ISY Elementary School Faculty Blog
September 11, 2020
Rain and Rainbows
Mike Simpson
I’m not sure about you, but I have had an up and down kind of week. I was part of some really great planning conversations that had me buzzing about our Quarter 2 units and felt really flat at times with not as much happening around campus. But a couple of things brightened my mood at the end and I thought I should share them with you.
Firstly, check this email out from a parent:
Just a quick note to thank you and the ISY team for the Zoom call last night.
I wanted to share that while we are only two weeks in, the school’s approach to classes and education during these challenging times has been reassuring and impressive.
When I compare it to our experience from hard lockdown in Canada last spring, there is no comparison.
While we all wish the kids were in school physically, we know it isn’t possible and seeing the kids engaging with their teachers and fellow students in real time has been a very positive change over remote learning from Canada. I can tell they are engaged and learning. They are happy to have engagement with other kids even if over Zoom. They are thirsty for engagement with their teachers.
This must have been hard for all of you. And I am sure there are challenges still to come. But thank you for the efforts you’ve made to make learning as best as it can be in these circumstances.
Secondly, check out the double (if you look closely) rainbow in the picture below.
‘The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.’
Dolly Parton
NEXT WEEK:
Monday:
Faculty WASC Overview for Online Visit @ 3:15pm
Tuesday – Thursday:
Grade Level Collaboration Meetings
Looking Ahead to Quarter 2
LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD:
October 5-9:
WASC Online Accreditation Visit
Volunteers for After School Critical Thinking Activities
We need to start providing some form of ASAs from September 21. The first session will be four weeks long. To spread the load, I was this thinking we offer two Critical Thinking ASAs for Grades 1-2 and Grades 3-5. One ASA will be setting problems to solve and the other will be posing philosophical questions to answer. That means we would have 16 sessions to fill over four weeks. I plan to do the four philosophy sessions for Grades 3, 4, and 5. So leaves 12 sessions to be filled by teachers. These activities will require no preparation other than deciding upon a problem to solve (see the picture above from de Bono’s book) or some questions to ponder. I can help you source both. There are plenty of philosophy resources for children that are fun to use. Please email me if you could spare 30 minutes one afternoon (or more if you are keen) over four weeks from September 21.
Previous Elementary School Posts
Elementary School Faculty Blog – February 4, 2022
Take pride in the fact that we are all making literally hundreds and thousands of decisions each day and acting on them for our students, our colleagues, and our community.
Elementary School Faculty Blog – January 28, 2022
Our students take their cue from us. The fact that they are feeling positive during this time of change is a credit to how you are managing and presenting the changes.
Elementary School Faculty Blog – January 21, 2022
Anyone else feel like a duck? I know you are all putting in a lot of work to make this transition into Semester 2 a smooth one for our students and their families. Thank you!
Elementary School Faculty Blog – January 14, 2022
For those who have not met Joey, he is a sugarglider. I’ll miss him when we go back to in-person learning….
Elementary School Faculty Blog – January 7, 2022
I am convinced that gratitude and a love of learning will be important in making the most out of whatever happens this year.
Elementary School Faculty Blog – December 17, 2021
The second half of this year will be a busy one with many of its own challenges.