Peek at the Week for Dec. 9-16, 2011
December 9, 2011Peek at the Week for Dec. 9-16, 2011
December
| 12 | 7th grade FAME - Japan presentation, 9-10:00am |
| 13 | 7th grade FAME - China presentation, 9-10:00am |
| 14 | 7th grade FAME - Byzantine Empire presentation, 8:30-9:45am |
| 15 | 7th grade FAME - England presentation, 9-10:00am |
| 16 | 7th grade FAME Food Festival, 11-1:00pm |
| 19-Jan. 2 | Winter Break, no school |
January
| 3 | Classes resume |
| 11 | Middle School Service |
| 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 |
Message from Barbara
It turns out St. George was indeed canceled today, but I am still glad to report Waldo was found, St. George beat the dragon, and the fairies flew away leaving a glittery trail!
The 8th graders' production of St. George and the Dragon, with the support of the entire 8th grade team and Deirdre Atkinson at the helm, went off just as planned. Kudos to all of the students and their teachers! What a wonderful Catlin tradition!
One of our many commitments as a school is to provide aspiring educators with opportunities to see, collaborate, and learn from our master teachers. We, as a school, have a wonderful partnership with Lewis & Clark College. Len Carr oversees the internship program in the Middle School. Read below for more details.
Student teaching in the Middle School
If your child attended the Lower School you know about our master’s in teaching intern program and partnership with Lewis & Clark College in grades 1-5. We have similar opportunities for teachers in training in the Middle School. Lewis & Clark MAT candidates and graduate students from other colleges and universities are carefully placed with Middle School master teachers. We believe teachers who work with young adolescents should have distinct professional training that focuses exclusively on the needs of this age group. At Catlin Gabel we know how important the early adolescent years are in shaping students’ future academic and social success.
The classroom, as an educational laboratory, is a time-honored value and at the core of much that we do at Catlin Gabel. To this end, we embrace student teachers working side by side in the ‘laboratory’ with our Middle School teachers. Catlin Gabel teachers are inspiring educators who weave a variety of great ideas into integrated classrooms that are developmentally appropriate, thematically focused, creative, and steeped in experiential education. At the heart of our intern program we strive to help develop teachers in this manner.
Interns who work in the Middle School are preparing to think and teach critically and creatively. After completing their year with us, they have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to facilitate learning in classrooms, make informed decisions as teachers, and become vital members of teaching and learning communities wherever their careers take them.
We are fortunate to have three wonderful interns in the Middle School this year: Michael Larsen in 7th grade English with Christa Kaainoa, Shelly Redden in art with Dale Rawls, and our most recent addition, Shanna Hammons in 8th grade English with Holly Walsh.
As the school year progresses, our three interns will move from observing and helping to teaching. During the days before the winter break interns begin to take on individual classes with teachers nearby and carefully mentoring. From January to March, interns will be in charge of one class – some days this could like co – teaching, but ultimately the intern will assume responsibility for one class. By spring Michael, Shelly, and Shanna will have full responsibility of up to three class periods. Mentor teachers will observe, coach, and counsel. Everyone benefits from this partnership; students always enjoy the infusion of new energy from the student teachers and learn a great deal about life long learning from this experience.
Please contact Len or Barbara if you have any questions about interns and student teaching in the Middle School.
6th Grade News:
The sixth grade has been busy at work the last few weeks finishing off 2011 and getting ready for the winter holidays. As a way to celebrate the holidays and come together as a group before Winter Break, the sixth grade likes to prepare a feast on the last day of school. This year it will be on December 16th. For many years we have had students bring potluck food, but this year, the sixth grade is building on its theme of food, garden, and ancient civilizations by preparing our own Middle Eastern Feast, in celebration of our studies of Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. The morning will be spent making hummus, tabbouleh, baklava, and even homemade pita bread in our new cob oven.
There is nothing for your children to bring in the way of dishes because the cost of the food will be charged via the barn as an entrée dish of $4.00. What we are asking the children to bring from home on that day are the following:
· A labeled cup
· Plate
· Utensils in a mesh bag.
We will use camping style plates in preparation of our Arago trip in which they will need to have these items on hand to eat from, and yes, wash on their own, as they will do on Friday, December 16th.
The Sixth Grade Team appreciates all the care and support you give to your children and to Catlin Gabel. We wish you all a happy holiday season.
7th Grade News:
FAME presentations start Monday!
Seventh graders are putting the final touches on their FAME presentations. Thank you to all the parents who have been consulted regarding medieval costuming, inventions, after-school scheduling, essays, etc. The order of presentations is
Monday—Japan
Tuesday—China
Wednesday—Byzantine Empire
Thursday—England
On Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, presentations start at 9 am. Wednesday, we will start at 8:40. Parents usually arrive by about 8:50 with cameras (still and video). Parents in the past have been quite creative in hanging tripods from lights, beams, etc., in order to video the kids. Feel free to bring tripods and duct tape to secure cameras. And, remember, even if your children have told that no other parents ever come to FAME…..they all do. Special note to parents of the England group (Thursday), you are welcome to grab a cup of coffee after FAME as you head down to Chipmunk Hollow for the 7th grade drama presentation. Of course, all the kids are looking forward to next Friday's FAME Food Festival. Please feel free to email Paul Monheimer if you have questions about FAME week.
