Sophie B. Wright – Uptown Messenger

Student’s case against Sophie B. Wright heads to federal court in what lawyer calls a ‘stall tactic’

Posted by UptownMessenger.com at 11:59 am court, schools

May 072019

Sophie B. Wright Charter School is at 1426 Napoleon Ave. (via Google Maps)

Sophie B. Wright Charter School filed a motion Monday, May 6, to move a case filed by one its students to federal court. The school’s attorney, Tracie Washington, filed notice as the student, her parents, lawyer and other supporters were set for a hearing at the Orleans Civil District Court.

Lyric Fernandez, an 18-year-old senior, alleged in the April 26 complaint that the Uptown public charter school denied her due process when it determined its punishment for a senior prank.

Education advocates put pressure on Sophie B. Wright board over student punishments

Posted by UptownMessenger.com at 3:12 pm schools

Apr 242019

Sophie B. Wright Charter School is at 1426 Napoleon Ave. (via Google Maps)

Parents and community members are calling on Sophie B. Wright’s school board chair to call a special meeting to publicly address what they say is overly harsh punishment of senior students, an advocacy group announced.

On April 5, about 30 students were given five-day suspensions from Sophie B. Wright Charter School on Napoleon Avenue after a senior prank water fight. The students also had their senior privileges revoked, including walking for graduation, senior prom, senior picnic and their last day of school.

According to an April 8 statement from the school, students vandalized the school with water balloons, water guns, eggs, vinegar and mustard. Sophie B. Wright officials have said the prank resulted in injuries and could lead to legal action.

Sophie B. Wright prepares for two-year exodus during school renovations and long-sought gym construction

Posted by Robert Morris at 6:04 pm Featured, schools

Mar 142013

Rendering of the new Sophie B. Wright gym from the Jena Street side. (courtesy Jacobs / CSRS Program Management)

Sophie B. Wright Charter School, from Napoleon Avenue. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

The long-sought dream of the Sophie B. Wright Charter School community of a gym on campus appeared one step closer to reality Thursday night during a meeting to review plans for its construction, but students and teachers will first have to spend the next two years in an unfamiliar campus in west Carrollton.

“We are just keeping the big picture in mind,” said Sophie B. Wright principal Sharon Clark after the meeting. “We’re getting a state-of-the-art facility to educate the children of New Orleans, and it doesn’t get any better than that.” Continue reading »

Renovation plans for Sophie B. Wright building to be discussed

Posted by Robert Morris at 11:52 am schools

Mar 042013

Plans to renovate the Sophie B. Wright Charter School building will be discussed at a meeting next week, officials said. Continue reading »

Sophie B. Wright high school will be first temporary residents of Johnson school swing space, Carrollton residents are told

Posted by Robert Morris at 12:59 pm neighborhood groups, schools

Feb 222013

James Weldon Johnson Elementary School on Monroe Street.

A group of Carrollton residents say they were told this week by Recovery School District officials that Sophie B. Wright Charter School will be the first occupants of the James Weldon Johnson School swing space this fall, spending two years there while their Napoleon Avenue building is renovated.

The residents were also told that cost estimates have been reached for renovations to the long-abandoned Priestley site in their own neighborhood, they say.

RSD officials have not responded to requests to confirm accounts of the meetings this week. Continue reading »

Krewes of Ancient Druids, Nyx roll Uptown (live coverage and photos)

Posted by Robert Morris at 5:08 pm events, Featured

Feb 062013

The Mystic Krewe of Nyx Captain’s float rolls on Magazine Street on Wednesday evening. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

The Krewe of Ancient Druids “Consultant” float turns onto Magazine Street on Wednesday evening. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

The Krewe of Ancient Druids teased a number of other parade groups with its “Phobias” theme and the Mystic Krewe of Nyx reveled in cinematic takes on “What a Girl Wants” Wednesday night, as Carnival parading on the Uptown New Orleans route resumed after its week off. Continue reading »

Krewe of Carrollton, Knights of King Arthur roll Sunday

Posted by Robert Morris at 12:10 pm events, Featured

Jan 272013

The Knights of King Arthur’s Queen Guinevere, Pam Dean Goodard, smiles as she prepares throw a toy football into the Napoleon Avenue crowd. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

The Krewe of Carrollton and Knights of King Arthur rolled Sunday afternoon on the Uptown route.

