Maya Connections Issue 24 April

Director's Letter Dear Colegio Maya Community, As we quickly accelerate towards the last month of the 2017/2018 school year it is that time of year to reflect upon the learning that has taken place over the past nine months. It is often the case that we get so caught up in the fervor of the end of the year that we do not take time to think about our own growth, challenges, successes and next steps in learning. I have the distinct luxury to see examples of deep, realworld learning from PK to Grade 12 and I can unequivocally say that our students have so much to be proud of. Not only has the learning been rich as students grapple with difficult concepts, develop competencies and build character, but students and teachers are making a real impact on our school, Guatemala and the world. There are to many examples to share in a small letter but to give you a sense the grade 11 and 12 Capstone students are really making an impact on our community with research like autism and equine therapy, or the impact of running and exercise on economic stratification. Students all across the school are constructing eco-bricks to help mediate the plastic trash situation in Guatemala and turn a negative into a learning and positive opportunity. Our Middle and High school students are supporting and engaging with a school for hearing impaired, building cleanburning stoves for our maintenance workers in their homes and working in a cancer hospital for children, bringing happiness to their lives in many ways. Our elementary school continues to dig into important concepts in their inquiry units as they not only learn about the rainforest, food production, equality, and peace as examples, but they also take action to have a positive impact on these issues.

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This kind of connected, action-oriented learning is not just a nice to have in schools, it is a must for both the impact it brings and to ensure the learning is rich and meaningful. As we progress towards the construction of the innovation hub it is imperative that we keep focusing on why we are constructing a building with technology infused, creative, collaborative spaces. At the end of the day, this building will be where students and community members innovate for a better Colegio Maya, Guatemala, and the world. Service learning and Innovation are not just buzzwords for 21st-century schools, they are essential for the development of our learners and their surroundings. Take a look at what colleges view as essential for learners progressing towards higher education here. If you would like read more about this research and the colleges behind this educational reform please see “Turning the Tide” and “Making Caring Common”.

As always, thank you for your support, care, and dedication to what’s most important to learn!

Michael Johnston Links about our education today: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=eLJCHWn2yAs https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/collegeadmissions https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu

Table of Contents

Cover Page

designed by

Daniel Lee

1

Director’s Letter

designed by

Ingrid Huang

2

Calendar

designed by

Brunella Effio

4

Earth Day

designed by

Ingrid Huang

6

Technology in Education

designed by

Stephanie Cohen

7

Looking for Learning

designed by

Brunella Effio

8

Health on Campus

designed by

Halle Olivo

10

Elementary Library

designed by

Brunella Effio

11

What’s Happening in Lower Elementary designed by

Brunella Effio

12

It’s Secondary

designed by

Brunella Effio

14

8th Grade Passion Projects

designed by

Stephanie Cohen

15

Secondary Library

designed by

Daniel Lee

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GIN Conference

designed by

Daniel Lee

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NJHS

designed by

Brunella Effio

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Animal Aware

designed by

Ingrid Huang

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The Addams Family

designed by

Brunella Effio

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The History of Digital Art

designed by

Ingrid Huang

24

Backpage

designed by

Halle Olivo

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May 2018 Monday Holiday - No School

Tuesday

Wednesday 1

A Day

2

8

C Day

9

B Day

16

C Day

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Holiday - No School

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B Day

A Day

AP Exams B Day

14

A Day

15

Secondary Spring Concert

AP Exams 21

A Day Seniors celebration of learning

A Day

28

Moving Up 8th grade

4

B Day

22

Seniors celebration of learning

B Day 29 Kinder Moving Up Ceremony 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony

Breakfast appreciation for Room Moms

A Day

30

PE Final Dance Performances *6th - 9th Grades

HS G 9-11

Originally designed by Song Eui Lee, Adapted by Brunella Effio

Thursday 3

B Day

Saturday

Friday A Day

Sunday

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5

6

11

12

13

19

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DV Dance Performance

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B Day

A Day

Elementary Spring Concert

DV Dance Performance

AP Exams 17

A Day

B Day

18 Seniors / Teacher Breakfast

AP Examns A Day Seniors Breakfast for parents 6th and 7th grade EL Culminating Projects

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B Day

31

B Day

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6th and 7th grade EL Culminating Projects Senior Graduation

Middle school farewell and breakfast

Final Exams

Last Day

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EARTH DAY!

