Makers Week Details

With all that's been on our plates recently, we haven't had many conversations about Makers Week details. I will begin to order the supplies and materials needed for each project very soon. This list reflects the conversations thus far, but please know that the cement has not dried on this. Please talk to me if you'd prefer to make a change:

Sandy Johnson: Domino Construction. I'm ordering 5 of these sets.

Justine LaFrence: Tall Towers. Have you received your unit of study plan yet? Please let me know what materials I can purchase for you.

Michelle Dreyer: Are you still thinking cardboard challenge? We're (obviously) stock piling cardboard in the staff center. Sara Folkert and I can help you iron out the finer points of this project. This will be exciting and there are a PLETHORA of ideas/samples online.

Lia Buursma: Claymation Movie. I'll request the stop motion app for all students' iPads and get that loaded. I will order your PlayDough unless you'd prefer another medium.

Karen VanMeeteren: Did you want to jump into Marble Challenge? I will bring in all the PVC piping, ball bearings and bells you could hope for!

Engineering projects we still need a leader for (please add anything you are excited about to this list!):

• Lego Quest (x2)
• One more sectional of Claymation
• One more sectional of Tall Towers
• Explore with electrical circuits and build a burglar alarm
• Marble Roller Coaster on the lockers

Any other ideas you'd like to take a stab at? 

Thank you for being willing and for digging up the courage to carve this new territory in our children's learning experience at South Side. I'm reading more and more about how crucial it is for schools to strive for finding a balance between skill practice and enriching learning experiences. There is value in breaking from time to time from the traditional model to offer students learning experiences that move them outside of the box and invigorate their innate desire to learn and continue learning. I firmly believe that our students, families and we as a staff will stand in awe of the creativity and complexity of these little human minds we've been charged with growing and developing. 

We Made It!!!

By the time you read this, we will almost all be over the report card, sub plan, son's wedding, collaboration time, family Fleetwood Mac night, Discovery Night mountain. Thank you for the tremendous amount of extra effort you have been putting into this week to meet all these deadlines and requirements. As Karen's devotional so poignantly reminded us, you chose JOY this week. Some weeks are easier than others. This week has been a victory!

Let's have an innovative, joy-filled, semester two growing our children and expanding their understanding of God's amazing world and their own gifts!

• Discovery Assessment window begins February 2.

• Winter break February 16. 

• Data meetings the week of February 16.

Hope and Potential

Thank you for your flexibility, creativity and desire to offer your students the very best we can provide. Thank you for continually challenging yourselves, stretching and growing. South Side is an exciting place for people to learn, children and adults alike! I'm so grateful that you see our children for all the hope and potential that God created these little beauties to be. If you have two minutes, please take a peek at this clip on creativity and broadening our children's thinking in school.

Creativity in Schools

Collaboration Days
Next week we have more time set aside for teachers to collaborate as a grade level and move forward in the upcoming teaching points for Reading Workshop. All work will once again take place at the administration office.

• Thursday, 7:15-9:15 First grade 
• Thursday, 9:45-11:45 Kindergarten
• Friday, 7:15-9:15 Second grade

Elementary principals are planning to attend each session to guide the discussions and help in any way to ensure this time you are taking away from your class is as productive as possible. Please don't hesitate to ask, comment, suggest. I'm open!

Discovery Assessment
The testing window for math and reading begins February 2 and ends February 13. Although I haven't tried it with my class nor have I seen it in action, I'm told Discovery Assessment goes smoothly on students' iPads. We'll talk. If you would prefer to administer this test on your iPads, I'll help you get set up. Otherwise, we'll haul out the mobile lab.

Data Meetings
Our data meetings will be coming along soon. This offers us the opportunity to review what we're doing and ensure it's the best for our learners. If we don't see the growth we're hoping for, we'll brainstorm together and make necessary changes. These meetings will take place in the staff center at South Side.

