Gilman, Bryn Mawr, and Guilford Schools Partner up for the National Academic League

Written by Karen DeCamp, GHCC Public Education Programs

Guilford Elementary/Middle School teacher Ted Smith and Guilford neighbor Grace Pollack teamed up to form a unique partnership of Guilford students and students from Gilman and Bryn Mawr Schools. The private school students helped Guilford Middle School students study for National Academic League (NAL) games. On Sunday evenings this year, you could find private and public school students together eating dinner and brushing up on study questions.

The results? The Guilford team went undefeated for the season, proving that hard work pays off. And the bigger news? All ten Guilford NAL eighth graders were successful in their applications to competitive citywide high schools. Next year they will be attending Baltimore City College, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Western High School and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Way to go!

Below is a note from one of Guilford’s eighth grade students:

To whom it may concern,

I just wanted to let all of the Gilman and Bryn Mawr students know that I really appreciated your time and patience. To know that you have a heart for the community puts a smile on my face. We may not have always behaved the best but you still helped us to learn so much. We made it to nationals and we were able to get into very good high schools. You helped me to learn enough to get into Poly,

. Again, I want to say thank you for your tender, loving care.
– Malik Kelly