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.”-Gandhi BY: INGRID HUANG VENTURA

Colegio Maya has been doing multiple service learning activities to help the people and the environment here in Guatemala.

For example, the turtles group is raising money and awareness, Long Way Home is building ecobricks, the workers' group is learning how to take care of their well-being, English language learning, technology, and so on.

Each service-learning group are learning and helping out in their own unique way by providing efficient and eco-friendly alternatives that we can pass on from generation to generation.

Not only are students working on C days, they are also participating at home as well. If you want to help out even more, here are a couple Earth Day ideas.

10 grains of rice to those in poverty every time you answer an educational question right. And best of all--it’s free!

3. Plant trees. If you do plan to plant a lot of trees, make sure you plant at least two trees, because one alone is not likely to survive.

4. Don’t buy cosmetics that are not cruelty free, such as Mac, Sephora, Nars, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Maybelline, OPI, VS, L’Oreal, Dior, Avon, Dove, Crest, Secret, Always, Nair, Vaseline, Tide, Comfort, Downy, Swiffer, Mr. Clean, Oxi Clean, Windex, and many more.

Search the internet to see whether or not something is cruelty-free.

Ex. of Cruelty-Free Companies: Kat How can you help the environment? Von D, Colourpop, NYX, Too Faced, Anastasia Beverly Hills, WetnWild, 1. Build a Recycled Bird Feeder.

Kylie Cosmetics, etc.

You will only need a plastic bottle, scissors or a box cutter, and bird 5. Buy less meat: It’s no secret that consuming a lot of meat is food. Grab the scissors or the box harmful to you and for the cutter, cut a small hole in the environment. You can reduce middle and put the bird food in greenhouse gases by buying less there. red meat.

2. Play FreeRice. FreeRice donates

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“Earth Day 2018.” Earth Day Network, www.earthday.org/.

“Earth Day Printables, Lessons & Activities.” TeacherVision, www.teachervision.com/holidays/earth-day.

“101 Cruelty-Free And Vegan Makeup Brands (2017 Update).” Cruelty-Free Kitty, www.crueltyfreekitty.com/ultimateguide-to-cruelty-free-makeup/.

What Is Going On In Colegio Maya?

Technology in Education Why should schools be embedding technology into the curriculum?

In this day and age, it is no doubt that technology has revolutionized how professors teach and how students learn. Students would often look up to the teacher who pretty much is the source of information for the classroom. No computers or internet meant that you had to rely on the books provided to you and the teachers for knowledge.

Rabin Dranath, an Indian poet, said, “Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time."

Today, current information is in the hands of students. Students collaborate and share information, and teachers are the facilitators in the classroom. As a student, I can say that taking responsibility for my own learning feels awesome. It motivates me to engage and learn more. In the last 20 years, 50,000 factories worldwide, closed, eliminating “working class” jobs.

Three-quarters of our workforce are in the “creative class.” For example, jobs require problem-solving skills and higher level cognitive thinking. Jobs today are facilitating through technology. In my opinion, an effective teacher uses technology to plan, implement, engage, assess, show visible thinking, and reflect on the impact of the unit.

Technology will always be evolving and advancing. It will continue to make life easier, make students more prepared for future jobs, and more intellectual about the world as a whole. Technology and the education system will always go hand in hand now that we live in a technology-influenced world and society. It will be up to our generation to make sure that these innovations in technology continue to evolve to fit the needs of people and to be used to improve our lives.

