New Roads Alumni Newsletter March

MARCH 2009 Volume 14 Issue No. 7 NEW ROADS N e w s l e t t e r o f N e w r o a d s s c h o o l New Roads’ Bubba Meisahs by David Bryan, Head of School I t’s Yiddish, and it is pronounced ‘bubba meye-se’ (was that really helpful?). Now really, I don’t want to get into it with any (or all) of us non-Yiddish speakers who grew up with other non-Yiddish speakers who remember their grandmothers saying ‘bubbee’ or ‘bube.’ Honestly, we don’t really know the right way to say it. I’m sticking with ‘bubba meisah.’ The point will be the same. Setting aside our collective affection for our grandmothers, ‘bubba meisah’ is a term given to stories that are simply not true. Literally … bubba is grandmother… meisah is story. Grandmothers’ stories. But really, ‘old wives’ tale.’ You know the sort. “Don’t cross your eyes. They’ll freeze like that and you’ll stay like that forever.” “Chewing gum takes seven years to pass through your system after you swallow it.” “If your right ear itches, someone is saying something nice about you.” “You should never jog. It jumbles up your insides.” “If you use the same pencil for taking a test that you used for studying for the test, you’ll do better; the pencil will remember the answers.” I’ve noticed quite a few about New Roads. Perhaps you have as well. Perhaps you tell them? Perhaps you make them up? with students simply because they come with a label. Terms like ‘ADD’ and ‘dyslexia’ are small words used to refer to large and complex things. Over the years we’ve learned that many students with educational labels – disabilities, differences – can perform quite well in a so-called “typical” school with little or no adjustment or accommodation. If students are willing to work at it – to work hard at it – they can accomplish amazing things. Is there a reason we should reject their applications for admissions because their minds work differently from most, because they learn in unique ways, because they come with educational ‘labels’? Robert Scheer, author, journalist, and currently editor of Truthdig, an online magazine, came to speak at a New Roads graduation years back. Just prior to his talk, I looked over his shoulder as he made notes. I could not understand a thing he was writing. When he spoke, he revealed that he had been severely dyslexic all his life, so much so that he frequently made a mistake when he wrote his own name. Robert Scheer has written seven books, countless articles, columns, op-ed pieces and the like. He is one of the most incisive writers of political analysis alive today, and he has interviewed every President from Nixon to Clinton. (I suspect Bush said “no” for good reason.) Severely dyslexic … and he is a writer. So much for labels. children go to New Roads. I am always a bit confused by this. Do you think they are saying, “Anyone who would accept my child (or in the case of a student, me) must not be particularly discriminating.” Perhaps that’s what they mean. How to address this one? Well, each year we have a waiting list. Each year the list grows. But that might simply be translated, “there is no shortage of ‘mediocre’ students out there.” In fact I think it makes more sense to look at the students we do not accept. I suspect New Roads does not value all the same things other schools value. It’s not that we reject students who test well on standardized tests, but we certainly do not consider test scores an indication of much besides … well besides test scores. It is always far more important to us to listen to what previous teachers have said, what parents say, and then to get a sense of the student him or herself. New Roads has never had the same sensibilities as other places. I know this is true at all four campuses: if we get a whiff of ‘cruel,’ or ‘mean-spirited,’ that applicant can test ‘off the charts,’ but s/he hasn’t a prayer of getting into New Roads. New Roads is a school for kids with ‘Learning Differences.’ Does New Roads have students with diagnosed learning differences? Yes absolutely. We have never been scared away from working Anyone can get into New Roads. It’s easier to get in to New Roads than other schools. Hard to know what people mean by this. When I hear it from people whose children do not go to New Roads, I don’t make too much of it. Those are the same people we all used to know in the schoolyard when we were children. “My house is bigger than yours is.” “My school’s better than yours is.” “My child is smarter than yours is.” … “My dad can beat up your dad.” Sometimes I hear it from people whose People with lots of money are treated differently. I have heard that one a lot over the years. Actually this is the more neutral expression of what is really said. The more accurate version is most often expressed, Full-paying students and families are treated better. A few suggest