HELP, HELP, HELP
We need more drivers and chaperones for Service Day on Thursday. The times are from 9-12 and it is a very special day at Trillium every year. If you can find the time to do it you will be put on a project and help students understand the value of service. Projects range from weeding in gardens to performing outreach for local nonprofits. It is a really great way to help the school and we would appreciate your help. There will be a lunch at the school at 12:30.
Email Billy at billy@trilliumcharterschool.org if you can volunteer for this event.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Author's/artist's chair on Wednesday
Our sharing circle is going very well. I have been impressed by the work students have shared and their great attitude about author's circle. Sharing one's work, and giving thoughtful comments, is not easy work. Our advising has brought personal and thought provoking work to share, and has demonstrated maturity in their sharing of feedback.
If you are able to send in healthy snacks for this event, please do so. Homemade or store bought muffins, fruit, bagels, tea, juice--anything that helps contribute to the "cafe/pena/beatnick/poetry slam" feel we are working towards. Even donoughts!
Thanks!
If you are able to send in healthy snacks for this event, please do so. Homemade or store bought muffins, fruit, bagels, tea, juice--anything that helps contribute to the "cafe/pena/beatnick/poetry slam" feel we are working towards. Even donoughts!
Thanks!
Conferences--revised?
As part of the storyline, Celeste and I discussed having our final conferences be a student lead tour of their portfolio. Our vision was as follows: we would have three nights where students would present their portfolios to their families (and invited guests).
This would be a reflection of the "defense of PLP" approach students will experience in high school, only much more comfortable with an emphasis on the celebratory. They are beginning to accumulate a nice body of work that will represent their efforts--and their journey and process--well. One of our goals in the MS is to have students' work--their portfolio--do much more of the "talking". It is the their demonstration of learning--not just in product but also product and reflection--that can speaks volumes about their efforts and progress.
After your student walks you through their portfolio, you would then have time to visit the work of the other students presenting that night. Celeste and I would be there to answer to questions about the quarter and the work. We would also be available after the student's sharing for discussion.
This event would be more celebratory, have students sharing with wider audiences, and strive to let the student's efforts shine. Small groups of students would present each night. Families would also leave with a better grasp of storyline and thematic learning that is being proposed for the MS advising model next year.
If you have other concerns (or I do), we can--and please do-- make an appointment for a more traditional conference by email over the next week.
Please feel free to email me your reaction or post in comments. I would love for our advising to try this. It would not replace regular conferences at the beginning of the year, but would allow students time to really share their work and learning in a way that 20 minute segments won't do justice.
Thanks in advance for considering this!
This would be a reflection of the "defense of PLP" approach students will experience in high school, only much more comfortable with an emphasis on the celebratory. They are beginning to accumulate a nice body of work that will represent their efforts--and their journey and process--well. One of our goals in the MS is to have students' work--their portfolio--do much more of the "talking". It is the their demonstration of learning--not just in product but also product and reflection--that can speaks volumes about their efforts and progress.
After your student walks you through their portfolio, you would then have time to visit the work of the other students presenting that night. Celeste and I would be there to answer to questions about the quarter and the work. We would also be available after the student's sharing for discussion.
This event would be more celebratory, have students sharing with wider audiences, and strive to let the student's efforts shine. Small groups of students would present each night. Families would also leave with a better grasp of storyline and thematic learning that is being proposed for the MS advising model next year.
If you have other concerns (or I do), we can--and please do-- make an appointment for a more traditional conference by email over the next week.
Please feel free to email me your reaction or post in comments. I would love for our advising to try this. It would not replace regular conferences at the beginning of the year, but would allow students time to really share their work and learning in a way that 20 minute segments won't do justice.
Thanks in advance for considering this!
Activity Fees (don't shoot the messenger!)
A gentle reminder to families who still need to pay their activity fee.
Many families opted to send in their activity fee at the years start...and still need to...
Stephanie has the list, and I would rather not be the intermediary, just the messenger.
If you forgot the activity fee, please give it directly to Stephanie by leaving a check at the front desk.
All families agreed to pay the activity fee based on one of the school agreements in the registration packet. There were scholarships available for those that applied; this is a little different than last year as there was an application that needed to be submitted. Most scholarships were given out based on eligibility for free and reduced lunch.
Please email Stephanie with any questions--she has the details about scholarships and partial scholarships. The school strives to support those students who need it, contact Stephanie to make arraignments. You can feel free to CC me, but I have little knowledge and say. If you can't remember if you paid or not, please ask Stephanie--she has the list.
Getting our activity fees in is important as we plan for the campout--the fee covers the camp-out costs. We also have more end of year activities coming up, and the fees cover these.
Thank you for supporting Trillium and your student's rad education,
Many families opted to send in their activity fee at the years start...and still need to...
Stephanie has the list, and I would rather not be the intermediary, just the messenger.
If you forgot the activity fee, please give it directly to Stephanie by leaving a check at the front desk.
All families agreed to pay the activity fee based on one of the school agreements in the registration packet. There were scholarships available for those that applied; this is a little different than last year as there was an application that needed to be submitted. Most scholarships were given out based on eligibility for free and reduced lunch.
