With the holiday break coming up, you may be looking forward to curling up with a good book. We recently asked some of our Prep administrators to recommend their favorites for you. Enjoy! Continue reading “Eight Great Books to Read Over the Holiday Break”
Cultivating An Attitude of Gratitude
Our much-loved BUDEE program (Be Understanding, Dedicated, Empathic, and Enthusiastic) features a monthly theme for the community to focus on, and for November, the theme is Gratitude.
When the BUDEE classes met this month, students were eager to share the contents of the Gratitude Bags they made at home. The objects they chose reflected their diverse personalities and families. Some included family photos. Some brought treasured stuffed animals. One brought a tennis shoe to represent a love of sports. Students of all ages embraced the opportunity talk about the people, places, and things for which they are grateful. Teachers had a choice in how they extended the lesson. One teacher created a gratitude jar for both groups while another took students to pick up trash around the school.
What is clear at each BUDEE class is just how much the children appreciate the time to be together. The classrooms come alive with laughter and conversation. Older students are grateful for the opportunity to lead, and the younger kids love hanging out with the “big kids.”
Click here to see our Facebook post with BUDEE pictures and here for 10 ideas on how to raise grateful kids.
Share Your Story
Admission season is in full swing, and our next Open House is on Sunday, November 18 at 2 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Word-of-mouth is our most powerful marketing tool. Why? Because at a smaller school like ours, the joy experienced here every day can best be shared by your stories. Stories like the tiny kindergartener bringing down the house at the Talent Show with her adorable rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” Or the capable Middle School students leading younger classmates through the exciting games and exhibits at Spooky STEM Night. Or Head of School Eddie Mensah slipping away from his desk to play a few minutes of soccer during fourth-grade recess. Continue reading “Share Your Story”
Two Minutes with Eddie Mensah: “Unselfie”
Last summer, Head of School Eddie Mensah recommended the Prep community read Unselfie. Today, in the latest “Two Minutes with Eddie” video, he talks about why it matters.
Beautiful Bluegrass
By Kelly Crum, Communications Manager
One of the many blessings of a smaller school is the ease with which teachers can collaborate. Middle School Language Arts teacher Katherine Slayton and Music and Band teacher Katie Kilroy recently teamed up to provide fifth grade English Language Arts students an engaging lesson to cap off their study of Appalachian literature.
“As part of this study, we explored the context of Appalachian history and culture, and we also listened to bluegrass music and analyzed lyrics to some classic country music such as ‘Country Roads’ by John Denver and ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ by Loretta Lynn,” Mrs. Slayton says.
She worked with Ms. Kilroy to expand this lesson by inviting two local musicians, guitarist Greg Clarke and fiddler Phil Dowis, to come and tell about their instruments and perform classic bluegrass. Ms. Kilroy, a talented and versatile musician in her own right, joined the visitors to play the banjo. Continue reading “Beautiful Bluegrass”
A Dress Rehearsal for Life
By Katie Edde, Dean of Students
How do we teach children to learn from failure? As a parent of two Prep students, I know the temptation to rescue my girls from situations that may lead to failure or disappointment. I don’t want them to be hurt. Rather, I want them to grow up to be self-assured, resilient, independent, and hardworking. As dean of students in the Middle School, I want the same for the growing young people in our teachers’ care.
Someone once told me middle school is a dress rehearsal for life, and it’s true. As students mature and change during these pivotal growth years, they experience challenges that prepare them for adulthood. Bad grades happen, friendships aren’t easy, teams come up short, tempers flare, and tears fall. Educators know to look past the mistakes and see the shining light within each child.
An Egg-cellent STEM Egg Drop Challenge
By Emily Tucker, STEM Specialist
Prep’s 6th Annual STEM Egg Drop Challenge was a huge success with nearly 50 teams, 40 additional entries, 18 student volunteers, and at least 12 staff members!
Discovery Place Science museum graciously provided tickets to the IMAX Dome Theatre for our contest winners. Students tested their contraptions on the four challenge levels: The Over Easy (picnic table), The Sunny Side Up (6 ft. ladder), the French Omelette (mezzanine window), and The Ultimate Scrambler (Middle School balcony).
As each student successfully navigated a challenge level, they received a sticker. After completing all challenges, participants were awarded a certificate and their choice of a variety of egg-themed prizes.
