The Maya played the earliest team sport in the world. It was a ballgame in which players could not use their hands or feet or touch the ball.
Returning after his previous day’s lecture to the Popol Vuh and the Ancient Maya class, archeologist David S. Anderson of Radford University drew on his research and field-work on excavations of the Ball Courts in Maya cities to lead students in a lunchtime game. Our students played with commitment!
The Statistics class used linear regression models to predict how many rubber bands they needed to use on Barbie’s bungee cord to allow for maximum fun without cracking her head open.
Thanks to Tyler, we hosted a game night at school, and were thrilled to see some alums come and join in the fun.
Mireidis taught the beginner Spanish language students how to make Venezuelan arepas, a flatbread family staple, made with corn flour, water, and salt. After cooking them in the pan, they finished them off in the oven. Finally, while crispy hot on the outside, they sliced, buttered, and stuffed the soft inside with reina pepiada and carne mechada fillings. They received rave reviews from everyone!
As part of his “Math Pedagogy and Practice” post-graduate internship advised by Jess, Derek (’25) created and now leads the CHS Math/CS Club to serve as a basis for potentially offering Computer Science courses at CHS.
To that end Derek is attempting a myriad of teaching tasks including developing lessons and assignments for Calculus 1, offering tutoring help with Geometry and Algebra, and running the CHS Math/CS Club which is open to all students.
This pilot program could shape future curriculum decisions, potentially expanding courses emphasizing logic, computer science, and discrete mathematics to boost problem-solving skills.
Derek is working with the senior math faculty to reflect on his efforts, specifically in regards to student engagement and content acquisition with the end goal to better equip students with the skills necessary for success in today’s technology-driven world.
Adrian Spaulding is our long term substitute math teacher, teaching Algebra and Geometry courses this year. They graduated from Concord University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Math, and will graduate with a Master of Engineering in Computer Science and Applications from Virginia Tech in May 2026.
While in undergrad, Adrian was a Teaching Assistant where they learned to explore their passion for teaching. In addition to being a teaching assistant, they have served as a tutor for numerous courses in Math and Computer Science. Adrian strives to create an inclusive, engaging learning environment that encourages students to ask questions and contribute to the content being taught.
Being a first generation college student themself, they are a strong advocate and support person for helping students explore the opportunities of attending college. They were drawn to Community High School by the fine arts, having been a music student themself. They have played the trombone since 5th grade, then later joined choir, a capella, and theatre ensembles and productions.
We had the pleasure of catching up with Sarah Cohen (’07) who now lives in Columbus, Ohio. She is an adult & pediatric pulmonologist at Ohio State & Nationwide Children’s Hospitals. Sarah’s focus areas include pulmonary hypertension, interstitial & advanced lung disease in children, and transition from pediatric to adult care.
She shares this personal reflection with us:
I think that my time at Community High School made me more confident in creating my own path, in areas such as pursuing a combined fellowship, doing global health work, and directing a musical during medical school. By nature I am somebody who tends to color inside the lines, but CHS taught me to go beyond my comfort zone and become comfortable with thinking outside the box. In a more concrete sense, the focus at CHS on critical thinking and the humanities has made me both a better scientist and a better writer. CHS also helped me to be a more well-rounded person, which is important both on a personal level and in my interactions with patients.
Our Figure Drawing class has been hard at work. The unique problems of drawing people from life can help improve awareness of our own bodies, as well as apply in our work in other fields – medicine, sports, dance, comics and more.
The Spanish Humanities Class baked horchata themed cupcakes reading their recipe in Spanish, and using metric units.
Cupcakes, la receta paso a paso para que siempre queden perfectos!
Ingredientes de los cupcakes
Para los cupcakes:
200 g de azúcar blanco
95 g de aceite suave
3 huevos M
180 g de harina de trigo
1 cucharadita y media de levadura química (tipo Royal)
100 g de leche entera
1 cucharadita de vainilla en pasta o extracto
Para la crema o buttercream:
300 g de mantequilla sin sal a temperatura ambiente
190 g de azúcar glas tamizado
70 g de leche entera
1 cucharadita de vainilla en pasta o extracto
2 cucharaditas de mermelada de fresa (opcional, si queremos alguno de fresa)
Click here for the full recipe from Bon Viveur.
Our new Math/CS Club led by Derek (’25), gives students the opportunity to learn how computer programming can be one of the most versatile tools out there when it comes to problem solving.
They plan to explore how our devices can be used to solve complex problems through the learning and practice of Python. They plan to solve many problems often confronted in college Computer Science or Discrete Mathematics courses. Of course they have to start at the beginning… learning binary 1s and 0s.
I think that my time at Community High School made me more confident in creating my own path, in areas such as pursuing a combined fellowship, doing global health work, and directing a musical during medical school. By nature I am somebody who tends to color inside the lines, but CHS taught me to go beyond my comfort zone and become comfortable with thinking outside the box. In a more concrete sense, the focus at CHS on critical thinking and the humanities has made me both a better scientist and a better writer. CHS also helped me to be a more well-rounded person, which is important both on a personal level and in my interactions with patients.