November 10, 2019 The Heron Where children are known, loved, challenged and inspired for their future. Middle Schoolers on a Path to Success
Marcela Caro - 6th, 7th, & 8th-Grade Spanish Teacher, Coordinator of Latin American Studies, 8th-grade Advisor Coming from higher education, I talked to thousands of college students who were trying to figure out the type of career they wanted after graduation and how to achieve it. I learned that companies who were recruiting recent graduates were looking for specific skills not yet developed. Multicultural competency, living or working abroad, speaking a second language, teamwork, leadership, empathy, and adaptability were a few of those skills. In my conversations, I also found that many students had never traveled outside the country before entering college, and few had meaningful connections with cultures other than their own. This drew me to change careers and work at a school where I could bring the international world to the classroom and help students develop the skills needed to be successful world citizens. At St. Anne’s, we are preparing students to develop these skills before college. As an example, this Spring we will be providing an opportunity for students to experience a cultural tour to Costa Rica and visit San Jose, the Arenales, hot springs, local markets, and traditional restaurants as well as a turtle conservation site, a volcano, a coffee farm, and a school. One of the best parts of this tour is that students will be speaking Spanish with locals. In the future, we are looking to expand our tour trips so that students will have the chance to learn about and experience other cultures. To reach my goal of bringing the international world to the classroom during my Spanish classes, I incorporate teamwork, language skills, geography skills, and communication skills as well as intercultural communication, critical thinking skills, art, music, and humor into a holistic package. In the first eight weeks of school, students have learned about all 21 Spanish speaking countries, their geography, location, population, famous people, culture, and traditions. We have read poetry and listened to traditional Spanish music to connect with the language and culture. We have played “Duelo de familias” which is a replica of the famous TV show, “Family Feud” where two teams compete to answer questions in order to reinforce their speaking skills, develop teamwork, and win participation points. New at St. Anne’s this year, the 7th and 8th graders will have the opportunity to visit the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Students will take a tour, attend a briefing with a diplomat and learn the history and mission of the United Nations. The tour includes a visit to the famous General Assembly Hall, Security Council Chamber, The UN Bookstore and Postoffice. Students can get their passport stamped for free while they are in a sovereign territory. Also, we founded The MS Spanish club, which allows students to meet once a week and share the Spanish language and culture beyond the classroom. Throughout the rest of the school year, students will take dance lessons, cook a traditional Spanish recipe, read Spanish novels and perform theater in Spanish! There is so much to learn and experience. Over 37 million Americans speak Spanish making the second-most used language in the country. By 2050, Spanish will become the second most spoken language in the world. The language skills, multicultural competency, and international knowledge that they learn now will serve your children well beyond their years at St. Anne’s. This is why I am so passionate about teaching Spanish and look forward to watching all my students continue to learn and grow. Upcoming Middle School Dates:
Chapel - Baby Blessing - November 13 SSAT Testing at SAES - November 16 A Story of Quiet Love in Honor of Our Veterans
Good Day Parents, Monday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day, and I wanted to take a moment to share a story about a Veteran who is very important to me, my father, Ralph Davis. This is not a story of war, but a story of the quiet love this hard-working veteran gave to me. Never one to go to any extreme, his actions and glances let you know how he was feeling. His eyes would say I love you and just as easily express disapproval of some of my behaviors as a child. Growing up in a family with six children meant that my father (a Construction worker) worked long hours, often leaving before I was awake and returning home when I was in bed. During the winter months, my father was adamant that the heat in our home be kept at a certain temperature (always a bit too cold in my opinion). On those nights I would crawl into bed and try to wrap myself in the blankets to keep warm, sleeping with my socks on and pulling the blankets up to my ears. When my father came home, he would peek into the bedroom to check on my brothers and me. I remember him taking his long Army coat and putting it over me as I slept. It was the most amazing feeling, and I loved that coat. It felt like it covered the entire bed, and it gave me such comfort. As I look back, I must have been quite small, as my dad is 5’5” tall. But the coat seemed huge. As I stand next to my favorite veteran these days, my 6’5” frame towers over him, but he will always be the person who gave me comfort and kept me warm during many cold nights of my childhood. During my brief time in the armed forces, I was privileged to meet men and women who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for this country and for people they had never met. I think about their commitment, passion, and humble nature often, knowing that we are blessed by their presence. Please take a moment on this Veteran’s Day to reflect and thank those who keep us safe. If you have a picture and/or a story of a Veteran that you would like to share, please bring it to the Main Office, attention of Barry Davis. We would like to display all of the photos and stories as a tribute to these amazing people. Regards, “The world is never saved in grand gestures, but in the simple accumulation of gentle, soft, almost invisible acts of compassion every day.” -Chris Abani- Literature in the Great Outdoors
