October 31, 2014

What's cookin?

Today we had a surprise visit from Liz Fagen - which actually struck me as pretty ironic since the visitors we thought were coming didn't.  Like always, everyone just rolls with it.

I had a few chuckles as folks shared their surprise and their reactions...

After Liz left the second grade, Amanda strolled over to Hanni and asked, "Who was that lady?"

Tyler saw Liz headed down the hall and frantically tried to recall all four of the District Strategic goals and could only come up with two. He was just certain she would ask him about it, and then instead, she says, "So, how's everything going?" and Tyler replied, "Livin' the dream!"

Liz didn't say, and I didn't ask her, if what she observed was the 'right stuff'.  Our goal isn't to try to figure out what Liz wants or what Liz thinks it should look like. Our goal is to use the vision to decide that for ourselves. Each of us. Our goal is not to have classrooms that are clones of one another. Our goal is to work towards being the best Expeditionary Learning school we can be - using the frameworks, core practices, research, our personal experience and discoveries to support us. Most importantly, our goal has never been to arrive - but rather to move forward.

Calendar

November 3 - 7:

Tuesday: No students - Full day of Professional Development

* School-wide Data analysis

* Student Engaged Assessment Inquiry Unit of Study

Wednesday:

Sixth Grade to Keystone Science School on Field Work

Debbie out to support Field work

* 'The Beat'

9:00 - 11:00 - District level folks visiting classrooms

* 1:30 library: Professional Development 

Thursday:

Deborah out of the building for PK12 Admin. Mtg.

Friday:

* CITE 6 team work session 12:30 - 4:30

November 10 - 14th:

Monday:

Discovery 5th & 6th Grade to Keystone Science School on Fieldwork

* Leadership Team meeting 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday:

* RTI meeting 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday:

* 'The Beat'

* 1:30 Professional Development

Thursday:

Deborah out of the building for Elementary Admin. Meeting

Mr. Kenny and his big pencil

A sweet house in the OLE

Thanks Billie for the pictures!

Makes Me Smile...

(an email I received this week)

Dear Mrs. Deborah,

I found a black widow in the men’s bathroom, but I stomped it to death. I threw it in the trash. But I think you should call an exterminator, so you can protect the kids. I don’t want them to get poisoned or hurt .

                                           From,

                                                   Ian

(I sent Ian back an email to thank him- I decided not to tell him that the spiders would have to wait until we had finished exterminating the mice!) 

Have a great weekend!

Deborah

Friday, October 17, 2014

(The art of doing nothing)

What's not to love about Fall Break?! I hope everyone spent a little time doing nothing! Good for the body, mind and spirit to be still.

Looking forward to seeing you on Monday. We will meet together and spend a little time re-connecting by drumming together. Todd, from Rhythm Vision has graciously offered to lead our drum circle. See you at 8:30 in the library! Come early if you want some time to catch up with each other before we drum.

How cool is this...

(an email I received over break)

Hi, Ms. Lisa and Ms. Deborah,
I don’t know if you remember me, Nic Brownrigg. I am now a junior at Castle View High School and I went to Renaissance for 5^th and 6^th grade. It was the first school I ever wanted to attend instead of just going where I was told. The idea of being crew instead of just a passenger has stayed with me. I still like Renaissance, and the ideas I learned helped me.
Last year, I founded a not-for-profit organization to provide educational supplies to children all over the world. It's called The Manasi Project. (Manasi means respect in the local Garifuna language in Hopkins Village, Belize, the first area we are going to assist.)
We're hosting a fundraiser on Sunday, October 19, from 11-3 at Festival Park in downtown Castle Rock. A local DJ, Snapshot Sounds, is providing music. We'll have brown bag lunches available for a suggested $5.00 donation, along with Krispy Kreme doughnuts and soft drinks. I am planning on delivering the first set of supplies to Belize in November.
Could you help us spread the word about the event, especially since it is coming up soon and the last day of fall break for many schools?
Here's a brief summary of how The Manasi Project came to be. I put the business plan together through a 30 week program called the Young Entrepreneur Academy, sponsored by the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce. I was awarded startup funding by an angel investor panel at the end of the program last May. The Manasi Project is registered with the Colorado Secretary of State's office and we are in the process of finding ways to accelerate our 501(c)3 status. More information can be found in the links I've included.
I've attached our poster in case you are willing to print and/or post it. I can be reached via return email with any questions or concerns. You can also call our interim CEO at 720.364.6875 or either of us at 303.660.2404. (She's also my mother. You have to be 18 years old to register as the CEO of a company in Colorado, so she is helping out for a couple of years.)
Thank you so much for considering helping us help kids. If you have any ideas about how I could get the word out better, let me know!

Nic Brownrigg
Founder and Chief Development Officer
The Manasi Project


http://manasiproject.org/

http://manasiproject.org/how-you-can-help/fundraiser/

Calendar:

October 20 - 24:
Monday: No students
Staff drum circle at 8:30 in the library

Tuesday:
RTI: 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday:
NO 'The Beat'
PD: 1:30 in library

Thursday:
Second grade to Deerfield on fieldwork
Deborah out to Elementary admin. meeting

Friday:
Second grade to downtown Castle Rock on fieldwork

October 27 -31:

Tuesday:
RTI: 7:30 a.m.
Director Cindy will be visiting classrooms along with Deborah between 1-3:00 p.m.

Wednesday:
'The Beat' 9:00 ish
PD: 1:30 in library

Friday:
Halloween Parade - details to come

Have a great weekend...and see you soon!

Deborah

Gemma is 7 months old now!
I got some good quality puppy time
over Fall Break!