Borton Magnet Messenger
Third Quarter 2023-2024
Reflecting on a Remarkable Third 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.
Celebrating Diversity in the Borton Book Series Room (Pillar 1: Diversity)
Borton Resource Teacher, Tori Arrieta, and dedicated parent, Amy Barron-Gafford, recently secured a grant from the Education Enrichment Fund (EEF) to expand and enrich our Book Series room.
The goal is not just to update our collection with popular titles like "Amulet" and "Fly Guy" but also to amplify the voices of authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds. The goal is to ensure that the diversity of our Borton students is represented and celebrated through the books they encounter.
One fantastic addition is the captivating world of "The Storm Runner," a novel by J. C. Cervantes. This intriguing tale, part of the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint, follows fourteen-year-old Zane Obispo on a thrilling journey.
Another addition is the "Geraldine Pu" series by Maggie P. Chang. Join Geraldine as she shares her love for family and favorite things, embracing her true self! These Ready-to-Read Graphics books offer an introduction to the graphic novel format, making them perfect for beginning readers.
It's important to note that our Book Series room differs from the library. This dedicated space is designed for series enthusiasts, believing that once you start a series, you'll want to read them all! A huge shoutout to Borton parent Ellen Welch for generously volunteering her time to manage book check-ins and check-outs.
The Book Series room is open on:
- Monday: 8:35-9:05
- Tuesday: 8:35-9:05 & 2:00-2:30
-Wednesday: 8:35-9:05
-Thursday: 8:35-9:05 & 2:00-2:30
-Friday: 8:35-9:05
(Additional days and times to be announced!)
Let's celebrate the richness of literature that reflects the wonderful diversity within our Borton community. Happy reading!
Panda Class Celebration of Learning: Unveiling "Styrofoam Shoes" and Scavenger Hunt Extravaganza! (Pillar 2: Innovative Curriculum and PD)
We are thrilled to share the joyous celebration of learning that took place in the Panda class! In a delightful showcase, 2nd grade budding scientists presented their creative endeavor, the book "Styrofoam Shoes," inspired by "The Paper Skyscraper: The technology of materials" by David Drew.
During this special event, students proudly unveiled their collaborative book, providing an inside look at their exploration of materials and their properties. The interactive book engaged families and the Borton community in a guessing game, challenging them to complete the sentence, "Then it must be___________," based on the clues about each material's unique properties.
As part of the celebration, families and Borton community members were invited to participate in an exciting scavenger hunt within B.E.L.L. (Borton's Environmental Learning Lab). The lab became a hub of discovery as participants explored various stations, each highlighting different properties related to solids, liquids, and gases.
The scavenger hunt not only added an element of fun but also provided a hands-on experience for families and community members to engage with the learning process. From observing the physical properties of objects to identifying states of matter, everyone immersed themselves in the fascinating world of science.
As we continue this exciting academic journey, we anticipate more opportunities to celebrate the achievements and growth of our students. The Panda class has set the stage for upcoming projects filled with exploration, creativity, and collaborative learning.
Thank you to all who joined us in this special celebration! Your presence and enthusiasm are integral to the success of our students.
Connecting Empowered Voices to Academic Success at Borton! (Pillar 3: Academic Excellence)
We're thrilled to unveil some exhilarating news from the recent Festival of Books where our second-grade Vaquita students truly dazzled! Their confidence and fervor in spreading awareness about Vaquitas not only left us in awe but also highlighted a profound correlation between authentic performance assessments and academic triumphs.
Guided by the central query, "How can we educate the community about the Vaquita and the Marine Life in the Sonoran Desert?", the students embarked on a mission to publish a book detailing the plight of the endangered Vaquitas of the Sonoran Desert. They aimed to present it to a broad audience, extending beyond our Borton Community. Thus, they debuted it at the Festival of Books over spring break and are set to showcase it at the "Disappearing Vaquitas" event at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's Bio-Diversity Party on April 13, 2024 (https://desertmuseum.org/center/edu/bioblitz.php).
