A Message from Chandler School
Vol.1 Issue 2
January 23, 2009
|
HEAD OF SCHOOL'S MESSAGE
Ms. Clarke was a second grade student science teacher at my traditional elementary school. She was in her senior year at a teacher education college and did some of her student teaching with my class. I can't remember much about what she taught me, but I remember vividly how she made me feel. For one of our assignments Ms. Clarke had us put together a project on trees. My finished product was eight pages of leaf pressings, bits of bark and notes taken from The Ladybird Book of Trees identifying each item. Ms. Clarke praised my project and held it up as a model for my classmates. I was an average student at best, unused to positive scholastic recognition, and her acknowledgment just about made my year.
In a December New Yorker essay “Most Likely to Succeed,” Malcolm Gladwell describes how successful Heisman winning college quarterbacks do not inevitably become successful NFL quarterbacks. The spread offense run by many top college programs is not workable in the pros where the NFL defensive players are on average much faster than the average college player. NFL quarterbacks have to think on their feet faster than their college counterparts. According to Gladwell the NFL quarterback problem is that it’s a job where almost nothing you learn about the candidate before they start predicts how they will do once they are hired. Gladwell argues that schools have a similar quarterback problem. We all know that nothing matters more to a school than recruiting and retaining good teachers but the hitch, Gladwell says, is that no one knows what a person with the potential to be a great teacher looks like. Gladwell quotes research from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education to show that the most effective teachers have a high regard for student perspective, allow students some flexibility and offer high quality feedback. In summary, the best teachers are highly attentive to each individual in a group and skilled at offering positive reinforcement. These are not the skills taught in credentialing or educational programs where the emphasis is more on academic and cognitive requirements. Our favored approach to hiring at Chandler has been to recruit candidates with prior teaching experience in independent schools. We also require candidates to teach a demonstration class and always ask our students for feedback afterwards. When we have an opening at Chandler we always look for teachers with the motivational skills of a Ms. Clarke to complement a strong academic background, and if Mark Sanchez fails to succeed in the NFL he would appear to have the people skills and patience that we look for in a strong teaching candidate. |
|
CHANDLER OPEN 2009
The Chandler CFA benefit committee is working hard in putting on the Chandler Open. The proceeds from this year's benefit will go towards Professional Development. You should have received in the mail both an auction donation request and a patron request. Please consider supporting the benefit in whatever way you can. Perhaps there are Dodger tickets that you can't use, something your company has, or cooking or baking classes in your kitchen (you don't have to be a professional).
What else will we see at this year's benefit besides an auction? Our wonderful faculty! (We hope you are planning attending!) And, student art projects! It only happens once every two years, but each Chandler student will participate in unique art projects that will be auctioned off at the benefit. While the CFA benefit is a fundraiser, ultimately, our end goal is to gather for an evening of fun, laughter, and community, so please plan on attending the event on March 28. If you would like to donate an item for auction for this year's benefit, download the Auction Donation Form available in the box at the left. If you would like to be a patron and recognized as such on the official Benefit invitation, please download more information in the box at left. |
|
Auction Now!
Attention Hockey Fans We have 2 great seats plus parking to the L.A. Kings vs. the Edmonton Oilers game on February 14 at 1 p.m. Section 118 | Row 20 | Seats 5 & 6 Parking Pass included, Retail Value $224.00 (Donated by Randy and Candy Renick) Opening Bid for 2 tickets plus parking: $150.00 Buy it now: $200.00 All bids will be accepted via email until 3 p.m., Friday, January 30. Please provide the following information: Name, Phone number, email and bid amount (Minimum bid - $150.00 for 2 tickets plus parking). |
|
A Dream Realized...
