No School Wednesday, Thursday or Friday

School will resume on Monday, November 27. The next Basecamp News issue will be Monday, December 4.

Tuition Payments Due

For families using the two-payment option for tuition, the second payment is due on or before Dec. 1. Statements are currently being sent out. Call Cindi Jacobson-Brinton, our new Chief Operating and Finance Officer at 733-1313, ext. 1208 if you have questions.

Friday Lunch Change!

Due to other program use of the Dining Lodge, the Friday lunch on Dec. 1 is being moved to Tuesday, November 28. Students will eat in the Dining Lodge on Tuesday and should bring a lunch on Friday.

Access Road Reminder

We’ve said it before, but the access road behind the buildings on campus is not to be used before 9:00 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m. The plans approved by the county specified that this would be an emergency access road, not a regular use for student drop off. Also, during winter months, the road needs to be open at these times for snow removal. If your student is arriving late to school, they still need to walk through campus if it is before 9:00 a.m. The exception is for disabled students or parents, and then for the parent only if he/she will be exiting the vehicle to enter a school building. As before, if your student has a mid-day appointment, you may use the road to facilitate a quicker pick-up and drop-off. If you have a need to use this road not addressed by this information, please contact Nate to discuss your circumstance.

Save the Date!

There will be an Amangani party to benefit the Journeys School Annual Fund on Saturday, December 9, 2006. Laurel Wyckoff is the contact for this event if you have questions. Her phone number is 307 733-1313 ext 1313.

The Future of Food

Jackson Whole Grocer and the Teton Science Schools are proud to host a showing of the award-winning documentary film by Deborah Koons Garcia and Lily Films -The Future of Food, Thursday, December 7, 2006 at the Teton Science Schools Jackson Campus. Doors open at 6 p.m. and film starts at 6:30 p.m.

A panel of local experts will be available to answer questions and lead a discussion following the film. The event is open to families but would be most appreciated by students in grades 6 and up. For more information, visit www.thefutureoffood.com.

Journeys School Open House

Journeys School is holding a drop-in Open House on Friday, December 8 from 9:00 am until noon. This is a time for interested families to tour the school while classes are in session and to find out more about our program. If you have friends or neighbors that may be interested in enrolling their children or perhaps just learning more about our school, let them know to watch for ads in the newspaper or to call Rhonda at 733-3729 for more details.

Where was Margot?

Margot was gone Monday through Wednesday last week in Seattle as a part of an accreditation team for the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS), evaluating the Billings Middle School. In order to become a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, private schools go through a 3-5 year accreditation process. This process includes an extensive evaluation of the school from the school program (curriculum) to the finance department and the school plant. Journeys School is currently in the final stages of its accreditation process and will have a similar team visit in the winter to evaluate our self-study. Look for Margot’s editorial on the accreditation process in the Basecamp News issue before winter break.

Lunch for Tuesday November 28th

Pizza

Carrot sticks

Ants on a log  (Celery with peanut butter & raisins)                   Apple slices

Magic Bar

TETON LIBRARY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Enter the Blogosphere

Learn to Build Your Own Blog. Monday November 27th from 5:30-7p.m. Explore how to create your own online journal. This new, monthly class covers the many benefits of blogging as a tool for everything from discussing current events to staying in touch with friends and family. Cost: Free. Advance sign-up required. Call 733-2164 and choose prompt #2. Location: Check in at Front Desk.

Y.E.L.P. – Young Extremely Literary People

Young Extremely Literary People in grades six to 12 gather on the last Tuesday of each month to discuss a highlighted book and share other recommended reads. Teens always welcome to just listen and enjoy light snacks. Cost: Free. Location: Ordway Auditorium. First meeting on Tuesday November 28th from 4-5pm. Contact: Lara Lovett, 733-2164 ext. 221, llovett@will.state.wy.us.

