Borton Magnet Messenger
Second Quarter 2023-2024
Reflecting on a Remarkable Second Quarter at Borton! This communication will spotlight key achievements, aligning with the Magnet Schools of America's 5 Pillars: Diversity, Innovative Curriculum and Professional Development, Academic Excellence, Leadership, and Family and Community Partnerships.
Unity in Diversity: The Narwhal Classroom's Cultural Tapestry Unveiled (Pillar 1: Diversity)
The Narwhal classroom has been joyfully embracing the diverse heritages of its students, hailing from countries such as France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. The Heritage Project commenced with family interviews, evolving into a sustained exploration of students' inquiries into their families' history, culture, traditions, landmarks, language, and written narrative. Students demonstrated their synthesis of learning by designing individual coat of arms for their families, incorporating symbolic colors and icons that represented both their past and present identities.
As a collective effort, the Narwhal students engaged in reflective discussions about the overall classroom culture. Working in small groups, the students collaborated to create a unified coat of arms, flag, brochure, and map. These collective artifacts symbolized the seamless integration of the Narwhal class's diverse cultural backgrounds, individual personalities, and their cohesive identity as a community of learners.
During a Celebration of Learning, Narwhal students showcased their projects and shared memorable insights with family and friends through slide show presentations, poster displays, and video presentations on the Flipgrid application. The festivities reached a delightful climax as diverse foods, representative of the rich cultural tapestry within the classroom, were shared and enjoyed by all.
Cultivating Environmental Stewards: Borton's Outdoor Learning Journey Through Gardens, Livestock, and Sustainability Practices (Pillar 2: Innovative Curriculum and PD)
Led by our Outdoor Learning Specialists, Ms. Mikaela, students actively engage in nurturing class and school gardens, cultivating a profound connection to nature. Beyond traditional approaches, students take on responsibilities in caring for our chickens, fish, and Desert Tortoise, providing a hands-on experience in livestock management that underscores the significance of animals in our environment.
Sustainability is at the heart of the Outdoor Learning curriculum, with students gaining firsthand insights into composting and witnessing the transformation of waste into nutrient-rich soil. Cutting-edge technologies like aquaponics and agrivoltaics, offering a glimpse into sustainable agriculture practices that go beyond the ordinary. Cooking with fresh garden ingredients not only enhances culinary skills but also instills a lifelong love for locally sourced, wholesome food.
The Outdoor Learning curriculum extends into the fascinating world of ecosystems, from creating habitats for worms to measuring soil composition, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy environment. Students explore water harvesting techniques and sustainability principles, gaining valuable insights into responsible resource management.
The commitment to outdoor learning is not confined to the sessions with our specialists; classroom teachers are encouraged to take full advantage of Borton's Environmental Learning Lab. This space serves as a hub for scientific observations, nature walks, and supports rich projects connected to physical science. Recently, our educators embarked on a unique professional development adventure at B.E.L.L. (Borton's Environmental Learning Lab). Our outdoor spaces are teeming with opportunities for exploration and learning, ensuring that your child not only gains academic knowledge but also develops a deep appreciation for the environment and a sense of responsibility for a sustainable future.
Deepening Critical Thinking: Borton's Exploration of Systems Thinking Through 'Common Ground' and Personal Connections (Pillar 3: Academic Excellence)
Borton's dedication to academic excellence extends beyond traditional subjects, focusing on equipping students with critical thinking skills that transcend individual topics and foster a profound understanding of the world. In our curriculum, we integrate systems thinking causal loops—balancing loops that stabilize and reinforcing loops that amplify change. Informed by training with the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, we instill habits such as recognizing cause-and-effect relationships, considering consequences, and fostering meaningful connections.
This quarter, second-grade students immersed themselves in Molly Bang's "Common Ground" to delve into these concepts, unveiling the intricate web of causal relationships in our environment. They applied these ideas to their lives, recognizing reinforcing loops like "more bees, more pollination," and balancing loops like "more fishermen, fewer fish." This approach not only enhances analytical abilities but also prompts students to identify possible leverage actions, grounded in a nuanced understanding of system structures.
