Tag Archives: The New Century School

06.06.25
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Leaving on a High Note: Mr. Warren’s Coda

As The New Century School school year draws to its inevitable end each year, one thing has become more and more clear with each passing one: it is much less an end or closing than actually a beginning or opening. Students don’t stop where they are—they move up to the next phase with all of the new challenges, delights, triumphs, and learning it will entail.

This ascension is not limited to students, however—in fact, all who pass through its halls take with them what gifts they enjoyed here to be applied in new ways to new things. (You probably know where this is going.) And that’s just what is happening with the TNCS community’s beloved Martellies Warren, who leaves TNCS on a soaring, high note.

Opening Bars

“I went to The Saint Paul’s Schools for Career Day earlier this year, and I shared my journey—growing up in the projects, not having a lot of money,” Mr. Warren said. “But my parents instilled in me early on that I was going to college no matter what. That was a driving force for me.”

The visit was transformative—not just for the students who sent him a care package full of handwritten letters afterward about how his words affected them, but for Mr. Warren himself. “They were so inspired. That day changed something in me, too.”

Career Crossroads

“I always tell students they’re going to come to a lot of crossroads. My hope is that they always follow their gut,” Mr. Warren said. One such crossroads came in his own life when he chose a vocal scholarship to Morgan State University over a partial scholarship to Berkley. “Had I listened to my band teacher and not followed my gut, I don’t know where my life would be. But I chose to go with what I knew.”

For Mr. Warren, music has never been just a subject—it’s been a calling. “I learned music at a very early age, and it paved the way for me. It gave me opportunities,” he said. One such opportunity is singing with Anthony Brown and Group Therapy, a Grammy Award-winning gospel group.

And, although maybe not quite as glamorous, his time at TNCS is another. From the moment he stepped into TNCS in 2012, he began shaping a vibrant music program where none existed before. “I built the department here—when I got here there was no music department. I’ve kind of done it all, and it’s been an amazing ride.” He fondly recalls concerts that brought the community together—including one that moved him deeply: “My mom, who’s passed on, loved this school. She would ride in on her scooter to see my students perform. They always made sure she had a good view. This place holds special memories.”

Over the years, he has directed concerts, coached vocal technique and various instruments, taught choral harmony, and brought countless students into the world of music. He also spent many years as a Lead Montessori Teacher in the primary classroom as well as directing summer camp and other administrative positions. But, as he puts it: “Music is my passion. If I’m not doing music all day, the part of the day where it’s not music feels like work. For a creative, that’s painful.”

Called Back to Music

With what started as nothing more than a talk at a different school, Mr. Warren began to realize it was time to realign with this passion. He had returned to TNCS after a couple of years away in 2022 as Director of Music and Extended Activities. This year, he re-donned the role of teacher.  “I felt like I was spinning my wheels being back in the classroom. I was losing my way a little. It felt disorienting.” Although he certainly gets all the credit for the two amazing concerts this year, he just wasn’t able to do music full time. “I need to be challenged and motivated. When I no longer feel that, I know it’s time for a shift,” he said.

Interestingly, as these truths shone brighter and brighter to him, his stars started to align—big time. When Saint Paul’s reached out to ask if he knew anyone who might be interested in a position as full-time music instructor, he recounts, “I told them, ‘I might be interested,’ and they thought I was joking. But I said, ‘It’s time—I need to get out and spread my wings.’”

And the harmonies don’t end there. “The head of school there is from Montgomery, Alabama, where I’m from. His mom and my mom even went to the same college. Then he asked what church I attended and said, ‘Stop it. I came out of your church.’ That’s alignment—it can’t get any clearer than that.”

Next Movement

Not surprisingly—despite hundreds of other applicants—Mr. Warren was immediately invited to campus for interviews, tours, and more. In fact, he was even asked to lead a seventh-grade music class with no warning. Also not surprisingly, he rose to the occasion: “I taught them ‘Amazing Grace,’ and within 15–20 minutes, they were singing in three-part harmony. The five arts chairs were just sitting there amazed.”

And just like that, he’ll now be teaching the boys’ middle school in a choral room located inside the campus chapel. “Good acoustics! I’ve got a huge room, an office downstairs—I’m excited. It’s a beautiful campus, like a small college.”

Mr. Warren’s Legacy

Of course, such wonderful news for him is bittersweet for us—we couldn’t be happier for him nor more bereft for ourselves, right? But, being as loved and appreciated as he is, the happiness for him takes right back over, and that’s across the board. He truly leaves on a high note.

There are no hard feelings. That’s important to me. I’ve stayed too long before—and things turned sour. I didn’t want that to happen here. I’ve run out of runway. I don’t want to say I’ve outgrown the place, but in the sense of my career, I have. There’s no upward trajectory from here, so I have to go where I can continue to grow and be challenged.

At 46, Mr. Warren knows he’s far from done. His goals for this next “movement” are ambitious and beautiful. They include:

  • Further developing my expertise as a choral director, specializing in the cultivation, and development of young voices
  • Pursuing a masters and doctorate degree in music performance/education
  • Spending more time cultivating and perfecting my own craft
  • Performing and touring professionally, and finding more opportunities to live life more fully!

And so, Mr. Warren leaves TNCS as its music director with his head high and heart full. “This place has enriched me just as much as I’ve enriched the students. This is home—it always has been. That’s why I came back.”

He’s especially proud of moments where his students demonstrated professionalism and courage, such as when they performed “America the Beautiful” at the Baltimore Blast game. Another choir had mistakenly been booked to sing the same song. “Most kids would have had a meltdown. But our students stood their ground, sang with heart, and got a standing ovation. That’s a testament to what we do every day.” And let’s not forget that amazing performance from Wicked at the spring concert! “Those kids blew me away. They don’t even realize the magnitude of what they accomplished,” he said (speaking for anyone who was there and saw it).

Encore!

Even as he moves on, Mr. Warren plans to keep the music alive between the two schools. “Don’t be surprised if I pop up next year with my choir to do a concert here. Or have kids from TNCS visit me at Saint Paul’s. I want that connection and collaboration to continue.”

Meanwhile, we get 1 more week with Mr. Warren this summer for Music Theatre Camp, in which campers will put on Friends or Foes: A Wickedly Exciting Journey of Self-discovery!

As he prepares for his next act, Mr. Warren reflects with gratitude. “This school will always be on my mind and in that place in my heart.”

In addition to several blogs about Mr. Warren and his work linked above, here’s more music! More fun! (And lots more wonderful memorable photographs!)

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.

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.”