A Message from Tedd
March 24, 2023
WEbster Nation,
The students and I have started construction on a massive flotation device. When completed, it will be big enough for the entire Webster community. So, if this weather doesn't stop, please know that we have thought about accommodations.
Happy Spring! Hoping for a little sunshine and some warmth in the coming weeks. Thanks for all you do to keep our kids thriving. And don't forget that Monday is a HOLIDAY!!! No school. See you Tuesday.
With gratitude,
Tedd
RAINBOW ENDS AT WEBSTER (photo credit: Laura Angotti)
DETAILS ABOUT THE BIG NIGHT
I hope you are all planning to join us for this very special night. I want all our kids to be a part of sharing their learning journey with you and the rest of our community. This is an important evening for our staff and students. See you there.
- Thursday, March 30, 2023
- Doors open at 6:00pm and the event runs until 7:30pm
- Students should arrive no later than 5:45pm (teachers will communicate expectations for their specific classes)
- Our Exhibition is FREE (there is no need to buy tickets or passes)
- Please bring some cash as our K-1 Food Trucks will be in operation in the auditorium (most prices are between $1-$2 for small bites)
- There is no general presentation, so you may start in whatever space you like
- Can you invite family and friends...YES!!!
- Please take the time to visit as many of the exhibits as possible. This has been a whole school effort and we'd love it if you would check out student exhibits across grade levels before leaving. Check out the map included below!
CHANGING THE PERCEPTION OF SCHOOL
Last week I spent some time writing about how our Exhibition highlights process over product. My hope is this will help you to understand the importance of building a foundation for thinking and learning habits at the elementary level. This week, I want us to think a bit about the lens through which we view the institution of school. Let's start by closing our eyes for a moment. Think back to a time when you were in elementary scho.....Wait, never mind...scratch that. You won't be able to read this.
"It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." - Albert Einstein
I'd like to make a case for one of the problems we face everyday in education...perception. Whether it's the images of school put forth in movies, television shows, and commercials or our own collective experiences as kids, school has a pretty bad reputation. The perception that school is mostly pain and drudgery is about as American as baseball and apple pie. In media we are fed images of desks in rows facing a chalkboard, boring lectures, worksheets and grades and tests, tons of homework, and a learning environment that seems to completely ignore the idea of engagement. There is some strange comfort in this portrayal of our school system...probably because in many ways it still holds true. But it's damaging. We must re-imagine the experience of school for our kids. We're preparing them for a world that's 15-20 years in the future, one that you and I can barely imagine.
A major reason to shift toward more project-based learning and a more engaging approach is because the world has evolved. Data shows a shift in the expectations for students leaving K-12 and entering a world more connected and fluid than ever. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/top-10-work-skills-of-tomorrow-how-long-it-takes-to-learn-them/
Real learning is active and loud and often feels like organized chaos. That has certainly been the case with our latest round of projects and we are thrilled with the results. Deeper learning occurs as students take on real-world challenges and rigorous processes for critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, effective communication, and design thinking. The integration of subject matter increases relevance and application (see below). We are stretching our brains as we embrace failure as an optimal place for growth. We are persevering through challenges in pursuit of things we care about. The old perception of school needs an overhaul.
So when you join us next week, I hope you'll bring with you an interest in exploring something new. I hope you'll see the value of a learning process that goes far beyond the rote memorization of facts and into a world where student interest and inquiry are the driving forces behind growth. We are excited to have you join us as we begin to change the perception of what school and learning should be.
WEBSTER'S GOT TALENT
What a day!!! What a night!!!
I really don't have the words to sum up the experience of watching you amazing kids get up on that stage and bare your hearts and souls to the rest of us. It takes an unfathomable amount of courage to do what you did and I am so proud of each and every one of you for being such awesome humans. Very proud to be a Whale today! All the feels.
I also want to take a moment to celebrate the heroic effort it takes to plan, organize, and manage such a production. There is no way this show happens without the dedication of parents and family members. Please extend some gratitude to the following folks when you see them:
To: Jessica and Jason Bogart, Kasey Earnest, Jessica Butler Bell, Ryder B, and Nikki White for pulling it all together! Your energy and collaborative spirit made this show so special. I even heard from some long time Webster families that this was the best Talent Show EVER!!! What an amazing team. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us.
To: Logan Fricke, Emily Butler, Heather Pitz, Alex Pitz, Mariya Bauer, Lauren Ifft, Phil Buckman, and Joel Dunn for supporting this amazing team and helping with all the little stuff. You know me, I believe in the "it takes a village" approach and I am super thankful for this amazing Webster village.
To: Rem Sokoloff for your incredible work as our Talent Show emcee. You literally rocked the mic.
