WeHo Enrichments 2013-2014
Welcome Back !
Dear Committee Members:
(And prospective Committee Members ....yes, those of you wondering why you got this)
Welcome back! A lot of parents have been wondering what's happening with ENRICHMENTS and in two words - A LOT.
For starters, I had a very informal meeting with Mrs. Charles and the Teaching Staff so that we could get a better idea of what ENRICHMENTS meant to them, find out more about our new curriculums and get feedback. We devised a Mission Statement (below) and this is what has been learned:
1. New curriculum.... exciting news! We are moving from State Standards towards Common Core / Project Based Learning (PBL) curriculum. Both Writers and Readers Workshops are in place, homework is changing and each class is being asked to engage in at least one Project Based Learning (PBL) project through the year.
2. Teachers are developing various units of study right now. This is where our Enrichments Committee will come in to help actualize events (and PBL projects) that support each classes curriculum.
We are in the process of gathering information from Teachers such as units of study, special interests/requests and finding out what of the many amazing Enrichments from 2012/2013 they'd like to see again. We hope to bring back most if not all of our favorite Assemblies, Field Trips, Guest Speakers and Workshops.
As soon as we have this info and immediately after the Volunteer Fair we'll schedule a meeting. I'd like to plan a monthly 'coffee time' (very short meeting) on any given school day immediately after drop off. Althought most of this can be done virtually, it's great to meet face to face and be able to bounce new ideas off each other. Plus, hey, it's FREE COFFEE. Please let me know your preferred days.
LET'S GROW THIS COMMITTEE !!
Together let's grow this Committee, seek out new Enrichment opportunities and tap into the tremendous resources of grants, our amazing pool of 'connected' parents and our Community.
The link below is a list of last years Enrichments and the parents that helped 'produce' each. Please let us know if you'll 'produce' those same Enrichments (and possibly more) this year by filling in your name by that Enrichment. Although we are planning on keeping the majority of these amazing events in place, dates and possibly venues may change depending on those study units.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiBueeVt03e5dC1QbXA1VEJHaHpQZ0o5S19jenpRX1E#gid=8
DON'T WORRY - THERE WILL BE PLENTY TO DO FOR OUR NEW MEMBERS!
We will be working on recruiting new committee members. New members = New resources and we need all that we can get. We have a wealth of resources in our parents/families and we'd really like to leverage this. Our wonderful Nicole French will be recruiting and answering questions at our Volunteer Fair on September 3rd. Please join us there, we need all the help we can get.
If you know someone who wants to join - pls. forward this email. They can email me directly with the following in the SUBJECT line -
ENRICHMENTS - A no brainer - - I'M TOTALLY IN !
For those who are "unsure", need "more information" and even those who possess a general fear of commitment - encourage them to check us out at the WeHo Volunteer Fair below.
Please join us at our West Hollywood Elementary Volunteer Fair SEPT 3rd @ 8:15 a.m.
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WeHo ENRICHMENTS Mission Statement
A Chinese proverb states:
Tell me, I’ll forget
Show me, I’ll remember
Involve me, I’ll understand
Children learn most effectively when information is presented within a context rather than as isolated facts or principles. FOWHE ENRICHMENTS seeks to assist Teachers in making their curriculum come alive by creating a set of integrated Enrichments (integrated into existing Core Standards and Study Units) connecting academic disciplines to activities which help form a meaningful context.
Modern education realizes that students acquire information through the various intelligences. Through Curriculum Enrichments children are involved in a hands-on process of experiential learning which not only speaks to those various intelligences but also leads to a high level of engagement, full participation, and active rather than passive learning. We also extend learning outside of the classroom through field trips, workshops and outdoor enrichments that work to enhance both academic and social growth.
Our goal is to support our Teachers curriculum and build lifelong learners – people who are excited about learning, curious, willing to take risks and who are comfortable with making choices and trying out new ideas. We aim to influence the success of students, encouraging them to invest in themselves, in the success of others, and to have compassion for and patience with their fellow beings.
Thanks again! See you at the Volunteer Fair!
(Joseph Levy's mom)
FOWHE Enrichments
Contact me:
Email: angela@whynotcoco.com
Phone: 310-593-1782