Morris Jeff Community School

🦩☀️ Pelicans in the Wild: Summer Adventures! ☀️🦩

Today, we're featuring Dylan Wilson, Class of 2026, who celebrated graduation with an MSC cruise to the Bahamas! 🚢🌴

This special trip gave Dylan the opportunity to meet new people while spending quality time with family. From exploring a new place to experiencing a different culture, the adventure was filled with meaningful moments and memories that will last for years to come.

Dylan's experience reflects our Graduate Aim of being a Global Citizen. By connecting with others, embracing new experiences, and learning from the world around him, he's continuing to grow beyond the classroom and broaden his perspective.

Congratulations on this exciting milestone, Dylan, and thank you for sharing your summer adventure with us! 💙💛

📸 Have a summer adventure to share? We'd love to feature your Pelican! Click here:https://buff.ly/pMSAYHX

🦩☀️ Pelicans in the Wild: Summer Adventures! ☀️🦩

Today, we're featuring Thalia Kokontis-Eustis, who spent June 13 exploring our local wetlands at CERF UNO's Family Canoe Day! 🛶🐟

While paddling through our New Orleans estuary, Thalia was fishing for pipefish among the vegetation, getting an up-close look at the incredible ecosystems that make our region so unique. Experiences like these remind us that learning happens everywhere—from the classroom to the waterways that surround our city.

Thalia exemplifies our Graduate Aim of being a Relentless Learner, approaching the natural world with curiosity, observation, and a desire to better understand the environment. 🌿

Thank you for sharing your summer adventure with us, Thalia!

📸 Photo by her dad, Scott Eustis.

📸 Have a summer adventure to share? We'd love to feature your Pelican! Click here: https://buff.ly/pMSAYHX

🦩☀️ Pelicans in the Wild: Summer Adventures ☀️🦩

Today, we're featuring Ruby Oliver, Olivia Whitson, and Alexandra Burns, Class of 2027, enjoying a day of thrifting on Magazine Street! 🛍️✨

From uncovering unique finds to exploring one of New Orleans' most vibrant neighborhoods, adventures don't always require traveling far from home. Experiences like these encourage our students to be Open-Minded and Inquirers, discovering new perspectives, expressing their creativity, and finding joy in unexpected treasures.

As Global Citizens and Relentless Learners, our Pelicans know that every outing can be an opportunity to connect, explore, and learn something new.

Thank you for sharing your summer adventure with us, Ruby, Olivia, and Alexandra! 💙💛

📸 Have a summer adventure to share? We'd love to feature your Pelican! Click here: https://buff.ly/zO5wXiv

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🌞🦩 Pelicans in the Wild: Summer Edition 🦩🌞

Our first summer adventure features Lacii Stewart making a splash at the Frisco Water Park! 💦

Lacii's mom, Bonny, shared, "She LOVES water." We can definitely see the joy on her face!

Whether exploring new places, trying new activities, or diving into summer fun, our Pelicans continue to grow as Relentless Learners and Empowered Dreamers—one adventure at a time. Lacii's enthusiasm and confidence remind us of the IB Learner Profile attribute of being Risk-Takers, embracing new experiences with courage and excitement.

Thank you for sharing your summer joy with us, Lacii! 💙💛

📸 Have a summer adventure to share? We'd love to feature your Pelican! Click here: https://buff.ly/zO5wXiv

💙💛 🦩

☀️ Meet the Summer Staff! ☀️

Great schools don't happen by accident—they're built by passionate educators who spend all year thinking about how to create the best possible experience for students. Today, we're featuring Ms. Noelle Reznik, Lower School Principal

🏞️ Favorite summer activity:
Traveling to National Parks, especially those in cooler climates, to hike, connect with nature, and experience the beauty of our Earth.

📚 Favorite book:
Anything by Shel Silverstein! His creativity, humor, and ability to see the world through a child's eyes continue to inspire.

📺 Favorite TV show:
Modern Family—so much so that Ms. Reznik and her family have watched all 11 seasons twice and are currently working through a third viewing.

⚜️ Favorite thing about living in New Orleans:
"Impossible to choose. The people, the balanced approach to life, the community, the food. It's home."

💙 💛 Why Morris Jeff?
"It represents all that is good in our city and world while striving to be a place that helps all of us reach our full potential. I love how my own children have become critical thinkers who have empathy and feel empowered to make the world better."

🎒 Looking ahead to 2026-27:
Ms. Reznik is excited to build on the opportunities created by bringing our older learners back to the Lopez campus and to continue strengthening the student experience from upper elementary through the transition to the Upper School. She looks forward to helping students develop greater agency, confidence, and knowledge every step of the way.

Thank you, Ms. Reznik, for your leadership and commitment to helping every Pelican thrive!