"How the Elephants Saved Christmas”

Reading by Children’s Book Author Linda Olson. 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday November 29th. Writer Linda Olson will read from her recently published book “How the Elephants Saved Christmas”, for kids ages five to eight. Illustrator, Greta Gretzinger, will display artwork from the book. Cost: Free. Location: Ordway Auditorium. Contact: Youth Services, 733-2164 ext. 103.

Open a Book

An Evening with Frank McCourt. 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday November 30th. A presentation and conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, whose books include “Angela’s Ashes,” “’Tis,” and “Teacher Man.” Free tickets are available but must be picked up in advance starting November 13 at the library’s Front Desk by showing a current library card. Location: Cottonwood Ballroom, Four Seasons Resort, Teton Village. Contact: Pauline Towers-Dykeman, 733-2164 ext. 217.

Pre-Kindergarten

Announcements

Cozy Up Day!

The K-2 students are gearing up for a read-a-thon….Cozy Up Day with Stone Soup is Tuesday, November 21st!   Students can bring their favorite book and cuddly, wear pajamas and read, read, read!  The morning will be filled to the brim with book explorations, buddy reading, and cozying up in special spots to read!  Please make sure your child is dressed warmly and prepared to venture outside for P.E. in the afternoon!  After reading the story, Stone Soup, students will have an opportunity to make our own community Stone Soup.  Please have your child bring a vegetable of their choice to throw into the pot! Students will be able to cozy up with a bowl of warm stone soup as well!  Parents are invited to join us on Tuesday morning to read books and make Stone Soup!

Hands to Work

The K-2 is having a Super Hands To Work on Tuesday, November 21st beginning at 1:30 p.m.  All parents are invited to come help organize and clean our classrooms before Thanksgiving break. 

Lost and Found

Is your child missing gloves, boots, jackets, or clothes? Please check the Lost and Found in the north and south classrooms and in the Jackson Campus Welcome Center.  If your child is missing any items, these are excellent places to begin a search. The K-2 Lost and Found bins will be cleaned out prior to school breaks, so be sure to peruse through and claim your child’s items beforehand!

Volunteer Opportunities

Are you interested in spending time in the classroom once a week?  The K-2 is looking for a volunteer to support the first and second graders during Art every Thursday from 12:30 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.  Please contact Kalen (kalen.ritz@journeysschool.org) or Bari (bari.bucholz@journeysschool.org) for details! 

Thanks

With the recent winter weather, K-2 students are utilizing the “BIG 5” system (hat, gloves, boots, snow pants, and warm coat), which is keeping them warm and toasty while playing outside.  Thank you for sending your child prepared for school! 

Thanks to the Geraci family for donating a sled to the school.  Sledding is definitely a highlight of recess during winter and our new sled is appreciated by all! 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and giving thanks, the K-2 team is grateful for all of our parent volunteers.  Thank you for sharing your time, effort, and energy in and out of the classroom.  We appreciate all that you do and we love having your children in our Journeys School community! 

Curricular Updates

Journey to National Museum of Wildlife Art

The K-2ers had a great time exploring the artwork of Carl Rungius on Tuesday at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Thanks again to Amy Goicoechea at the museum for coming to our classroom and having us to the museum! It was truly amazing to see the detail in Mr. Rungius’ artwork in such a variety of large North American mammals. We were able to really see up-close the characteristics that make his artwork so meaningful. Our students even knew which colors were warm colors, which were cool, and which were complimentary to each other… Sydney has taught them well! Another highlight of the day was seeing an ermine out on the observation deck while we were enjoying the sunshine during recess.

Upcoming Journey...

With the end of the first trimester approaching, the K-2 community will be journeying to the River Rock Lodge on Wednesday, November 29th to perform short plays depicting the lives of Olaus and Mardy Murie.  During this culminating experience, students will also sing the song “I’m an Explorer” and share cookies and lemonade in the spirit of Mardy.  Parents are welcome to join us at the River Rock Lodge from 10:00-11:15 a.m. to watch the play, share treats, and celebrate. 

Giving Thanks!

