Cool and Amazing Moments

We started our week at Bass Concert Hall on Sunday evening.  I think we had approximately 30-40 Scotties there of all ages, with some coming early for the pre-show lecture and some arriving just in time for the performance.  It was neat to hear some of the conversation the next day surrounding Holst's arrangements for The Planets, ie how the music was based on much planet mythology (ie, the Mars piece entitled The Bringer of War).  Mindy Graves of TPA shared that 600 student tickets were sold alone and I can tell you it was a packed house.  Thanks for hosting us Texas Performing Arts!

Of course, before and during   our big mid-week to end of week events, there was lots and lots of great teaching happening on campus.  Learning first always!  I was able to visit one of Beth Finkle's math classes and I can tell you I left way impressed by her new math center approach with this group of students.  She shared that the engagement has soared, with all kids clamoring (yep, clamoring) to get started on their center rotations each day.  I saw it in action.  All centers are heavily connected to problem solving, they're very student centered and collaborative, have built in reflection questions, plus Mrs. Finkle gets a chance daily to meet with kids who may need a bit of extra support.  Teaching should be fluid and our best teachers realize that what works one year may not the next year with a different group of students.  Kudos to Finkle's fourth graders and the math centers I saw in action.

I was able to see a truly first rate lesson on all things spider research/research papers in Ms. Absher's classroom and I can tell you, besides her natural abilities as a teacher, the collaboration with Paramount's Lit to Life program is worth it.  While there I saw students beginning their research on Netbooks along with their graphic organizers, but what caught my eye was seeing Ms. Absher's transference of her learning from watching The Story Wranglers in action to her own teaching practice.  That's what it's all about.  Before beginning their rough drafts, she focused on organization and word choice, used the DBI strategies she'd learned to highlight those important writing traits, and then had kids brainstorm several variations of the word spider so their final product had flow and wouldn't be repetitive.  Great vocabulary tossed out such as arachnid, Black Widow (if that was your spider choice), eight legged creature, and more.  As I've shared with several folks, I was so happy to see the natural connection between what our arts providers bring to campus to what the teacher does when it's her (or him) alone, that I hugged her at the end.  One of several truly good things happening down that hallway in all  third grade classrooms.

Ms. William's first graders were busy working on all things Daily 5 in her classroom earlier in the week.  The official website, if you have not heard of it, states that Daily 5 "is a structure that helps students develop the daily habits of reading, writing, and working independently that will lead to a lifetime of literacy independence." Her DF CAFE board was impressive and very organized, she tells me she really enjoyed the AISD training on DF this summer, and it was cool to see such practiced routines as kids moved in and out of the classroom in pairs.  She allows them to partner read in her wonderful garden (changed up a bit from Ms. Powers' original...there is now a vegetable garden component waiting to be harvested one day!) and it was all a very natural flow of learning.  Loved it!

 



Setting up day of launch event



And then of course mid-week through Friday was all things Any Given Child and Kennedy Center special visitors.  Wednesday evening was the launch event, it went extremely well, and I was thrilled to hear our Superintendent, Mayor Leffingwell, and KC Vice President of Education Darrell Ayers speak about their support of the arts and the Any Given Child initiative that will have a positive affect on arts education and creative learning for every child in AISD.  Lots of work to do, but thanks once again MindPop, et al for bringing the conversation to the table and literally working non-stop on this endeavor.  The work is exciting and is making a difference in our school. This I know for sure.



So Big Day Friday did finally arrive.  The Kennedy Center National Committee members came to our school in and among everything else they were doing this week, Dr. Carstarphen stopped by for a bit to say hello before heading to Brentwood, and it was, simply put, an amazing day.  While MindPop's Christy Savage oversaw the happenings behind the scenes, Debbie Esterak, Shannon Ratcliff, and Lizanne McDaniel served as tour hosts, moving visitors through areas of the building for varied activities.  These activities included seeing creative teaching in action in Sally Hunter and Kalene Guenther classrooms (KC folks were extremely complimentary), participating in a Panel Discussion (included me, Gullett principal Janie Ruiz, Dr. Hasty, and StillWater Foundation's Ellen Ray), and also had a chance to actively learn a creative teaching strategy from UT's Sarah Coleman.  It was a wonderful day, lots of good questions and compliments for what they heard and saw - especially our many, many Process/Product displays and student work in the halls!  Thanks to everyone on campus who pitched in day of to make it run smoothly.  Teachers and kids:  you showed what you know and you made it a special day for our very special guests.

Kennedy Center National Committee members listening to Scottie Singers

And of course, the most special event of the week and the one kids really were looking forward to was our annual fall carnival, Dia de la HOOT!  Kicked off with our AM annoucments Monday with some very scary folks peeking into the spooky set and ended with tons of current Scotties, former Scotties, neighborhood friends and more making their through all the HOOT has to offer.  Food, games, the Cakewalk, and Haunted House always make this a must-do event each and every year.  Kerren Campa and Katherine Peele, hats off to you and your HOOT team for once again pulling out all the stops for family and friends.  What a great way to end a week full of cool and amazing moments.





 









Big Week on the Way!

Seriously.  Much, much going on this past week for ALL of us.  Really good stuff, but it was a very active few days.  I was able to capture some moments that should give you an idea of what our days were like around here.  We are leading into a truly big week and teachers and kids have kicked it up several notches.  Enjoy!