Please email Stephanie with any questions--she has the details about scholarships and partial scholarships. The school strives to support those students who need it, contact Stephanie to make arraignments. You can feel free to CC me, but I have little knowledge and say. If you can't remember if you paid or not, please ask Stephanie--she has the list.
Getting our activity fees in is important as we plan for the campout--the fee covers the camp-out costs. We also have more end of year activities coming up, and the fees cover these.
Thank you for supporting Trillium and your student's rad education,
We're going camping! Silver Falls!
Monday May 12, 2008
Dear Parents and Middle School Students,
We are going camping again! We are going to Silver Falls State Park. We are going Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning, May 21st – 23rd.
We need drivers! Our carpools will be loaded and on the way from Trillium around 1:00 Wednesday (please arrive with gear to be staged in the common space no later than 12:00). NOTE: We will most likely have morning classes on Wednesday as advisors spend significant time preparing during this time. We encourage you to drop your children off in time for school with their gear if at all possible. It is also helpful for students to already have a lunch plan when they show up at school (sack lunch is best). Snacks will be provided at the campsite before dinner.
It is about an hour and 15-minute drive depending on traffic. We shall leave for home from Silver Falls by 10:30 am Friday, and you can pick up your students at the usual end-of-school time (12:00 pm). IF you are driving on Friday, please be at Silver Falls by 10:00. Also, please decide on whether or not you can chaperone, help with meals and facilitate the cooking, and/or volunteer to drive back and forth. Let your advisor or liaison know as soon as possible
We will have email sign-up, phone calls, and a list at the front desk and with each advisor. Conferences are an excellent time to let us know how you can participate. Parent support makes this trip run smoothly and an extra chaperone or two for supervision and activity facilitation will be greatly appreciated.
As a staff we came up with a list of essentials for each student to bring:
Sleeping bag
Tent (please bring an extra to loan if you have one!)
Flashlight
Rain gear (you never know)
Sunscreen
2 pairs of pants (shorts optional)
2-3 short sleeve shirts
1 long sleeve shirt
1 jacket (this is important: it is always cold in the morning)
2 pairs of shoes
4 pairs of socks
Reading material
Journal (if you wish)
Frisbee, kite, games, disc (for disc golf) etc.
1 plastic bag
1 garbage bag
We have been asked about swimming. Our policy is to be advised by the rangers on site. If they feel it is safe and encourage it, we may find a suitable place with constant supervision. If there is any doubt about the safety we will NOT swim. If you have any personal reservations, please let us know and please do not pack a swimsuit for your student.
It can be very chilly and windy at any time in Oregon, even when the sun is shining beautifully. Be prepared by dressing in layers, and don't forget a jacket of some sort that will cut the wind factor. It always gets cold at night. Have warm, dry clothes available.
On this trip there will be required group activities led by parent volunteers and staff members after lunch both days (2-4 p.m.), as well as after campfire each night (these are required). This might include trips to the river, the surrounding forest, hiking, bacci, Frisbee, touch football, jump rope, soccer, and more. There will be plenty of time to read, hang out with friends, and have quiet time to oneself. We have experimented with allowing Boffer fencing on more than one campout. IT IS NOT ALLOWED ON THIS TRIP. Please let your students know.
There are some rules of course, and some things to leave behind:
* Your teacher will be organizing the sleeping arrangements in the tents. Once this is done NO ONE may move or change tents. Consider this rule set in stone. Lights out at 10:30 p.m. and this is also the signal for quiet time. If students cannot settle, they will be moved. Boys and girls sleep separately without exception.
* Please DO NOT bring along any electronic devices (this includes Walkmans, CD players, Gameboys, PSPs etc.). We are camping. Feel free to bring an acoustic musical instrument, board games, cards, books, or a song!
* Snacks will be provided so please, NO soda, NO candy, and NO sugary snacks. If you have a student with blood sugar issues, let the staff know.
* The adults will be doing the cooking. There is no need for you to bring matches, knives of any sort (even Swiss Army or Leatherman tools), campfire hatches, or tools of any kind.
* There will be parent chaperones sleeping over and helping with the carpool. Please consider every parent as a staff member of Trillium on this trip and give him or her the attention, gratitude, and respect that they deserve.
NOTE: If you have paid, the beginning of the year activity fee covers the price for the camping trip.
We hope that you and your student will participate in this end of the year event. It is a wonderful way to relax and get to know each other, as well as offer closure to the year. And please let us know, again, if you would like to help in any way. We need support. We look forward to having a great time. Thank you!
Kurt, Tobie, Nick, and Kirk
Dear Parents and Middle School Students,
We are going camping again! We are going to Silver Falls State Park. We are going Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning, May 21st – 23rd.
We need drivers! Our carpools will be loaded and on the way from Trillium around 1:00 Wednesday (please arrive with gear to be staged in the common space no later than 12:00). NOTE: We will most likely have morning classes on Wednesday as advisors spend significant time preparing during this time. We encourage you to drop your children off in time for school with their gear if at all possible. It is also helpful for students to already have a lunch plan when they show up at school (sack lunch is best). Snacks will be provided at the campsite before dinner.
