Zoe Leader (SEED Miami ‘22) is Recently Named a Recipient of the 2020 Carson Scholarship

Zoe Leader (SEED Miami ‘22) is a high academic achiever who has achieved Honor Roll each quarter since enrolling at The SEED School of Miami. Zoe began her journey with SEED Miami and participated in our Sparks program, where scholars explore various afterschool clubs to discover their passions and hidden talents. Zoe joined the Mock Trial Spark, where she learned about the key elements of a trial—and the U.S. legal system—through preparing for and participating in simulated trial competitions. She even had the opportunity to debate other students at a competition held at Florida International University. Zoe credits her passion to pursue a criminal law degree to SEED Miami Board member, Tom Culmo. A mentor to many of our scholars like Zoe, he shares words of encouragement and wisdom he’s gained during his career. Upon graduating from SEED Miami, Zoe plans on enrolling as a pre-law major at Stanford University.

Zoe has received a number of accolades and great accomplishments including receiving the 2020 Carson Scholarship. The Carson Scholars Fund awards college scholarships to students in grades 4-11 who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities. Scholarship recipients are awarded an $1,000 scholarship and receive an Olympic-sized medal and a trophy for their school. Zoe is among more than 8,600 gifted students from across the country who have been named a Carson Scholar.  Additionally, Zoe was accepted into The University of Miami Summer Scholars Program. Through this international program  at UM over the summer months, Zoe, along with two other SEED students, will gain college experience and credits in the career path of their choice.

The sky is the limit for Zoe, and we look forward to following her journey to high school graduation, college, and beyond!

24-Hour Virtual Support: Tuskegee University House

In his role as Student Life Counselor for the young men of the Tuskegee University House, Edward Cody knows about the importance of relationship building in motivating and supporting his 10th grade scholars. Transferring this work to a virtual setting is a whole new world for him and the boys, and a challenge he has readily accepted.

Typically, Mr. Cody is with his students at SEED’s dorm from 4pm – 12am overseeing Study Hall, Sparks (clubs), dinner, House meetings, and his character development course – HALLS (Habits for Achieving Life Long Success). Now that SEED’s academic AND student life program is virtual, he connects with his scholars as a group in daily House meetings, and individually in one-on-one phone calls.

“The biggest challenge is not seeing my boys every day and continuing to have the “family dynamic” of our House when we are not together. I’ve been calling my boys every day and looking for ways to have fun and remind them that I have not forgotten them and care about all of them no matter what.”

Last Thursday evening, at 7:30pm, the Tuskegee House young men each logged in to their virtual learning platform for the daily House Meeting with Mr. Cody. They were joined by other members of the SEED staff including a Mental Health Counselor, Head of School, Assistant Dean of School Culture, and Director of Student Life. One-by-one, the boys joined the hangout by video, each dressed comfortably in home attire, happy to see one another, and ready to engage in the group conversation.

It began with motivation and reminders. Mr. Cody – having reviewed the work completion log being used by all SEED Miami staff to track student progress – began with the positive. “Gentlemen, I loved seeing that a few of you who weren’t getting work done earlier in the week have picked it up.” A few individual shout outs to students followed, those students earning top praise popping collars, brushing shoulders, and proudly accepting the feedback. Others received firm, but loving, prompts. Reminders that they are capable of excellence and need to demonstrate better effort and work ethic. All of the feedback ended in support. “You all know I am here, let me know how I can help.”

After the reminders, the meeting shifted. Each young man was requested to share with the group. First, what had they learned about COVID-19 in their research, how are they (and their families) doing, and lastly, their metaphor for the upcoming POL (Presentation of Learning). Students shared what they are enjoying about virtual learning (often, completing work whenever they like) and what was challenging (also, completing work whenever they like!) Most mentioned missing friends, staff, and daily structure. Boredom and balance were also themes. As the meeting drew to a close, Mr. Cody announced his upcoming incentive initiative – students who met certain work completion benchmarks would be earning virtual game credits and/ or gift cards to mark their success. He also announced an upcoming Netflix Party, a chance for them to all log on together to watch a movie and have discussion.

