Academy highlights: pep rally reschedule, Rohan Murphy assembly March 13, Wizards and musical date change

Mr. Flanagan updated the board on middle- and high-school programming and community events at the Jan. 8 meeting.

Flanagan said a winter pep rally scheduled before the holiday break was canceled due to weather and will be rescheduled after midterms. "The students are owed a pep rally, and we're not gonna renege on that," he said.

He announced motivational speaker Rohan Murphy will visit on March 13 with three assemblies during the day and a community night event. Flanagan described Murphy as an inspiring speaker and said the visit is intended to motivate students and provide a chance for questions and engagement.

The district will host the Harlem Wizards on March 10 at 7 p.m. as a family-friendly community evening, Flanagan said. He also told the board the spring musical will be Mean Girls the Musical and that the date was moved to late April to avoid conflicts with Odyssey of the Mind competitions involving middle-school students.

Flanagan summarized a recent alumni leadership panel for juniors and seniors that covered college life, internships and postsecondary choices. He walked the board through Passport for Good and the Seal of Civic Readiness program used at the academy, saying students need six points from civic participation and knowledge activities to earn the seal and that some eighth-graders already have points from earlier projects.

Flanagan answered a board question about recent enrollments at the academy, estimating five to six new students since mid-December.

Mr. Aguilar later reported middle-school student council activities including a movie night, Key Club fundraisers, and a ShopRite volunteer event; he also thanked staff and community partners.