This week the K-2 community will be exploring the “art of being thankful.”  Today students spent the day baking cookies for our upcoming journey to the River Rock Lodge, reading several Thanksgiving books, making a theme reflection quilt, creating  I’m Thankful bookmarks, and writing cards to give thanks.  Tomorrow is Cozy Up with Stone Soup Day.  With growing readers in the K-2, we will have a plethora of time dedicated to reading!  With an emphasis on community, we will make our own stone soup and enjoy a fun and relaxing day as we head into our five day Thanksgiving Break!

Announcements

Rotary Club Dictionary Donation

Last Thursday, members of the Rotary Supper Club of Jackson Hole visited the Grades 3-5 classroom. The Rotary Club members explained their motto, “Service above Self,” and described service projects Rotary club members participate in worldwide. One such service project is the Rotary Supper Club’s dictionary project. In an effort to promote literacy in Jackson Hole, every third through fifth grade student in Jackson Hole will receive a student dictionary from the Rotary Club this year. In future years, each student in third grade will be given their own dictionary. Our Grades 3-5 students were thrilled to receive their own personal dictionaries. They were even more excited when they discovered that their dictionaries go beyond words and definitions—they also contain multiplication tables, American Sign Language, maps, information about the planets, and much more. Ryan Levy said, “I am thankful for this dictionary because it will help me learn more about the presidents.” Nicole Jamison said, “I am thankful for this dictionary because it will help me learn about the planets.” Dakota Daily said, “I am thankful for this dictionary because I am going to use it to teach sign language to my mom and sister.”

Thanks

Thanks to Teresa de Groh for coming to school last Tuesday to put together our presentation cart. We really appreciate the help! Thank you to the Moore family for donating organic apples for snack. They are delicious and nutritious!

Learning Team Meetings

Thank you, families, for joining us for your child’s Learning Team Meeting. Over the past two weeks, we had the chance to check in with every Grades 3-5 family about their child’s progress at Journeys School. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. Families provide invaluable feedback and insight during these meetings. We appreciate the support!

Tina’s Editorial

Please read Tina’s editorial in this edition of Basecamp News to get a sense of how the Journeys School philosophy is put into action in Grades 3-5.

Library Cards

If you have not already sent your child’s library card to school, please do so. We would like to store a classroom set at school for library visits.

Holiday Absences

If your child will miss school because of holiday travel, please notify your child’s advisor as soon as possible. Advance notice of planned absences helps the teachers stay organized. Thank you.

Curriculum Updates

Reading and Writing Unit Three

We began our third unit in reading and writing workshop last Monday. Reading workshop in November and December will focus on nonfiction texts. Students will become familiar with the organizational and text features of nonfiction books, practice finding the main idea of a section of text, and compare narrative and non-narrative nonfiction. Students will also continue to read “just right” fiction books at home and at school.

During writing workshop, third grade students will create “All About Books” on a topic of their choice. Fourth and fifth grade students will write personal essays. Writing personal essays about familiar topics such as, “Raising a pet is a great learning experience for children,” or “My older sister is important to me,” will prepare students to write content area essays during unit four.

Weekly Reader

As we study nonfiction in reading and writing, students will read articles about current events in Weekly Reader magazines. Weekly Reader magazines are published on a weekly basis and are available at Grade Three, Grade Four and Senior Edition reading levels. Each issue includes articles about current events and study skills practice. Each student will read one issue each week, complete related questions, and discuss the articles with his/her classmates.

As always at the Journeys School, teachers spend time staying current on education research and national conversation about how to teach best. A recent study by the Michael Cohen Group LLC, an independent research and consulting firm, showed that using Weekly Reader in the classroom achieved significantly positive outcomes for students in retaining nonfiction content and rare vocabulary. In addition, using Weekly Reader in the classroom enhanced students’ literacy-related behaviors such as reading for fun and sharing literary experiences with adults. Ask your child what he or she read about in Weekly Reader this week!

