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| Kinder Use of Art in study of Native Americans |
Sometimes a plan comes together. It's been one of those weeks after a holiday break where you begin to see the fruits of hard work on the part of staff, students, and parents. I started my week at a STAAR update training with Alyssa Absher, Beth Finkle, and Janet Matetich. Dr. Ervin Knezek of lead4ward led the half day district PD on our state's new accountability system. My fellow attendees and I plan to share the information with all teachers at our December 13 staff meeting, but my big take-aways centered on our current arts integration/creative classroom intiatives. What were those connections, if any, to the standardized test, like it or not, that serve as our school's measurement? Dr. Knezek specifically mentioned the power of teaching students processes in addition to content in the elementary school. Memorization of facts and figures are a part of what we do, but if students do not understand the underlying processes that lead to content, they will struggle in middle school and beyond. I immediately thought of our Process and Product displays, along with the TEKS Process Standards, and the extra bit of thinking about those processes, along with reflection, we are asking of teachers and students. We are by no means there yet, but we're on the path and that was heartening to know. Teachers are beginning to use these strategies as a natural part of their instruction (see a recent pop-in to Kinder teacher Ms. Nazar's classroom and DAR in action!) and it's just one of those tingly moments that make you glad to be on campus.
Though much is still unknown about STAAR and what it means for our school, I do know what I see in this school and in our classrooms. Kids learning, kids motivated about being here (hovering just over that 98% ADA), and how teaching creatively and making arts connections bring so much to our kids beyond a test. The power will be in what we see years down the road I suppose (you hear me talk a lot about the type of people we are producing beyond high school), but I know teaching and learning is better at our school because of the work we are doing.
We received a Superintendent's BLOG award at this week's Extended Cabinet Meeting. Wanted to share, thanks AISD for recognizing all the effort that went into The Kennedy Center visits at Brentwood Elementary, as well as Highland Park. It is because of our school community efforts that we were able to pull this off on HOOT Day, so thank you, thank you Scotties. Visit over, but good things still happening at HP.As you know, Highland Park fifth graders are participating this year in the Legacy of Giving program. Their first semester work has come to an end, with HP families, per Academic Program Specialist Kathryn Boehme, collecting "3,199 pounds of food which will serve 2,559 meals to food insecure families across Central Texas." Additionally, HP "collected 254 coats, and together, Legacy students donated more than 3,600 coats to kids in Central Texas." Very proud of the meaningful work done, with special thanks to fifth grade teacher Kati Guimbarda.
Finally, what is there to say about our front of school landscaping. Wow...and wow! Those of us who have been here a few years (seven and counting for me!), know what a long, long process this has been. Even before I arrived on the scene, parents have been meeting, making plans, raising funds. Truly, several years, but updated landscaping is now our reality and it looks awesome. Special kudos to Sean Compton and the PTA boards past and present for this last push, Wes Amberboy for holding steady conversations with AISD for the last few years, and so many more who have helped make this happen. Check out a few pics below, there are still some smaller projects remaining, but what a welcoming site for all who enter our doors. Congrats parents...you did it!