Mr. Cody’s session had all of the characteristics of a hallmark SEED Miami House Meeting: high expectations, care, concern, challenges, and solutions. It exemplified the connections and care that bring together a group of 10th grade boys at a time that most high schoolers may prefer to be elsewhere.

As we work to provide our 24-hour services and model to a virtual setting at The SEED School of Miami, the meeting was a clear reminder of the importance of wraparound support and the value of SEED’s student life program and staff. No matter the platform, the relationships within our community persevere and leverage outcomes for our phenomenal students.

SEED Miami Dormitories are Nearing Completion

The SEED Miami campus is bustling with construction and student learning.  Most notably, three dormitories have been installed on campus. Check out the video below to watch our new building grow! The three dorms will provide residential space for students and staff,  and be move-in ready in time for the 2020-2021 school year.

Learn more about SEED Miami’s capital campaign, here.

SEED Miami is SOARing to New Heights with Turnberry Associates

Thanks to a new partnership with Turnberry Associates, a national real estate company, and the Soffer family, Turnberry has launched the SOAR program. SOAR (Skills, Opportunities, Achievement, and Responsibility) was designed to guide, educate, and inspire SEED Miami scholars. Through the SOAR program, twenty of our high school scholars visited the Microsoft Store at Aventura Mall. SEED students learned how to code, tested the functionality of many Microsoft products, networked with staff, and learned about various technology careers. This experience is one of many opportunities that SOAR will provide to our scholars.

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, many of our spring projects with SOAR have been rescheduled. SOAR volunteers are still preparing a beautification project with students and staff, and will be on campus beautifying our courtyard, offices, and common spaces when it is safe to do so. We are so grateful for the generosity of Turnberry Associates and the Soffer family, and the time and effort they are giving to SEED Miami!  Like we always say, “We are SEED. We are ONE”.

We are the champions! Congratulations to our High School Girls Basketball wining team!

Please help us congratulate our High School GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHOLARS in bringing home the CHAMPIONSHIP! The team excelled throughout the season and their talent, teamwork and perseverance brought home the big win. We are so proud of them in every way!

A special shout out to Coach Boyd for all her hard work. Her drive to push our scholars in the classroom and on the court is unparalleled. 

9-2 and one CHAMPIONSHIP!

High School Girls Basketball Championship

Congratulations to our High School Girls Basketball team for making it to the championship!

We would like to congratulate Professor/Coach Boyd and these young ladies on their phenomenal  season. With their hard work and determination they ended the season with a 10-2 record. 

We are so proud of our talented and hard working team!

BLAKE MILLER AND COACH JAYLEN OF YNGDNA TEACHING OUR SCHOLARS ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Our young men were in for a treat! Blake Miller and Coach Jalen of YNG DNA came by to speak with our high schoolers about their path to college and entrepreneurship.

Blake Miller is the Executive Design and Street Team Director at YNG DNA (yng-dna.com). Blake AKA, Big B has a natural passion and talent for drawing and turned it into a successful clothing brand.

Coach Jalen is a basketball Skill Development Coach and YNG DNA Co-Founder.

YNGNDA is founded on 4 Pillars Ideology - Youth, Sustainability, Health, & Fashion. Together, Blake and Jalen taught valuable skills to our young men about business and perseverance.

Thank you both for such a great day!

Miami’s “Hottest Ticket”!

We are grateful for those who were able to join us at the Amparo Experience. The night was a wonderful success in helping to raise awareness and funds for our school and soon to be completed dormitories.

A full house of supporters came together to enjoy the show. The uniqueness of the performance told the story behind the real Havana Club rum and was the perfect backdrop for SEED to share its own unique boarding school model with community leaders.

We want to give a huge and special thank you to our outstanding host committee and especially our generous benefactor and host, George Cabrera. Words cannot express our deep gratitude and appreciation for your support of our wonderful scholars.

HOST COMMITTEE

• EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, GEORGE CABRERA

• CARLOS DE LA CRUZ, JR.

• CHRIS DAMIAN

• BOB DICKINSON

• NANCY HECTOR

• MANNY MEDINA

• RON ROTHSTEIN

• DOROTHY TERRELL

But we still need your help! As 2020 approaches, we humbly ask that you consider donating to SEED Miami as part of your year-end giving. Your donation will help provide our scholars a nurturing college-like environment to live and learn 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.