- Stephanie Cohen

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Looking For Learning Written by Nikki Ellwood & Designed by Brunella Effio ECC students learned about the parts of the body and developed their gross motor and hand-eye coordination during PE with Mr. Pablo. They thought they were just having fun with the bean bags!

Kinder students have been exploring 3dimensional shapes using Play-doh. All that rolling, squishing and flattening helps to strengthen muscles for activities requiring fine motor skills, such as writing, as well as being a fun way to explore the difference between solid shapes.

In Elementary technology, 1st-grade students are designing their own keychains using 3D shapes. They learned about shapes, drew their designs in 2D, transformed them into 3D using clay, then will design them using 3D software and print them with the 3D printer. Third graders have been learning how to create characters for a video game.

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Grade 2 students are busy developing their global citizenship as they increase their awareness of struggles and triumphs from around the world. Students are researching a global issue that is of particular interest to them and will present their findings to their classmates in a few weeks. Nothing is off-limits here for these reporters, and students have chosen topics as varied as the Syrian civil war, ocean pollution, cancer treatment for dogs and the plight of honey bees in Florida!

As part of their service learning, students from the Secondary Robotics Club are running the club for Elementary Students.

They plan and facilitate all the sessions, for example showing the students how to program a Battleships game.

Grade 4 students have been investigating the human body. They explored how the eye works, made robotic hands and used a human outline to position and explain various body organs and systems.

Grade 6 students have been investigating the concept of human rights. They have learned what human rights are, and explored the history of human rights and some of the key treaties, declarations and conventions that have been written through time. Students will go on to explore some of the challenges that face children and young people around the world, and write a persuasive speech advocating and spreading awareness for their issue or cause.

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Sneak Peek: Health on Campus

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Elementary Library Written by Claudia Martinez, Designed by Brunella Effio

The Reading Month was a huge success.

We choose Dr. Seuss as the main theme.

Did you know Dr. Seuss got rejected 27 times before he published his first book?

The title of his first book is called “And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street“. He almost burned it, fortunately, he didn’t. What a great example of demonstrating resilience!

Students read at home long hours that were later exchanged for miles, which led them to many countries in order to connect them to the famous Dr. Seuss book “Oh The Places you will go”. Some of the chosen countries where US, Indonesia, France, and Brazil.

Classrooms came with 18, 000 miles in total or even 42, 000 miles such as 4B.

On the kickoff ceremony students got to taste some Dr. Seuss healthy fruity snacks and for the closing ceremony Alexis the Guatemalan storyteller came to tell local stories, the children had great laughs. Parents were invited to read in our Elementary Library. The PTSA organized the Book Fair with a great variety of Guatemalan Editorials.

We also had “Family Reading Day” with tents and blankets out on the playground, as well as Reading Buddies with Elementary, Middle School and High School. Both activities were beautiful bonding experiences.

Thanks all for your participation.

Ms. Claudia Martinez de Obregon Resources: Andrews, M. (2017, April 09). After 27 Rejections, Dr. Seuss Almost Burned His Unpublished Book. Fortunately, He Didn't!

Retrieved April 05, 2018, from https://www.elitereaders.com/dr-seussrejection-story/

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Lo Elem -First Grade-

By Brunella

As we all know, first grade is one of the important grades in the school system. It is the first step of learning! Here at Colegio Maya, we have two First Grade classes. One is with Ms. Johnson and one is with Mr. Kershner. In our first grade classes, teachers try to focus on each student, especially since not all of them are at the same level of reading, writing, and math. They do fun, creative, and entertaining activities for the little ones to be interested in the subjects and enjoy their learning as much as possible. This way, students’ curiosity and enthusiasm towards learning grows and they will love school even more!

This April in first-grade, students are doing a rainforest project.

This project consists of the students reading the book called the Kakapo Tree. The students learn about rainforest animals and choose their favorite one for their final project. The students write a nonfiction book about the animal they chose and present it to their class. Finally, with the animal, they choose students to also make a play about the book they read and represent their animal on stage. The play consists of the little kids dressing up as their animal and explaining their one reason (or reasons) for why it is important to conserve the environment and take care of nature.

