CitySquash’s local eighth, ninth, and tenth graders spent their mid-winter break studying Immigration in New York City. The week began as our students watched the 2002 Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York, introducing us to a very chaotic time period in American history. Afterwards, our students had a fruitful discussion on the major themes we would be encountering over the week: the tension between nativists and foreigners, the challenges and opportunities facing immigrants in the 19th century and beyond, and the chaotic building of democracy across ethnic, political, and socioeconomic lines. On Tuesday, our students headed down to the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side for an interactive tour of a preserved tenement building. After our students grappled with the question of “What is an American?”, we had the chance for a little role playing: we took on the part of an immigrant Russian Jewish family seeking a place to live in the 1916 New York City. On Wednesday, the Bronx Historical Society came by the learning center to present on the history of immigration in the Bronx, with a specific focus on the movements of Hispanic people in the 20th Century. Our week culminated with an in-class writing assignment in which our students were asked to write on two essay questions, reflecting on the lessons they learned.

CitySquash’s annual mid-winter tour took thirteen team members to Hanover, NH for four days of squash, sledding, science and skating. The four day stint in the country was a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of New York City. The students played squash twice a day and were fortunate to have a clinic with the Dartmouth College coaching staff and current members of the Dartmouth Varsity Squash teams. Team members also spent time skating and playing ice hockey on Occom Pond, went sledding down a 40 foot sled track and visited the Montshire Museum of Science. The trip was a reward for the hard work our students have put into school and squash thus far this year. Thank you to the Dartmouth Squash coaches and team members and our amazing hosts for making such a great trip possible.

CitySquash 5th graders spent their mid-winter break visiting several different types of museums around Manhattan. On Monday, they toured the Museum of Jewish Heritage, to supplement their completion of the book, Number The Stars. After the guided tour, students met an elderly husband and wife, both of whom survived the Holocaust in Poland. On Tuesday, CitySquashers had a fun-filled though tiresome day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their favorite section of the museum was the New American Wing, because they had studied Emanuel Leutze’s piece Washington Crossing the Delaware in school earlier in the month. On Wednesday, students toured the Museum of Art and Design with artist Manuel Acevedo. After the tour he guided them in a hands-on art-making workshop. Finally, on Thursday, students visited El Museo del Barrio in Harlem, and had a guided tour of their newest exhibition, entitled “VOCES Y VISIONES: Gran Caribe.”