Looking Outward

We looked outward this week on campus, thinking globally in many of our activities during the day and after school. 

Our International Potluck saw a huge turnout this year.  Special thanks to committee members Debbie, Hope, Sheena, and Christine on a nice annual evening that showcases and celebrates diversity.  Families typically bring dishes to share that are reminiscent of their own heritage, so it was a nice sampling of foods from around the world.   

Additionally, we paired our fine arts showcase with this evening and I think it went off very well.  Ms. Maca and Ms. Levine, resident art teachers, had worked diligently to display student created Picasso cubism art, clay owls, stained glass windows, and Picasso style self-portraits and guitars.  Way cool.  Music teacher Mr. Briones showed a video montage of dances from varied cultures while we ate, then AGC dance teacher Holly Schmidt introduced Mrs. Nudelman's second graders as they performed Tango Escenario.  These students were a big hit with the crowd and it is with much gratitude to Holly, Spanish teacher George Ayres, and Lia Nudelman for pulling this highlight of dance at second grade together for all of us to enjoy.


And of course, our own Scottie Singers, as always, brought it home.  Four selections were performed, celebrating diversity through songs such as Music Alone Shall Live, Bashana Haba-ah, and Oye.  The selection of Siyahamba was a very fitting and poignant selection as it is a traditional South African folksong.  Prior to singing the song, fifth grader Noah read a dedication to the South African people as they mourn the death of former President Nelson Mandela.  Well done Scottie Singers.

 

Varied teachers around the building also made note of Nelson Mandela's passing this week.  One way they honored his life and legacy was through viewing and discussion of  Dr. Maya Angelou's reading of her tribute poem His Day is Done.  It provided a rich framework for follow up class discussion. 

Africa was also a topic of discussion in Mrs. Read's language arts class this week.  Her students are involved in a pen pal program with students in Malawi and I hear there are many classrooms in

AISD also involved in this project - we have four teachers participating in this pen pal program. When I stopped in her room as her students were writing their whole group letter to their new Malawian friend Lighton, it was interesting to note that the new pen pal enjoyed many of the same things as American students enjoy - think rap music, computer games, and football.  And had the same dreams and hopes for his future.  I think that was an ah-ha moment for our kids.  As Mrs. Read and I shared, "people are people everywhere."  I hope they keep this connection going.

We continued looking outward - though not as global - when The Paramount Theatre Story Wranglers held their first semester showcase on Friday.  Round II will be in the spring.  I think y'all know I love this group of energetic, creative, positive actors and writers as they inspire our kids with a love of writing that is wonderful to see in action.  Students work on creative writing pieces (think fun and a bit wacky from those uninhibited 3rd grade minds!), then the Story Wranglers put it all together, performing the stories for students and parents.  This year, our students came up with stories about everything from Cinnabuns, creation tales such as How the Elephant Got his Trunk, a music awards show, and much more.  Students are given free reign to be as creative as possible.  Hopefully, as these young writers introduce themselves before each of their stories are performed and jointly state "and this is our story", they begin to see themselves as honest to goodness writers.  That confidence boost is priceless.

Finally, I share with you the finalists in the student designed SEL peace area chart contest.  Counselor and SEL committee chair Cari Land facilitated the contest as a way to further involve kids in our work around social emotional learning initiatives on campus.  We are an SEL campus and vertical team, and today, as I write this on the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy, it really underscores the need for all of us to value this work above all else we do.  Schools are places that address so much more than academics. Thanks to Cari, the students who created the designs below as enhancement to our SEL work, and to the staff, students, and community of Highland Park for your continued commitment to whole child learning.  SEL, creative learning/arts integration, courageous conversations...all important components to who we are as Scotties and as people in this world.  Hearts out to the Newtown community today.

 

Zoe's design

Marisol's design 

Asia's design