• To donate online please click here. To learn more about naming opportunities please contact Tia Diaz-Balart, Director of Development.

• If you would like to meet our scholars and faculty, we invite you to visit us. Please contact our Director of Development Tiffany Graver-Smith if you would like to schedule a tour.

• If you know someone (potential students or supporters) who should know about SEED Miami, we welcome your introductions. Please connect with us here.

We look forward to sharing more of our students' successes with you and thank you for supporting The SEED School of Miami. here.

Chozen Edwards Dreams of Using Her Voice to Connect the World

Chozen Edwards (SEED Miami ’26) is a first-year SEED student who dreams of using her voice to connect the world.

At just eleven years old, Chozen is passionate about earning a college degree. She decided to come to SEED because she wanted a precollege experience that would prepare her for the future. Yet when the school year began, Chozen faced some challenges. She has a very tight-knit family and was nervous about moving away from home. Now that Chozen has built close bonds with some of her schoolmates and educators, she’s certain that SEED is the school for her.

“I really like being at SEED. This experience has helped me become less of an introvert and has brought me out of my comfort zone,” she says.

Since coming to SEED, Chozen has grown close to her student life counselor (SLC), Eboni Pierre. SLCs serve as parent figures for SEED students while they are on campus. They troubleshoot issues in the dorms and create a sense of family for their residents. “I appreciate the way my SLC speaks to us—she treats us like young adults and tries to help us reach for our dreams and goals.”

Chozen especially values the variety of courses and extracurricular activities SEED has to offer. Her classes are not only preparing her for college but giving her the opportunity to discover new talents. From the classroom to volleyball practice to the beauty club, Chozen doesn’t think she would’ve gotten these kinds of experiences at a traditional middle school.

Upon graduating from SEED, Chozen plans to study human behavior and language as a linguistics major. She dreams of traveling the world—and, one day, becoming the CEO of an international firm that assists developing and underserved communities.

When asked what advice she would give to next year’s sixth graders, Chozen says:

“Just relax. If you work hard and take advantage of what is around you, you’ll do great.”

We look forward to following Chozen during her journey with SEED!

SEED Values Bind Us Together

The glue that binds the SEED community together is our core values and beliefs. In June, we rolled out our updated core values at our SEED Summit—an annual all-staff retreat.

We also kicked off the school year by proudly displaying our values on each campus and hosting conversations with students about living our values every day.

As a member of our SEED community, we wanted to share with you our values and beliefs. Please take a look.

I show RESPECT for all people by being civil, cordial, courteous, and having unconditional appreciation for the value and dignity of all people and things.

I display RESPONSIBILITY by taking ownership and being accountable for my words, actions, and results.

I exemplify PERSEVERANCE by having steady commitment, persistence, and patience, even when there are obstacles or discouragement.

I act with INTEGRITY by being honest and fair and doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

I exhibit COMPASSION by showing concern and empathy, being helpful, and supporting others.

I show GRATITUDE by extending kindness and expressing appreciation for the gifts, time, and talent of others. 

I demonstrate GROWTH through my commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and learning.

SEED Miami Students Take the Leap

Did you learn to sing, play an instrument, draw, or dance in school?

If you’re like many Americans, you received arts programming in middle and high school as part of your required curriculum. Unfortunately, according to the National Endowment for the Arts, arts programming is on the decline. Some educators attribute the drop in arts education to a focus on standardized tests, which only measure achievement in core subjects. As the cliché goes, “What gets measured gets done.”

However, that may now change. In a groundbreaking, large-scale study, The Brookings Institution found that arts education matters. After analyzing 42 schools, researchers found that “a substantial increase in arts educational experiences has remarkable impacts on students’ academic, social, and emotional outcomes.” 

We agree!

At SEED Miami, we support our students by helping them to discover new talents and to deepen their interests through our Sparks program, a component of our Student Life curriculum. From robotics to drama, from origami and comic art to fitness, SEED Miami is providing students with programming and experiences to broaden their knowledge of the world and of themselves.

