Monthly Archives: May 2025

05.23.25
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TNCS Spring Concert 2025: Enjoy It! Have Fun!

Those words of encouragement were delivered by TNCS Music Director Martellies Warren to the TNCS K–8 choir (see the “Wade in the Water” video below). It worked—the singers were having a ball on stage, as you’ll see and hear! More importantly, this theme of encouragement has defined Mr. Warren’s career at The New Century School. He might demand a high level of professionalism from his young performers to put on a terrific show, but the care, belief in them, and mad skills he rewards them with in return far exceeds what he asks. He is one of a kind.

But first, a few reflections. This Spring Concert was special (they all are, but this one in particular). It was beloved Mr. Warren’s last at TNCS, as he makes a career move that will allow him to more fully embrace his passion and gift for music. Although this farewell (not goodbye, he assured everyone!) is difficult, the entire TNCS community will be happy for his good fortune and wish him the best. We’ve had him for 15 years . . . guess it’s time to share this amazing human being with other lucky folks! 

But that’s far from the only reason this concert deserves extra attention. The song selection, the singing, the enthusiasm—all of that is down to Mr. Warren’s ability to put on a great show. TNCS students worked hard to get ready, and it showed. Speaking of working hard, the stage decorations were crafted by none other than Mr. Warren himself!

And we would be remiss not to mention how nice the auditorium looked, thanks to TNCS art teacher Adriana Boucher’s efforts. It was great to see how the projects she described for us earlier in the year came together!

Now let’s get to the music!

Preschool Concert

After some lovely words by Preschool Director Terriann Lane about all that Mr. Warren did to prepare for this show, TNCS primary students took the stage. They sang songs in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish, bless their multilingual little hearts!

(Apologies if you hear giggles in the background—it was difficult for audience members to maintain composure amid so much cuteness and joy!)

Spring was very much in bloom on the TNCS stage today!

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El Rock De La Primavera

La Primavera Llego

Where Is Spring?

Peace Like a River

What a Wonderful World

Winter Spring Summer Fall

The Green Grass Grew All Around

 

Elementary & Middle School Concert


Next it was time for TNCS K–8 students to display their vocal chops, and they truly wowed the audience! Mr. Warren demanded—and got—primo performances for this one! But first, Ms. Simonetti had some lovely thoughts to share.

Music is the ultimate expression of togetherness…it’s amazing to consider the collective effort and synergy it takes for individuals to unite and transform separate parts into a single, powerful whole that creates something greater than the sum of its parts. Music is the ultimate expression of togetherness… it’s amazing to consider the collective effort and synergy it takes for individuals to unite and transform separate parts into a single, powerful whole that creates something greater than the sum of its parts. Today’s performance is a reflection of that collaboration—please join us in celebrating the music our students have worked so hard to bring to life.

As in several years past, Mr. Warren brought in some well-known friends to help out with some lovely backing music: the Benjamin Brown trio! There’s more! TNCS Head of School Ann Marie Simonetti, in addition to all of her gajillion other contributions, actually made the adorable tie-dye shirts worn by the elementary and middle school students, with help from her trusty staff. This added a some creative nuance to the Spring-themed performance.

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Chun Xiao

La Primavera

Xiāngqīn xiāng’ài

Running

Cuando era flor

America the Beautiful (Yes, They Went There!)

Defying Gravity (Yes, They Went Here, Too!)

Something Inside So Strong

Wade in the Water

Stand by Me

Ball of Confusion

 

We Are the World

Lean on Me

Man in the Mirror

 

Ms. Simonetti closed the show with another heartfelt address to the audience, followed by a student gift presentation to Mr. Warren.

Before the concert, I spoke about the incredible power of music—how each person must listen, trust, and respond to one another to blend their individual parts into a harmonious whole. TNCS has been truly fortunate and tremendously grateful to have the guidance and passion of Martellies Warren, who brings us together not only in music but also in spirit and community. As his focus turns more fully toward the passion that most nourishes his soul—his love for music… we want to take this opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Warren…… At a time when music and art are increasingly cut from schools, they remain at the heart of the educational experience we believe in at TNCS. Mr. Warren has not only raised the bar beyond what we thought possible, but has cultivated remarkable growth in our students—nurturing talent, building confidence, and helping them achieve a level of excellence that continues to amaze us!

We will miss you, Mr. Warren—you better return often! Or else!

05.09.25
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Mother’s Day at TNCS 2025: Celebrating the Synergy of Care!

