Good people, good work

I'm headed out in a bit for our twice yearly HP landscape work day.  Parent organized and parent driven.  Good people.

I was able to stop by our Spring Fling only briefly last Friday evening due to a "bug" I caught making the rounds at school, but it was a good venue, with decorations, food, music, and auction items all tastefully arranged.  Loved the purple theme and the 80's vibe.  Here's a picture of Ms. Maca in front of her 5th grade student artwork that went up for auction and as you can see, she was definitely dressed in keeping with the night's theme.  Lots of hard work from everyone on this event.



 Here are some other images from our week at school.  Good work happening everywhere.

I just had to snap this pic of counselor/504 chair/and testing coordinator extraordinaire Cari Land as she left my office during benchmark testing one day.  This was ground zero for organization and once testing was done for the day, she
packed up and headed back out.  I wasn't sure if she was headed to class somewhere or on a trip, but we both got quite a laugh (she was actually headed back to her office).  Thanks Cari for all you do during our testing season.  We all appreciate your attention to detail.  More than you know.

 

Teachers wrapped up celebrations around Black History Month and President's Day

as well.  There were quite a few cool projects posted in the hallway, on doors and bulletin boards.

These included the above reflections on Abraham Lincoln, some cool computer class images/reflections in honor of Dr. King (thanks Mrs. Kolodziej!), along with lots of art and writing done by our first graders.  Everything from Faith Ringgold quilt personal remembrances to inquiry post-its and letter writing to Ruby Bridges.  Good images.  Relevant learning.

A first grader's remembrance of kinder teacher Ms. Farmer

Fourth grade is also in the throes of all things Texas Independence Day Celebration.  Everything from a study of Native Americans to contributions of Texans from more recent times.  Everything is bigger in Texas they say and really, a very true statement.  Looking forward with much anticipation to this week's San Antonio field experience with this wonderful group of students and teachers.  Can't wait.

Ms. Finkle's students & work pre-display

 

Ms. Perkins display

Finally, I have to give props to the latest and greatest Process and Product Displays now posted.  First, Mrs. Matetich's science students did a terrific job on their planet travel brochures and visuals of our solar system, but along the way some first rate learning took place before those final products were complete (great scoring rubrics also!).  A bit of DBI was thrown in to solidify concepts, research was completed, and some student and teacher reflections were written, not just about content and processes, but also about what it was like to work in a group.  Working with others is a life long skill, so I was glad that component made it into these fifth grader reflections.

Apparently a group of "neat necks"

 

Be absolutely sure you visit the second grade hall and take time to study Mrs. Nudelman's language arts class Process and Product display.  Centered around their study of the Roald Dahl book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, her students took the learning one step further (woohoo!) by creating the process and product display as part of their learning.  Doesn't get more reflective and learning-embedded than that. I loved it all, from the small group adverstisements for candy creations (using the DBI's Big Machine to demonstrate for classmates) to the student created plot line on the big board, to the design and descriptions of candy rooms to the persuasive letters written urging me to allow a "one time" chocolate party (see my written response). And of course, those second grade reflections, with both teacher and student teacher Ms. Kaapke reflections embedded within the display.  A first rate learning experience, multi-layered, student centered, and might I say, joyous and fun along the way.  Thanks Noodles for the hard work you put into your learning.  It shows!