For the past five years, our students have attended Alvin Ailey performances and workshops and have enrolled in AileyCamp—a full-scholarship, six-week summer program featuring a variety of dance styles and classes, along with workshops on critical thinking, conflict resolution, and creative communication. Earlier this year, the SEED Miami Sparks program partnered with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to offer our students a safe and artistic environment in which to take dance classes.

Most recently, Robert Battle, artistic director at Alvin Ailey, visited the students at SEED Miami and spoke about his journey through college and his path to becoming a dancer. During the question-and-answer session with Mr. Battle, students asked, “At what age did you first know that you wanted to become a dancer?” and “What advice would you give me if I was interested in someday being a principal dancer?”

At SEED, we see the real, positive impact of arts education on our students every day. It’s exciting to now have the data to back up what we know.

Thank you for your support of Sparks and for helping our students take the leap to becoming our next generation of creative thinkers, collaborators, and problem solvers!

To learn more about the Sparks program at SEED Miami, click here.

Harri-Anna Derolus (SEED Miami '21) Has Big Plans to Become a Lawyer

Harri-Anna, pictured fourth from the left.

Harri-Anna Derolus (SEED Miami ’21) enrolled at SEED because of its track record in helping underserved students successfully get to and through college. She is determined to be the first person in her family to become a college graduate, and as an honor-roll student, she is well on her way.

A natural leader, Harri-Anna served as class president for two consecutive years. During her tenure, she advocated for better catering that would offer more diverse and healthy dining options. Her strategy worked! The school now offers a greater variety of food at breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the students to enjoy.

“Harri-Anna is one of the most dedicated students I’ve had the pleasure of working with. She’s constantly pushing herself to maintain her academic and personal successes,” said Kiaira Muhammad, student life counselor at SEED Miami.

Harri-Anna is also a SEED ambassador. In this role, she serves as an official student representative for The SEED School of Miami and hosts tours for prospective donors, incoming SEED students, and prospective families. Alongside her mother, who is a parent champion, Harri-Anna hosted representatives from one of SEED Miami’s largest donor organizations. Her personal testimony has been vital to individuals looking to gain a better understanding of SEED’s impact.

One of Harri-Anna’s most rewarding experiences has been participating in SEED Miami’s Mock Trial. This program is offered through SEED Miami’s Sparks program, which is a component of the school’s student life curriculum. In Mock Trial, Harri-Anna learned about the key elements of a trial—and the U.S. legal system—through preparing for and participating in simulated trial competitions. This experience has inspired Harri-Anna to want to earn a Juris Doctor after completing her undergraduate education.

We’re proud of Harri-Anna’s accomplishments and excited to be a part of her continued success!

Learn more about SEED Miami’s Sparks program.

Welcome Martine Marcelin as SEED Miami’s Founding College Counselor

In 2021, The SEED School of Miami will be celebrating our inaugural graduating class!

Time has flown by fast.  It seems like just yesterday that we welcomed our first sixth-grade students to begin their journey at a college-prep, public boarding school.  Now, they are quickly approaching high school graduation, and on their way to enrolling in college.

To support our students during their college access journey, we’ve hired our founding college counselor – Martine Marcellin!  We’re so excited to welcome Martine to the SEED Miami community. Martine joins SEED Miami from Branches, Inc., where she was program manager of Climb to College & Careers, a college access program for three sites, serving 150 students. With a background in college readiness, mentorship, and relationship building, Martine’s expertise makes her a great addition to SEED Miami’s School Leadership Team, and The SEED Foundation’s College Transition and Success (CTS) team.

As a member of the CTS team, Martine will provide personalized assistance to SEED Miami juniors in searching for scholarships, researching universities, and navigating any challenges they face when applying to college. In addition, she will cultivate strong relationships with our families and guide them through the college access and success process which includes college exposure, search, fit, application, admissions, and the graduation process.

We look forward to watching Martine grow as a member of the SEED community, as she will play a pivotal role in the academic success of our scholars.

Howard University house visits Wynwood

Earlier this week, the 9th grade ladies of the Howard University house enjoyed a trip to the Wynwood Walls for some creative expression! The girls also had a chance to walk around Wynwood and enjoy some of the street art before being treated to some ice cream at Mr. Kream's Hip Hop Creamery! Next week, they'll incorporate some of the pictures they took into their Creative Expressions HALLS lesson!