Announcements
Tues Nov. 21: Come to the Integrated Math Casino!
Please come join us for fun with probability and statistics as we play games designed by the middle school students. The Casino will run from 10:15-11:15. We also invite you to participate in a delicious potluck lunch following the games from 11:15-12:00.
       6th graders please bring dessert or drinks
       7th graders please bring a side dish or appetizers
       8th graders please bring entrées

Tues Nov. 21: Girls, come join GAP!
GAP! will meet on Tuesday (not Wednesday) this week from 3-5pm at the middle school. The girls will play board games, edit films, and possibly make holiday ornaments. All middle school girls are invited to attend.

Friday, Dec 1 Culminating Project Exhibit
We are very excited about this fall’s interdisciplinary expression of the stages of revolution. Please join us Friday Dec 1 from 9:30-11:00 for an exhibit of student work for the fall culminating project. (See description below for more information).

Curricular Updates

Integrated Math Project
We are excited to have a special two-day integrated math project in the MS, just prior to the Thanksgiving break. Students in all math classes have been prepping for this event by studying the concepts of probability and chance. Small groups of students will be assigned specific games that focus on probability and chance, such as games involving dice and playing cards. On Tuesday morning at 10:15, the students will host a morning of games, in which parents are encouraged to participate and learn about various games of chance, as students will teach the concepts and strategies that are involved in playing them. Afterwards, we will have a potluck lunch, sharing food and stories, and celebrating the close to a wonderful first part of the school year. Please see the invitation in the announcements for what you should bring. We look forward to seeing you on this special day.

Fall Culminating Project
Following Thanksgiving Break, students will culminate the fall trimester by artistically expressing the five main stages of each revolution studied this fall. Each group will be responsible for creating informative tiles to articulate the progression of events in the American Revolution, Mexican Revolution, revolutions in genetics and evolution, and the revolution of adolescence. Students will also be responsible for an artistic representation of their own place within the revolution of their personal growth. Each stage will be represented with a different artistic medium (see Dennis’ art segment for more information). Please join us for an exhibit of all student work Friday, Dec 1 from 9:30-11:00 am. Community lunch will follow.

Spanish
As we prepare for our culminating project, students in Spanish have been looking at the Mexican Revolution through the lens of art and music. First they read corridos, traditional Mexican songs similar to English ballads that were popularized during the revolution. These songs used simple language, rhythm, and rhyme to help spread news of the conflict and the famous leaders. After the students worked in groups to create their own corridos, they began to look at the revolution through the art of Diego Rivera. They looked at Mexican mural art as a form of revolution itself and examined the imagery and style to see how revolutionary ideas could be portrayed visually. Research and a video on Pancho Villa helped the students develop a more thorough understanding of the causes, leaders, and events. During the culminating project after Thanksgiving break, the students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the conflict in the visual art media practiced this fall with Dennis.

Art
Over the past few weeks the middle school artists have been exploring a theme-based wire and/or watercolor project. The wire project involved the students splitting into small groups and coming up with a theme (“cow jumping over the moon” etc…). The watercolor project has been an exercise in exploring a new mixed medium of H20 and colored pencils. In the near future we have the culminating project and a big winter trimester of Romeo and Juliet (Directed by Jill Wright).

The culminating project will entail students splitting into eight groups of five students each. Each student will have the opportunity to pick a medium to represent each revolution. Our hopes are that each student has a chance to combine their new art skills with their understanding of the revolutions discussed during the trimester and work together as a group to complete a large-scale end-of-trimester project. Each group will have a large square that combines all media and will be displayed on campus.
Don’t forget to look at the texture and collage projects displayed outside of the arts room….nice work gang!

Science
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “To educate a person in the mind but not the morals is to educate a menace to society.” As the trimester comes to a close, science classes have explored exciting social applications of genetics and evolution. Last Monday, students engaged in remarkably sophisticated and intellectual discussions regarding the ethical implications of current human involvement in the processes of natural selection. Rest assured that your children were extraordinary with their insights, personal expression and respect for differing view points. From there, we launched into an overview of seven ethical debates in modern studies of genetics and evolution. Students researched the Human Genome Project, DNA forensics, genetically-modified foods, cloning, gene therapy, the cultural misuse of natural selection as Social Darwinism, or whether Intelligent Design should be taught in public schools. In a style of their choice, they presented an overview of their topic, current and future benefits for society and the ethical dangers and liabilities. Many conducted surveys to determine opinions in our local community. Volunteers paraded posters and comics in the All-School Meeting last Friday. Please ask your child about these pertinent issues they have been studying.

