Each year the staff of NGFS begins the year with a retreat. We study new educational information, making sure that when we make changes to our dynamic curriculum, these changes are sound scientifically and allow for consistency from one level to the next. We also have time to play and just spend quality time together. It is a great way to begin the year. Historically we then go through the year with very few extended opportunities to renew ourselves as an entire community, sharing and learning from one another.
Last year it was suggested by a person on staff to have a few opportunities throughout the year to come together as a staff for an extended time. Certainly this was an idea whose time had come. That's why in this school year calendar we have 3 early release day for students: today, March 8 and May 3. On these afternoons our entire staff will come together professionally to further study important educational trends and also just have time to be with one another.
Today we will be continuing our conversation of what makes us the best education for a 21st century student. More and more research shows a consistency of skills that students today need to have, some of these are the ability to: write and speak eloquently, access and analyze information, and be creative and imaginative.
As we work together today as a staff, we will spend time thinking about what skills and traits a person needs to succeed in the world after formal schooling. This helps us see when and where to initiate and build these skills within our students. We will also have time to discuss how we transform units of study so that we maintain critical and interesting content, but allow our students to use the tools of the day, and be considering the tools of tomorrow. This will be a wonderfully useful opportunity for all of us on staff as we work to give our students the best we can give them for the world they will live in.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Friends School Heads Gathering
What an amazing event when roughly 50 heads of Friends Schools from all across the country get together! There are new Friends Schools and ones over 300 years old. There are nursery schools only, schools that go through 6th or 8th, and schools that go through 12th grade. And once a year the heads get together. Never, outside of the NGFS community, am I more surrounded by professionals more committed to there work than at this event. This year's event was co-hosted by Newtown Friends School and George School in Newtown, PA.
What do we spend our time on at such a conference, well the themes will probably sound familiar. We discuss the the idea that Friends Schools are well positioned for the 21st century because friends have always moved away from fear and toward opportunity. We talked about collaborative inquiry leading to innovation. We talked about our commitment to have each individual student in all our schools have the chance to learn who he/she is as an individual and to respect and learn about their peers. And we talked about the importance of hope and that Friends Schools teach hope.
Of course this year most of us have had economic and enrollment concerns, however it seems most of us are doing very well with enrollment and we have been creative with budgets to make the most out of an economy where people have less. One particular area of goodness, is that we all feel that there is an abundance of creativity, wisdom and optimism in our communities that will help us through the current times and better prepare us for hopefully better economic times ahead.
I am always filled with a sense of joy to be with these colleagues, who are more freinds than friendly acquaintences. I look forward to this gathering and always come back with ideas and energy that hopefully helps the NGFS community. I hope that I am able to share ideas and energy that others can take back to their communities.
I look forward to being back in NC tomorrow and greatly looking forward to the Fall Unity Festival next Friday. Hope to see you there.
What do we spend our time on at such a conference, well the themes will probably sound familiar. We discuss the the idea that Friends Schools are well positioned for the 21st century because friends have always moved away from fear and toward opportunity. We talked about collaborative inquiry leading to innovation. We talked about our commitment to have each individual student in all our schools have the chance to learn who he/she is as an individual and to respect and learn about their peers. And we talked about the importance of hope and that Friends Schools teach hope.
Of course this year most of us have had economic and enrollment concerns, however it seems most of us are doing very well with enrollment and we have been creative with budgets to make the most out of an economy where people have less. One particular area of goodness, is that we all feel that there is an abundance of creativity, wisdom and optimism in our communities that will help us through the current times and better prepare us for hopefully better economic times ahead.
I am always filled with a sense of joy to be with these colleagues, who are more freinds than friendly acquaintences. I look forward to this gathering and always come back with ideas and energy that hopefully helps the NGFS community. I hope that I am able to share ideas and energy that others can take back to their communities.
I look forward to being back in NC tomorrow and greatly looking forward to the Fall Unity Festival next Friday. Hope to see you there.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Opportunities
Wednesday morning I have the first Breakfast with David event of the year. This one was held at New Garden Friends Meeting near our early school--A Child's Garden. Last night we had a dinner for our middle school families to learn what comes next at NGFS, in other words a time to find out about 9th grade. What I realize from these two events, hosted on two of our three campuses is that both were about opportunities.
