NGFS staff community and collegiality

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.