News for Collegiate School Families and Friends
Fall 2012
New Ideas, Updates and Lessons Summer activities of faculty and staff make an impact on students’ experience.
W
hile students are away during the summer, things do not come to a grinding halt on Collegiate’s campus. Summer gives faculty and staff time to plan for the coming year, innovate, study and travel. All of these pursuits impact the students as they return to a school that’s energized with new ideas and old ones that have been tweaked for renewed vigor. The following are just a few ways the Collegiate experience will be different for students this year...
Techno Teaching
While visiting the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia several years ago, several Collegiate teachers learned of the work of Diana Laufenberg, a social studies instructor. Ms. Laufenberg, a TED talker (“How to Learn? From Mistakes”) is an advocate for experiential projectbased learning and the lessons that come from making mistakes. This summer she came to Collegiate to talk to teachers K-12, and, from her visit, they’ve drawn inspiration for new approaches to learning. “The main take-away from Ms. Laufenberg’s faculty workshop was that learning is messy and it’s OK to make mistakes,” says Director of Technology Jamie Britto. Reflecting that theme, this year will bring more initiatives to integrate the teaching of technology into the classroom rather than segmenting it out. “In grades 3 to 6, we’re changing the way computer classes are taught,” says Mr. Britto. In the Lower School, with the use of laptop carts, lessons and projects in class will include computer components. In 5th and 6th
A student uses her phone to assist with class work. Phones are increasingly being used as another tool to facilitate the learning process.
Grades, students will learn about digital citizenship (internet safety and appropriate use) and how to use cloud tools like Google docs and sites. The 2nd Grade will hold an Invention Day where students will learn about process by working on solutions to problems. Customization is the driving concept for a host of ways our Academic Services specialists are looking at assisting students with different learning styles. Cell phones, tablets and other tools that can help manage note-taking and organization. “We are open to the device that works best for the student,” Mr. Britto says. Phones, in particular, are going to be playing an even bigger part in students’ lives. “In two years, 80 percent of what they do in life will be done on the phone which will become an essential personal information
manager—a place for calendars, contacts, emails, research and reading.”
Home Pool
The Collegiate School Aquatics Center opened last spring at Ukrop Sports Park, but our team has yet to take their inaugural plunge. That day is coming this fall, and having our own pool is going to make a big difference for our swim team. “For the first time in the 20-year history of the team, we will have a home pool of our own for meets and practice,” says Coach Mike Stott. “This will precipitate a seismic shift in practice scheduling and how we manage training. Rather than training at night and having parents and kids drive to practice after supper, Collegiate continued on page 8