In this post:
- Spring Break in China
- What we are learning.
- Finals
Spring Break in China
Thanks to all who have already registered for the Spring Break 2018 trip to China! We're excited to announce that World Strides has extended the early registration deadline (which includes a discounted rate) to June 15. Some details:
- WHO: Middle and Upper School Students, accompanied by Annie Wright faculty. We need 5 students for the trip to run.
- WHAT: A 10 day trip to Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. WorldStrides, the tour company we are partnering with, emphasizes hands on learning, so the group will get to experience Chinese cooking and calligraphy first hand, and they’ll also be able to have lunch with a family and visit a school to connect with local students.
- WHEN: Spring Break! March 22-31, 2018. The departure date is Spring Conferences, and March 23 is a faculty in-service day.
- COST: The cost per student is $3,664. WorldStrides provides several options for payment, including a monthly EZPay, as well as financial assistance through the FLAG program.
- HOW TO SIGN UP: Go to www.worldstrides.com/enroll! Username: travel; Password: wright. This page gives you all the information you need regarding itinerary, cost, and payment options. If you enroll before June 15 (with a $300 non-refundable deposit), you’ll be eligible for a discounted trip price; the final deadline for committing to the trip is September 15.
- DOES MY STUDENT NEED A PASSPORT AND VISA FOR THIS TRIP? Yes! According to the US Department of State, US residents need a passport that is valid for 6 months after the visit and a tourist visa. WorldStrides provides an online system to check visa requirements and instructions to apply for visas.
- TIMELINE: Sign up with a non-refundable deposit of $300 by June 15, 2017 for a discounted rate! The final, non-refundable date to enroll is September 15, 2017.
What we are learning...
On Thursday, the Middle School celebrated the 16th Annual Milk Boat Regatta at American Lake. While Milk Boats began as an interdisciplinary project that explored water, with the implementation of the MYP framework it has become an in-depth study of systems across four subject areas - Individuals & Societies, Science, Math, and Design - guided by the Statement of Inquiry, "Cooperative and collaborative systems lead to improved consequences and progress. In short, systems improve progress."
The most important system in the project is not the design or construction of the boat, or the effectiveness or entertainment value of presentations that precede the race. It is the collaborative process itself. Milk Boat teams are constructed randomly as names are drawn out of a hat, and over the course of several months students work toward awareness of their own roles on a team, a deeper understanding of group dynamics, and develop critical skills for leadership and membership in a community. This year, all of the boats completed the race in tact - which is a compliment to 7th Graders' capacity for design and construction! - but students also experienced an impromptu lesson in collaboration and cooperation. When the Green Team lost a couple of paddlers, a group of first responders who were training in water rescues on the adjacent dock cruised over to provide help for the last lap of the race!
While the regatta is primarily an event for 7th Grade students, the day invites 8th Graders to reflect back on their experience of collaborating, building, and racing, and it provides a preview for 6th Graders, planting a seed both for the coming year. It is also a unique chance for Middle School faculty and parents to witness the intersection of community and curriculum.
Finals
The draft schedule for finals is below. Each day includes a mix of final assessments and time to work on year-end projects, including the 6th Grade Rube Goldberg Project, 7th Grade Mass Transit Field Trip, and the 8th Grade Oral History Project.Please note the following abbreviations:
A: Arts
IS: Individuals & Societies
LA: Language Acquisition
LL: Language & Literature
M: Math
SCI: Science
PHE: Physical & Health Education
| Thursday, June 8 | |||||||||
| Start time | End time | 6A | 6B | 7A | 7B | 8A | 8B | 8C | |
| 8:00 AM | 8:15 AM | Advisory | Advisory | ||||||
| 8:15 AM | 9:45 AM | Block 1 | A | A | LL | LL | M | M | M |
| 9:45 AM | 10:15 AM | Flex | Flex | ||||||
| 10:15 AM | 11:45 AM | Block 2 | M | M | LA | LA | LL | LL | LL |
| 11:45 AM | 12:30 PM | Lunch | Lunch | ||||||
| 12:30 PM | 2:00 PM | Block 3 | Rube Goldberg Project | SCI | SCI | A | A | A | |
| 2:00 PM | 2:10 PM | Break | |||||||
| 2:10 PM | 3:10 PM | Block 4 | Rube Goldberg Project | Leadership | PHE | PHE | PHE | ||
| Friday, June 9 | |||||||||
| Start time | End time | 6A | 6B | 7A | 7B | 8A | 8B | 8C | |
| 8:00 AM | 8:15 AM | Advisory | Advisory | ||||||
| 8:15 AM | 9:45 AM | Block 1 | LL | LL | A | A | IS | IS | IS |
| 9:45 AM | 10:15 AM | Flex | Flex | ||||||
| 10:15 AM | 11:45 AM | Block 2 | Rube Goldberg Project | M | M | LA | LA | LA | |
| 11:45 AM | 12:30 PM | Lunch | Lunch | ||||||
| 12:30 PM | 2:00 PM | Block 3 | Rube Goldberg Project | MT Prep | Oral History Project | ||||
| 2:00 PM | 2:10 PM | Break | |||||||
| 2:10 PM | 3:10 PM | Block 4 | PHE | PHE | Advisory Challenge | Oral History Project | |||