In crafting this book, students employed systems thinking practices and tools to gain deeper insights into the complexities surrounding the endangerment of Vaquitas. They delved into literature about Vaquitas and had the privilege of interviewing Chris Flanagen, former director of Public Programs at the US Botanical Gardens and Marine Ichthyologist extraordinaire. Chris's fervor for marine life, particularly her work with the endangered Totoaba species, helped students forge connections within their Vaquita Project.
At Borton, we believe that when children perceive their voices as significant and are tasked with a call to action in their writing, their academic prowess soars. Through standards-driven projects like the Vaquita's book, "The Disappearing Vaquitas," showcased at the Festival of Books, we empower our students to immerse themselves deeply in their learning journey, nurturing critical thinking, creativity, and an authentic sense of purpose.
It's pivotal to recognize that we don't adhere to teaching to the test at Borton. Instead, we prioritize standards-driven projects that not only uphold rigorous academic standards but also instill in our children the agency to enact positive change in their communities. This approach not only cultivates a passion for learning but also equips our students with the skills and confidence needed to excel academically and beyond.
Leadership Spotlight: Empowering Education at Borton! (MSA Pillar 4: Leadership)
At Borton, we believe in the power of continuous learning and leadership. As we invest in professional development, we strengthen our collective commitment to providing the best educational experience for your children.
MEAD Conference: Our dedicated leadership teachers, Angela Hixon and Amanda Reed, recently collaborated with Chris Confer, Amanda Lee-Confer, and Erika Hernandez from Associates for Educational Success (AES) at the MEAD (Mathematics Educators Appreciation) conference in January. Together, they presented "Ignite Student Agency." The focus was on cultivating students' excitement and independence in problem-solving.
PBL Coaching Excellence: Eric Eulberg, Angela Hixon, Amanda Reed, and Sara Stewart have elevated their coaching skills through PBL Works training. They're building a Coaching Toolkit to support teachers in seamless project implementation. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and mark your calendars for this transformative three-day PBL workshop, catering to teachers, principals, and school districts.
ST Thinking Professional Development: Aligned with our magnet theme, all Borton teachers, including resource teachers, are actively participating in Systems Thinking training throughout the year. This quarter, the focus has been on utilizing Behavior Over Time Graphs to enhance students' storytelling skills, coinciding with our engagement in Love of Reading Month. Additionally, Ms. Amber furthered her expertise through additional Systems Thinking workshop with the STEMAZing.
Teacher Clarity Training: In our commitment to academic excellence, all Borton classroom teachers and most resource teachers have undergone teacher clarity training. This approach ensures that learning intentions and success criteria are crystal clear, enabling students to understand what they're learning, track their progress, and anticipate their next steps.
Family Engagement Quarterly Highlights + Borton's Literacy Night Shines Bright with Community Partnerships (MSA Pillar 5: Family and Community Partnerships)
This quarter was a whirlwind of engaging family events including Stories That Soar performance, Borton's Farmer's Market, Cafecito's, Parent and Teacher conferences, PTA meetings, Kinder Kick-off, K-1 Club, Jump-a-Thon, Borton's Bedtime Zoom, Love of Reading Spirit Week, Book Fair, and Literacy Night.
We would like to highlight the success of the Borton Literacy Night with was the result of our dedicated Borton teachers on the Literacy 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:
- Literacy Connects for providing local resources to Borton families specifically to early grades
- Make Way for Books for providing local resources and being a guest reader
- Pima County Library for helping to get Borton families connected with Tucson's rich public libraries
- Southern AZ Therapy Dogs for providing a judge-free audience to read to
- Cindy Sadowsky, the author, and Shelley Sadowsky, the illustrator for a captivating read-aloud of their enchanting book, "Brody’s Hibernation Tale" followed with Q & A about publishing a book
Thanks to the Borton teachers of the Literacy Committee for engaging students in literacy games, literature-based art projects, read aloud, etc. and for providing resources and strategies to families on how to support reading at home. Thank you to all teachers for their school-wide commitment to using the systems thinking tool, Behavior Over Time Graph to help students with reading comprehension and retelling.
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.
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.
TUSD Magnet Lottery has been running since January with many families already accepting placements so act today, while there are still kinder placements available.