Grade 7 at Headwaters
The 7th Grade class headed up to Headwaters Outdoor School near Mt. Shasta this week. They spent the week hiking, climbing trees, and most remarkably, building individual shelters to complete their Rite of Passage.
We look forward to hearing about all of their adventures!
Important Dates
Tuesday, October 27: Coffee and Crafting in support of the Halloween Journey at 8:30 a.m.
Friday, October 30: Halloween Journey - No School
Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day - No School
Monday, November 16 - Friday, November 20: Early Dismissal Days for Parent Teacher Conferences at 12:45 p.m.
Wednesday, November 21: Board of Trustees Meeting at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, November 23 - Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Break
Friday, December 4: Advent Spiral
Thursday, December 10: Winter Grades Presentation at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, December 18: Last Day of Term - Early Dismissal at 12:45 p.m.
Grade 4 and Local Geography
Our fourth grade class is currently immersed in a block of Local Geography. Steiner suggested that children of this age get to know the geography of the place right around their school, the town or city, and its history. Having gone through the developmental shift of the nine-year change, the students feel, for the first time, a little apart from the world around them. Now they are able to step back and engage with the larger world; observing the landscape in a new way. Knowing their own place and its people can give children a sense of belonging. A child who can draw where they live, and say which way the river runs, has somewhere firm to stand.
The first maps are of places the child knows with their body. The fourth graders map their bedroom, their classroom, and their route from home to school. It is like an expanding circle, from the desk to the classroom, the school, the route home, and the town. Ultimately, the students will study the local landforms and water features, the local industry and professions, cultural and historical narratives, and hands-on mapping and observation.
The students complete this block with a sense of understanding their place in the world.
Integrative Student Support - The Student Support Circle
The Student Support Circle is a practice that our Integrative Student Support team is introducing to the school. Kim John Payne describes this process as a cornerstone of the practice in building a ‘village’ around a child. The aim is to create a warm, trusting and simple environment around the child so his or her resiliency will be ever more strengthened.
This circle is called as a way to build deep collaboration and partnership between home and school and when it is observed that a student could benefit from this support. Usually present are the parent/s or guardian/s, teacher/s, and the facilitator. If a supportive friend of the parents and/or a grandparent can be present it is also very helpful.
This meeting is a strengths-based meeting that asks all participants to reflect on the child’s strengths and successes and to create a plan moving forward.
Here is an overview of the meeting:
Welcome, introductions and preview of the process. Each member expresses their wish for the meeting.
Observations. A picture of the child is developed from both in the school environment and home life with emphasis on when in the daily rhythms these qualities display themselves. Areas of success and challenges are shared.
Reflection. Ideas are brainstormed and we build on what is already working.
Practicalities. We prioritize ideas and place them on the timeline. We discuss what seems possible now and what is possible in the future. Notes are shared with everyone and a follow up meeting is scheduled for 6-8 weeks.