Short, busy week (and GO CATS!)

Short, but busy week at HP.  The Fine Arts Leadership Design Teams from each of the pilot elementary schools participated in a very engaging training at Ballet Austin on Monday.  Facilitated once again by mindPOP and UT's Drama for Schools staff, the training was one of the best we've had this year.  Teachers and administrators learned a variety of creative teaching strategies, building on the basic ones (such as Tableaux) that we already knew.  Each principal was given a video camera to take back to school, with the goal of teacher participants filming one of the strategies implemented in their classrooms; cameras and videos then will be sent back to the DBI crew for feedback on the lesson.  A very meaningful opportunity to grow as creative teacher leaders.

As you can see below, Janet Matetich got into the groove the very next day, implementing the "donkey" game strategy with her Science classes.  She used incomplete and complete metamorphosis as the lesson center, with follow-up small groups acting and making models, mobiles, and posters (choice given) on different insects and the complete metamorphosis process.  A great visual to help our diverse learners know and better understand concepts across disciplines.  Ask a fifth grader to show and explain the four stages...I bet they can.

PTA board meeting came and went Monday night as well, with many special guests.  Long, but productive meeting with some exciting things on the horizon for next school year.  Keep your ears open for all things landscaping in the coming months as this group, along with PTA at large, oversees the master landscape plan.  Sean Compton and Therese Baer presented, it's been years in the making, but I think we can see some type of light at the end of the tunnel.  We're getting there!  We also are looking to "pump" up all things students service learning on campus and have several ideas floating around on how to ensure all Scotties know, demonstrate, and support philanthropy.  Giving back now sets the foundation for giving back in the future. 

I had the privilege of being on the Teachers of Tomorrow annual Principal Panel at UT on Tuesday evening.   I enjoyed hearing other principal ideas on everything from interview tips to first year teacher recommendations as much as I enjoyed meeting the teachers in training.  Good questions, lots of note-taking, and a nice chance to connect early with those thinking of entering the teaching profession. 

Dr. Pedroza and TOT president

Umlauf Sculpture Garden was the scene for The Butterfly Project reception Wednesday evening.  Our student created butterflies, headed to the Houston Holocaust Museum at a later date, were on display along with many other schools - over 10,000 collected I believe.  Beth McDaniel, who headed up the project in Austin, told me the arrangement of colorful butterflies enmeshed with chain link and barbwire, provided a "juxtaposition between the beauty and the horror".  Visually powerful installation.

Special mention was given to our fifth grade language arts student creations - remember their 6 word memoirs?  Thanks again to Ms. Guimbarda for adding this extra component to the project and a big thanks to the Scottie families who attended last night as well. 



Final schoolwide activity today for the week as you know.  Scottie Olympics happening all day on campus, each classroom sporting their own special t-shirt as the kids move from event to event throughout the day.  Beautiful day to be outside, enjoying some well deserved physical activity.  Always fun and always well done.