A Renaissance Kind of Week!

As you can see, we are gearing up for tonight's Spring fundraiser, with all things purple in the air. 
Staff and students are literally a sea of purple as they gear up for Purple Rain the Scottie Way.  The grade level fling artwork is out, it's very well done as always, so should be a fun evening for everyone.  Fling co-chairs Monique Penner and Keli Sotello deserve big thanks as these parent driven events are never easy to pull off and the details are coordinated in between their own real jobs and real life happenings. 

Ms. Maca's work with HP fifth graders

Lots of good learning taking place all over the building this week.  Our fifth graders are in the throes of their grade level service project, collecting food donations for those in need.  I like that all students participate and learn about the power of personal philanthropy in class, before they leave our school at the end of the year.  This fifth grade endeavor (spearheaded by Mrs. Dean), along with our long-standing K-5 after school service club CLASS, gives these students a foundation and appreciation to give back to the community. Now and in future.

Mrs. Dean and students gathering donations

One of the best units Mrs. Dean's LA students undertake each year surrounds the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's.  She incorporates much around the young adult novel The Watson's Go to Birmingham, but what really strikes me is the way the unit evolves each year.  The power of growing into your own as a teacher is a beautiful thing.  This year, Mrs. Dean incorporated new text (working on the all important text to text comparisons), used an Inquiry Board for students to post thoughts as they read chapters of the the central novel, and when I popped in, were exploring music as art.  I left the room literally dancing in the halls.  These students watched Pharrell Williams' Happy video while I was there - they had watched some old school Sam Cooke footage previously I was told- and, most importantly, while they were watching and listening, were highly engaged in analysis of the music, the times, the connections to what they were reading and learning about America in the 60's...and today.  They have deep thoughts, these intrepid fifth graders, and many times much more wisdom than us.  Those of us who know Mrs. Dean know she has a real interest in social justice for all, a real passion to get kids to think beyond the obvious, so it's great to see that passion translate into the classroom.  These kids will make their own way and form their own individual beliefs on a variety of topics as they move forward into young adulthood.  But it's a good thing that they are being given the tools and forum to think and explore today.

One of the new texts this year

recording thoughts while listening

Over in fourth grade, teacher Laine Leibick was once again tackling her Mystery/Detective Unit.  And once again, just like Mrs. Dean, she has changed it up, kept it fresh for the students as curriculum specifics change, and kept it fresh for herself so she stays inspired.  Mark of a good veteran teacher.

I popped in for a bit before Laine's Parent Visiting Day activities took place as she had mentioned an art

Sarah's rough draft

installation I "just had to see".  Glad I went.  Student John Savage had installed a giant geometric colored pattern on the floor, around a set of desks (done the afternoon before I hear), and it simply blew me away with its scope and precision.  In the unit, these students always explore visual art along with the reading,  writing, and other content connections - think mysteries of life across all spectrums! - and John chose the artist Jim Lambie.   John, along with his peers, did some amazing other research in those classes as well.  This included research and writing on historical figures who spoke Truth to the Power, learning about those people who "bucked" the system in their quest for truth and justice.
They also researched and wrote about 
Renaissance men and women (think Galileo and Michelangelo), exploring the mysteries of multi-talented and multi-faceted people.  I was especially taken with Sarah's choice of writing about her classmate Gustavo.  She recognizes his unique gifts to the world and it was affirming and joyous to read what she wrote about him. As Mrs. Leibick shared, "when I read papers like this, it gives me hope for our future".  Couldn't agree more.

Truth to Power research booklets

An homage to artist George Rodriguez

Two last things for this post.  Thanks to Lamar Middle School principal George Llewellyn for taking the time this morning to visit our fifth graders, going through the choice sheet options, and helping answer any questions that arose.  Leaving the bubble of your elementary school is often very scary for these students, but George has a way of calming the waters, always steady as he goes.  I simply can't say enough about my respect for him (another Renaissance Man!) and the great work happening over at Lamar.  Don't forget we will help celebrate the HP/Lamar connection on Friday, February 28 for the HP Night at Grease.  See Kerren Campa for details on tickets to this Lamar student performance of the well known musical. 

Finally, though I had no part of the event, I did travel last Sunday to Westlake High School to see all things TedxYouth@Austin.  Wow!  I went at the invitation of former Scottie Maddie Goulet (event youth project manager, couldn't be prouder!), and was blown away by the talented Renaissance youth on that stage - everything from a 19 year old grad assistant at UT working on life saving medical research to a socially conscious youtuber (he was the rock star of the event by the way) to a high school student who also trains service dogs for veterans and others.  Making a difference kids who are not just doing one thing in life, but tackling many do-good things as they go. 