that it is actually the opposite: The School has it in for the kids of families with money. I suspect it has to do with the culture we live in. We cannot possibly imagine it being any other way. Truth be told, although it is false, this one really bothers me. I have bent over backwards to avoid that. For the first seven years of the school I kept a list. The only students ‘asked to leave’ the school were full-paying students. Really! Not a single student on financial aid was expelled. That had no bearing on the frequency with which the bubba meisah was uttered. We have continued on page 2 1 NEW ROADS New Roads’ Bubba Meisahs always tried to be scrupulous about applying the rules with the same compassion – yes, sometimes with the lack thereof – regardless of a family’s zip code, mode of transport or wardrobe. I suspect we have angered as many full-paying families as we have those who receive tuition support. When we’ve lost faith in our ability to serve a student, it has nothing to do with the parents’ bank accounts or the tuition checks the family writes. Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 2 New roads school continued from page 1 New Roads students have trouble getting into college because they test poorly. A related corollary: You can’t get into an Ivy League school from New Roads. Every New Roads graduate has gained entry to college. That’s 100% since we graduated our first class in the year 2000. Does everyone get into his or her first choice? No. Do many? Yes. Has everyone gone to a four-year school? No. But to my knowledge everyone who has applied to a four-year school has gotten in. (Yes, really there are students who choose to go to a community college, because they want to, NOT because “they have to.”) Every year, the editors of US News and World Reports best colleges issue try to convince us that there are only 25 colleges in the United States of America, and that if your child does not attend one of these, his or her life will not be worth living and you have failed as a parent. It turns out NOT to be so. There is no evidence whatsoever that those who attend those schools have more rewarding or fulfilling lives, make better choices with respect to career, marriage, family, or the like. It has always seemed to us that one can only believe that those are the best schools if one believes that the people there are “the best” … and we don’t. Regarding the Ivies… Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton and Yale. Hmm… what to say? Brown, Penn, Cornell, Columbia… How about UCLA, Berkeley, Stanford, NYU, Cal Tech, Swarthmore, Wellesley, Wesleyan, Northwest, Union… oh well … I guess there’s always MIT or the University of Chicago and …. But honestly, isn’t that beside the point!? New Roads doesn’t expel people for drugs. Variations of this occur regularly. The implication is that New Roads is permissive when it comes to drugs. We know about “zero tolerance” policies at other schools. We used to have one just like them. “If a student is discovered on campus or at a school event with drugs or alcohol, he or she will be expelled.” In fact we applied it ... sometimes with ‘extreme prejudice,’ as they say. That was until we saw the damage, until we watched a family in distress when we expelled the child, a family we knew and loved, a family that supported the school, that embraced the community, that was a large a part of the community. That was until their child made a mistake and they needed their community more than they had ever needed it before. And we threw them out … because “We have a zero tolerance policy.” A policy that makes schools feel as if it is doing something. A policy that ignores what goes on over the weekend, at parties, over the summer. A policy that guards its “community” at its own gates, but no further. “What are we doing?” we asked. We make believe everything is okay unless someone brings it here. And then, when a child, a family, a part of our community needs us most, we walk away from them, buoyed by a sense of righteousness, our zero tolerance policy. We convened a working group: Board members, parents, students, faculty, administration, outside drug counselors. We asked, “What will help? What makes sense?” We arrived at a policy – one that just might actually be a zero tolerance policy. Portions are repeated here; the full policy statement can be found in the Student & Parent Handbook. …If we have reason to believe that a student is inappropriately involved with drugs or alcohol we will not remain uninvolved, no matter where that use takes place. … If an infraction is determined to have occurred, no right to remain in school exists. Because of the impact of drugs and alcohol on other students and the entire school community, infractions that occur at school will likely lead to expulsion or longterm suspension from the