At The New Century School, Mother’s Day has always been a particularly important occasion. The types of celebrations have varied over the years, but the essence has remained the same: bring mothers/caregivers and their children together in the school environment to give students a chance to show their appreciation and gratitude and give mothers/caregivers a chance to be in the classroom and share their child’s lived experience.

TNCS’s emphasis on this special day is no accident. In so many ways, mothers and teachers share much in common, and the Mother’s Day celebrations are a natural extension of this bond. At the heart of what mothers and teachers do is nurture children, creating environments where children feel safe to explore, fail, and grow. Both mothers and teachers engage in a delicate balancing act: knowing when to step in and when to step back. Perhaps one of the most profound similarities between mothers and teachers is their role in the development of emotional intelligence. Both serve as guides through the complex landscape of feelings, helping children name emotions, work through conflicts, and develop empathy. Additionally, both mothers and teachers pass along cultural knowledge and help shape children’s values.

The connection extends deeper than sharing similarities, however, in that mothers give their children into the care of teachers every day. To be able to trust another person with your child means that person—that teacher—has demonstrated the caring qualities that you recognize will help your child thrive.

That trust deepens with every passing school day. Teachers, let’s face it, spend as much time with our children as we do. This is another way the TNCS Mother’s Day celebrations become so meaningful: they are also a chance for mothers and teachers to be together, to show the students how this partnership creates a synergy of care.

Reflections aside, this year, TNCS tangibly showered mothers with love and gratitude in various ways throughout the divisions. Preprimary and primary students gave their mothers roses and shared brunch. In the upper divisions, teachers made pancakes. And TNCS “head mothers” Ann Marie Simonetti and Terriann Lane made sure the entire school looked beautiful.

To all our TNCS mothers and caregivers: When your child’s journey here concludes, whether through graduation or new beginnings elsewhere, may you reflect on these formative years with heartfelt appreciation for the partnership that helped shape your child’s unique path. These shared moments of nurturing and growth will forever be woven into the fabric of who your child becomes.

TNCS has made 15 years’ worth of Mother’s Day celebrations happen, and they continue to touch mothers, teachers, and all involved, very deeply. Feeling nostalgic? Check out some past Mother’s Day celebrations at TNCS:

05.02.25
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Beyond School Lunch: “Family Meal” at The New Century School

Homemade, fresh, and made with love, the TNCS lunch program offers students more than just nutrition.

When you think of school lunch programs, what comes to mind? For many, it’s images of mass-produced meals, plastic-wrapped portions, and food that’s more about function than flavor. But at The New Century School, lunch is about so much more—it’s about creating a family meal experience that nourishes both body and community spirit.

From Greenhouse to Table

For Chef John Moomau and Sr. Manuel Cuevas, the dedicated culinary team behind TNCS’s beloved lunch program, food is an extension of the school’s educational philosophy. “It’s very much like family meal,” explains Chef John. “We strive to please the youngest to the oldest.”

This philosophy guides everything about their approach, from ingredient selection to meal preparation. Currently serving an average of 40 students daily (with pizza day—Friday—being the most popular), the program emphasizes quality over complexity. “What we did was simplify it, make it consistent, but really increase the experience,” Chef John shares. “It doesn’t have to be complicated, but just make it really good. That’s the whole goal.”

Big Flavors, Fresh Ingredients

What sets the TNCS lunch program apart? According to Chef John, it all starts with “big flavors.” “Number one is big flavors,” he emphasizes. “And number two is very careful selection of ingredients.”

The team personally selects produce and goods weekly from their vendors (e.g., Performance Food Service, International Gourmet Foods, DelightSoy), ensuring the highest quality ingredients. Their homemade tomato sauce is made from fresh tomatoes, enhanced with herbs harvested directly from the TNCS greenhouse.

“We hand select fruit and most produce for the week from our fruit vendors,” John explains, underscoring their commitment to quality. Sr. Manuel adds, “There’s never anything pre-made. We start right from scratch every day. Nothing is pre-prepared.”

Vegetarian chicken sandwich, grapes, fries, and salad were on the fresh new menu for Thursdays in May.