And they teach them that destroying places like a rainforest could destroy animals’ lives. This project creates student interest in taking care of our planet, which is an amazing idea!

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wer entary Effio 9th Grade

-Second Grade-

Second grade is another big step for young learners, and here in Colegio Maya, we value it a lot.

We have two-second grade teachers here, Ms. McCracken and Ms. Skipper. The classes in second grade are really fun and interesting too since teachers believe that that’s the best way for learning in Lower Elementary. In second grade, they focus on every student a lot too, since not everyone is at the same level of learning. They love to work outside because doing this creates a fun and exciting environment for the students to work in. The learning process in second grade is very enjoyable, which makes the students be more interested in learning every day!

This Month the Second Graders are doing a very interesting project as well; they are doing a Global Issues Project. The two classes have been studying some global issue around the world for weeks. Educators teach students about this issue in a kid-friendly language since they are still second graders, but no matter what they portray the issues as they are and show how the world is not as perfect as they might think. However, teachers are pretty optimistic with the kids and always tell them that if they start caring and trying to look for solutions at such a young age, they might find some. So, students choose the issue that interests them the most and make any type of presentation to show it to their classes.

To make these projects happen, students need to learn the basics of geography, like the seven continents and all the countries in each continent, which is pretty surprising for second graders! This fascinating project creates awareness in the kids and makes them care about all the problems that are happening around the world.

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Written by Graham Maclure & Designed by Brunella Effio As we head into the final stretch of the semester, the campus is a hive of activity.

Walking around the classrooms it is truly inspiring to see what students are doing, be it creating biodiesel in the Chemistry lab, middle schoolers developing their video game company, over 60 students rehearsing, designing and building props for the musical, or art students completing their AP portfolios.

Outside scheduled class time, students are also busy building smokeless stoves for our workers or packing eco-bricks, and for many, attending review sessions for their AP classes or preparing for their research and seminar presentations.

In terms of partnerships with our community, our students in MUN are teaming up with Universidad de Francisco Marroquin to work with International Criminal Court students to help build our program for next year; and our NHS students are busy organising the upcoming annual Corro Por Voz race taking place on May 20 to raise funds for Lavozi, To see students directly engaging in hands-on authentic experiences like this is truly inspiring, for these are all experiences that\ will prepare our students for life beyond school.

To celebrate students’ growth and work this year, they will showcasing their learning in a series of presentations and celebrations of learning. We hope you will be able to join us on the following dates to help them celebrate: Monday May 21 and Tuesday May 22 3:055:30 - Grade 12 Friday May 25 08:00-11:00 - Grade 6-8 Thursday May 31 - Grades 9-11

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FCD Prevention Last month we were proud to welcome Corinne Dubois, a representative from FCD PRevention Works to Colegio Maya. Corinnne spent two days with our students and also ran sessions for faculty and parents on the dangers of addiction and the importance of making wise choices. She shared some of the latest research on vaping, drugs and alcohol, and enjoyed a range of questions from students. As a follow up, we are sharing information with parents via our Wellness Committee and through a new parent section on our website.

Watch this space for details Athletics and Activities It has been a busy month for our athletes with our middle schoolers and high schoolers competing in Honduras at the MS Sportsmanship festival and AASCA Volleyball tournaments. Closer to home our teams have been performing well in the Montessori Cup which continues through the rest of April. We welcome all support for our teams; all games take place at Colegio Montessori.

Calendar of Events As we head into the final weeks there are a range of academic, cultural, sporting and other activities on the calendar. See a brief overview of events linked here AP Exams Save the dates May 7 - May 18. The full schedule can be found here. Please make sure if your child is taking AP exams that they have no other commitments on these days.

