Expeditions & Celebrations of Learning

★ Lillie May Carroll Jackson · Charter School

Expeditions &
Celebrations of Learning

Three times a year. Real questions. Real research. Open doors.

Illustration of grades 5 through 8 exploring athletes for social change, monument design, Baltimore community research, and constitutional advocacy
Illustrated themes from our fall expeditions.

LEGACY IN BLOOM · NEW FALL DATE

Friday, November 13, 2026

Doors open 1:15 PM · Program 1:30–3 PM

November 13 replaces the previously announced November 6 date.

Register here

Our Practice

What is an Expedition?

LMCJS is an EL Education school — part of a national network rooted in expeditionary learning. An Expedition is a multi-week, scholar-led investigation of a real-world question, the kind of learning that doesn’t fit on a worksheet. Each grade takes on a different topic. Each scholar does original research, builds something tangible, and presents her findings to the community. Three times a year, we open our doors so you can see for yourself.

01

Real Questions

Each Expedition starts with a question that matters in our scholars’ lives — survival, energy, plastics, resilience, identity. No filler.

02

Deep Research

Scholars learn from experts, do field work in Baltimore, and build evidence-based arguments. They become the experts.

03

Real Products

Every Expedition ends with something built — a kit, a model, a campaign, a presentation. Our girls make things that make a difference.

04

Public Sharing

At the end of each Expedition, we host a Celebration of Learning. Family, neighbors, and partners walk the studios and meet the scholars.

Our Purpose

Our girls deserve schools that take their questions seriously.

Expeditions give our scholars the time, the trust, and the resources to chase ideas to their roots. They learn that their curiosity is fuel — and that the world is theirs to study, shape, and serve. We don’t prepare girls for someday. We invite them to do the work now.

Our Outcomes

What our scholars carry with them.

Research Skills

Investigation, evidence, citation, argument.

Creative Voice

Confidence to ask questions and make things.

Community

Real relationships with Baltimore and beyond.

Collaboration

Listening, leading, sharing the spotlight.

Built to Bloom

Rooted here. Ready everywhere.

Our Lens

Every grade asks one big question all year.

Each Expedition lives inside the grade’s year-long question. Different topics, different seasons — same lens. From fall to spring, our scholars chase the same thread of inquiry through new material.

5th Grade

Who is She?

6th Grade

Who are They?

7th Grade

Who are We?

8th Grade

Who am I?

Open Doors, Three Times a Year

Fall, Winter, Spring.

Each season brings a new Expedition and a new Celebration of Learning. Families, alumni, partners, and the wider community are warmly welcome at every one.

★ Fall Celebration of Learning · Coming Up

November 13, 2026

Leaders of Change

Our scholars explore athletes for social change, who deserves a monument, a more livable Baltimore, and constitutional principles — and ask: how do communities advocate for what they need?

SAVE THE DATE →

Winter Celebration of the Arts

February 25, 2027

Pathways of Expression

Your story, your culture, your future. A school-wide gallery walk and stage showcase featuring our scholars’ work in art, theatre, dance, and Chinese language.

Spring Celebration of Learning

May 27, 2027 · 1–3 PM

Built to Bloom

Natural disasters, sustainability, plastics, and survivorship — across grades 5–8. Doors open. Studios full of work. Scholars ready to talk.

See the four Expeditions →

This Year · 2026–27

Three seasons. Four grades. Real questions.

Each Celebration of Learning shares out a full trimester of scholar work. Open any season to see what each grade is investigating.

★ Fall Celebration · Coming Up

Leaders of Change

Friday, November 13, 2026 · Doors 1:15 PM · Program 1:30–3 PM

How do communities advocate for what they need? Across the fall, scholars study the movements, monuments, and moments that shaped what change looks like.

5th Grade · Who Is She

Athletes for Social Change

Scholars research athletes who use their platforms for change, compare their impact, and share their learning through writing and displays.

6th Grade · Who Are They

Who Deserves a Monument?

Scholars research a hero, make a case for why that person deserves a monument, and create a scale model.

7th Grade · Who Are We

B-More in Baltimore

Scholars use interviews, observations and data to explore community needs and resources and propose a more livable Baltimore.

