Monday Message for September 23, 2019
Message from the Director
Dear Families,
The season of change is among us as the weather begins to cool and the leaves begin to change. Our learners have been so busy this week enjoying yoga in the sun, watching the sunrise, writing letters to our food supply company, scheduling meetings with professionals, and creating cool math. If you know of any industry leaders who would like to work with young people, please reach out to our site and help us develop new partnerships. Make it a great week!
With Gratitude,
Malaka Donovan
Morning Mindfulness
Each morning from 8:30-9 a.m., our site offers a time of mindfulness for the whole school community. Some of the options include yoga, coloring, quiet spaces for meditation, making rain, and more.
8 Things to Know About Mindfulness:
- Mindfulness is not obscure or exotic. It’s familiar to us because it’s what we already do, how we already are. It takes many shapes and goes by many names.
Mindfulness is not a special added thing we do. We already have the capacity to be present, and it doesn’t require us to change who we are. But we can cultivate these innate qualities with simple practices that are scientifically demonstrated to benefit ourselves, our loved ones, our friends and neighbors, the people we work with, and the institutions and organizations we take part in
- You don’t need to change. Solutions that ask us to change who we are or become something we’re not have failed us over and over again. Mindfulness recognizes and cultivates the best of who we are as human beings.
- Mindfulness has the potential to become a transformative social phenomenon. Here’s why:
- Anyone can do it. Mindfulness practice cultivates universal human qualities and does not require anyone to change their beliefs. Everyone can benefit and it’s easy to learn.
- It’s a way of living. Mindfulness is more than just a practice. It brings awareness and caring into everything we do—and it cuts down needless stress. Even a little makes our lives better.
- It’s evidence-based. We don’t have to take mindfulness on faith. Both science and experience demonstrate its positive benefits for our health, happiness, work, and relationships.
- It sparks innovation. As we deal with our world’s increasing complexity and uncertainty, mindfulness can lead us to effective, resilient, low-cost responses to seemingly intransigent problems.
Senior Sunrise
Our senior class came together Friday morning to celebrate beginnings. As the sun rose, learners wrote letters to self, setting intentions and goals to begin their last year of high school. They will read their self letters during Senior Sunset in June. After sunrise, we all enjoyed breakfast together at Denny’s.
Spirit Week was Super Spirited
We would like to introduce the Leadership Council! Our Council meets every Friday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Their goals are to encourage site spirit, events such as Winter Ball, Prom, Fall Festival, an assortment of fundraisers, in addition to helping Ms. Stephanie with community boothing.
Goooo Bobcats! Check out our first Spirit Week!
Sticky Note Math
Impromptu sticky note math! Some of our learners wanted to spend their free time creating a Pac-Man scene on our Village window. So much math in such a simple project using area and perimeter.
Foodie Friday
This week for Foodie Friday we made delicious nachos! Learners diced and sliced a variety of veggies as toppings. Feelin’ hungry? Come Join us for Foodie Friday!
Community Night: Fall Festival
Our next community night is Thursday, October 17th, from 5-7 p.m. Our first Fall Festival will be taking place in our courtyard. Our site clubs would love for you to come and participate in their fall-themed booths. Tickets are $1 each.
We appreciate the gifts our community can share with our learners. If you know anyone who has a story to share, resource to offer, or might inspire kids, please have them call our front office to schedule a time to visit!
Individual Learning Plans (ILPs)
ILPs help us as a team (learner, family, Guide) to develop learning goals and social emotional goals for the school year. Together we talk about how our personal strengths and challenges can be the tools that help us reach those goals. ILPs are September 26th, 27th, and October 4th. You should have received an email inviting you to signup for a time.
Empower Generations embraces the whole child, focusing on both social-emotional and academic skills. In lieu of the traditional parent/teacher conference, the learners, facilitators, and parents/guardians collaborate annually to create Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) to guide instruction. Everyone works together to reflect on, monitor, and make adjustments to the ILP as needed. The primary goal of the ILP is to ensure that each child reflects on their own achievements and identifies areas in which they need to improve. Therefore, each learner will be working toward attainable goals aligned to their individual development.
Upcoming Events
September 26th – Half day for ILPs
September 27th – ILPs, see details below
October 7th-11th – Mid Fall Break
October 17th – Fall Festival Community Night
Coming Soon – Parent University | Competency Based Education
Advisory: Why, Who, and How
WHY
Advisory is the hub of who we are and provides an opportunity to support personal growth and build relationships. This year, we will build upon FOUR PILLARS: Learn to Learn, Learn to Love, Learn to Collaborate, and Learn to Live. Each month we will focus on one pillar with a variety of activities. Last week, Advisories spent time together learning about self, learning about one another and learning about their communities through games, team building activities and creating a “common space piece” that is now displayed in our Village.
WHO
Here are our 7 advisory groups!
- Mr. Rob and Campfire Clout
- Ms. Tanya and La Familia
- Ms. Jeanette and The Soul Catchers
- Ms. Steph/Ms.Tori/Ms. Elayne and the Strong Unique Moms
- Ms. Sheba/Ms. Danielle and The Successful Learners
- Ms. Jenna and The Little Rascals
- Ms. Rachael Hustle Headquarters
HOW
Every learner has their Advisor and Advisory that meets Monday-Thursday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. You learner’s Advisor will be their academic accountability partner for all classes, be their advocate if they need anything, and help them reach their goals for the year. We hope to see them there as much as possible.
Master Agreements (MAs)
Please make sure to check your email and sign your Master Agreement. See Ms.Tori if you have any questions.
Empowered Families
We had a special visitor from our sister school, iLEAD Lancaster, come read stories in the Empowered Babies room this week. Peer to peer reading! Let us know if you want to come volunteer in our Empowered Babies room!
Empowered Families Needed Donations
Thank you to those who have made recent donations. Donated items keeps our curriculum fresh and innovative.
We are in need of donations to support our learner programs.
Current needs include:
- Large and small Ziploc bags
- Two cookie sheets
- Cupcake tray
- Different color sheer fabric
- Sandpaper
- Tape (duct, painters, masking, scotch) — open to colored or patterned, too
- Sprinkles
- Glycerin
- Baby oil
- Two plastic bins w/ lids
- Rice
- Water beads
- Craft pom-poms
- Wisk
- Ribbon
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