Mission Statement
Over a week ago, the committee met to grapple with our next steps for Portfolio's. We went in one direction, and that opened the doors to yet another direction, and then another direction...We had to explore and search together and we arrived at an entirely new place. We are excited to share that with you next week on Tuesday.
The first action step from that meeting was for me to communicate to you - and I failed to do that last Wednesday - what each of us needs to do in preparation.
So here goes...
We looked at our mission statement and acknowledged that it was meaningful to us as a staff - maybe not so much for kids? We don't want to change our mission statement - but we do want it to be meaningful to kids. So, we decided that each teacher - with their Crew - would unpack our mission statement; wrestle with it and create a version for your Crew that students feel attached to and can make meaning of.
We will be using your Mission Statement version as we move forward with our Portfolio work.
Jill was part of the committee and shared in her recent blog post with parents, the experience of writing their Crew Mission Statement. I'm sharing because I know we all love an example!
Please plan to do this with your Crew. If you have questions or need support in how you might do this, let me know.
Here's a excerpt from that post:
"Our school is working on a new mission statement. The staff decided that
we should ask the students for their input and ideas. We also wanted
them to know that we have a mission statement and to know what we are
working towards and what we hope for them by the time they graduate from
Renaissance.
After several days of discussing this during our morning meeting, we finally broke down all of the language into our own version that is more easily understood by a first grader. It was a wonderful discussion that led to many great things in our classroom (more on that below).
At first the crew tried hard to figure out what I might want them to say. They said things like "parts and wholes are in the world" and "our family, crew and world are all together" and so on. These things are coming from our learning in our current Expedition about families and from our essential understanding of parts and wholes. I did love that they could relate those things to the mission statement but I wanted them to go deeper and talk more about what those ideas (once we broke down the language) meant to them. They did not disappoint. They dived right in and we had some wonderful discussions. My favorite comment was when Halle said, "Oh my gosh, we are thinking about thinking! Isn't that funny?" We spent a whole morning discussing what "explore" meant. We started out thinking that it meant that you had to go on a big adventure to someplace far away like Africa. We finally agreed that we can explore in smaller ways in our own backyards, classrooms, on computers and in books.
The next morning to help them tie all of their thoughts together, I read them the book, Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell. This book tells the story of Jane Goodall as a child and how she studied the chickens in her chicken coop, ants, trees and other living things in her own yard by watching them closely, reading books and keeping a notebook about them. The books ends by explaining how Jane ended up becoming a scientist who studied chimpanzees in Africa by observing them, living among them and keeping a notebook with her observations."
Renaissance Mission StatementTo empower students to explore, discover and understand the world around them and the passions within them.
Who are...
- creative, reflective, fulfilled individuals
- active, compassionate citizens
- courageous builders of a harmonious and sustainable world.
After several days of discussing this during our morning meeting, we finally broke down all of the language into our own version that is more easily understood by a first grader. It was a wonderful discussion that led to many great things in our classroom (more on that below).
Ms. Jill's Crew's Version of the Mission Statement
Explore and look at everything around you in the world and figure out what you love.
We will be creative, caring, loving and kind to everything and everyone.We will think hard every day.
At first the crew tried hard to figure out what I might want them to say. They said things like "parts and wholes are in the world" and "our family, crew and world are all together" and so on. These things are coming from our learning in our current Expedition about families and from our essential understanding of parts and wholes. I did love that they could relate those things to the mission statement but I wanted them to go deeper and talk more about what those ideas (once we broke down the language) meant to them. They did not disappoint. They dived right in and we had some wonderful discussions. My favorite comment was when Halle said, "Oh my gosh, we are thinking about thinking! Isn't that funny?" We spent a whole morning discussing what "explore" meant. We started out thinking that it meant that you had to go on a big adventure to someplace far away like Africa. We finally agreed that we can explore in smaller ways in our own backyards, classrooms, on computers and in books.
The next morning to help them tie all of their thoughts together, I read them the book, Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell. This book tells the story of Jane Goodall as a child and how she studied the chickens in her chicken coop, ants, trees and other living things in her own yard by watching them closely, reading books and keeping a notebook about them. The books ends by explaining how Jane ended up becoming a scientist who studied chimpanzees in Africa by observing them, living among them and keeping a notebook with her observations."
Calendar
November 2 - 6th:
Monday, Nov. 2nd:
6th grade field work to Ice Core Lab
* Case For Change (1st course in the Learning Progression) offered her at Renaissance from 4:30 - 7:00. (You must register through the Center of Staff Development)
Tuesday, Nov. 3rd:
All Day Professional Development Day (see agenda below)
GT Discovery Parent Information Night 6:30 (for perspective parents)
Yellow Card Class @WSC Telluride Room 4:30 - 6:30 (register through CSD)
Wednesday, Nov. 4th:
Ted Knight (Assistant Superintendent) will be bringing his group to do a school walk-through in the morning
PD:
Conference Attendees report out
CITE evidence session
Thursday, Nov. 5th:
Deborah out at PK12 mtg
Love and Logic 4:30 facilitated by Pam
November 9th - 13th:
Monday, Nov. 9th:
6th grade field work to Keystone
Tuesday, Nov. 10th:
MTSS (RTI) 7:30 a.m. - Identifying students who need ALP's
Assessment office comes for PLC work with each grade level team
Wednesday, Nov. 11th:
The Beat
PD: Student Led Conferences
Thursday, Nov. 12th:
Deborah out of the building for Elementary Admin. mtg.
District Choice Fair 6 - 8 p.m.
Reminder: Dates for Learning Progression courses
Yellow Card Class on Nov. 3 @ WSC-Telluride 4:30-6:30 pm (session
#784-5)
Yellow Card Class on Nov. 16 @ Wilcox-Board Room 4:30-6:30 pm (session
#784-6)
World Class Outcome
Camp on Dec. 16 and 17 @ Cantril-Gym
4:30-6:30 pm (session #786-13)
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| Huge shout - out to Melissa for facilitating The Beat in Chelsea's absence. Kuddos to her capable helpers who really did take a leadership role! And a Bravo to Eric for all his support! Thanks Melissa! Thanks Eric! |
Agenda for November 3rd Professional Development:
8:30: "Elasticity" presented by guest speaker, Kathy Stroh
9:15: 'Teaching with an Inquiry Approach' facilitated by Debbie and Lisa
11:30 ish: Update on Portfolio Plans
Lunch
Afternoon: Work time with support to create your EPR template.
Have a great weekend!
Deborah