8th Grade News:
Throughout January and February on Tuesdays and Thursdays during PE class, 8th girls and boys will be engaged in separate, yet parallel activities, surrounding gender issues. For the third year at Catlin Gabel, 8th grade girls will participate in the GirlStrength program sponsored by the Portland Police. GirlStrength is an offshoot of WomenStrenth designed to teach self-defense tactics and strategies. It also explores issues about trust, intuition, boundaries, assertiveness, stereotypes, women role models and other issues surrounding growing up female and becoming a woman. 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 will be engaged with a variety of issues surrounding self-defense tactics, stereotypes, movement, yoga and other topics designed to support boys as emerging men. We have a variety of visitors, films and activities lined up for the boys. Please contact Len Car if you would like more information.
The Middle School Student Association (MSSA) hosts Former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury for lunch next Tuesday!
Bill Bradbury, a dynamic and engaging public speaker, was first elected as a State Representative in 1980. For fourteen years he served in the Oregon Legislature, representing the southern Oregon coast. He was elected to the State Senate in 1984, where he was elected Senate Majority Leader in 1986 and Senate President in 1993. From 1999-2009 Bill served as Oregon’s Secretary of State.
Bill’s career has focused on environmental protection and economic development. He worked to pass legislation to establish Small Business Development Centers at community colleges and he developed the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP). Bill was also responsible for first implementing Oregon’s hugely successful vote by mail system.
Bill was a member of Al Gore’s first “An Inconvenient Truth” training team and has given more than 200 presentations throughout Oregon. Bradbury was appointed to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council in 2010 as one of two Representatives from Oregon. We’re excited!
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Lark Palma asks James Furnary '12 about the leadership skills he has honed at Catlin Gabel in this one-minute segment. Link to video.
Middle School Outdoor Program News:
ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT!
The Middle School Rock Climbing Club is coming back in the New Year! The club will head to the Circuit Bouldering Gym on SW Macadam on Thursday afternoons. The bus will leave directly after school and will return by 6pm. The first session will be on Jan. 5th and the club will run every Thursday until Feb. 16th. The estimated cost of participating is $90, which includes shoe rentals.
Climbing is a fun physical and mental challenge. This program is an after-school club designed to help students learn about the technique, movement, and fun of the sport of rock climbing. This course is open to all MS students, regardless of experience level. The club will be limited to the first 18 students who sign up! Although the sport encourages individual efforts, students will support and encourage each other in a team environment. Catlin Gabel, under the leadership of David Reich will provide transportation, instruction, logistics, and inspiration. Other adult chaperones will accompany the group each session. Please email David Reich (reichd@catlin.edu) to sign up for this great experience.
Catlin Gabel Ski Program
The mountain snow is flying and that means the Catlin Gabel Ski Program is starting to crank up. The Ski Program has been running for well over 40 years and this season looks like another great one. Catlin Gabel’s Ski program is now ready for sign-ups online through Mt. Hood Meadows - the 6-week package would make a great holiday gift! Catlin Gabel faculty and staff will drive Catlin Gabel buses to the mountain and chaperone student participants while on the mountain for a fee paid directly to the Catlin Gabel program. This program is available to 5th through 12th graders, with grades 5th through 8th being required by Mt Hood Meadows to sign up for lessons. The dates for this year include six Saturdays from February 4th through March 10th. While Meadow’s fees have gone up, the school’s transportation/chaperone fee remain the same. Please note that financial aid is available and readily awarded through the ski bus program. Please check the Catlin Gabel website for forms and links here: http://www.catlin.edu/news/ski-program-information , or contact Group Organizer Kathy Sloan (who doubles as a math teacher in the upper school) at sloank@catlin.edu for more information. Middle School participants should feel free to contact Len Carr or Chris Bell with questions, and Peggy McDonnell is the 5th grade contact.
Snow day closures
When school does not open in the morning or opens late due to inclement weather, we notify the media before 6:45 a.m. and the School website is updated.
We do not notify the media when school runs on a normal schedule.
We will post a newsflash on the website alerting families that we are open when conditions are uncertain.
The School avoids mid-day weather closures whenever possible.
Catlin Gabel does not necessarily follow the decisions made by Portland Public or Beaverton schools because our students come from a wide geographic area.
Eric Shawn, plant manager, and Lark make the decision to close school or delay opening based on conditions on campus and throughout the Metro area.
Personal decisions
The safety of students is our primary concern. Parents should make personal weather-related safety decisions for their families. If it does not seem safe where you are, keep your children at home. If conditions deteriorate in your neighborhood during the day, you may pick up your children early (making sure to notify the division administrative assistant).
The safety of students is our primary concern. Parents should make personal weather-related safety decisions for their families. If it does not seem safe where you are, keep your children at home. If conditions deteriorate in your neighborhood during the day, you may pick up your children early (making sure to notify the division administrative assistant).
Snow day Bus service
Sometimes school is in session, but bus service is canceled because of inclement weather. A message is posted on the website as early as the decision is made. If buses are canceled in the morning, they are also canceled for the afternoon regardless of weather con
Sometimes school is in session, but bus service is canceled because of inclement weather. A message is posted on the website as early as the decision is made. If buses are canceled in the morning, they are also canceled for the afternoon regardless of weather con