8th Grade · Who Am I

Road to the Constitution

Scholars use constitutional principles to support proposals that address community challenges in a Shark Tank-style town hall.

Winter Celebration of the Arts

Pathways of Expression

Thursday, February 25, 2027 · 1–3 PM

A school-wide gallery walk and stage showcase. Your story, your culture, your future — told through visual art, theatre, dance, and Chinese language. Winter is where our scholars step into the artistic voice they’ve been building all year, across every grade.

Spring Celebration · Lillie May Day

Built to Bloom

Thursday, May 27, 2027 · 1–3 PM

Doors open. Studios full of work. Scholars ready to talk. Spring is Lillie May Day — our biggest celebration of the year, tied to the birthday of the woman our school is named for.

5th Grade

Natural Disasters

Prepared girls prepare communities.

6th Grade

Energy & Sustainability

Girls growing the future.

7th Grade

Plastics & Systems

What we throw away never goes away.

8th Grade

Survivorship & Resilience

Healing is also a form of leadership.

Girls. Bold Questions. Brilliant Futures.

Plan your visit

How the afternoon flows.

Doors open at 1:15 PM. The program runs from 1:30 to 3 PM. Please arrive for the welcome and plan to stay for the full program.

1:15 PM
Doors open · check in at the main entrance.
1:30 PM
Welcome & opening in the Auditorium with school leadership.
1:40 PM
Scholar introductions — brief presentations from each grade.
2:00 PM
Class presentations — visit each grade’s studio for the full Expedition share-out (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th).
3:00 PM
Closing & thank-yous in the Auditorium.

What to bring

Yourself and questions for our scholars. They’ve prepared to talk through their work.

Accessibility

Campus is wheelchair accessible. ASL interpretation can be arranged in advance — mention your request when you RSVP.

RSVP

Help us plan programs. RSVP at least one week before each celebration to info@lilliemay.org.

YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS

200 people. One powerful audience.

Help us fill the room for our scholars. Come listen, ask questions and show our girls that their ideas deserve our time and attention.

0 of 200 people registered to attend

Who is joining us?

Families · 0Community · 0Expert audience · 0Prospective families · 0

The goal counts people using the household or group size provided at registration. Colored counts show registration groups by connection; guests may choose more than one, so these counts overlap.

Registration snapshot: October 27, 2026. Updated periodically.

Register here

Friday, November 13 · Doors 1:15 PM · Program 1:30–3 PM

Spring Celebration · May 27, 2027

About Lillie May Day

Where we honor our namesake.

Our Spring Celebration is more than a share-out of scholar work. It’s Lillie May Day — a day to honor the woman our school is named for, feed our community, and remember why we do this.

A Day of Service

Honoring our namesake.

The day is built around service, learning, and leadership — just as Lillie May Carroll Jackson lived hers.

Cupcake Birthday Moment

Celebrating her legacy.

We pause together to celebrate the life, leadership, and legacy of Lillie May Carroll Jackson — born May 25th. Cupcakes for everyone.

On Your Way Out

School Store & Pantry.

Take home LMCJ merch from our School Store, and grab from the Community Pantry as you leave.

Get Involved

Many ways to walk with us.

Attend a Celebration

Come to any of our three Celebrations of Learning. No experience needed — just curiosity and a willingness to ask a question. Subject line: RSVP + which celebration.

Volunteer at a Celebration

Help welcome families, staff hospitality, or support scholars on the day of a celebration. Subject line: Volunteer + which celebration.

Get in touch →

Serve as an Expert

Visit a class before a celebration as a subject-matter guest. Our scholars interview experts as part of their research. Subject line: Expert + your area of expertise.

Get in touch →

Partner With Us

Local business and nonprofit partners — we’d love to talk about how to support an Expedition. Subject line: Partnership.

Get in touch →

Watch us bloom ♥

@lmcj_scholars · lmcjcharterschool.org · #BuiltToBloom

Empowering Black and Brown girls to lead, ignite change, and transform the world.
Legacy in Bloom ♥

Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School · Baltimore, MD · lmcjcharterschool.org


2200 Sinclair Lane     Baltimore, MD 21213     t 443-320-9499       f 443-320-9036