Post date: Aug 03, 2016 4:39:10 AM
Dear Parents,
My name is Chris Heumann and I will be your kid's homeroom teacher this year. As those of you that endured a previous year with me may remember, each week I write a "Coupla Things" newsletter in which I try to give you an idea of what is happening in class, alert you to upcoming events, and elicit some discussion about various topics. So, here is version 0 as an introduction to the year, to me, and to the future!
My Summer Recap. I spent the first few days of vacation relaxing and recharging, then got to work (again) on construction/repair/landscaping projects around the house. We live in the Santa Cruz mountains in a house that was built as a summer cottage in 1928. This is our 23rd year there and the remodeling and rebuilding that I did during those first few years is already in need of improvement (or in some instances, completion). Amy (my wife) and I are now in the initial stages of a much-necessary kitchen remodel (floor, counters, cabinet). One project that I actually completed this summer was the installation of a small circulating pond in the lower garden. My daughters and I did our annual wilderness backpacking adventures to the most amazing parts of the Sierras and then spent another week with friends in Tahoe. At the top of the "About Me" page of my website I've put an incomplete, but ever-growing photo-a-day album for this summer. For the next two weeks I plan to get myself to school for the first few hours of each day in order to clean, organize, and ponder possible improvements. All-in-all it has been (and still is) a great summer.
Overview & Intentions for The Year: Eighth grade is an important time and should be a strong culmination of the kids' years here at DCS as well as provide the tools needed for happiness, success, and comfort in high school. The curriculum is all intriguing to me (and hopefully the kids), including a fantastic range of topics in physical science, an understanding of US history and government, and an exploration of literature, claim-evidence-reasoning papers, and diverse writing projects. Each class will have a great deal of homeroom instruction, punctuated by six 8th Grade Intensives (two taught by each teacher). Much of what the kids will learn about will be determined by their existing interests and emerging curiosity -- what matters most is that they are always learning something. I value strong and sincere relationships with the kids and plan on treating them well and working them hard. I'm very invested in using a variety of hands-on, text-based, and online activities all year in order to make your child's learning experiences as deep, interactive, meaningful, and efficient as possible. Many/most powerful learning experiences, in my opinion, occur out of the classroom, so I'm hoping that we venture off campus quite a bit this year.
Further Introductions: I only know a few of the kids and families for this 8th grade class, so I've created this form for you to fill out in order to provide me with information you and your kid that might help me be the most effective. If any of you are curious about me and where I come from, here is a good run-on sentence summary: Born the youngest in a family of 6 from post WWII European immigrants, I lived in Berkeley in the 60's and Atherton in the 70's, San Diego for college, and then back to the Bay Area after some fun jobs in Tahoe, Hawaii, and the Yosemite area. My first real job started in 1987, teaching 7th grade science at Kennedy Middle School in Cupertino (where I met Dale) for 24 years. To keep myself always learning, I got a Masters in Instructional Technology, a single-subject (high school) credential in science, an authorization in Industrial Arts, ran technology workshops for teachers, and became a Google Certified Trainer. I arrived home, here at DCS, in 2010, and will stay put until I retire from this awesome career (soon, actually). For a more personal perspective, you can browse the "Awkward Q & A" page of my site.
Practical Stuff: I probably should have put this at the beginning of the email, because it is most important.
1. If you are in the mood to shop, here is the class supply list.
2. Class jobs are being discussed these days, and here is a page that shows who is taking what role(s).
3. Last year, during the long all-homeroom first 6 weeks of school, I asked each parent to come to class and do some kind of activity, presentation, lesson, game, or project (chart and list). I'll be doing that again this year, and I really hope that you all will be willing to share your talents, experiences, and knowledge with me and the kids.
4. Parent Work Day is Saturday, August 13. Here is a page where I'll write the to-do list which will probably be quite large by then, so I hope that some of you can make it.
I am eager to get to know all of you and to spend this school year with your kids. Please fill in this form as soon as possible (now?); also, since I am not sure if I have correct or complete emails for everyone, please reply to this just so I can check-off who has received it.
Thanks, and I'm looking forward to meeting you and your kid.