A member of the Krewe of Carrollton on the “Day at the Jazzfest” float tosses beads into the St. Charles Avenue crowd. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Community groups honor King’s memory, legacy in parade

Posted by Robert Morris at 10:57 am events, good works

Jan 222013

Members of the Jewish Community Relations Council carry a sign quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. — “I have a dream” — during Monday’s parade through Central City. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

A parade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. passed up the Central City boulevard named in his memory on Monday, with community and school groups from around New Orleans marching in support of his legacy.

Supporters of Project Ceasefire carry banners in Monday’s Martin Luther King Day parade. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

A tribute to New Orleans schoolchildren

Posted by Robert Morris at 4:23 pm public safety, schools

Dec 142012

As we in New Orleans grieve the tragedy unfolding today in Connecticut, please let us also bear in mind the joy that our own school children bring us — and our duty as a community to protect them.

Crocker elementary students run through the play yard in an Easter Egg hunt sponsored by the New Orleans Police Department in 2011. (UptownMessenger.com file photo by Sabree Hill)

A mother and son laugh together during the 2011 Fête Française at Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle Orleans. (UptownMessenger.com file photo by Sabree Hill)

KIPP Central City Academy students march in the 2012 Krewe of Pontchartrain parade. (UptownMessenger.com file photo by Sabree Hill)

Several KIPP schools, Lafayette Academy among RSD schools eligible to return to OPSB

Posted by Robert Morris at 11:04 am schools, state government

Oct 262012

Several of KIPP’s Uptown schools — including KIPP Believe! College Prep on South Carrollton and its two schools in Central City — and Lafayette Academy are among the 13 Recovery School District schools eligible to return to the Orleans Parish School Board, based on the recently-announced School Performance Scores, officials said. Continue reading »

Most Uptown schools show some continued growth on performance scores — with notable exceptions

Posted by Robert Morris at 2:30 am schools, state government

Oct 232012

Performance among Uptown public schools in the most recent school year was in many ways similar to that in the year before, according to state scores released Monday. A cluster of high-performing schools continued gains that in many ways lead the city, while a somewhat larger group of low-performing schools split between those making progress toward the middle, those that are slowly improving but still dismally low, and a handful with results that can only be described as disappointing.

High-performing RSD schools worry that return to OPSB will mean funding cut

Posted by Robert Morris at 1:13 pm schools, state government

Oct 052012

High-performing charter schools in the Recovery School District — such as Sophie B. Wright, Lafayette Academy and several KIPP campuses in Uptown — are concerned that the Orleans Parish School Board will take an administrative fee out of their federal grants if they return to the district, amid broader issues of trust and autonomy, reports Jessica Williams of The Lens.

Sophie B. Wright to add Advanced Placement courses in the fall

Posted by Robert Morris at 11:50 am schools

Jul 092012

This fall, Sophie B. Wright Institute for Academic Excellence will add four Advanced Placement courses — which can earn high school students college credit — in literature, music theory, U.S. history, and world history, according to a report by charter school reporter Danielle Bell at The Lens.

Open-admission Uptown high schools miss state averages in most subjects

Posted by Robert Morris at 2:45 pm schools

Jul 062012

Even as education officials tout increases in test scores around Louisiana and in New Orleans, the only open-admissions school in Uptown New Orleans that exceeded state averages in any subject last year was New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School — and that was only in two of four subjects.

Among other high schools, New Orleans College Prep was only a few points off the state average in three of four subjects, and Eleanor McMain Secondary School generally trailed Prep by a few more points in each subject. But Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence had decidedly mixed results, and the phasing-out Walter L. Cohen High School and the now-closed Sojourner Truth Academy scored even lower. Continue reading »

Hollygrove residents, police march together against crime

Posted by Robert Morris at 11:50 am crime, public safety

Apr 272012

Nia Watson, 19, holds a stuffed animal as she watches the anti-crime march pass the house where her brother-in-law, Brandon Baker, was recently shot to death. Messages to Brandon are written all over the front of the house. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Led by the Sophie B. Wright band, police and residents walk together through Hollygrove on Wednesday in a march against crime. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

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