Valerie White, Lower School Head This week, Mrs. Bloomfield and I decided to do an experiment with our Literature Circle Groups by taking the kids outside to extend their learning experience. We wanted to see what kind of conversations might come about if we brought our two groups together and had them share a little bit about their experiences from their books. For those who have not had a child go through third grade, Literature Circles are like small book clubs where kids gather in small groups and share the experience of reading a novel together with the guidance of a teacher. It is an opportunity to extend the students’ reading instruction and give them a chance to apply the literacy skills they have developed over the years. Mrs. Bloomfield’s group is currently reading Stone Fox, an action-packed adventure story about a thrilling dogsled race, and my group is reading A Tangle of Knots, an intriguing story that is part fantasy and part realistic fiction with a quirky cast of characters who are uniquely connected in mysterious ways. When we got outside, we asked the kids to talk to each other about the different characters in their books and share some ideas that they found particularly interesting about each story. We weren’t quite sure how this would go, but within minutes, we heard the kids speaking of the characters from their books and sharing their thoughts as if they knew each character personally. The connections they were making and the enthusiasm they expressed were remarkable. We decided to up the ante to see if the kids could go off with their partners and explore the woods to find something in nature that related to their books or reminded them of different aspects of the plot. The students didn’t waste a minute as they traipsed off through the woods shouting things like, “Look at this! This reminds me of ….” or “Did you see that? Doesn’t it look like the scene in the story when ….!” Many carried their treasured finds back to our large group and shared how each item they found or saw connected to the books they were reading. Before we parted ways and headed back inside, they each had a chance to use the following prompt to close out their discussion: “Let me know when you find out …..!” We can’t wait to see how these conversations will continue as the students make their way through the rest of their books. It is awesome to see kids be able to take their learning experiences to a new level! Perhaps you are looking for your next great read. I would encourage you to chat with one of our third graders. They just might have a recommendation that will be right up your alley! Upcoming Lower School Dates:
Chapel - Baby Blessing - November 13 Vision Screening for Students in Grades K, 2, 4 and 7 - November 14 SAPA fundraiser at Chipotle - November 19 Special Friends Day - November 26th Thanksgiving Holiday/School Closed November 27 through December 2 Christmas Concert (Preschool to 1) - December December 13 Christmas Concert (grades 2-8) - December 19 Heart, Mind and Spirit Fund ~ Welcome to Week 4!
Heart, Mind, and Spirit: Connecting to our Past Dear St. Anne's Community, St. Anne's Episcopal School was founded 18 years ago as a result of people who dared to dream. Dedicated volunteers, parents, and community members saw the value in creating and sustaining the best PreK- Grade 8 educational opportunity in the region. Without hesitation, they rolled up their sleeves and began making the dream a reality, an exceptional place for children to learn, grow and reach their potential. Lights, Camera, Action We are so excited to announce that 6th-8th grade will have an opportunity to perform on stage at St. Anne's on Sunday, March 1st. Play will be announced after auditions are held.
Audition Details: Two monologues will be provided before the audition. Please choose one to read for the audition. The monologue does not need to be memorized but please use it as an opportunity to show what you can do in regards to vocal and facial expression.
Can you sing? If so, please also prepare at least 16 bars of your favorite musical to sing.
More of a backstage sort of fella or gal? No worries, there is a place for everyone. There will be three sign-up sheets in the middle school hall. One for lighting, one for set design and one for the stage. Just sign up for whichever one interests you most Any questions? Please email Melissa Meier. Parent Education Parent Education: Mindfulness Training Wednesday, November 13th2:15 - 3:00pmMrs. Bernadette Smith, our Mindfulness Trainer who has been working with us since September 17th as a result of a grant given by the Michael & Nancy Pia Foundation, will offer a parent/guardian session on Wednesday, November 13th from 2:15 - 3:00 pm. Her presentation will include sharing how she has worked with our teachers and students over the past months. She will also be sharing practices that parents can use at home and in their work to enhance their mindfulness skills and practice. If you are interested in participating, please RSVP below. Our location will depend on the number of participants, and we will communicate the location as we approach the session date 11/13. We hope to see you there! Parent Education: Online safety, Cyber-bullying, and Digital Citizenship Thursday, November 21st6:00 - 7:30pmSt. Anne's is proud to partner with the Secret Service to offer an important workshop to parents called Childhood Smart Program. This workshop focuses on online safety, cyberbullying, and digital citizenship. This workshop is for parents of children in preschool to grade 8 as it is never too early to focus on these extremely important topics. Important Note: There is potentially sensitive/emotional content in this presentation which will not be appropriate for younger children to hear. PARENTS/GUARDIANS ONLY. Seating is Limited
The Childhood Smart Program was created in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help educate parents and children about computer and personal safety. The child safety experts at NCMEC create educational resources for parents and K-12 students. The Secret Service helps to disseminate these resources to schools and communities across the nation. We are proud to partner with NCMEC to bring these free prevention materials to schools.
Heron Wear - St. Anne's Sweatshirts are Here
SAPA Join Us for Chipotle Family Night in Middletown, DE on Tuesday, November 19th 4 - 8 pm! How to Raise the Most for SAPA on Chipotle Family Night 1 - Download the Flyer 2 - Share the Chipotle Flyer with Family, Friends & Neighbors in person and on Facebook 3 - Stop by the Admission Office and Purchase Your Chipotle Gift Cards ($10 increments / Cash or Check) 4 - Bring the Chipotle Flyer and your family to dinner at Chipotle in Middletown on Tuesday, November 19th between 4-8 pm! All School Calendar Thursday - November 14, 2019 8:15 AM - 11:10 AM Monday - November 18, 2019 All day Friday - November 22, 2019 All day
Chapel Calendar Weekly Chapel is now on Wednesday Morning
All parents and grandparents are welcome to attend. 211 Silver Lake Rd. • Middletown, DE 19709 • (302)378-3179 |