It is about an hour and 15-minute drive depending on traffic. We shall leave for home from Silver Falls by 10:30 am Friday, and you can pick up your students at the usual end-of-school time (12:00 pm). IF you are driving on Friday, please be at Silver Falls by 10:00. Also, please decide on whether or not you can chaperone, help with meals and facilitate the cooking, and/or volunteer to drive back and forth. Let your advisor or liaison know as soon as possible
We will have email sign-up, phone calls, and a list at the front desk and with each advisor. Conferences are an excellent time to let us know how you can participate. Parent support makes this trip run smoothly and an extra chaperone or two for supervision and activity facilitation will be greatly appreciated.
As a staff we came up with a list of essentials for each student to bring:
Sleeping bag
Tent (please bring an extra to loan if you have one!)
Flashlight
Rain gear (you never know)
Sunscreen
2 pairs of pants (shorts optional)
2-3 short sleeve shirts
1 long sleeve shirt
1 jacket (this is important: it is always cold in the morning)
2 pairs of shoes
4 pairs of socks
Reading material
Journal (if you wish)
Frisbee, kite, games, disc (for disc golf) etc.
1 plastic bag
1 garbage bag
We have been asked about swimming. Our policy is to be advised by the rangers on site. If they feel it is safe and encourage it, we may find a suitable place with constant supervision. If there is any doubt about the safety we will NOT swim. If you have any personal reservations, please let us know and please do not pack a swimsuit for your student.
It can be very chilly and windy at any time in Oregon, even when the sun is shining beautifully. Be prepared by dressing in layers, and don't forget a jacket of some sort that will cut the wind factor. It always gets cold at night. Have warm, dry clothes available.
On this trip there will be required group activities led by parent volunteers and staff members after lunch both days (2-4 p.m.), as well as after campfire each night (these are required). This might include trips to the river, the surrounding forest, hiking, bacci, Frisbee, touch football, jump rope, soccer, and more. There will be plenty of time to read, hang out with friends, and have quiet time to oneself. We have experimented with allowing Boffer fencing on more than one campout. IT IS NOT ALLOWED ON THIS TRIP. Please let your students know.
There are some rules of course, and some things to leave behind:
* Your teacher will be organizing the sleeping arrangements in the tents. Once this is done NO ONE may move or change tents. Consider this rule set in stone. Lights out at 10:30 p.m. and this is also the signal for quiet time. If students cannot settle, they will be moved. Boys and girls sleep separately without exception.
* Please DO NOT bring along any electronic devices (this includes Walkmans, CD players, Gameboys, PSPs etc.). We are camping. Feel free to bring an acoustic musical instrument, board games, cards, books, or a song!
* Snacks will be provided so please, NO soda, NO candy, and NO sugary snacks. If you have a student with blood sugar issues, let the staff know.
* The adults will be doing the cooking. There is no need for you to bring matches, knives of any sort (even Swiss Army or Leatherman tools), campfire hatches, or tools of any kind.
* There will be parent chaperones sleeping over and helping with the carpool. Please consider every parent as a staff member of Trillium on this trip and give him or her the attention, gratitude, and respect that they deserve.
NOTE: If you have paid, the beginning of the year activity fee covers the price for the camping trip.
We hope that you and your student will participate in this end of the year event. It is a wonderful way to relax and get to know each other, as well as offer closure to the year. And please let us know, again, if you would like to help in any way. We need support. We look forward to having a great time. Thank you!
Kurt, Tobie, Nick, and Kirk
So many blogs...
Our storyline project has its own blog. It's address is: http://studentsforsocialaction.blogspot.com/
Not only are assignments listed there, but students will also be posting their journal entries--in character--about their trip.
Not only are assignments listed there, but students will also be posting their journal entries--in character--about their trip.
Back from Outdoor School
Back from a lovely time at outdoor school, camp songs still ringing in my head. this year students had a very positive experience. It was great to see them make new friends, work at their field stations learning about soils, water, plants, and animals, and go all out at recreation. They helped set up for meals, participate in campfire, and run the flag ceremony. One wonderful thing was when I asked the camp staff for their recommendations for the tree planting and final flag awards, every student--every one--had one of the camp adults single them out to recommend them. Some students were noted for their studious nature at their field stations, others for being comforting and friendly members of their cabin group. Some students shined during rec, others during campfire skits. I loved how the experience gave so many ways for students to stand out and excel.
One other thing...The Outdoor School Staff was so impressed by the way Trillium Students ask questions and engage in their world. One field instructor even said, "I have been waiting for the Trillium kids to come this week." I think that says something positive about our school.
I did come back with a cough, so expect a hoarse Mesa--I mean Tobie--next week.
One other thing...The Outdoor School Staff was so impressed by the way Trillium Students ask questions and engage in their world. One field instructor even said, "I have been waiting for the Trillium kids to come this week." I think that says something positive about our school.
I did come back with a cough, so expect a hoarse Mesa--I mean Tobie--next week.
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