CICS Lloyd Bond -

Recent sixth-grade graduate Naomi wants to be a poet and a singer one day, and her time at CICS Lloyd Bond provided the creative outlets to nourish these ambitions. Through programs like hip hop, podcasting, and Guitars Over Guns, Naomi gained hands-on, real-world skills—from using professional equipment to writing her own lyrics and collaborating with artists.

This creative freedom actively cultivated her artistry and poetry, giving her a true voice and choice in her craft. CICS Lloyd Bond’s unique blend of creative ownership and real-world skills means Naomi is more prepared to confidently pursue the artistic future she chooses beyond Bond’s walls.

At CICS Lloyd Bond, Mr. Glover’s classroom buzzes with excitement as students dive deep into the world of Hip Hop. Mr. Glover’s approach to Hip Hop with students is to explore five key elements: MCing, DJing, knowledge, graffiti, and breakdancing. He shows students how to leverage hip-hop as a source of self expression, coaching students as they write original songs from journaled feelings. They explore graffiti's artistry, experimenting with various mediums. DJing teaches track blending fundamentals using programs like DJ Pro and mini turntables. For his youngest students the focus is on understanding emotions, creating safe spaces, and joyful affirmations.

Mr. Glover supports CICS Lloyd Bond students to find their voice. By integrating culturally relevant art forms with core academic skills, Mr. Glover helps students develop confidence, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. His classroom has become a vibrant hub of self-discovery, where every beat, lyric, and movement contributes to a joyful and relevant learning experience that resonates deeply with students, fostering artists and thoughtful, expressive individuals alike.

Sixth-grader Aalijah comes from a basketball family – she is a hardworking, driven natural leader on and off the court at CICS Lloyd Bond. Her dad coaches a local boys basketball team, and she occasionally gets to join in on their fun, often leading the way when it comes to helping out and working together—core tenets of her experience at CICS Lloyd Bond. Her teachers’ high expectations and unwavering support have pushed Aalijah to excel academically and socially, cultivating a strong sense of responsibility. In fact, Aalijah is often chosen to check classmates’ work, helping to ensure everyone in the classroom learns and grows together.

Aalijah considers her school community like family, and that feeling extends to extracurriculars like basketball and Guitars Over Guns. In Guitars Over Guns, Aalijah gets to be herself with her peers, expressing creativity through music, performances, and building community with students from across the city. These opportunities have helped Aalijah grow as a student and an individual, preparing her for any future opportunity.