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.

04.11.25
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Meet the Teacher: Vianyely Loveras Brings Heart to a Preprimary Spanish Classroom!

One of The New Century School‘s hallmarks is its commitment to language immersion. Having remained steadfast in this commitment throughout its 15+ year history, TNCS welcomes teachers who are native speakers of Spanish (and Mandarin Chinese and English) from all over the world. This cultural enrichment is another jewel in TNCS’s crown. To optimize the attainment of true language proficiency, TNCS starts immersing students in Spanish (or Chinese) at age 2 in the preprimary classrooms. The three preprimary classrooms are so essential to TNCS’s mission—they start students off on a pathway of lifelong joyful learning by helping them become self-motivated and through careful cultivation of cognitive and emotional development. This is precisely where educating the “whole child” begins.

This school year, Vianyely Loveras took over as lead in one of the preprimary Spanish classrooms, and she brings a wealth of heart and passion to her new role (she even has love in her name!). Walking into her bright, sunny classroom, visitors see smiles all around, including Sra. Loveras’s own.

Meet Vianyely Loveras!

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Sra. Loveras’s journey to becoming an educator began with her early childhood education degree after moving to New York City in 2010. She attended high school there before pursuing higher education at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). “I went to college for early childhood education,” Vianyely notes, explaining that her career choice was influenced by family members who were teachers. “They always talked about how much they loved their jobs, and I too wanted to choose a career that I would actually enjoy. I have always liked kids, so I decided to give it a try, and I love it.”

Beyond her teaching career, Sra. Loveras is an esthetician specializing in waxing and eyelashes. She also enjoys art, particularly embroidery and macramé. “I learned macramé when I was in the Dominican Republic,” she explains, noting that school days there were shorter, running from 8:00 to 12:45, which allowed time for additional activities in the afternoon.

Sra. Loveras came to the United States in 2010, living in New York City for 8 years before moving to Baltimore in 2018. One thing she misses about New York is its authentic Dominican food, which Baltimore has so far fallen short on. In fact, Sra. Loveras’s Dominican heritage shines through in her love for her native cuisine. When discussing traditional Dominican food, she lights up, explaining a cultural touchstone known as “the flag.” “The rice, beans, and meat—we call it ‘the flag,'” Vianyely explains. “The white lines are the rice, the beans are the blue squares, and the red squares are the meat.” The cultural connection between food and national identity remains an important link to her homeland, which she tries to visit every summer to reconnect with family.

Sra. Loveras in the Classroom!

Although her early childhood education degree provided the foundation for her teaching career, she credits her hands-on experience at TNCS with deepening her understanding of Montessori principles and child development.

“I had not worked in a classroom until starting at TNCS,” Sra. Loveras shares. “This was my first job working with kids besides babysitting with my family.” She first joined TNCS in January 2020, just before COVID hit. After a 2-year hiatus, she returned in 2023, initially serving as Miss Garcia’s assistant before stepping into her current lead teacher role.

For Sra. Loveras, the transition to lead teacher came with both challenges and growth. “I worried that I wasn’t ready, but Miss Lane motivated me. She would say, ‘Yes you can do it, and I’m sure you’re going to love it.’ And I did. She was right!”

Sra. Loveras quickly embraced Montessori principles. “I am so impressed with how beautiful it is . . . how the children learn to do so many things on their own, how they become so independent. I also learn a lot by watching the other lead teachers in their classrooms. This philosophy just got in my heart.”

Currently, Sra. Loveras leads a classroom of 11 students, most of whom started as 2-year-olds. She and her assistant teacher primarily speak Spanish in the classroom, and her students are thriving. “They understand perfectly what we say. They tend to respond in English, except for those whose parents speak Spanish to them at home, but they are clearly learning.”

A typical day in Sra. Loveras’s classroom begins with the morning cycle from 8:45 to 10:00. “The second students take off their jackets and change their shoes, they start doing their work cycle. We always have food available for them in the kitchen, so if they’re hungry, they can have a quick snack and then return to their work cycle.”

At 10:00, the class gathers for circle time. “We sing songs, read books, and sometimes I show them a lesson from the shelf as a big group.” Following circle time, the students head outside for about an hour before returning for lunch, which they help set up themselves. Naptime runs from 12:30 to 2:30 PM, and dismissal is at 3:15.

Sra. Loveras takes pride in incorporating cooking and planting activities into her curriculum. “Today we made a banana shake. I love to cook, so that’s what we do much of the time.” Recently, her class joined with the other preprimary classes to plant sunflowers and milkweed for monarch butterflies.

While such daily activities certainly sound engaging and fun—not to mention a delight for all of the senses—Sra. Loveras is clear about the deeper importance of her work, and it informs every choice she makes regarding her students. She reflects:

Our role in the classroom goes far beyond caring for the children—though that’s a very important part. We are here to guide them, to create a safe and supportive environment where they can explore, learn, and grow independently.

We lead them gently in the right direction and give them the tools to discover things on their own. Even something as simple as tidying up becomes a meaningful learning experience. What may seem like a routine chore to us as adults becomes a powerful way for children to develop responsibility, independence, and important practical life skills.

