Copy
View this email in your browser

¿Quieres recibir la versión en español del boletín la semana que viene? Haga clic aquí

June, 29 2022

 

Dear Waters Families,

We have some great news to share this week!

New PreK Playground for Summer 2024

CPS will be providing Waters with a new PreK playground as part of the district's overall investment in PreK. Ground breaking will not begin until Summer 2024. The initial plans are to use the area next to the gym by the willow hut for the actual playground structure. That way it can be as close as possible to the PreK classroom. The existing playground on the northwest corner of the campus is actually primarily designed for older students. There are no plans to redevelop parts of the garden for this project. 

We also have another capital project in the works from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity that was officially awarded to Waters through Sen. Feigenholtz Office in January. During its monthly January meeting, the LSC discussed putting the fund towards redeveloping the space outside the gym and the swales into an area that is true to Waters' connection to nature, but also enables students to play freely, climb, dangle and generally supports their physical development. This project will have a very similar timeline to the PreK playground project and should also break ground in Summer 2024. 

Both projects are also very much in the initial stages. There are no drawings, deadlines set, etc. For now, the main goal is to ensure that these projects are both part of one cohesive, strategic plan for these outdoor spaces that also includes a wonderful new outdoor classroom and public art project near the PreK/3rd grade entrance. Ms. Vecchioni will be leading the creation of that project which starts next week!

Please see below for a chart of how space on the campus is used and stay tuned for more information and opportunities to get involved! 
 

NOTE: These are estimates using an app with Google Maps satellite images and are not an official survey.  

  

Pilot Light Chef's Food Education Fellowship

Also this week, Ms. Smallwood was awarded a competitive Food Education Fellowship. Ms. Smallwood is a fourth grade teacher at Waters, who also happens to be certified to teach high school biology, among other things. Pilot Light was originally started by chefs who were also parents at Ms. Martin and my previous school, Disney II. The program will support bringing more lessons centered on the Food Education Standards to Waters, which are:

1. Food connects us to each other.
2. Foods have sources and origins.
3. Food and the environment are interconnected.
4. Food behaviors are influenced by external and internal factors.
5. Food impacts health.
6. We can make positive and informed food choices. 
7. We can advocate for food choices and changes that impact ourselves, our communities, and our world.

The standards are organized by grade level and also provide a great way of framing conversations about food with your family. You can read them in more detail on the Pilot Light website. Earlier this year, the LSC also approved Waters to acquire a mobile kitchen to help support this instruction that integrates multiple content areas. Every classroom will have access to the kitchen, which we expect to arrive in the next month or so. This means I will no longer need to bring my camping stove to make tortillas with 2nd grade. We are excited to add more culinary arts, and its connections to ecology, to our arts programming at Waters!  

 

 

Instagram
Twitter
Website
Copyright © 2022 Waters Elementary, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp