Monday Morning Memo

October 1, 2007

Lighting a Fire

“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire”
~ William Butler Yeats

This quote helps me to reflect about how we view the education of our children. I was reading an article from Time magazine a few months back where they questioned the entire process of using state-mandated testing to determine how much information a child has learned. So many times when state-mandated testing has become the focal point of government education, like it is in Texas today, children are short-changed in many areas of education that have to be completely or partially neglected in order to pass the test. They are, to use Mr. Yeats quote above, simply, “filling the pail.” Yes, children will learn basic math skills and memorization skills, and they will probably be proficient in vocabulary and language skills, again through memorization. But what of the other skills that are receiving less and less emphasis in states with mandatory testing? Where do we get to teach true critical thinking in our government schools? Where is the emphasis on life-skills education and on the fine arts? Where does character education fit into these tests? How do we continue to motivate our children and our teachers in government schools to really teach, rather than prepare for a mandatory test? Don’t misunderstand me. There are many fine teachers in government schools who try hard to teach beyond the requirements of the state-mandated test. But when their worth as a teacher begins to be measured by their student’s success, or failure, on these tests we are in danger of losing some of the best teachers in the areas where we need them most.

Education is about the “lighting of a fire.” I’ve mentioned before that the single greatest gift we can give our children is the joy (and the passion for) reading. One of the unofficial “tag-lines” that we have used at St. Paul’s that I borrowed from a previous school is, “Inspire each mind – Fire each heart”. It is critical to remember that education is not just a process of filling their minds with data. They need to know so much more than that to succeed in life.

At St. Paul’s we focus on the education of the whole child. What exactly does that mean? For us it means placing an emphasis on academics, but not forgetting that character education, social issues, and spirituality are a part of every child’s future. Everything from the school uniform and dress code to behavior expectations is intended to teach our children the values and structure needed to survive in life. One of the other major differences that I see in government schools versus independent schools like St. Paul’s is the parental involvement and commitment to their child – and to their school. We have an amazing group of parents who value solid educational principles, who assist us in strong character development and values clarification, and support their child both at school and at home. The fact that your child is here at St. Paul’s says a great deal about your love and commitment to them. I hope that you will take the time to stop in and visit with teachers and administrators to see what is happening here day-to-day. It is an exciting place and a wonderful place to educate your child.

Auction Class Photos

Wednesday, please send your student to school in his/her uniform and you may send something for them to put on over their uniform for auction class pictures. Hats & shirts will work great! These pictures will be available for you to bid on at the auction. They will be matted and framed with student signatures on the matte.

Individual School Picture Day

Tuesday is individual picture day. Students are encouraged to wear bright colors. Solids often work better in the pictures than prints. If older students would like to change into more comfortable clothes after the pictures, you may send a change of clothes. If you have a child who needs help getting dressed, and you would like for them to change clothes after their picture, please wait in the Parents & Friends meeting for your child to finish his/her pictures. We will come get you or you may come to the classroom at the end of the meeting. Young children do better at taking school pictures if they don't see mom or dad on the way to the picture site. Just a reminder...All individual pictures will be taken first. If there is time left, sibling pictures will be taken.

This Week at St. Paul's

October 1 ~ Progress Reports come home for all students
October 2 ~ Parents & Friends Meeting ~ 8:15 a.m.
October 2 ~ Individual School Picture Day (see below)
October 2 ~ 4:45 p.m. ~ Flag Football vs St. Louis 6th
October 2 ~ 5:30 ~ HOT Parade
October 3 ~ Auction Class Pictures (see below)
October 3 ~ Third Grade Field Trip to HEB
October 4 ~ Kinder through 2nd to Hippodrome
October 4 ~ 6:00 p.m. ~ Volleyball vs TCA @ St. Paul's Gym
October 5 ~ 10:00-11:30 ~ Grandparents & Special Friends' Day (see below)

IB in Action

First grade - In their first IB unit, Friends Like Me, the first grade has focused on friends. They have talked about how to be a good friend, how to make new friends, how not to be a good friend, things everyone can do as friends, and how friends can all be different. During their inquiry into friends they discovered that we are all different and that makes us better friends for each other. They spent time in the science lab measuring their friends and finding physical differences. They spent time talking with different friends in the class to discover how they are all different on the inside as well. The first graders worked together to make a book about how people can like different things and still be friends. They made a paper quilt about good friends and worked together to make posters to remind the rest of the school and all the visitors how to be a good friend. They will wrap up their unit this week by sharing in town meeting a brochure about the things they discovered about friends.

PreKindergarten - The PreK class has concluded the first half of the “A Star Is Born” unit. Each child was weighed and measured in September, and we will weigh and measure the students again in May to see how much they have grown. We have been discovering that “Everyone Is Someone” and besides building each child’s confidence they have discovered special traits within themselves and others. The students completed an “All About Me” survey and created a poster to share with the class. Each poster was unique and the children felt proud to stand up and share what they had put on their posters.

Grandparents' & Special Friends' Day

The students are getting excited about grandparents' and special friends' day. Please inform your child's teacher by Wednesday if your child will not have a grandparent or special friend here. We will have an alternative activity for those children. After school care is available for parents who need it, but all children staying for after school must be pre-registered by Wednesday (contact Yvonne) and must bring their own lunch.

Leaving Procedures
Please make sure your child's teacher knows which of the following options is right for your child:

Students going home with grandparents should inform the school staff when they are leaving so that we can check them off the list.
Students going to after school care should be taken to the playground where they will eat lunch.
Students going home in carpools will all be picked up on the cow side and should go to the steps outside the front door to wait for their carpool

Hot Lunch Menu & Servers

Monday ~ Steakfingers ~ Leandra Wash-Cole
Tuesday ~ Fazoli's Trio ~ Roxanne Parks
Wednesday ~ Pizza Hut Pizza ~ Carla Darden
Thursday ~ Hot Dog ~ Mari Beth Casson
Friday ~ Early Release ~ NO hot lunch

Sixth Grade Travels to Mo Ranch!

Working together to walk on logs.