The Weekly Bulldog
February 27, 2020
From Tim: The paths students discover for themselves
I hope you’ll indulge me for this letter to let me be a proud dad for a moment, as I brag a bit about my older daughter, Siri (Stanley BPS Class of 2015). I do so because there’s an important point about what we do at Stanley, and the way it affects lives.
She’s now a freshman at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa – alma mater of our art teacher and alum Jairo Barsallo (Stanley Class of 2004). Siri has a fairly rare genetic condition called Turner Syndrome, which is only important to mention because she has taken it upon herself in recent years to find ways to educate and share with others her experience with the condition. She recently visited Cornell’s career center to begin to think about what she may want to do eventually, and she shared that she enjoyed presenting about Turner Syndrome. She was advised to talk to the folks at the health services center, and they helped her plan a formal presentation and information session to the Cornell community on the school’s “orange carpet” in the commons area – the same space occupied recently by a number of presidential candidates who came through ahead of the Iowa caucuses. She’s on this week.
I couldn’t help but think about my own capacity, at her age, to even imagine doing something like that – to put myself out there publicly around something so personal. Talk about risk taking. There’s simply no way it would have crossed my mind. So how is she able to do this? It doesn’t come from me, a shy kid from North Carolina who’s had to spend a lifetime becoming comfortable in front of a group.
I credit Stanley BPS. There are an awful lot of schools out there where Siri may have been discouraged, deflated and defeated due to some challenges she has. Instead, she sang at the arts festival, performed in productions, gave countless speeches and presentations – all the while being supported and encouraged by an exceptional collection of teachers and peers. Sometimes, as parents, it’s hard to understand the full value of the education our children receive at Stanley while they’re in the middle of it; it tends to reveal its impact and meaning in unexpected ways later in life. I’m eternally grateful for what Stanley has provided for my children over the collective nineteen years they’ve attended. Like all of you with your own children, I‘m excited for the paths they will discover for themselves, supported on their way by what they’ve gained here.
All the best,
Tim
Top Four Things
1. 3-4-5 PE picks up pace in winter months
This year in PE, 3-4-5s have been diving more deeply into skill development, positioning and field or court knowledge as well as game strategies and concepts. 3-4-5 PE Teacher Stacey also added more sports, units and games based on what the students are observing in their communities and across the sports world.. >>Read more about how sports at school make kids more apt to join in in this week's Learning Report...
2. Our ongoing response to coronavirus concerns
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) issue continues to evolve, we will provide regular updates here in the Weekly Bulldog, and through other communications as needed. Colorado State health officials continue to reiterate that at this time Colorado has no cases of coronavirus, and the risk for Coloradans remains low. Most people are unlikely to be exposed to this virus; however, special care should be heeded by anyone who recently traveled internationally or is in close contact to anyone who has been diagnosed. Our administrators and teachers continue to monitor the situation as it affects our school. We've put a task force in place to participate in response training and regularly monitor and plan contingencies; you can contact them here. Please help us by emphasizing with your kids the important habits of hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home from school when ailing. >>More: Stanley’s 6-step wellness policy…
3. Milk Caps for Moolah
4. STAN Talks & Spirit of Stanley
Upcoming Events
February 28
March 2
First day of Middle School spring trimester
March 3
8th-grade musical daytime and evening performances Cast A
March 4
3-4-5 classroom tours for current 2nd-grade families
March 5
8th-grade musical daytime and evening performances Cast B
March 6
Parent Association first Friday social (Stanley Store open)
K-5 conferences (5th-grade musical rehearsal)
March 12
STAN Talks & Spirit of Stanley award
March 13
Stanley British Primary School
Email: admin@stanleybps.org
Website: www.stanleybps.org
Location: 350 Quebec St., Denver
Phone: (303) 360-0803
Facebook: facebook.com/stanley.british/
Twitter: @stanleybps