May 23, 2014

Still Going Strong!

Image based on student's favorite phrases and sentences
from panel feedback letters.

Lauren and students teambuilding till the very end!

MaryBeth rounded up all the graphic novels
she could find for her students in surrounding city libraries. 

Not many drum circle Monday's left!

This first grade drum circle was really working together!
What proof that students can do great things,
 no matter what grade,
 when we believe they can and will!

Fifth graders researched and identified their own real life problem to investigate and help solve under their guiding questions and big ideas.
Zoe built a water purifying system.
Dasha made magnetic reminders for our community.

Brittany taking a risk and
doing report cards with students.
Be sure to ask her what went well
 and what she'll do differently next time.

Alumni return to coach sixth graders with their Portfolio Presentations.

What a thrill to see these students again...

and all so grown up!

Mya and Jeanette

That's the back of Aidan Whitcomb

Avery

Grady

Morgan and Kristen

Katelyn

Sidney and Faith

Book Fair mobbed!

Voyages still going out!

Kindergarten so excited and ready to go!

(I never could catch Kathy or Jody still enough to grab their photo!)

Tyler and Lauren taking a risk
and conferencing and
 co-writing student progress reports!
Let's ask them what they thought of this!
Will they do it again?
Did students like it?

I think I scared Billie and Lilly!

Caught this class in a transition -
a very serious conversation too!
Wouldn't you love to have a teacher
who was such a great listener!

Second grade scientists 

Doug's movie career is back in full swing.
The Cup Stacking official company was back to take movies this week!

You sure couldn't tell watching this math group
that the end of school was anywhere in sight.
They were hard at it!

Two very proud students-
great collaborative project (assessment)
and beautiful craftmanship...and they knew it!

One happy guy!

Pretty mellow group for the last weeks of school!
The power of a great read!

Learning side by side!

Guess who's getting ready...

Welcome back from your Voyage Jody and Kathy!

Congratulations Wendy on your son's graduation!

May 26 - 30:

Monday:

No School

Tuesday: 

RTI meeting 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday:

All School Meeting

6th grade leaves to hike Colorado 14teener

June 1 - 6th:

Tuesday:

No RTI meeting
Closing Ceremony for 6th grade @ 6:30 p.m. - It's always great to have as many staff participate in the Drum Circle at the beginning of this ceremony, if you can't stay for the entire event.

Wednesday:

Last day of school for students

All School Drum Circle (details will be coming)

* Only 6th graders and students leaving Renaissance should be taking drums home

Afternoon:

Meet in library at 1:30

Move classrooms and teachers
Appreciation Circle for departing staff 3ish

Thursday:

Last day of school for staff

Check out

Makes Me Smile - 

I was sharing with the kindies about the bookfair and how the Buy One get One Free works. I explained that if they wanted two books they would pay for the one that costs the most and get the other book for free. Little Hayden raised his hand and explained that he gets how "that all works" but can he just "skip paying for the first book and only take the free one??" 

Pretty good thinking…..

(Thanks Diana!)

There is a Teacher Academy this year July 14-18. There are lots of course offerings.  Please make sure you go to the Course Catalog and read the course descriptions to find the courses to see if there is something there that interests you. All courses are listed under "Teacher Academy" in the Course Catalog

All courses are PGI-eligible :) Also know that PGI credits can be carried over into next year.

Reminder:

All staff needs to log into their benefits and re-enroll.

Have a great three day weekend!

Deborah

We all have those days!

May 16, 2014

Focus on the Joy

We are in the home stretch now! Please be kind to yourself and keep your expectations for what you would like to do between now and the end of the year in a realistic place. Often, our desires are bigger than our time and ability. I wonder how it would feel at the end of the year if you scaled back your expectations of what you have placed on your 'to do' list between now and the end of the year?

As a mom, I've stayed up way into the wee hours of the night just to put the finishing touches on a holiday or special event, to wind up frustrated the next day. Frustrated, because my kids didn't especially notice or appreciate all the extra I had done. I found out that they loved the celebration of being together the most. I also found out that I enjoyed it more if I wasn't completely wiped out!

This can also be the time of year when it's important to 'tighten up' on routines and procedures. Kids need this. No matter how skilled we are, things start to feel a bit frayed. So - respond by making sure you have a supportive environment, strong boundaries and consistent expectations.

So take a look at your 'to do' list - decide on what's most important and give yourself permission to  remove some items from your list. Enjoy these last days with your Crew. Play a little. Celebrate. Leave the school year with joy in your heart. Know that you have made an incredible difference.

Projected on the board during drum circle.

Makes Me Smile

(Thanks Brittany!)

Thought you might enjoy this - as part of the wrap-up of our current case study, my students are writing resolutions about how we are represented in the General Assembly (state legislature) and one of my students is suggesting some changes to how our representation is structured. She added this section to her resolution:

Section Five: State Voting Laws
Voting for the Colorado State Government is for society members over the age of eighteen. This should be changed. If you prove you understand politics at the state level, and are eleven and older, you should be granted a vote. To prove this, the Colorado state governor can appoint several secretaries, and have the applicants take a test on what has happened with our government in the past, and what can change in the present and the future of our state, then, to save money, the secretaries will put the tests in a ScanTron, and the top 25% scores are cleared to vote. 
*Note: the test will be a multiple choice test created by history teachers.

It takes a village to get kids assessed!

Reminder Certified teachers: If you haven't already gone to your Inspired Innovation account and checked off on your summative evaluation, the deadline is today - Friday, May 16th.

Calendar

May 19 - 23rd:

Tuesday:

* RTI meeting 7:30 a.m.

* Book Fair Opens

Wednesday:

* Kindergarten Voyage to Camp Elim

* Page to Stage Performance 9- 10 a.m.

* 6th grade Portfolio Showcases 1:30 p.m.

May 26 - 30:

Monday:

No School

Tuesday: 

RTI meeting 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday:

All School Meeting

6th grade leaves to hike Colorado 14teener

June 1 - 6th:

Tuesday:

No RTI meeting

Wednesday:

Last day of school for students

All School Drum Circle

* Only 6th graders and students leaving Renaissance should be taking drums home

Afternoon:

Meet in library at 1:30

Move classrooms and teachers

Thursday:

Last day of school for staff

Check out

Have a great weekend!

Deborah