February 3, 2012Peek at the Week for February 3-10, 2012

February

4	Catlin Ski Bus begins, 6:15am-5:00pm
9	Middle School parent/teacher conference day & student ERB testing
10	Middle School parent/teacher conference day & student ERB testing
16	Middle School parent/teacher conference day
17	Middle School parent/teacher conference day
20	President's Day observed, no school
24	Viewfinder Global Film Series, 6:30pm in Humanities bldg.
27	Middle School parent coffee with Barbara in the middle school library, 8:30-9:30am

March

12	Middle School parent coffee with Barbara in the middle school library, 8:30-9:30am
14	Middle School Service
20-23	Breakaway
20-23	No am or pm Catlin bus service during Breakaway
26-30	Spring Break, no school

 

 

Message from Barbara

 Next week promises to be bustling in the Middle School. While Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are fairly normal school days, with ERB testing and parent-teacher conferences on Thursday and Friday, everyone is working towards a full week of active engagement. On Wednesday morning at 8:15 we will have our typical Friday assembly with special 8^th grade music and drama rotation performances. If you have not seen the culminating work of one of our performance-based arts, this would be a great opportunity to join us.

 

Upcoming Conferences

Teachers have been collaborating with one another and conferencing with students in preparation for the upcoming conferences on Feb, 9, 10, 16 and 17. By now you should know the time of your conference. Sixth grade families should plan to meet in Secret Garden, 7^th grade families should make their ways to Atelier, and 8^th will meet in Zot. The purpose of these conferences is to hear firsthand from your child’s teachers how the year is going and ask questions. If there are any issues you would like discussed at the conference, please contact Carter, Lynda or David respectfully at the three grade levels. Please arrive promptly, this will help us stay on time. Thank you ahead of time for providing sustenance on these days as well!

 

ERB Testing

We’ve been talking about them for weeks, and finally this Thursday and Friday the middle schoolers will take the ERB tests. Special thanks to the PFA for sponsoring the parent information session last Friday night! I hope it was informative.

 

On Tuesday we will have classroom assignments posted around the Middle School so students will know where to go on Thursday morning. Students must arrive at school by 8:15 on both Thursday and Friday. On Thursday they will be done by 11:30 am, and on Friday they will complete testing by 11 am. **PLEASE NOTE, if you are a 7^th grade parent with a child in a morning conference on Feb. 9^th and 10^th, you know your child has an alternate schedule.**

 

On Thursday, students will take three tests: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Math 1. On Friday, students will take the Reading Comprehension & Math 2 sections. Students may use and should bring calculators for Friday’s Math 2 section. We will provide pencils and scratch paper for all students. Aside from calculators on Friday, students do not need to worry about bringing supplies.

 

Students should:

-        Get good night’s sleep before the tests

-        Eat a high protein breakfast

-        Bring a snack and drink to the tests

-        Dress in layers for various temperature levels

-        Not worry if they don’t finish a section

-        Be reminded by you and us that this is a practice test

-        Guess on answers they do not know- on this test it is beneficial to guess.

 

The results of these tests will help us reflect upon our teaching and curriculum. It will also provide another data point for you and us about your child’s achievement. Depending on absences, results may take up to three weeks. There will be more information about how to read the results when we send them out. If you have questions, please let me know.

 

 

All School Survey

As a school we constantly strive to assess our programs and ourselves as a school in order to ask the question, “Are we doing the best we can?” In particular, this year we are dedicated to writing a self-study document for our accreditation process. Early next week all families will receive an email from Lark Palma, our Head of School, asking each family to take an online survey. This data will help us assess our programs and inform the self-study. It will be open two weeks- please make time to take it. It is greatly appreciated!

 

 

Next MS Parent Coffee- February 27 8:30-9:30 in MS Library

Do you have questions or topics you would like to cover? Please email me directly.

 

Catlin Gabel bus service during Breakawy

A reminder that we do not run regular morning or afternoon bus routes during Breakaway. All of our buses are needed to transport students to their various Experiencial Days, Breakawy, and Winterim experiences. We thank you for your understanding and are sorry for any convenience this might cause.

8th grade News

Special Program

Throughout January and February on Tuesdays and Thursdays during PE class, 8th girls and boys have been engaged in separate, yet parallel activities, surrounding gender issues. 