You asked.❓️
We listened. 👂️
We're building. 🚧

Big things are happening at our Lower School this summer—and it's all because of our Pelican community. 💛 💙

While we continue working toward our playground fundraising goal, we're already making improvements:
🏗️ Right now, construction is underway on our new playground shade structure—an exciting step toward making our playground more comfortable and accessible for students year-round.
☂️ In May, we added new outdoor umbrellas in our garden space to create more shaded areas for learning and play.

Every improvement brings us closer to the outdoor spaces our students deserve, and we're grateful to everyone who has helped move this project forward. Stay tuned this fall for ways to help us cross the finish line and complete the full playground vision next school year. 🌳✨

☀️ Meet the Summer Staff! ☀️

Summer is a time to recharge, reflect, and plan for the year ahead—and our team is already hard at work preparing for an incredible 2026-27 school year. Today, we're introducing Ms. Kristen Pate, Director of Instructional Technology!

🍳 🌇 Favorite summer activity:
Weekend brunching and attending Rest at Sunset each month.

📖 Favorite book:
Honey, I Love, a beloved collection of poetry that celebrates joy, family, and community.

📺 Favorite TV show:
Not just one show—Kristen is a fan of the entire Power Universe, including Power, Ghost, Raising Kanan, and Force.

⚜️ Favorite thing about living in New Orleans:
"Everything! I am a native, so I feel blessed to be from such a culturally rich and vibrant city that often feels like a small town because everybody knows everybody."

💙 💛 Why Morris Jeff?
"Because MJ is proof that we thrive when we embrace what makes each of us unique. Our diversity is our superpower."

💻 Looking ahead to 2026-27:
Kristen is excited to begin developing new strategies that help teachers and students use technology more intentionally and purposefully, supporting learning across our school community.

Thank you, Ms. Pate, for helping keep Morris Jeff connected, supported, and ready for success every day!

☀️ Meet the Summer Staff! ☀️

While our classrooms may be quieter during the summer months, there's still plenty happening behind the scenes to support our Pelicans. Today, we're highlighting Julie Thibodaux, Director of Community Relations & Development!

📚 Favorite book: "To Kill a Mockingbird."
You'll probably have heard Julie say at least once, "Atticus Finch is my co-pilot." In fact, this book is one of the reasons Julie went to law school! (Yes, she's a lawyer, and yes, she keeps up her law license. But, no, she doesn't want to practice. 😂)

📺 Favorite TV show: "Will & Grace"
A comfort show that you can find playing in the background at Julie's house. "I love this show because it was groundbreaking for its time and remains a reminder of how culture—and our understanding of one another—continues to grow and evolve."

⚜️ Favorite thing about living in New Orleans:
The people. New Orleans is a city built on relationships, community, and connection. There's nowhere else quite like it. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

💙 💛 Why Morris Jeff?
"I love being part of a school community that truly believes every child deserves an education that opens doors and expands possibilities. Our diversity, inclusion, and commitment to developing compassionate, globally minded learners make Morris Jeff a very special place. Plus, I have the best co-workers in the business. I'm a lucky gal!"

🎉 Looking ahead to 2026-27:
Julie is excited to celebrate Morris Jeff's 17th year and continue sharing the stories of the students, families, alumni, and staff who make our community so extraordinary. She would also like to kindly remind you to mark your calendars for Friday, March 12, 2027, for our bi-annual gala. This year's theme: A Passport to Possibilities-Celebrating 17 Years of Morris Jeff.

Thank you, Julie, for helping tell the Morris Jeff story and strengthening support for our mission every day!

☀️ Meet the Summer Staff! ☀️

School may be out, but the work of supporting our Pelicans continues all year long. This summer, we're introducing some of the dedicated team members who help keep Morris Jeff running behind the scenes.

First up: Mr. Matt Schwarzfeld, IB Middle Years Programme Coordinator 📚

🏖️ Favorite summer activity: Tackling big yard projects and bringing new ideas to life outdoors.

📖 Favorite recent book: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

📺 Favorite TV show: The Wire — a show that helped inspire his journey into education.

⚜️ Favorite thing about New Orleans: The genuine connections and unexpected relationships that make the city feel like home.

💙💛 Why Morris Jeff?
"Here at MJCS, I'm able to do the kind of teaching I entered the profession to do: help kids think deeply and question the world with method, purpose, and capacity."

🎓 Looking ahead to 2026-27:
Mr. Schwarzfeld is excited to teach the new IB History curriculum and create engaging learning experiences that challenge students to think critically and explore new perspectives.

Thank you, Mr. Schwarzfel, for helping our students become Relentless Learners and Global Citizens!

🌞📚 Morris Jeff Summer Learning Challenge!

Learning doesn't stop when school is out. This summer, we invite our Pelicans to stay curious, explore new ideas, and have fun learning along the way!

This week's challenge:
📖 Read a new book

This is your chance to practice being a Global Citizen and a Relentless Learner—two of the qualities we hope every Morris Jeff graduate will embody.

Share your summer learning adventures with us by tagging Morris Jeff or posting a photo or title of your book in the comments!