Chandler School Commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day Chandler School celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. early on Friday, January 16 with an all school assembly hosted by the fourth and fifth grade classes. Fourth-grader Arthur Harris welcomed students from grades K-8, faculty members and parents who filled the school gymnasium. Aren Baghdasarian, fourth grade, followed with the Pledge of Allegiance and went on to discuss its true meaning. Fellow fourth-grader Jason Robertson led a moment of silence to reflect on Martin Luther King, Jr. Jillian Brady, fourth grade, introduced the song Let Freedom Ring, which was written by last year’s 4th grade class under the direction of their teacher Tonita Fernandez. The 4th and 5th graders sang together while wearing t-shirts designed by Fernandez and Chandler parent Greg Andrade. The young performers were flanked by “I have a Dream… a dream realized” posters designed by Andrade to mark this special holiday and Tuesday’s inauguration. The assembly continued with another song, We Shall Overcome, introduced by 4th grader Sophia Terrile. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE A FULL SLIDESHOW FROM THE ASSEMBLY. Fifth-grader Jake McCarthy then delivered Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Fourth-graders Kami Durairaj and Sabrina de Brito recited a poem about the Civil Rights Movement, from Abraham Lincoln’s era, to MLK and Barack Obama; the poem was penned by Kami Durairaj. Tony Kukavica, 4th grade, performed a violin solo of the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson. Assembly attendees filed out of the gym to the sounds of African drums by Chaz as they pondered the notion of coming full circle through MLK’s dream being realized. The inspirational day continued as the 4th graders took a field trip to the Jackie Robinson Center in Northwest Pasadena and the Senior Citizen Center of Pasadena. They performed songs for the seniors and visitors at both locations. At the Jackie Robinson Center, an African American man in his 80s was so moved by the visit, he started crying. He said he never thought he would live to see freedom like this. Teachers, parent chaperones and students alike became teary-eyed, recognizing the importance of how far the Civil Rights Movement has come. Fourth-grader Olivia Vandergriff said, “It was really special to see that we were able to make someone feel so touched. And I think that seniors make a great difference in life. Where would we be without them?” |
|
Shoe Recycling
The Middle School will host a shoe recycling program beginning on Monday, January 26 and running through Friday, February 6, 2009.
The Middle School will host a shoe recycling program beginning on Monday, January 26 and running through Friday, February 6, 2009.
We will be supporting two organizations through our donations of used shoes, Nike's Reuse a Shoe program and Soles for Souls. Please bring in any shoes that you no longer wear. Place extremely worn out sneakers in the Nike Reuse a Shoe bins outside of the library and any type of used shoes in the Soles for Souls bins in the same location. Please use an elastic band to bind together shoes going to Soles for Souls. These shoes will be sent to needy individuals in the international community as well as the United States. In contrast, Nike will recycle the sneakers (of any brand) and make them into playground surfaces. We look forward to your participation! |
|
PARENT FORUM
Inspiring Healthy Eating & Healthy Image in our Tweens & Teens Wednesday, January 28 Hill Hall at 7 p.m. All are welcome! Learn more! Check out the: Healthy Eating Newsletter |
|
WINTER CAMP
The Chandler Afterschool Program is offering a full-day Winter Camp to all children ages 5-14. The camp will be in session Tuesday, February 17 through Friday, February 20 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with an extended care option. The fee for the Winter Camp Program is $50/day if registered by February 13. To reserve a space for your child, please download, complete and return the registration forms with full payment to the Afterschool Program office. Space is limited so early registration is encouraged. Get complete details, calendar of events and registration materials by clicking on the link belows: Winter Camp 2009 for Lower School | Winter Camp 2009 for Middle School |
|
ERB Updates
Parent Education and Scores Distribution Nights Lower School: February 3, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Middle School: February 4, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The school has received the ERB scores for the tests taken in November. We are currently parsing the data to see how your children did and to assess our program's effectiveness.
We will distribute the scores to parents at one of two ERB Parent Nights on February 3rd or 4th. Lower School ERB Parent's Night - February 3rd, 7pm to 8pm. Middle School ERB Parent's Night - February 4th, 7pm to 8pm At each of these nights, Dr. Greenwood will explain how to interpret ERB scores and provide you with your child's individual test results. You must attend either one of these events to receive your child's ERB scores. If you have a child in both Middle and Lower School, you need only attend one of the nights. Everyone is welcome either night even though the focus will be on each of the divisions. If you have attended a session in either of the past two years and you are unable to attend either night, please contact Ms. Glista or Mrs. Westphal and they will send you your student's results. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Assistant Head of School Dr. Dan Greenwood. |
|
Kids Korps February Events
On Thursday, February 12 from 4 - 5 p.m., Kids Korps will be visiting Villa Gardens, a retirement community in Pasadena. We will celebrate Valentine's Day with the seniors with songs, poems, and crafts.