Beyond the academic and practical learning, we also build deep, trusting relationships with the children. We are the familiar faces they see every day—the ones they feel safe with, turn to for comfort, and grow to trust. This emotional connection is just as important as the learning itself, and it’s something truly special to witness each day.

What brings Sra. Loveras the most joy as an educator is witnessing her students’ growth. “My favorite part is seeing how I teach them something today, and then tomorrow they come and they already know how to do it all by themselves. Sometimes they hear me and Miss Susanna, my assistant, say something to them in Spanish, and they come in the next day saying it. That’s the best part—to see their progress and how they enjoy what we do.”

03.28.25
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TNCS March Madness 2025, Part 2!

And we’re back, TNCS Community, with the 3 Ms—More March Madness! This blog covers the academic spectrum: science and math, followed by good old reading (in three languages, of course)!

(See Part 1 for the touchier-feelier side of March happenings at The New Century School!)

The annual TNCS STEM Expo—one of everyone’s favorite chances to see big TNCS student brains in action—took place over 2 days. TNCS K–2 students displayed their projects on Thursday, March 20th, and TNCS 3–8 students took their turn the next morning.

Lower Elementary STEM Expo 

As you’ll see, these students were tasked with incorporating Mandarin Chinese onto their display boards, as part of  TNCS’s commitment to not just teaching language, but teaching in the language to synergistically deepen neural pathways. 

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Upper Elementary and Middle School STEM Expo

TNCS science teacher Nameeta Sharma, who teaches grades 3 through 8, says she could not have been happier with what students turned out. She describes the weeks leading up to the STEM Expo as full of engagement in the Scientific Method. Her students, she says, worked very hard, and the results showed. When asked about what particular projects stood out to her, she had something positive to say about all of them, and her excitement was palpable. But, if we had to guess, we’d say her favorites fell into the engineering category—she enjoys seeing what students can build, especially when it works as intended!

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“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book!” – Dr. Seuss

While STEM is utterly great and allows students to apply what they’ve learned in class in extremely immediate outward and gratifying ways, let’s be honest—sometimes a student needs to sit in a quiet corner and soak up a really good book, nourishing that inner mental realm. That’s where another annual TNCS favorite comes in, the Scholastic Book Fair!

TNCS 5th grader Thomas said he “enjoys the book fair because there’s so much to look at and choose from. His favorite things to get include toys but his selections this year included two Japanese style graphic novels.”

That Dog Man display is also pretty impressive. Looks like there’s something for everyone!

03.14.25
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It’s March Madness 2025 at TNCS!

At The New Century School, the month of March is always positively brimming with academic and social events—so many that Immersed typically needs two March Madness posts (this year will be no different). Is it because, just like in the natural world, students and staff alike are bursting to bloom? Or because, after months of coaching and practice, it’s time to go for some slam dunks? Or maybe it’s just all that fierce March energy that blows in and gets everyone fired up for what’s next. Whatever the reason, we love what March brings at TNCS!

Core Value Refresh!

Amid all the preparations for all of March’s exciting events, TNCS K–8 students took a moment to refresh on what it means to be just that—a student at TNCS!

TNCS Head of School Ann Marie Simonetti says:

The flag tradition began as part of a COVID-19 remembrance day, as Friday, March 13, 2020, was the last “normal” day of school before the pandemic hit the East Coast. Students made flags to express joy and hope in the future, remembrance as our community remembered the loved ones we have lost, the change in our lives, and the power of our reliance and adaptability.

Today, we continue holding this day to reflect on how we adapted to a new world need and think about how we can apply the same types of coordination and dedication to meet other global challenges. We also highlight our core values—Compassion, Courage, Respect, Service—knowing that we will call upon them throughout our lives and recognizing their role in helping us meet future challenges.

We are fortunate as a community (and as a society as a whole) to be 5 years past that moment, and thank you, TNCS students, for reminding us not only just how fortunate we truly are, but also about the values and traits we hone to get us through such challenges, whether big or small.

Shower of Appreciation

And that brings us to our next March highlight: the Appreciation Brunch Ms. Simonetti held the very next day on Friday, March 14th to show gratitude to all of the teachers, admin, and staff (including auxiliary members) who keep the marvel that is TNCS flourishing . . . literally, each and every one of them!

Building North was transformed into a beautiful bistro setting, and a buffet-style brunch was served. Ms. Simonetti created a slide show of the honorees through the years for all to enjoy while they ate. She then honored each and every one with a special, personalized gift and individual recognition of their particular contribution to the community.

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TNCS Preschool Coordinator Terriann Lane made sure Ms. Simonette was also recognized!

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The morning was a wonderful break from the day-to-day to relax, appreciate each other, and relive some terrific memories—but it didn’t end there! Built in to this already-special event was a surprise wedding shower for Mandarin Chinese teacher Jia Liu, who recently got engaged and married!

Liu Laoshi explained that, although the surprise party was on Friday, the surprises actually began Thursday morning!