Final Student Quotes from Language Arts:
Students in language arts wrote thoughtful, creative and informative biographies about their classmates. We hope you have enjoyed these excerpts from their biographies.

“From Colin I learned to keep my own style…From Colin, the middle school community could learn to let their own personalities show, even if they’re shy about it, since it will make our community much more diverse.” Chantel Roice, 8th grade

“Luke taught me to never give up and always try twice before asking for help.” –Mikey Bird, 7th grade

“I think Ellie [Wright] is a very nice person. She’s a great friend and would never be mean to you! If you don’t know Ellie, you should definitely go talk to her.” Sally Watters, 6th grade

“We both like listening to music and singing…She is a good friend. Everybody can learn from Sarah how to help other people even if they come from different places.” Kilu Sherpa, 6th grade

Announcements

Speech and Debate Team

Several Journeys upper school students are again members of the Jackson Hole Speech and Debate team. Team practices began in October and there have been two meets so far this season, with the Jackson team finishing second overall at both meets. Last weekend students competed in Green River. Twelfth grade students Chloe Frisella-Kunst and JC Hockett both finished second in their respective categories: poetry interpretation and public forum debate. JC also finished third in student congress. Brandon Kapelow, a 9th grade student, scored well in his interpretation of the poem “Ulysses” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Jonas Falkenberg, an eleventh grade German foreign exchange student, continued the success he enjoyed in Evanston last week by placing fifth in the Novice Drama Interpretation category. He performed August Derleth’s The Lonesome.

Brandon Kapelow and Duncan McLaurin (former Journeys student) placed first in novice public forum debate, arguing for the benefits of multilateral diplomatic efforts to the United States. We are proud to see that Journeys students are performing well on the Speech and Debate team and helping the team finish strongly in meets.

The team is already planning its own invitational tournament on Friday and Saturday, February 16 and 17, 2007. For the home tournament, the Speech Team is in need of about 300 volunteers to judge for approximately an hour and a half each. Judging guidelines will be provided and several practice judging sessions will be offered. Experience judging is great, but not necessary! To volunteer contact Mark Houser, team coach, at 733-8349, or email him at mhouser@teton1.k12.wy.us.

Changes to Upper School Calendar!

Looking ahead, there are two changes to the upper school calendar. First, the upper school winter curriculum night for upper school parents will take place January 31, 2007 from 5:00-6:00pm, not February 13 as originally planned. Second, the upper school spring journey will take place the week of May 21, 2007, not the week of May 14.

Curricular Updates

English

The curricula for Grades 9-11 English have begun to be differentiated depending on student ability.

Students in the English A course are learning the process of conducting research. Students have selected topics associated with social justice as we continue to make observations of freedom in the world. Students have selected their own research subjects ranging from illegal drug trade, to homelessness, to health care in America. The objectives of this process are to:

• Learn to conduct research using various sources including the internet, online periodical databases, books, personal interviews, etc.
• Organize materials and keep proper documentation
• Analyze sources to make an argument
• Write a detailed outline
• Draft and revise an essay

Students will continue to work on the research and essay until the end of the trimester.

Students in English B have just completed reading the novel Tea in the Harem by an Algerian author named Medhi Charef who lives in Paris. Charef shows the rawness of street life for Algerian immigrants and their children who live in the banlieues (suburbs) of Paris. The Parisian banlieues are rough, poor neighborhoods on the outskirts of Paris where immigrants of former French colonies have essentially been forced to live. Charef demonstrates the effects of these living conditions on 18-year-old Majid who aimlessly wanders the streets without school enrollment, without work, and without family support. We have read this novel with regard to our essential question: How do we observe freedom? Students have made comparisons among Majid’s experience and that of American slaves from the 19th century and the experiences of African Americans living in the Deep South during the 1960s. This intense novel has truly opened students’ eyes to problems of otherness and lack of freedom elsewhere in the world. Students completed a formal assessment of the novel last Friday. The final exam/project will include identifying power struggles and loss of freedom in other parts of the world and here at home in Jackson. Learning products can include plays, essays, PowerPoint presentations, public speaking, etc.

