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Maker Faire: (from top left, clockwise) d.tech answering visitors’ questions: Jadene & Katie, DRG assistant Jessica, Malia, and Thomas. (photos by George & Katie Toye)
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Dear d.tech families:
Recently, I’ve received several questions about curiosity projects. Curiosity projects are the manifestation of the school mission: developing students who believe that the world can be a better place and that they can be the ones to make it happen. For this to occur, students must have a sense of optimism and a sense of efficacy, which are made clear in a curiosity project. We also continue to use the curiosity projects to push students toward being learning-motivated rather than performance motivated, which means they do things to learn rather than to perform for adults. Developing optimism, efficacy and learning motivation are big lifts for a student and a school, but the long-term rewards are much greater than when a student only focuses on compliance.
This process also takes much longer for students, which is why I’m excited that as we look toward the end of the year, this week’s Download features student work that reflects optimism, efficacy, self-direction, and curiosity. We have included pictures from the Maker Faire and an update from two students’ curiosity project. Similarily in Design Lab, students begin work today on their Presentations of Learnings (POLs). A student special-ops team, with support from Stanford’s d.school have redesigned the POLs, and we hope that you are able to volunteer some time to particpate as a panelist.
Have a great week,
Ken
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CST Life Science Test - 10th Grade Students
The CST Life Science Test for 10th grade students is scheduled for this morning. This test is a state requirement for all 10th graders, regardless of the courses the student may have taken. Our students take a life science course in 11th grade, which means that much of this test may cover material that has not been covered in a class yet.
We will run a special schedule for the day with an early student dismissal. The schedule is as follows:
8:50-10:05 Testing Part I
10:05-10:30 Break
10:30-12:30 Testing Part II
12:35 Student Dismissal (all students)
We encourage students who need to complete work in their courses to stay until 3:30 as teachers will be available for office hours.
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Hello Students and Families,
We would like to invite all 9th and 10th grade students and families to come to a presentation on the SAT and ACT test prep process. The non-profit branch of Compass Test Prep will be presenting. I have invited them here to help demystify the two different tests and provide more information and context.
This presentation will be on May 27 from 1-2pm at d.tech’s hangar. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Also, if you could fill out the google form to let us know if you plan to attend, that would be very helpful! I do understand schedules may change, and drop-ins are always welcome.
Best,
Sunny Zhang
Student Success Counselor and Academic Advisor
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Panelists Needed for d.Lab Feedback
What do you get when you introduce high school students to the design thinking process taught at Stanford's d.school? Future changemakers.
On June 3, ninth and tenth graders from Design Tech High (d.tech) will be giving their semesterly Presentations of Learning (POL). These presentations are 3-5 minute creative displays--demonstrating reflection and growth in the practice of design thinking.
d.tech is looking for panelists from the community to listen, inquire into the students' learning process, and give constructive feedback. We will provide support to panelists around what questions to ask and how to give feedback to the students.
We need panelists for three rotations on the morning of June 3: 9-10am, 10-11am, and 11am-12pm. We'd love to have your help during one, two or all three rotations! If you would like to make this special day for students extra impactful, please fill out this form: http://bit.ly/d-techPanelist
Thank you for supporting our future design thinkers!
- Nicole Cerra, Director of Curriculum & Instruction
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All About d.Base:
Dragon Signature Electric Guitar Project Update
 It’s a guitar, not a base (but we couldn’t resist the Meghan Trainor pun). In February, sophomores Piotr Garbaczonek and Omid Mahdavi introduced their guitar re-build project and GoFundMe page to help them buy components. Last Wednesday, they proudly presented their finished guitar to the student body at their community meeting. As previously stated, they rebuilt the guitar for the benefit and use of d.tech students. The instructional video is also complete. Kudos to Omid and Piotr on their collaborative project.
Piotr’s and Omid’s Passion Project: rebuilt electric guitar.
(photo by Piotr Garbaczonek; click to enlarge)
Futsal (indoor soccer) Results
May 20, vs San Mateo/Hillsdale High Schools, 5-13 loss
Last Game at The Burlingamer on Rollins Road:
Sunday, June 5, v St. Ignatius at 2:10pm
d.tech Dragon’s record is 4-3-0
FIRST Robotics World Championships
d.tech’s B.R.E.A.D. team won the Silicon Valley Regional All-Star Rookie Award and was invited to attend the World Championships in St. Louis. Read the article from ZDNet about the program’s benefits, “Lessons from the World’s Largest Robotics Competition.” As a commitment to their teammates, the Away Team (travel team) agreed to share what they learned with the home base team.
If you haven’t picked up your free B.R.E.A.D. t-shirt yet, look for lunchtime pickup details in this week’s Student Announcement page. T-shirts were donated by a corporate sponsor.
SamTrans Summer Youth Pass
SamTrans Summer Youth Pass allows unlimited rides on all SamTrans routes from June 1 through August 31. It is available to kids 18 and younger for only $40. Passes go on sale May 21!
Futsal (indoor soccer) Results
May 15, d.tech v Burlingame High, 7-3 win
Next Games at The Burlingamer on Rollins Road:
Friday, May 20, vs San Mateo/Hillsdale High Schools at 5pm
Sunday, June 6, v St. Ignatius at 2:10pm
d.tech Dragon’s record is 4-2-0
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