Passion Projects Passion projects are opportunities for 8th graders to pursue a service learning project that they are enthusiastic about in whatever areas they like or choose. It is an opportunity for them to deepen their knowledge and understanding in relation to any topic which specifically interests them, to demonstrate and reflect on key concepts, competencies and character traits, and to apply all these to impact a community that matters to them. They worked on this project for an extended period of time (some projects may vary depending on their topic), so it’s something they really enjoyed and have put lots of effort into. Some examples of projects this year are: Andres Vega noticed that Colegio Maya community was lacking spirit when he went to AASCA and saw that another school had a very large group of fans cheering for them. Andres decided to change this, therefore, he has created fans of Colegio Maya to cheer for our teams, as he is involved in sports here at school and would strongly appreciate support from our community. He believes that creating this group will not only unite Colegio Maya, but help end bullying throughout the school.

Seung Min Baik’s passion is writing so he made a goalfor himself to write a 50,000 word novel about high fantasy.

Seung Min has struggled with motivation to write every single day, but he’s almost done and couldn’t be more excited to share his novel with our community and the rest of the world. Each student in our school is unique and each has individual and creative ideas on what they think our community needs. They are providing a great service to our school and community and will continue to do so throughout their passion project.

By: Stephanie Cohen

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SECONDARY LIBRARYÂ GRAPHIC NOVELS MONTH

Sources: http://awesomegraphicnovels.blogspot.com/p/fastfacts.html http://www.2-clicks-comics.com/article/what-is-a-graphicnovel.html

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National Junior Honor Society Written by Andres Vega and Gustavo Silva Designed by Brunella Effio

Hi! We are the NJHS from Colegio Maya Guatemala and we are trying to repurpose old electronic pieces. This is a project that we created this school year. We are selling items at reasonable prices so we could help people in Guatemala have stoves. Most of the impoverished people in Guatemala cook in open fires with harms their health in multiple ways. If you buy at least one of our items, you will be helping us solve an important issue here in Guatemala. The items we sell here are all reused items and we have used old parts of electronics.

NJHS (national junior honor society) is contributing and running many projects this

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year. One of the most popular beeng estufa chapina bonita; contributing with rotary the goal of decreasing smoke a wood usage of open fire cooking in poor families is done by donating or constructing smoke free stoves to the families. Upcycling is another project.

This project helps decrease our daily computer waste by taking apart old computer parts and giving them a second life by turning them into things like jewelry and clocks.

These pieces can be sold to make a good use of them. NJHS is also helping to raise money for projects with many clubs such as a robotics club and a dance club in the morning. The National Honor Junior Society in making a difference to both our environment and our community by participating in many projects and using them for a good cause.

Animal Aware Guatemala

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Addams Family

By Brunella Effio

What is the play about?

The story starts with The Addams Family, but they are a little more grown up. The dark and creepy Wednesday Addams, who is the eldest daughter, has fallen in love with a very gentle and sweet young man named Lukas Binkey. Yes, a normal human man! She confides her secret to her father, Gomez, and begs him to not tell her mother. The very different families meet and Gomez has to do something terrifying that he has never done before, which is to keep a secret from his beloved wife Morticia. Everything in the Addams house will turn upside down during the night the Binkey family comes to the dinner so they can get to "know" each other.

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Why Addams Family?

Ms. Andrea Haeussler, the director of the play, spend months reading and reading plays. She read over fifty different scripts until she came down to her four top options.

After that she consulted with Ms. Amy Sweat, the Music Director, to see which one of those plays would be the best option. After a very challenging and grueling elimination process, they decided that the best option would be the Addams Family Musical. Their decision was made by considering which one has the funniest story, the best set design, and the most melodious music. The Addams Family Musical won with all of those fantastic traits.They have been working for about six and a half months and have been very busy trying to perfect the Musical. They have been working on the songs, the acting, the dancing, the sets, and on having everything necessary to make an astonishing and breathtaking play. Ms. Andrea Haeussler considers the Addams Family Musical to be one of her best productions in Colegio Maya.

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History of Digital Art

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