For more information, please visit the Villa Gardens website. Please contact Lisa Rico or Heather Labrador with any questions. Also you are cordially invited to join us in ringing in the New Year with Kids Korps and learn about our projects for 2009. Coffee/Continental Breakfast Tuesday, January 27 at 8:15 a.m. | Head's Library We welcome your feedback/suggestions for Kids Korps to benefit our children and the community. Please RSVP to Charlene Yu Vaughn by Friday, January 23, 2008. Thank you! |
|
LAPTOP LEARNERS
A Peek into Technology in the Middle School This week's look at the Middle School laptop program includes Musical Bytes and Interactive Algebra. By Anneke Emerson Directory of Technology Integration Musical Bytes
Adamant that laptops enhance (rather than replace) his students’ musicianship, Mr. Salmon has developed a curriculum for his sixth grade students that blends both traditional and digital musical tools. First, students experiment with pitch and melody on xylophones, crafting the backbone of an original piece of music in a “hands on” medium. Once the song begins to take shape, students use the computer program Encore to input their original arrangement into the computer. Encore helps students learn the names of the notes they have chosen and improves their ability to read musical notation. Next, the tune is transferred to the program Garageband, where students can adjust tempo and add instrumentation like guitars, horns, bass and drums. Often students add unconventional sounds as well, such as synthetic animal noises, cartoon “boings” or electronic explosions. Finally, students use the program iMovie to design a music video to compliment their creative compositions. This innovative music curriculum gives students the tools and guidance to become successful “21st century” composers. Interactive Algebra Laptops have given the Chandler math department the added flexibility to incorporate new, interactive challenges into classroom instruction. For example, Mr. Adams adds web-based math challenges into his sixth grade lesson plans to vary the style of arithmetic problems his students encounter. In the spring, sixth graders will present math concepts using podcasts, slideshows or movies. Older students in Mrs. Owen and Mr. Carlson’s algebra classes use the program Green Globs to graph linear equations digitally. After a bit of practice with pencil and paper, teams compete to write highly specific equations that hit pre-determined points (green globs) on the computer screen when graphed. Every “hit” scores points for the team. Turn after turn, the competition grows fiercer until one team is crowned champion. New digital resources such as these help enliven the classroom and motivate students to improve their mathematic skills. |
|
SPORTS-A-THON
Sports-A-Thon is this coming Thursday! Please join us for lunch between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the IN-N-OUT truck. (Free for all students, $5 for spectators.) You'll want to be there to cheer on your favorite athlete and celebrate school spirit! Download the T-Shirt Order Form. Download the Donation Form. The Annual Chandler School Sports-A-Thon for Grades K - 5 is on Thursday, March 5.
The scheduled times for the athletic events are: 4th-5th Grades: 10:45-11:30 Kindergarten: 11:30 - 12:00 1st-2nd Grades: 12:45- 1:45 3rd Grade: 1:45-2:15 The IN-N-OUT truck will serve lunch from 11 a.m. -1 p.m.! All Chandler students receive a free lunch and spectators can purchase a lunch for $5 on a first-come, first-served basis. The meal includes: a hamburger or cheeseburger (choice of plain or "with everything"), chips, fruit & POWERade. Plus, the Shamrock Shoppe will be open, selling Dippin' Dots for $4. |
|
Summer@Chandler
We are looking forward to another successful summer. Last year, we saw a great increase in participants from other schools for both camp and enrichment. Priority registration for Chandler families begins February 7 and we are already receiving enrollment forms. If there are certain classes you don't want to miss out on, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. Once registration opens, we will process applications in the order received. Please call or email if you have any questions. We are looking forward to seeing you this summer at Chandler. If you have not already received a Summer@Chandler 2009 brochure you may download it from the box at left.
|
|
PUBLICATION DEADLINES
The Cloverleaf, an eNewsletter, is published every other Friday. The deadline is midnight on Mondays prior to publication. The Friday eFolder is sent to parents on alternating Fridays on an as needed basis. This supplemental email is meant for information that is timely in nature, didn't make it into the previous week's Cloverleaf and cannot wait until the next edition. The deadline will be Wednesdays at midnight, unless otherwise specified. Forms can be included as attachments. Publication Schedule for Spring 2009:
Please send articles and information to cloverleaf@chandlerschool.org or contact Michelle Unrot at 626-795-9314 x124. For submissions to either the Friday eFolder or the Cloverleaf, please include a contact name, number & e-mail address. |
|
ANNUAL FUND UPDATE
The Annual Fund Team would like to thank and recognize the following families who have donated to the Annual Fund. If you have not made your gift or pledge, there is still time. Our goal is 100% parent participation and we hope to acheive this by this time next month. Currently our parent participation is 79%. Thank you for your continued support of Chandler School! Click "Read More" to view the full list of all parents who have already participated.
The following list reflects gifts and pledges received by the Development Office through February 4, 2009.
|