For the third year at Catlin Gabel, 8^th grade girls are participating in the GirlStrength program sponsored by the Portland Police.  GirlStrength is an offshoot of WomenStrenth designed to teach self-defense tactics and strategies. The program explores issues surrounding trust, intuition, boundaries, assertiveness, stereotypes, women role models and other issues surrounding growing up female and becoming a woman. Thus far in GirlStrength our focus is fostering awareness, demystifying fear, and empowering girls to be strong & confident! We recently completed our eighth session together and the girls have explored such topics as cyber-bullying, positive assertiveness and what it means to be a peer ally.  In asking the girls directly what they feel confident in taking away from the lessons, they have replied:

"I feel like I have learned the true meaning of assertiveness, and know how to carry myself in unfamiliar surroundings."

"I can be up front and direct with my friends when they cross a boundary, and not come off as rude or insulting."

"It takes confidence and believing in yourself, to trust and follow your intuition."

 

To learn more about GirlStrength please visit http://www.portlandonline.com/police/index.cfm?c=35911

 

The boys do not have a program per se, yet have been engaged with a variety of issues surrounding growing up male, stereotypes, movement, yoga and soon self-defense tactics and other topics designed to support boys as emerging men.

 

Guest from BAM (Boys Advocacy and Mentoring) engaged boys in issues centered about thebelief in the ability of boys to be healthy, happy individuals who are positive contributors to community and family life – not always the societal norm. To learn more about BAM:

http://www.bamgroups.com/bam_site/Home.html

 

Parkour Revolution introduced boys to Parkour’s characteristics of efficiency and speed, taking the most direct path through an obstacle as rapidly as that route can be traversed safely. Often times simply getting away, going the other direction is the smartest path, the one of least resistance. More about Parkour: 

http://donw.hubpages.com/hub/First-World-Free-Run-Championship/

 

Despmnd Spann is a free style, spoken word artist who worked with the students on self expression and courage through language. This clip shows Desmond performing:

http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/books/article/poet-desmond-spann-performs-children/

 

Author Dr. Thabiti Lewis engaged 8^th graders in conversation about self confidence and self examination and the so called “rule book for boys and men” The author of Ballers Of The New School, Dr. Lewis conducted a fascinating and fun look at boys growing up as nerds, jocks and everything else, strong and weak, with swag or no swag and the challenges presented by society’s norms.In the end he proposed that kids make up their own minds, feel good about who they are and develop tools to build lasting self confidence and happiness from within.  http://www.thabitilewis.com/

 

Coming next week will be two sessions of Fusion Yoga which will focus on stretching, breathing and the art of mindfulness. Following our Yoga experience will be Carlos Valdes from Therapeutic Trainers. Carlos specializes in making training fun and useful. His creativity in the field of fitness is remarkable. He will do some basic self defense work with the students too. http://therapeutictrainers.com/aboutus.html/

 

Please contact Len Car if you would like more information on what has been happening on these Tuesdays and Thursdays during 8^th grade PE.

 

From 8^th Grade History

Since returning from winter break, the unit of study is an examination of the mid-20^th century Holocaust in Europe. Students use ideas about human behavior and governments failing to protect citizen rights to understand how Nazi atrocities came to be. The issue of good government going terribly wrong is part of the discussion as students realize that Germany in the 1920s was a republic with elected officials.

As course work moves closer to the war years, students are currently researching historic themes from the time of World War I through World War II. Over the first conference break (February 9 and 10), students will complete a slide show presentation about a given topic.

Expectations are for students to read and learn as much as possible, download images appropriate to their topic, and build a graphically attractive presentation that combines text and image. In-class time is budgeted for starting the project and getting quick advice concerning questions to explore, and coaching about qualities of best presentations. Students will track research sites using the MLA format, first used with the essay writing of the Civics Unit.

Current themes can be challenging; please check in with students and see how they feel about the harshness being confronted. Be in touch with questions and comments.

 

PFA News

February parent community meeting moved to Wednesday

Middle School Athletics – including 6^th grade basketball!

Admissions News

Due February 17

Gambol 2012            

Portland. Inspired. 

March 3 at the Governor Hotel

We are excited to unveil a livelier format for this year’s Gambol. The new look and feel celebrates Portland’s weird...er…unique…qualities. The Governor Hotel 3rd and 4th floor ballrooms are getting full-on Portland-centric makeovers.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for patrons, who get to bid early on silent auction items including class art projects, job shadows, and party sign-ups. General admission opens at 5:30 p.m. with continued silent auction bidding, a golden ticket raffle, and wall of wine roulette. Guests will be treated to a full spread of complimentary appetizers, microbrews from Ninkasi, and wine from Catlin Gabel family wineries Apolloni Vineyards, Elk Cove Vineyards, Hamacher Wine, Ponzi Vineyards,Garden Vineyards, and Wahle Vineyards. As the silent auction closes, guests will make their way to theater-style seating for a fast-paced live auction and special appeal for financial aid. The speedier live auction leaves plenty of time before the night is over for mingling, dancing, and a buffet dinner with open table seating. Late night munchies will be sated by sweet selections from Voodoo Donuts, Cupcake Jones, and Ruby Jewel.

