson.

I will be presenting a poem I wrote entitled, “Frosty Velvet Moon” and a painting of the phases of the moon. The poem represents me and my journey at City Academy and how I have grown, the painting represents my stages at City Academy.

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Key to Success

2018 Graduation Speech by Walter Lindsey ’18 (MICDS ’24)

Good evening, my name is Walter Lindsey.

As my final day here as a student of City Academy, I would like to review my journey that has brought me to where I stand today.

When I first walked through the doors of this great school, I was a locked door; lacking its key. I isolated myself from my peers and ultimately, the school community. I refused to find my key or better yet, I refused to allow anyone into my space; excluding everyone from what truly rested within me. But one day, I decided I no longer wanted to dwell in such anguish and mustard up the nerve to find my key.

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