Writing

Advanced writing students have just completed reading William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying. In a course that aims to prepare students for college English there is no better challenge than reading, grappling with, making sense of, and writing about Faulkner’s work. Students found the novel interesting and difficult; some found it enjoyable to read. Everyone found the family situations presented in the novel to be disturbing. Students have:

written about voice and point of view (there are 13 narrators in As I Lay Dying) employed some of the same literary techniques that Faulkner uses to create distinct character voices practiced timed analytical writing about the novel explored meaning in the novel by making board games that represent the physical setting, conflicts, characters, and the unexpected resolution.

Currently, students are writing analytical essays to show understanding of some of As I Lay Dying’s philosophical underpinnings.

Giving Thanks for the Journeys Approach

By Tina Savarese

Before coming to Journeys School, I was the Outreach Coordinator at the Kelly Campus of Teton Science Schools.  In this position I taught students and trained teachers in the Journeys approach.  Now as a Grades 3-5 teacher at Journeys School, I teach students, collaborate with fellow teachers, and educate parents in the Journeys approach.

But what is the Journeys approach?  We all know the Teton Science Schools Mission, “Connecting People to Nature Through Education.”  We all know the Journeys School Mission, “Integrating Ecology, Culture, and Community to Ensure Academic Excellence and Personal Success.” But what does this look like on a day-to-day basis at Journeys School?

I have two examples to share.  One demonstrates how field-based experiences allow us to meet our mission and the second reveals the choices we make each day at Journeys School in order to live our mission day-in and day-out.

This fall, Grades 3-5 students experienced three field-based Journeys as a kick off to our Pathways-themed year.  Upon reflection, students realized that these Journeys involved plenty of school work and went way beyond a walk in the woods.  When asked for specifics, the students were able to come up with many examples of things they learned in each traditional subject area. 

For reading and writing, they noted, “I learned how to spell ‘ecosystem’,” “It’s easier to write about something you are enjoying,” and “Writing about a special pathway is fun.”  For science they said, “I learned about biotic and abiotic,” “I learned that snakes can eat big fish,” and “It takes 8.5 minutes for light from the sun to reach Earth.” For math, they explained, “We can measure our shadows with rulers,” “Our shadow lengths change different amounts in seven minutes throughout the day due to sun angle,” and “We can find lines, rays, and segments outside.”  And finally, their lessons in social studies included, “We learned about where people were born and where they have lived before they came to Jackson,” “We used a United States map to find places where people in our class have lived,” and “We learned about distances on a map.” 

Students did not want to stop this exercise and wanted to add other lessons learned in areas such as physical education, health, and life skills. This was a sure sign that the students truly understood the learning opportunities afforded by this journey and their valuable place in our school program. We promised to continue this conversation and to add other disciplines to our conversation in the future.

Other projects throughout the year allow us to accomplish our mission.  While these projects may not be field-based in the physical sense, they are grounded in the field—namely the world in which we live.  In reading and writing students write about their experiences outside of school in their small moment stories.  We have heard stories about fishing, pets, wildlife, skiing, and experiences with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Each day in science students collect precipitation data in the form or rain or melted snow and report their findings via the internet to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network through Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.  In math, students find and share decimals and percentages they find in newspapers and magazines, describe patterns in clothing during dismissal, and learn about the populations and geographical areas of other countries during an imaginary world tour.  Social studies is used every day as we begin our Morning Meeting around blue carpet maps of the United State and the world. Students comment on and reference these maps as they share experiences of travel, family, and heritage.

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© 2005, Basecamp News, Journeys School of Teton Science Schools.