Although they simplified the menu offerings themselves, again, to please a wide variety of palates, the program they run is incredibly well-organized with clear roles, thoughtful planning, and flexibility to meet student needs. They arrive in the morning and start prepping the food that goes in that day’s lunch to maintain the highest level of freshness possible, but some of their prep actually happens the afternoon prior. They have developed a system of labeling the lunch baskets used to serve lunch with each student’s name. This not only sets them up for success the next day, but it also means they can readily accommodate the child who forgot to bring a packed lunch to school that day. Menus are also planned and circulated in advance.

With the kitchen running so smoothly, Chef John and Sr. Manuel have the capacity to fulfill other culinary needs—sometimes they provide food for special school events, for example, or they might whip up a batch of croissants for the Meet and Greets TNCS Head of School Ann Marie Simonetti holds Friday mornings for prospective parents.

Garden of Learning

The garden program is an integral part of the lunch experience at TNCS. In the school’s greenhouse, Sr. Manuel works with students to plant, tend, and harvest a variety of vegetables and herbs that find their way into the lunch program.

“For now, we have cilantro,” Sr. Manuel explains during a greenhouse tour, pointing out the various growing areas. “Next week the idea is to plant tomatoes, broccoli, and cucumbers.” Students are actively involved in the planting process, with different age groups participating in various aspects of the garden’s maintenance. Sr. Manuel explains that he does the planting mainly with preprimary and primary students, but all TNCS students in all divisions participate in greenhouse activities at some point.

The greenhouse currently nurtures mint, cilantro, and even a mango plant. When harvest time comes, these fresh ingredients enhance the school meals in numerous ways—tomatoes for salads or pizza sauce, cucumbers for snacks and sides, and herbs to add those “big flavors” the program is known for.

Menu Magic and Flexibility

Flexibility is key to the program’s success. The chefs adapt constantly to meet the changing preferences of their young diners. “What we might have served last year, they might not want to eat this year,” Chef John explains. “They used to love these vegetarian meat and bean burritos. This year, they don’t want to eat them, so we switched to a quesadilla, which they eat. We’re always making sure we see those trends.”

The menu rotates monthly, with about 12 main items in regular rotation. But even when serving the same main dishes, Chef John and Sr. Manuel keep things interesting by changing the accompaniments and occasionally adding surprises. “With the quesadilla, for example, you might get a little extra queso, or sometimes we serve a custard,” Chef John says. “We like doing little surprises like that.”

Pizza Day: The Crowd Favorite

Ask Chef John about his favorite meal to prepare, and he doesn’t hesitate: “I love pizza Friday because it’s just fun. We’ve tried lots of variations of the sauce and lots of different cheese combinations.”

The pizza preparation process is impressive—the team starts with around 18 balls of dough that they hand-spread. Their homemade sauce and carefully selected cheese blend create a pizza that has students coming back for seconds.

“We can tell they love it because they’re piling on,” Chef John smiles, noting how the students’ enthusiasm confirms they’ve perfected their recipe.

(And, although the TNCS lunch program is vegetarian—and nut-free to boot—Sr. Manuel always keep a small stash of pepperoni on hand for Mr. Mike.)

More Than Just Lunch

For both Chef John and Sr. Manuel, the lunch program represents a deep connection to the school community. Chef John has been involved since 2017, and Sr. Manuel joined him in the fall of 2021. Both have had children attend TNCS; Chef John’s now high school–age daughter attended for 12 years, and two of Sr. Manuel’s children currently attend, giving them a personal investment in the quality of the food they prepare.

“I think that’s really one of the main drivers that keeps me going to do this—there’s this family sense,” Chef John reflects. “The school’s got a lot of foundation in our lives, so we want to keep supporting and providing, and lunch is important.”

Their dedication extends beyond just feeding the students. Chef John still teaches food safety training 3 days a week through his company QRS Training, and Sr. Manuel drives the school van in addition to tending the garden and helping out around the grounds.

“One of the other drivers of me wanting to do this is to make sure that this is high-quality, safe food,” Chef John emphasizes. “It’s important, especially for kids. We follow the highest standards for quality and cleanliness, making sure our food is tops.”

Join the Family Table!

With its emphasis on fresh, homemade food made with care and attention, the TNCS lunch program offers students far more than just nutritional sustenance—it provides them with a daily lesson in community, quality, and the joy of sharing good food.

If you’d like your child to participate in this delicious, nutritious, made-from-scratch school lunch program, sign up online! You can even opt in for select days!

And, if you’re wondering how this amazing, one-of-a-kind program came to be, check out the TNCS School Lunch origin story blogs: Sustainable School Lunch: Garden Tuck Shop Program Part I and Part II.