Through the strategic integration of systems thinking, Borton strives to instill lifelong critical analysis and problem-solving skills, laying a foundation for academic excellence and a holistic comprehension of the world. During discussions, students made personal connections such as "the more I share, the more others want to share with me" and "the more I read, the more enjoyable reading becomes...the more I want to read." Observing students engage in these conversations, their mental gears visibly turning, reflects the deepening understanding of complex systems and the interconnectedness of various elements. Even when faced with challenges in identifying loops, as seen in the case of "more fishermen, fewer fish," students delved into discussions, enriching their comprehension of the intricate dynamics within systems, such as the broader implications of supply and demand.
Celebrating two remarkable decades with our beloved Ms. Leticia at Borton! (MSA Pillar 4: Leadership)
As this semester comes to an end, Ms. Leticia embarks on a well-deserved retirement. In a celebration, Borton teachers extended their deepest gratitude by presenting her with a wind chime and a bench—a small yet meaningful token symbolizing immense appreciation for her unwavering commitment to her students. Ms. Leticia will always be remembered for her warmth, kindness, and a genuine passion for learning.
Leticia has left an indelible mark, having taught kindergarten, first grade, and combined K-1 classes. She was a leader in Systems Thinking and Project Based Learning. Her innovative projects, include (but are not limited to) exploring fairytales, superheroes, recycling machines, the intricacies of the brain, fabrics, communities, designing a zoo, and delving into the history of pizza, have enriched the learning experiences of generations.
Ms. Leticia proudly joins the esteemed ranks of former Borton legends who have been honored with a bench, a tradition that includes luminaries such as Dr. Bob Wortman, Caryl Crowell, Kathy Lohse, Laura Soto, Becky Castrillo, Ester Witt, and a dedicated bench for retirees in 2019. This rich legacy of excellence, initiated by Barbara Casanova, symbolizes the enduring impact of outstanding educators who have played pivotal roles in shaping the close-knit Borton community.
Family Engagement Quarterly Highlights + Borton's Math and Science Night Shines Bright with Community Partnerships (MSA Pillar 5: Family and Community Partnerships)
This quarter was a whirlwind of engaging family events, including the K-1 Club, Movie Night, Winter Spirit Week, Fall Food Drive, Winter Snowman Adoption, Winter Sing-Along, and, of course, Borton's Math and Science Night.
The success of Borton's Math and Science Night on December 15th was a testament to the dedication of our exceptional Borton teachers on the Math and Science committee, numerous community partnerships, and the enthusiastic participation of our families, making the event truly memorable! A heartfelt shout-out goes to our invaluable community partners:
- Mansfeld Magnet Middle School STEM Ambassadors challenged our Borton students with exciting math games and STEM challenges.
- Partners for Equitable Science Instruction (PESI) worked with our families, engaging our students in STEM challenges and testing balance.
- Saguaro National Park provided an informative display and tutorials.
- STEMAZing enriched our students with engaging systems thinking games.
- The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association enlightened us about the night sky.
- Borton Math Club Students led students in math games and explored math picture books.
- Thanks to the Math teachers of the Math and Science Committee for their creativity in engaging students with robotics battles, slime making, ecological-themed crafts, engineering bridges, and more!
We eagerly anticipate the upcoming Literacy Night on February 13th!
Give Your Tax Credit to Borton
Do you know that you can give your Arizona tax credit to Borton? The amount you donate is subtracted from the amount of Arizona State taxes that you owe. You get a 100% refund on your money! These funds are used to support after school programs, extended library hours, field trips, sports, and so much more. The front office can help you make your contributions, or you can make it online at https://az-tucson-taxcredits.intouchreceipting.com
Exciting News for Kindergarten Enrollment 2024: Please Share with Friends
Our school is something special thanks to our unique magnet theme of PBL and System Thinking. We're overjoyed to start welcoming the next class of kindergarteners, and we're on the lookout for families who appreciate real-world learning, critical thinking, hands-on exploration, student agency, and collaborative, authentic education opportunities.
Mark your calendars! The application period for the TUSD Magnet Lottery is open now, with the initial lottery drawing in January.
Here's where you come in: your word of mouth is our most potent tool for recruiting. If you know anyone eager to join our school, please encourage them to reach out to sara.stewart@tusd1.org or call (520) 225-1000 to arrange a school tour. We appreciate your role in our lively community and for helping share the excitement of what Borton has to offer.