• Thursday, February 19 12:45-1:45 Second grade
• Thursday, February 19 2:00-3:00 Kindergarten
• Friday, February 20 12:45-1:45

Report Cards

We will begin printing report cards on Thursday morning, January 22. Please try to have your grades entered by the morning of the 22nd...even if that means finding a quiet spot at your son's wedding reception to work on comments for a while. I'm sure he'll understand ;) Your class set of report cards will be given to you in time for your Thursday (Sarah) Friday (everybody else) folders.

Thank you for appreciating the incredible gifts that God has blessed you with by growing them, stretching them and sharing them with all of those blessed people who encounter each of you. We may not be perfect, but we sure are doing everything we can to be faithful! Thank you! I'm so excited for the new season of tours and for prospective parents to meet with you, even if briefly, at Discovery Night. There's a whole lotta awesomeness up in here! 

Snowy Daze

I pray that each of you have been staying warm, safe and enjoying a little extra time to do those projects that wait for days such as these. You don't need to know this, but I'm feeling pretty proud. EVERY sheet and curtain in our house has been washed and ironed :) That's big stuff in my book. I hope you can tout something of a bit more worth than I am able.

Linked here you will find an invigorating speech by Sir Ken Robinson. Sir Robinson is an educator with international influence. What he speaks about here is the gist of the message he teaches to educators throughout the world. If you do find a few extra minutes over the weekend, or sometime before you retire, I encourage you to come back to visit this page. Holland Christian is a unique learning environment in that we are distinctly different from the requirement and restrictions of many other educational institutions. Our number one priority is to excel in the faith formation of our children and even of their families. But, we also have flexibility with the services and even pedagogy with which we deliver learning experiences to our students. Perhaps you will find yourself feeling challenged and growing after listening to Sir Ken Robinson, as I have. If you would like more resources by him, please don't hesitate to ask. We'll keep feeding your curiosity and desire to learn.

TED Talk

Report Cards
Grades and comments are due in PowerTeacher Gradebook by Thursday, January 22 at 8:00 a.m. Pat and I will be cranking up the printers on that Thursday morning. Sarah, your class set will be ready for your take-home folders by the end of that day. Everyone else, we'll have your sets ready for Friday Folders on January 23. Please talk to me if you find yourself in a bind.

EGG Project
Well, I had intended to fan the flames of your creativity this week...but, instead, I shoveled the driveway ;) I know that time is tough to come by, but I'm going to try to submit a proposal in the next few days, and I encourage you to do so as well. If you have a percolating idea, flesh that puppy out and submit your proposal. You don't even have to print the document. Simply make a copy, edit the document with your golden nugget idea and share with Dan. The application is due on January 23 and, if accepted, you'll receive the funding you have requested shortly thereafter. How exciting!!! Go HC!

EGG Application

EGG Description 

Discovery Night
While our K-2 enrollment numbers are looking excellent, the enrollment of our classes leading up to kindergarten need our prayers and energy. There are families out there who are looking for an excellent educational home for their precious child. Our prayer is that they discover that South Side is it! Discovery Night is an important opportunity during which parents are able to meet the hands and hearts of those whom they will entrust their child to. You are the best of the best! As odd as it sounds, you have the opportunity to showcase yourselves, or more specifically the gifts that God has blessed you with...so, really, you're showcasing God's creativity and masterful work if that's more palatable for you ;) on the evening of January 22. We'll begin together with dinner at 4:45. More specific instructions will be communicated at our next staff meeting and a refresher will be offered on the 22nd while we eat. The event will be attended by parents from 6:00-7:30. I know and appreciate this adds to your obligation and work load, but, please know that many parents do decide one way or the other at this event. Please stay as positive as you are able regarding this event. In the meantime, we should remain in prayer for all those little children out there who God has planned to join our South Side family.

Staff Meeting
Our next meeting will be during lunch on Thursday, January 15.

Thank you for all you do, and I'm looking forward to all God has in store in this new year!