|
IN THIS ISSUE:
message from the head / spirit week / book swap success! / engaging readers / meet the staff / appreciations / pumpkin patch snapshots / air quality note / events
|
|
|
|
From the Head of School
Dear Gardner community,
Joining last week's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip with our early childhood students families was a highlight for me! It was truly joyful, and a wonderful way to see the tiniest humans that we support play, connect, and enjoy time together. Our preschool team is doing an amazing job to build community, teach kindness and friendship, and help children settle into the routines of school. Around campus, children are connecting with friends and teachers, advancing in their academics, and working on their social and emotional skill building.
Teachers and parents are sharing with me how wonderful conferences are going. At the Gardner School, we know that children thrive when there is a strong partnership between their school and their family. Together, we celebrate each child's successes and also work on problem solving through the challenges that are normal to happen as children grow, learn, and move through stages of development. At conferences, teachers are sharing assessment data, learning goals, and how each child is doing academically, socially, and emotionally. The extra care to detail is incredible, and I am thankful for each one of our teachers and their dedication to supporting every child on our campus.
The end of October is always buzzing with excitement, and we're looking forward to channelling energy into Spirit Week! See below for details on fun ways children can participate in adding some extra excitement to our days.
Happy Harvest,
|
|
|
|
Get ready for Spirit Week!
|
|
|
Every year, students and staff get excited to share their school spirit and their individual personalities during Spirit Week! This is an optional activity, but participation is encouraged. Check in with your child's teacher for any specific questions, and note that our Early Childhood teachers have sent out what best fits for the younger students' schedules in their weekly newsletters.
Monday, 10/24: Fancy Sock Day
Tuesday, 10/25: Tutu Tuesday
Wednesday, 10/26: Class Color Day (Tumtum and Mazama- Red, Kalama- Orange, Pahto- Yellow, Loowit- Green, Wy'East- Blue, Klickitat- Purple, Staff- Rainbow)
Thursday, 10/27: Favorite Character Day
Friday, 10/28: Pajama Day
|
|
|
Book Swap Success
Thank you for joining us for the first annual Gardner Book Swap! We saw many families, and met with local parents and children who got to explore the campus, too. We think this was a great success, and plan to do it again next year!
|
|
So many books!
How many?
More than 1,000 books found new homes at our Book Swap! Even more were brought in, and we are giving many to the Vancouver Library Foundation for the next chapter in each book's story.
|
Sustainability
Going green
As an EarthGen certified school, we're working to live our mission of being a sustainable school. This Book Swap helped shift towards reusing and recycling books from one family to another.
|
|
|
Program Spotlight
Engaging Readers
|
|
|
At Gardner, we want to promote reading as a wonderful way to activate imaginations, develop skills, and to understand others. We do this in a variety of ways, including this year hosting a Book Swap. We work to engage students in high-interest topics for free reading and in connection to our thematics. Our teachers also provide reading materials that are aligned with their zone of proximal development (the area of learning growth with guidance). Depending on the age of your child, different approaches are used, but all classrooms are text-rich environments with lots of opportunities to read, and be read to.
At parent conferences, teachers have shared reading assessments with families, and some strategies for incorporating positive reading practice at home. Some of these stategies include making books readily available, reading aloud to your child, asking questions about what you're reading together. At times, teachers may send home specific tools and books to use to support your individual child. When children are learning to read, they may encounter challenges and at times get frustrated. Working together, we provide a safe and caring spot for students to grow.
|
|
|
Staff Introduction
Jared Renfro
|
|
|
|
Teacher Jared is our Director of Technology here at Gardner, and he also teaches Science for Wy'East and Klickitat, as well as our 6th grade and above Math classes. You might recognize him from drop off, where he also helps to welcome in all our K-6 students!
Jared has been part of the Gardner School faculty since 2011, and he loves engaging kids in hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. Jared’s teaching style reflects his curiosity of the world. He believes that students need to explore the world around them first by asking questions about what they notice and then finding answers to those questions. Students will be doing science labs, making observations, and designing and building prototypes as they learn about the world around them within the framework of the scientific method and engineering design process. His passion and excitement about science is easily seen in the activities the students do throughout the year. He encourages them to use their strengths as they learn, and apply what they learn to their lives.