January 13, 2012Peek at the Week for January 13-20, 1012

January

16	Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday observed, no school
24	Middle School parent coffee with Barbara in the middle school library, 8:30-9:30am
27	Middle School dance, 7-10:00pm in the Barn
27	ERB parent information night in the Commons, 8:15-9:45pm

February

9	Middle School parent/teacher conference day & student ERB testing
10	Middle School parent/teacher conference day & student ERB testin
16	Middle School parent/teacher conference day
17	Middle School parent/teacher conference day
20	President's Day observed, no school
24	Viewfinder Global Film Series in humanities bldg., 6:15pm
27	Middle School parent coffee with Barbara in the middle school library, 8:30-9:30am

 

 

Message from Barbara

My message to parents and families is short and sweet. I humbly offer a middle school-centric parent To Do List for you.

1.     Know when your February teacher-parent conference is happening and plan life to arrive on time

2.     Ask your child how s/he is feeling about upcoming ERB testing and discuss it openly, reminding them of the low-stakes of the tests. Last Wednesday we spent time with students talking about the test. All students walked away with packets highlighting strategies and some practice questions so they know what types of questions to expect.

3.     RSVP to Chris Bell (bellc@catlin.edu) to the ERB parent information night on Friday, January 27 8:15-9:45 pm in the MS Commons.

 

Next MS Parent Coffee- January 24 8:30-9:30 am in MS Library

Do you have questions or topics you would like to cover? Please email me directly.

  

Teaching the Bully and Victim a New Dance

 Part 1 of 2

By Kristin Ogard, LPC

Middle School Counselor

 

Traditionally, we think of bullies as the typical tough kid who picks physical fights with smaller or more vulnerable children. The classic image is a rough character who swaggers about the school grounds looking for potential prey. Behaviors like stealing lunches, punching kids, threatening others and teasing classmates relentlessly come to mind. The customary conditioned response is to punish the bully and console the victim.  The aftermath: a scene outside the principal’s office of the bully scowling angrily and waiting for the hammer to comedown! Unfortunately, this behavior pattern tends to repeat itself despite the reprimands and punishments. What about the true psychology behind the bully/victim dynamic and how that impacts this cycle? 

 

In the past decade significant amounts of research have been devoted to explore the concept of bullying and the dynamic behind the behavior. According to David Smith of the University of Ottawa, the majority of anti-bullying programs do not work. It is mainly because they do not address the psychology behind bullying. Similarly, according to Izzy Kalman, a progressive psychologist looking into this phenomenon, these programs do not work because they neglect to understand human nature. Instead, such programs look to administer zero tolerance policies and other punishment strategies which ultimately fail and have very little effect in changing behavior.

 

Zero tolerance programs do not teach students to actively problem solve. Nor do they encourage the bully or victim to be self-reflective in order to understand what led up to an incident. Programs that are effective according to Kalman, teach problem solving and require students to be reflective about both sides of behavior in order to understand it. Productive programs help students learn positive and pro-social responses to bullying, and help students avoid the simplistic tendency to just blame the bully.

 

Vital to our new approach is instilling and reinforcing resiliency in our children. We want our children to become productive problem solvers who will be successful and independent adults one day. Obviously, learning to be a good problem solver has life-long benefits. So, rather than quickly moving to comfort a victim and ending the process prematurely following an incident, it is recommended that you help the victim see that they have the ability to effectively deal with an aggressor. If you merely offer comfort, the message to the child becomes one of “I will rescue you and you are not capable of learning to care for own interactions in the world”. Therefore, interviewing a child for pain and suffering does not build resiliency for the child. Asking questions like “what have you tried to address this“, and “what else might you try?” start the child thinking about their own individual power and how to take some action in the direction of problem solving vs. being a victim. This is where the coaching conversation begins.  

