Now that apprenticeships are over, the senior learners are reflecting on their work and researching to further their knowledge and understanding of their mentor organizations for their digital portfolios. Much goes into reflecting on their learning experiences, and the senior learners are enjoying the creative freedom of creating a digital portfolio. This process will take a while, and when the portfolios are complete, the students will present them at a gathering.
Read MoreThe senior learners participated in an anti-bullying workshop conducted by the LGBT Network this week.. This interactive workshop defined bullying as aggressive, unwanted, and repeated behaviors toward others that involve a real or perceived power imbalance. The kids were asked to work in groups to describe instances they witnessed bullying either in real life or in film, to come up with reasons why bystanders may not get involved when witnessing bullying, as well as ways that one can stand up for those who are bullied.
Read MoreThe senior learners are settling into their apprenticeships. Nate and Dutch are at the Southfork Natural History Museum and Nature Center; Ava is at John Jermain Library; Indie is working with our resident scientist, Hannah; Viv and Nina are at the Children's Museum; Sophia is at Arf; Augie and Aidan are at L & W Cafe and Market; Aylin and Jazmyn are at the East End Veterinary Clinic and, on Tuesdays, at The Watermill Center. There is much to learn, and the senior learners will begin researching questions they have about their experiences and organizations shortly.
Read MoreThe first three days of school were as lovely as the weather. The senior learners enjoyed some beginning-of-the-year icebreakers, swam in the pool, created charts for their classroom, played telephone, arranged their binders, began our read-aloud, Lord of the Rings, learned about different kinds of words, and discussed our work together for the year. And, of course, we had fun and rekindled friendships.
Read MoreOur end of the year trip to Boston marked and celebrated the senior learners' growing autonomy and independence. We began the school year with off-campus apprenticeships to seek mentors and new and exciting learning opportunities. The apprentices developed skills related to their work and a burgeoning sense of responsibility to their mentors and education.
Read MoreWe learned a great deal from our workshop with Ava Locks and Elka Rifkin of Access Ambassadors on demystifying disabilities by building awareness, empathy, and action. This was an interactive workshop in which the kids learned that "disability" is not a bad word and ways to communicate respectfully and appropriately through scenario-based explorations of visible and non-apparent disabilities.
Read MoreWe are busy learning about musician, artist, and civil rights activist Max Roach for our presentation on Soul Food Night. The kids are learning that Max Roach took the drums to a whole new level as a solo instrument.
Read MoreOur residency at The Watermill Center with Philippe Cheng concluded with our in-process exhibition last week. Our living self-portaits inspired by Andy Warhol's experimental films were on display as was our abstract map of our connections to places in our extended family histories.
Read MoreThe Senior Learners saw Bay Street Theatre's production of The Crucible. In class, they learned about Henry Miller, the McCarthy hearings, and why Miller used the Salem Witch Trials as an allegory for what was politically happening during the 1950s.
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