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATING THE CURRICULUM
"Integration acknowledges and builds on the relationships which exist among all things. This approach develops the child’s ability to transfer their learning to other settings. Research also suggests that an integrated approach to learning is brain compatible. “The brain learns best in real-life, immersion-style multi-path learning...fragmented, piecemeal presenting can forever kill the joy and love of learning” (Jensen, 1996). The more connections made by the brain, the greater the opportunity for making high level inferences. Integrating the curriculum is also reflective of developmentally appropriate practice. The curriculum is integrated so that children’s learning occurs primarily through projects, themes, or topics that reflect children’s interests and suggestions. Projects and themes are valuable instructional tools for accommodating all learners in the classroom. Skills are taught as needed to accomplish projects (Bredekamp, 1992)." - and excerpt from The Primary Program: Growing and Learning in the Heartland
We've known for a long time that learning in silos is not the most effective. Every one of our Exhibition projects has maintained an integrated approach. Let's take the 3rd grade Water Park project for example. Through a deep exploration of water stemming all the way back to September, the students are designing their own water park. This exploration involved opportunities to explore math, science, language, design thinking, social studies, sustainability, advertising, and so much more. These subjects were not studied in isolation, but became important parts of the students' skill set in accomplishing the tasks necessary to move forward. These subjects became meaningful and relevant to the system writ large, deepening the learning and extending it beyond the life of the project. Kids assumed specific roles that brought out finance and entrepreneurial thinking, design tasks, water management systems, park supervision, and more. Integrated projects help students see the connective tissue between all things. Oh...and they're super engaged by the process!
FOOD TRUCKS
Make sure to bring some cash on Thursday night. The auditorium will be filled with our K-1 Food Trucks and you don't want to miss an opportunity to snatch some treats. Each truck has applied for and been granted an official Webster Business License. Take a look at adds from just a sampling of our delicious line up.
MALIBU LAGOON TRIP
TK set off on an adventure to the Malibu Lagoon! We experienced the joy of peaking into microscopes, using eye droppers to examine plankton, looking through binoculars, and spotting all types of sea life and colorful birds! We trekked down puddle-filled paths toward the excitement of the expansive ocean! We explored the shore and found lots of treasures: a sea urchin, driftwood, shells, fish, and seaweed. We jumped into puddles, ran on the sand, sang, and ate a yummy lunch together! For some it was our first ride on a school bus! The day was beautiful and filled with so many opportunities to notice and wonder and enjoy the amazement of being five! Thank you PTA for such a magical experience!
With love from Miss Papale
A Sweet Happening in TK
During a session of Play Workshop this week, without any prompting, Maddie wrote the sweetly profound book, "Friendship." When asked, "What inspired you to write this book?" She answered, "I wanted to be helpful. And I wanted to be nice. And show everybody what I mean. And I just wanted to make the class happy." With love from Miss Papale, please enjoy "Friendship" by Maddie Teague, age 5. This book will be proudly on display, with signed copies, during our Exhibition of Learning!
(I'm not crying, you're crying.)
THE EFFECTS OF OVER-ASSESSMENT
As we hope to instill a love of learning in our kids, the over-assessment across all subjects has a profound effect. This article takes a look at what it's doing to reading and how we might approach things differently.
EVENTS and REMINDERS
Monday, March 27
School Closed
Exhibition of Student Learning (DO NOT MISS THIS!)
Thursday, March 30
6:00-7:30pm
Please join us on campus for this memorable evening!
MINIMUM DAY
Thursday, March 30
TK-K dismissed at 12:30pm
1-5 dismissed at 1:15pm
Spring Break Begins!
Monday, April 3
School resumes Monday, April 17
CAASPP Testing Window
April 17 - May 19All School Camp Out
Saturday, April 29
Details to come!
ASTROCAMP (4th Grade)
May 3-5
YOSEMITE (5th Grade)
May 8-12
Update
Webster Information - Week of March 27, 2023
The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu aims to provide a fun, safe, and creative environment for all Malibu youth to thrive, find support through positive mentorship, develop important life skills, and receive social and emotional support. We are currently offering:
BGCM After School Programs Academic Year 2022-2023, ENROLL NOW at BGCMALIBU.ORG Programs include: STEM based projects, arts & crafts, cooking/gardening, social emotional wellness, and more! (Enrollment must be completed and verified via our online electronic system before your child attends BGCM Clubhouses, please allow at least 2 business days for this process).
BGCM in Partnership with City of Malibu NEW enrichment classes for Spring 2023. Registration is open at malibucity.org/register. Classes are open for registration Basketball, Theater Improv, and Animal Adventures. Dates are April 18-June 8. Students do not have to be BGCM members to register.
Wellness Center & Social Support Offerings The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu Wellness Center operates remotely and also in-person to provide no-cost social support & mental health counseling to all in the community. Visit https://bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center/ to learn more or to request services for you/your child! PSA: Parents! If you've missed any parent workshops, they are available on our website at https://bgcmalibu.org/wellness-center-resources/
*To contact the Club please call 310-457-1400 (Admin) or 310-241-3675 (Programs) Email info@bgcmalibu.org For updates on Club news & events, subscribe to BGCM E-Newsletter, Click Here!
Developing character and growth mindsets is invaluable and will be a major focus of ours here at Webster over the years. As we build community here on campus, at home, and across Malibu, we will continue to model the kind of behavior that promotes unity and kindness. In addition, we will notice and value it in each other.