As a Tech Director, he continues to refine the technology options within the various classrooms. He has brought Linux computers into the classrooms and the older students learn how to use them along with the open source movement that Linux is known for, teaching children that there are a variety of tools they can use.
When Jared is not teaching, he enjoys designing and creating stained glass artwork. He teaches classes at Free Geek, teaching others in the community how to use some of the open source software that he knows. He also enjoys camping, hiking, reading, various crafts, and is always looking for new ideas to bring into his classroom and share with his students.
|
|
|
Our unique wetlands
Appreciations from a Gardner parent
|
|
Our administrative team loved receiving this email last week from a supportive parent. Our teachers and staff put a lot of care, time, and effort into the work we do, and messages like this let us know it's noticed!
"I usually show up for pickup early so I can sit and enjoy a few peaceful moments. Today, kids were in the wetlands so I sat and listened to the joyful sounds of their adventures. This, of course, filled me with joy as no other school in town has such a resource, that is used for just pure adventure and relaxing. While these sounds could be a moment of joy, in and of itself, what happened next made me glad that our child is at Gardner.
A teacher called them to head back to the classroom. As kids respectfully heeded his call, they were allowed to head back to class on their own terms. Some skipped, some ran, some walked while laughing with friends, one even was practicing blowing their grass whistle while walking. They were not asked to line up with a quiet coyote hand gesture and march with their hands behind their backs in silence back to the classroom. They were treated with respect, to be kids. In return, they gave respect and hustled back to class.
I can only imagine how classroom management ebbs and flows with the minutes, hours, and days, but at that moment, those kids were happy and full of joy. What more could we ask?"
What positive stories do you have? Who can you share it with? We encourage you to notice the wins, the joyful moments, and the wonderful stories and then share them with us!
|
|
Pumpkin Patch snapshots
Many of our classrooms enjoyed visits to BiZi Farms! From mazes to feeding animals and hay rides to picking pumpkins - students of all ages were smiling, laughing, and having a wonderful time together. A big thank you to our parents for supporting these field trips!
|
|
|
Message about local fires & air quality
|
We are aware that local fires are impacting families in eastern and northern Clark County, and we are carefully watching the air quality index and CRESA updates. This weekend, we prepared to support children and staff experiencing levels of evacuation, and our administrative team is available if your family needs additional support in the coming days.
Today, air quality at the Gardner School fluctuated between good and moderate and we cannot smell any smoke. If air quality decreases to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" or we simply smell smoke strongly, we make changes to be indoors and keep all windows and doors closed. Our HVAC system has MERV-13 filters, and this, along with classroom air purifiers, keeps our indoor air quality high.
|
|
|
Keeping all of our students in school depends on our families following the requests below for screening for symptoms.
1. In the last 72 hours, has your child had one or more of the following symptoms: fever > 100.4 F, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of smell/taste?
2. Has your child been in close contact with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 or has a public health or medical professional told your child to self isolate or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID-19 infection?
3. If any of the answers to these questions are yes, have you emailed health@gardnerschool.org and been cleared to be on campus? If not, please remain off campus until cleared.
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
Thursday, 10/20
The Great ShakeOut
The Gardner School participates in the nationwide earthquake drill day, The Great ShakeOut. Learn more here, including how you can check your home for earthquake preparedness.
Monday 10/24- Friday, 10/28
Spirit Week!
A fun week of themed dress days students and start are invited to participate in!
Monday, 10/24: Fancy Sock Day
Tuesday, 10/25: Tutu Tuesday
Wednesday, 10/26: Class Color Day (Tumtum and Mazama- Red, Kalama- Orange, Pahto- Yellow, Loowit- Green, Wy'East- Blue, Klickitat- Purple, Staff- Rainbow)
Thursday, 10/27: Favorite Character Day
Friday, 10/28: Pajama Day
Monday 10/31
Costume Day
Students who wish to wear costumes to school can, but they are required to be able to get in and out of them on their own. All props should be left at home (including fake weapons), and no scary elements, please.
Tuesday 11/1
Día de los Muertos
Students learn about the tradition of Día de los Muertos in their Spanish classes and presentations.
Friday 11/11
Veteran's Day, No School
Wednesday- Friday 11/23-24
Thanksgiving Break, No School
To see and subscribe to our calendar of events, click below!
|
|
|
|
|
