Singing, original skits, snacks and games filled our Children’s Day celebration. This was an opportunity to promote inter-generational relationship among our students and faculty. Our Children’s Day was full of joy, companionship, and creativity. We enjoyed a community potluck and closed the day with a cup of local ice cream. More photos can be found on our facebook page.
Each school day begins with assembly. We greet one another, celebrate birthdays, share announcements and enjoy a short activity together. Friday morning’s sunshine motivated Heather, the High School Science Teacher, to take our morning activity outdoors. She lead over one hundred people in the cooperative game Octopus. Staff and students started the morning with exercise and smiles. Visit our facebook page to see more pictures.
On August 23, parents and staff gathered for Open House. The event began with a whole group meeting in which the new Head of School introduced himself and staff. He introduced the principle of integrity as the theme for the 2012-13 school year, addressed the need for open communication between school and families, and urged active participation in the school community. Afterwards, parents had the opportunity to express their comments and concerns about key issues related to the school and they visited their children’s classrooms to meet teachers and learn about curriculum and expectations.
In preparation for the 2012-13 school year, staff assembled for Pedagogical Week. It was a time for contemplating how the year-long theme of integrity fit into our teaching practice. Community members shared their thoughts on integrity. We divided into groups and read articles by Paulo Friere (Letter to Cristina), Raúl Leis (Imaginarios en la Arena: Educación y Sociedad), Parker J. Palmer (from The Courage to Teach: Teaching in Community), and UNESCO (Interacción Escuela y Familia). We reflected individually on their messages and then worked in small groups to share those ideas with the rest of the staff. The Pedagogical Week was a special time for worship and for exploring possibilities toward expanding our community life.