I was glad I saw some former Scotties in the audience, now scattered to public and private high schools all around Austin.  Loved the energy, the creativity (at the heart of all those kids do) and the fearlessness of just going for it.  Though I felt like a bit of a slacker most certainly, I did leave the event with a feel-good vibe knowing our future movers and shakers are on it.  They are on it.  Definitely check out TedxYouth@Austin next year if you are able.  Worth your time.

Happy Valentine's Day and more

Days keep rolling along in between icy mornings.  Though we experienced another school delay earlier in the week for safety reasons, staff, students, and parents are doing their best to get back into a routine.  Wacky weather everywhere...

Here's a snapshot of our  very, very busy week.  Enjoy!

Kinder celebrated all things 100 Days on Monday.  Teachers and students always make a big to-do out of this milestone and I caught a few of them in the cafeteria that day with their special 100 day hats.  Love the enthusiasm from our youngest learners.  Big hearts for all they do!

Additionally, these students have also been doing other learning activities around the concept of 100 (a big deal for Kinders) and I especially loved the student artwork in Ms. Davidson's room.  Students created portraits based on what they thought a 100 year old person would look like (one Kinder told me she knew someone who was 106!), and as you can imagine, hair was often at a minimum. Priceless.

We will be gearing up soon for our own Scottie Olympics, but as you can see the celebration is under way as the Sochi Winter Olympic Games take place.  Always exciting.

Coach wearing his Torino 2006 cap

Book Fair carried on in between all weather happenings and kids were clamoring each morning to get in the library and to those books!  How cool is that?  Librarian Cheryl Mullins really gives it her all during the week long Fair, along with our annual Book Fair/Poetry Slam night tri-chairs Christy Savage, Suzanne Gonzalez, and Stacy Mendelson.  We had over 80 performers at Tuesday night's Viva el Slam, with a packed house as always.  It was also fun to kick off the evening with my fellow slammer Lizanne McDaniel.  Thanks to all student participants and to the folks who coordinate this event year in and year out.  This is the sixth year for the Slam and I hope it lives and grows well into the future.

Waiting to perform at the Slam!

Stacy & Christy workin' the Book Fair

All poetry was original.  Cool!

Mrs. Hunter's and Mrs. Duquette's language arts classes have been studying Shakespeare over the last few weeks and it was iffy how performances would go, given the practice time weather interruptions.  But they pulled it off without a hitch. Those fourth graders on Thursday's performance day nailed it.  They knew their lines as they performed shorts acts from MacBeth, Hamlet, A Midsummer's Night Dream, and more, and they delivered those lines with expression, accuracy, and confidence.  Very impressive delivery of sometimes difficult language for our modern day kids to grasp.  Huge confidence builder, not to mention a way to build understanding & connections to learning.  

A delightful fairy with King Oberon

Witches & More Waiting pre-performance

Rubber swords of course for these fine young men!

Big thanks to Angela Cardenas, of AISD's SEL department and our own SEL champion Cari Land for a very informative overview of Second Steps curriculum at Wednesday night's PTA meeting.  Our in school implementation is being done with fidelity and is on target, but we have plans to pump up the consistency for the all important at-home support piece; we even have tentative plans for an SEL student presentation at our May PTA General Meeting.  Whole Child Learning encompasses much, with adults as models, facilitators, and our own SEL perceptions/needs at the heart of the work.  Striving for a more connected, authentic, healthy society for all.  Thanks ladies!

Angela and Cari

Furthering our path to common understanding in and around SEL initiatives, our newly formed book club group met for the first time to receive our book selection, Same Kind of Different As Me. We

have 15 staff members participating, we are ready to read and explore and have open, courageous conversations related to race, friendship, homelessness, faith, and other subjects often difficult to tackle, most especially in a work environment.  Those who have read this true story tell me it is inspiring, gritty, but ultimately uplifting and I am truly looking forward to our first Sunday afternoon meeting together. Special thanks to Angela Ward of AISD's Department of Academics, Cultural Proficiency & Inclusiveness for providing the books to get us going - important conversations for us all.

Two last things to share.  All things HP Spring Fling Silent Auction are in the works for next weekend.  As you can see from the purple raindrops hanging from the ceiling (can you guess this year's theme?), the chairs are gearing up for a fun evening that supports all things programming and initiatives at our school.  One big part of the event in recent years is the grade level student created artwork.  Early this morning, I was able to catch a few fifth graders, along with grafitti artist Zuzu, working on their own grade level piece.  It, along with others, will go up for auction soon and from what I could see today, the pieces are quite cool, and quite Austin.  On to the Fling!

Zuzu and students in grafitti stance!

Finally, big hug to everyone on this Friday Valentine's Day.  What a few weeks it has been, we are truly gearing up for STAAR testing at grades 3-5, and hopefully, the snow and ice delays and cancellations are behind us.  Busy weeks ahead for us all, but enjoy the Valentine's Day ahead, along with the good weather weekend.  We will see you back here on Monday, Feb 17!  

Ms. Maca's student created hearts - lovely