 

As we look more closely at bullying we understand it better. It is an intentional misuse of dominant behavior with an imbalance of power and /or strength that takes many forms including verbal, cyber, physical, and emotional targeting. Particularly in middle school we observe forms of exclusion, gossiping and subtle sarcastic humor that puts someone down. Younger aged children are not as sophisticated and dominant behavior comes out more blatantly with little or no awareness that it is not acceptable according to social and societal norms. Because dominant behavior is inherent in all primates, this is an age-old problem that cannot be addressed by zero tolerance mandates. In fact, all of us have at some time or another been on both the receiving and giving end of dominant behavior. It is human nature.   It is not a fixed state or trait. 

 

Best practices involve helping both the giver and receiver of dominant behavior. Believing that someone is just a bully or just a victim closes the door on the goal of helping students become better problem solvers and individuals who can develop stronger empathy skills. Although humans are hard wired for aggression, a growing body of research also shows that we possess a biological component of compassion. Empathy is a skill that can be developed and will inevitably help a bully and the victim. This is one of the keys to successfully addressing both sides of the dynamic. There is a spark of recognition. The bully sees the victim as a person like themself. The victim sees the bully as a vulnerable soul.

News from the Teaching and Learning Center

 

We’ve spent four class sessions in Christa’s 7th grade English classes in order to discuss reading. We started with simulations and activities for decoding and comprehension. In each case, the students were asked to decode symbols and sounds. Most believed that their days of struggling with decoding were over because they had learned to read, but some disagreed. “What about foreign languages or difficulty scientific words,” they argued?

 

We also looked at attention and recall as essential elements of reading comprehension. In this activity, students are asked to read a scientific passage that is disappearing as they read it. Worse still, the assessment is emphasized before the reading even begins.

 

These activities (which you are welcome to try) can be found by clinking on the following link.

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/reading.html

 

In addition, the students filled out a survey that asked them to consider both how they approach a text and the strategies they use to more fully understand what they are reading. These include ideas for pre-reading, how they interact with the text, and (perhaps most importantly) how they organize their thoughts about what they are reading.

 

These surveys will be part of a discussion we have with 7th graders as we administer informal reading inventories with each student. This will give us another data point as to comprehension and recall. We’ll share these with teachers to see if this matches what is seen in the classroom, and adjust strategies based on what the students indicated in their surveys.

 

Catlin Gabel Baseball

The Catlin Varsity Baseball Staff and Friends will be holding a Catlin Gabel Youth Baseball Clinic from 10am to 1pm on Sunday January 29th.  Catlin players, boys and girls, from grades 2nd-6th are welcome to join.  The clinic will take place in the Catlin Gym and Tennis Courts.  

 

We will be covering base running, fielding, hitting, and throwing fundamentals.  Please have players dress in baseball attire and bring a small snack along with their baseball equipment.  Catlin players will not be charged a fee for the camp, however, if a player would like to bring a friend who does not attend Catlin Gabel, the fee is $20 per player.  

 

Please RSVP via email to tchocker@gmail.com if your child will be attending, as I would like to have an idea of how many kids will be attending.  

 

 Baseball Matters at Catlin Gabel

Travis Chock, MAT Phys Ed, Health
Head Baseball Coach, The Catlin Gabel School

www.catlinbaseball.com<http://www.catlinbaseball.com><http://www.catlinbaseball.com>
(503)757-2131<tel:%28503%29757-2131><tel:%28503%29757-2131>

"Life is an occasion, rise to it."

PFA News:

Parent community meeting: college admission preceptions and misconceptions.

Thursday, January 19

8:30-10:00am in Gerlinger

Guest speakers are Upper School college counselors Nancy Donehower and Blythe Butler, admission director Sara Nordhoff, and Knight Family Scholars Program director Chad Faber. All four speakers worked in college admission before coming to Catlin Gabel. This meeting is sponsored by the PFA.

 Catlin "Care Committee"

Student newspaper sponsors Portland mayoral debate

Monday, January 30
7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Cabell Center Theater

Gambol News:

Are you looking for a cool way to contribute to the Gambol? We are looking for one-day job shadows for Upper School students to attend during summer break. Student leaders brainstormed ideas for placements that would provide real-world applications for the skills and knowledge they gain at school. Their suggestions include medical research, industrial engineering, publishing, computer technology, advertising, architecture, graphic design, fashion, film, and food service. The one day you offer this summer could open a world of possibilities for a student. Please let us know if your Upper School student has a specific request and we’ll see what we can do! For more information or to express interest in offering a one-day job shadow at your workplace, please email Cath Swanston at cathswanston@gmail.com. Thanks!