Post date: Jan 16, 2015 10:14:59 PM
Dear Parents and Kids.
Recap: The first week of the new year went well and I really enjoyed getting to spend time with the kids again; within minutes we were laughing and sharing stories again. Boy do I love this class! Since we've started our second round of intensives, I only see our homeroom class from 11 to 12 each morning and during the three afternoon core times each week. I have a full schedule for us for each of those times and I appreciate it when the kids allow us to progress quickly and with full participation and understanding. The specific accomplishments of this week included the pre-writing, outline, and draft of the "Gift I Gave" essay, the beginnings of the daily science demonstrations, discussions of the science chapter on heat, some time to look at grade printouts, make up missing work, and even play a bit of HeadRush (an offensive, immature, humorous, educational trivia game from the '90s that one of my x-students helped create). It was a good week.
San Francisco Trip: I have added much more information about the trip to the webpage www.tinyurl.com/dcs8sf. I urge you to spend 15 minutes looking at the page and all its embedded documents -- I'm eager to hear if there you have any unanswered questions after that. Here is a quick list of what is on the site so far:
1. An overview of the trip and how the route rotation works.
2. A map that shows the attractions, the bus routes, and the walking routes. All color coded and interactive.
3. A list of which parents are chaperoning and which are driving luggage to and from the hostel.
4. A public transit itinerary, mostly about the first and last day.
5. A detailed itinerary for Heumann and Leftwich daily routes
6. A packing list
7. The room assignments
8. Meal plans
9 The trip budget
End of First Semester & The Approach High School: This weekend marks the midpoint between the first and last days of school. The semester end a week from today and so the report cards will reflect grades similar to what they are now. Many of the kids have kept themselves aware of their scores and have worked diligently and independently to get grades of which they are proud, or at least satisfied. There is a fairly even distribution of all levels of grades, and, those kids who are not working to capacity seem to be aware of it and taking a healthy level of responsibility.
In the upcoming months there will be much talk of high school. Applications to most private high schools are due in early February, and the local high school(s?) will be coming to DCS to give the kids an orientation to their school and the class selection options. Additionally, we will host a high school information session on the evening of February 11, during which DCS alumni from various schools will come to answer questions posed by kids and parents.
Just in case I haven't said it enough lately, I am so appreciative of you all and feel so deeply lucky and honored to work with/for you. Although turning 55 last week made me review my retirement options, I have no intention of going there as long as the kids, parents, and administration are happy with the work I do and the often odd ways in which I do it.
Calendar:
January 20-23: SanFrancisco Trip please be at the Winchester station at 7:15 AM
January 23: Middle School Dance
February 6: Selectives end
February 6: Family Dance
February 9 & 10: Age of Sail
February 11: High School Information Night (parents and kids)
February 26: Exploratorium
April 28: Levi Stadium Tour
June 3 to 5: Rafting the South Fork American River
In conclusion, in case I haven't said the following quite enough, please be at the Winchester Transit Center at 7:15 AM on Tuesday. See you then!
Chris