Fifth grade was all about practice for their upcoming mock debates and election assembly - The Power of One - on November 2.  Fifth grade parents and fourth grade students have been invited to attend, along with other special guests representing AISD and our board of trustees; I hear we will even have "secret service" escorts for our dignitaries.  Can't wait, the program I've reviewed is meaningful, and honestly give Pam Kolodziej a hug when you see her as she in deep in the throes of election madness. 

I tagged along with third grade as they attended a performance of Mariachi Girl at Zach Scott Theater on Tuesday.  Very well done, with lots of themes connected to cultural, gender, family, and age viewpoints.  Students had the opportunity to ask questions of the actors post-performance and had plans to do some written reflection upon return to school.  Teachers tell me the kids really enjoyed the performance.  Agreed.



Anna Lundy's fourth grade math students recently completed a Million Dollar Lottery project.  Each were given a hypothetical million dollar win and had to determine, with some set criteria, what they would spend their money on once in their hands.   Their completed projects had to include a detailed list of spending (ie, all expenses incurred by taking a vacation - eye opening to say the least), but also research supporting their expenditures (including a required philanthropy component!); sales tax, related expenses had to be accounted for as well.  I could really tell the kids were excited by the activity when I popped my head in the door one day to ask about the projects.  Excited voices, hands up, sharing.  Cool to see that engagement and enthusisasm for math.  Thanks Mrs. Lundy!





Hangin with a couple of HP rock chicks!





Ms. Davdison celebrating her Spider Unit!

Other cool things from spiders to gardening to pumpkins have been happening up and down our halls, in and out of the building.  Next phase landscaping is well under way, I saw several HP and other families out and about supporting all things arts/music at AKL last weekend, and yep, we are gearing up for one of our biggest weeks of the year.  Friday, October 26 is the annual HOOT Fall Carnival and 'ya know what that means on campus! Crazy busy days and nights leading up to carnival night, not to mention the always popular Parade of Pumpkins. And if that's not enough...this year we have a very special addition to HOOT day. Members of The Kennedy Center's National Committee for the Performing Arts will be in Austin for their annual retreat, they are stopping by HP and Brentwood to see and hear about the work of all things Any Given Child (big city and district launch Wednesday evening!), and we are super pumped to show what we've been doing and what it can mean to all the children and communities of Austin.   Exciting times full of possibilities for everyone.  I truly believe that.  Hope to see you at TPA's The Planets this Sunday evening, 7:00 pm, but if not, catch 'ya in the halls next week.  Here we go... 







Scottie Stroll and More!

Highland Park families do much for our school, but they also do much for our community at large.  Though I was unable to attend last Sunday's Fall Fitness Festival, I heard on Monday that the kick-off Scottie Stroll raised approximately $8,600 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  That's a WooHoo kind of total that affects a lot of kids and families in a positive way.  I also heard that Coach DeLine's archery unit plans are well under way - look for an announcement from him soon - and that the 2008 Paralympic Archery Bronze Medalist Lindsey Carmichael's demonstration was the big hit of the day.  Way to go to all involved in a very successful and fun family day. 

Scott Scottie and Coach strike a pose

Lamar Principal George Llewellyn and Lamar Fine Arts Coordinator Ingrid McDonald were on hand Tuesday evening in our cafeteria, giving a presentation to about 80 Scottie parents.  I'm always impressed by George's presentation style, his openness for parents to visit and check out all Lamar has to offer.  In fact, an upcoming date to mark on your calendar will be The Lamar Fine Arts Workshop slated for December 15, 10-11am in the Lamar cafeteria.  I urge you to check out the wonderful Fine Arts offerings, but also to give George a call to hear about all Lamar has to offer.  Good things happening at our feeder middle school y'all.

A couple of things during this busy week caught my eye.  First, Mr. Robenhorst's class took the recent Family Constitution activity and made their very own Class Constitution.  Loved reading about the roles, responsibilities, and rights the students decided for their homeroom class.  Signatures on the document were yet to be collected, but look for it hanging in the classroom next week.  Cool idea.

Also, loved the Ten Frame Math display when I visited Ms. William's first grade classroom today.  She had tied it so well to high interest and timely "ghosts", and she tells me the kids also took this math activity one step further by counting the number of ten frames and ghosts total for the classroom. 

Today was packed with activities as always.  A jazz workshop in the morning, a Dowser Dan (LCRA) informational assembly, and the all important Student Council sponsored Twins Day!  This morning, I saw twin teachers, twin kids, and even a twin parent/child.  Many Scotties got on board and it all made for a special Friday.

Don't forget to check out the special link for The Planets presentation, Bass Concert Hall, Sunday, October 21, 7:00 pm.  Use the HPScotties passcode for the discount and it's truly open to all who want to come out and experience the planets in a cool, artistic way.  We'll  have a special banner and hopefully a section where we can enjoy the evening together.  Check the Scottie Informer email blast coming your way Sunday if you need the link, or scroll below to my post last week.  Really hope to see you there.

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention all the wonderful folks at C3 Presents.  As part of spreading the word about the Any Given Child initiative, there is an AGC activation tent in the AKL section of the festival - look for the lollipop sign Thematic Storytelling and Songwriting.  Some cool community arts partners will be doing their thing with families each day of the event, so make plans to stop by, get creative/get a special takeaway, and learn more about the arts access work planned for our great city of Austin.   Charlie Jones and AKL co-producer Sarah George - you both rock and roll!  A thousand thanks.