I got a surprise bouquet—but not just any bouquet. Each “flower” was a drawing made by the kids over the weekend. On Monday, Andy secretly collected them all and gave them to Lumi’s mom, who turned them into a beautiful bouquet.

Later, I found out that the week before, the parents in my class and Andy had started a secret group chat just to plan this surprise for me—with the kids involved! How sweet is that? Andy told me he was so nervous I’d catch on while he was collecting their weekend work… and the funniest part is: I had no idea. Like, zero clue.

Meanwhile, I had actually planned a surprise for them too—I brought in a veil and pom-poms for us to decorate together. So on Thursday, we made a “wedding veil” as a class craft. The timing was perfect!

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“Then Friday morning,” she continued, “I brought in two big boxes of candy.”

In Chinese tradition, after you get married, you share sweets with family and friends to spread the happiness. I even printed out a little explanation and went around giving out candy. I was so sure I was the one bringing surprises that day… but turns out, everyone else was just acting cool and keeping their surprise totally under wraps!”

Honestly, I was so touched. Since this was just a courthouse ceremony and honeymoon (our families are all in China), I wasn’t expecting anything. When I saw what they did for me, I felt like crying—in the best way. It was such a warm, loving moment. I’m so lucky to be part of TNCS. Huge thanks to Ms. Sussman and Ms. Lane, and to all the parents who made it happen.

I shared everything with my friends and family in China, and they were all so happy that I work in such a sweet and supportive place.

Stay tuned for more March Madness at TNCS!

02.28.25
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Together We Can: TNCS’s Black History Month Celebration 2025!

At The New Century School, “creating an inclusive environment is at the heart of everything we do.” So said Head of School Ann Marie Simonetti to open last night’s Black History Month Celebration. It will be lost on exactly no one just how poignant those few simple words were at this . . . beleaguered moment in U.S. history.

Commitment to Inclusion in Challenging Times

Last night, however, was all about the hope, joy, and community that TNCS represents. And what a way to close out Black History Month! As she continued her opening remarks, Ms. Simonetti set the tone for the evening by reaffirming TNCS’s unwavering dedication to fostering an inclusive environment:

Our core values and portrait of a graduate reflect our dedication to honoring the diverse identities, experiences, and backgrounds of our students, families, and staff. As a school community, we strive to prepare students to thrive in the increasingly diverse world. Understanding history, embracing different perspectives, and standing for equity and inclusion are not just ideals, but necessities. In times when efforts to diminish equity and the truth of history are making headlines, it’s more important than ever that we remain committed to recognizing and preserving the contributions of individuals from all backgrounds and ensuring that every story is valued, and every voice is heard. Dr. Maria Montessori called on us to provide conditions that will allow our children to give us a true picture of the society of the future. Tonight’s celebration is one way that we do just that.

She then asked the audience to stand, as TNCS students raised their voices in song, and TNCS’s auditorium rang for the next hour with powerful voices, moving poetry, call-and-response, and joyous songs commemorating Black History Month.

Celebration Through Expression

Parents and staff watched with pride as TNCS students demonstrated not just their artistic talents, but their growing understanding of equity, justice, and the importance of amplifying diverse voices. We cannot overstate how much team effort went into making this event a resounding success, from the student-made art festooning the walls, to TNCS Music Director Martellies Warren’s rousing—and beautiful—choral selections, to all of the behind-the-scenes-but-no-less-appreciated support from teachers and other staff.

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The Show Must Go On. . . 

When TNCS K–8 students took to the stage (in high style), the enthusiastic response from audience members confirmed that our community treasures these opportunities to come together in celebration of our shared humanity and diverse heritage.

Lift Every Voice and Sing

First up, the “Black National Anthem”!

Something Inside So Strong

Wade in the Water

Some Very Special Extras 

But that wasn’t all. TNCS students read excerpts from Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” and spoke on themes central to Black History Month, like the importance of the Divine Nine.

The grandmother of a TNCS preschooler even came up to read Amanda Gorman’s Change Sings, backed by slides showing the beautiful illustrations by Loren Long.

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And TNCS favorite LaTriese Sussman led the audience in a Call and Response adapted from Rebecca Parker’s poem “Choose to Bless the World.” Ms. Simonetti confessed that she knew this moving celebration was going to bring her to tears at some point, and this beautiful, whole-community participation piece did the trick.

Reflections . . . and Looking Forward

In a time when difficult conversations about race and history are sometimes avoided, TNCS embraces them as essential to developing compassionate, informed citizens who will shape a better world. This Black History Month celebration wasn’t just about looking back—it was about moving forward together with greater understanding and purpose.

This commitment feels particularly significant today. While some governmental policies appear to be rolling back progress on diversity initiatives and historical accuracy in education, TNCS stands firm in its belief that understanding our complete history and embracing multiple perspectives are essential for preparing students to navigate our diverse world. The light of understanding that shone so brightly during our celebration continues to guide us forward—illuminating not just where we’ve been, but the more inclusive, equitable world we’re working to create.

Together, we can.