A good school should provide its students with worthwhile learning and life opportunities and prepare its students to take advantage of opportunities that arise for her/him outside of school and certainly as she/he moves into adulthood. Of course I believe NGFS is a good school and that we do offer many opportunities to our students.
In talking with parents of our younger students, we talked about what is available to those students now and looking forward. We talked about collaborative events such as when ACG students come up to do PE with middle schoolers and Charles. We shared the importance of our ACG students getting to visit with their friends at Friends Homes and make that intergenerational connection. Throughout the morning we discussed many of the opportunities that exist for these students, and that exist for the adults in the community. Such that, our parents can be involved in the life of not only their children but the life of the school.
At our "Find out about 9th grade" program, once again we talked a lot about the opportunities that exist for our 9th grade and older students. Although I live these opportunities everyday with our students I am still amazed what exists for these students. Our students have the chance to do honors work in all core subject areas and international language. This allows our students to take on the next challenge of learning when appropriate. Students have the opportunity to take quarterly electives on Fridays from 10-12. These electives cover a wide range of subjects from core subjects to the arts to outdoor activity. Many of our 8th graders are now taking some of these electives also. Our 8th and 9th graders are participating in a Toastmaster's Club where they are learning public speaking skills and can also learn about forensics, as in debate. At the upper division we even begin each morning with a brief community time to hear announcements and have the chance to further build community. I could go on and on, but will save other opportunities for later blogs.
These two events just brought to focus all the opportunities our children have across all of our levels. At our youngest levels opportunities from the teddy bear picnic, moving to incredible units on castles or the Anasazi to the first overnight trips to wonderful places within North Carolina and the chance to be in dramatic performances exist. In our middle division, students have their first chance to play organized sports for the school, they get to go on multiple night trips out of the state as part of the curriculum, along with the opportunity to learn guitar just to name a few.
This is an exciting place for our students to grow, to learn and to take advantage of many, many opportunities that are provided.
A good school should provide its students with worthwhile learning and life opportunities and prepare its students to take advantage of opportunities that arise for her/him outside of school and certainly as she/he moves into adulthood. Of course I believe NGFS is a good school and that we do offer many opportunities to our students.
In talking with parents of our younger students, we talked about what is available to those students now and looking forward. We talked about collaborative events such as when ACG students come up to do PE with middle schoolers and Charles. We shared the importance of our ACG students getting to visit with their friends at Friends Homes and make that intergenerational connection. Throughout the morning we discussed many of the opportunities that exist for these students, and that exist for the adults in the community. Such that, our parents can be involved in the life of not only their children but the life of the school.
At our "Find out about 9th grade" program, once again we talked a lot about the opportunities that exist for our 9th grade and older students. Although I live these opportunities everyday with our students I am still amazed what exists for these students. Our students have the chance to do honors work in all core subject areas and international language. This allows our students to take on the next challenge of learning when appropriate. Students have the opportunity to take quarterly electives on Fridays from 10-12. These electives cover a wide range of subjects from core subjects to the arts to outdoor activity. Many of our 8th graders are now taking some of these electives also. Our 8th and 9th graders are participating in a Toastmaster's Club where they are learning public speaking skills and can also learn about forensics, as in debate. At the upper division we even begin each morning with a brief community time to hear announcements and have the chance to further build community. I could go on and on, but will save other opportunities for later blogs.
These two events just brought to focus all the opportunities our children have across all of our levels. At our youngest levels opportunities from the teddy bear picnic, moving to incredible units on castles or the Anasazi to the first overnight trips to wonderful places within North Carolina and the chance to be in dramatic performances exist. In our middle division, students have their first chance to play organized sports for the school, they get to go on multiple night trips out of the state as part of the curriculum, along with the opportunity to learn guitar just to name a few.
This is an exciting place for our students to grow, to learn and to take advantage of many, many opportunities that are provided.
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