school. At a minimum, the student will be placed on probation and may be required to agree to an assessment, counseling, rehabilitation, medical treatment and/or ongoing drug testing as conditions of remaining enrolled in the school. In such cases, any subsequent infractions will result in progressive discipline. … Zero Tolerance means that our concern for the welfare of our young people and their community is not limited to campus boundaries or school sanctioned events. Although expulsion is an option, it is not mandatory. It is clear to us that we have helped numerous students, numerous families, numerous members of our community since we have instituted our current policy. The current recession is hurting enrollment, and so the school will significantly diminish its financial aid program. This has been an unusual year. We were “full” when the year began. Many schools will not entertain the idea of mid-year admission. There is some sense to that – adjustment difficulties, grading puzzles, possible teacher strain, and the like. But we have not drawn that line in indelible ink. Sometimes families move to town. Sometimes students need to change schools mid-year. Sometimes former students want to return – they realize they were mistaken to have left. Sometimes life surprises you. Usually we have one or two, sometimes three or four applicants in the middle of the year. This year – the year of the recession – has been unusual. This year, no fewer than twenty-four students applied in the middle of the year, we were able to admit sixteen (16).1 The 2009/10 admissions season is still underway, and there 1 The short answer to the question ‘How can you admit students if the school is full?’ has to do with our ability to create schedules for new students that give them the classes they require without overloading any of our current classes. If this is possible, ‘full’ is not really full. 2 There have been years when that number was even higher than 50%. That was dangerous to the overall wellbeing of the school. continued on page 3 2 NEW ROADS OK, we know everyone’s waiting for spring break in a few weeks. But until the last classroom is dismissed on Friday, March 27, the New Roads Parent Association needs your help since there are some huge events coming up that need volunteers. First and foremost, Kaleidoscope, the annual fun and dance mixer held this year at Smashbox Studios in Culver City on Saturday, March 21. Do you have your tickets yet? This event raises money for the all-important New Roads School Financial Aid Program and this year alumni parent and New Roads Board of Trustee member, the Honorable Karen Bass, speaker of the California Assembly, will be given the Founders’ Award. In addition, former PA president Julie Dolcemaschio and her husband Steve, from the Board of Trustees, will be given the Jonny Eliga Spirit of New Roads Award. For information on how you can get involved, contact Bob Dixon in Development at bdixon@newroads.org. In addition, there’s the Middle School Play March 6-7; the High School Play March 13-14; the High School Jazz Band concert Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 3 New roads school Greetings from the Parent Association by Terri and John Morell, Parent Association Co-Presidents March 16 and High School Scene Night March 18. (Please see the calendar on pages 11 and 12 for times and locations.) If your child is involved in any of these events, please contact your campus reps (listed below) to ask what you can do to help. There will also be an interesting evening on March 26 with therapist Susan Stiffelman who will talk about motivating middle and high school students to do their best in school. And of course, let’s not forget the All-School Parent Association Meeting in Huerta at the High School on Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30. Come for the snacks, stick around for the laughs. We’d love to see you there. Campus Reps Elementary School Candice Rosales (candice.rosales@gmail.com) Santa Monica Middle School Carolyn Meyers (caramia516@ca.rr.com) Malibu Middle School Bonnie Modugno (bonniemodugno@earthlink.net) High School Andrea Apatow (Apatowfamily@sbcglobal.net) Lynn Lerman (lermanlynn@aol.com) and Carol Jadiker (Carol_Jadiker@yahoo.com). Parent Association Meeting All School - Tuesday, March 10th , 6:30 p.m. Huerta, High School Childcare will be available. New Roads’ Bubba Meisahs is no way to know what will come, but as of now, rather than being hurt by the current recession, New Roads seems to be doing just fine. But in some way, that’s beside the point. The point is that the bubba meisah is really an accusation: “The school is not sufficiently committed to its mission of providing educational opportunities to those who cannot otherwise afford them.” Since the day we began in September 1995, New Roads has committed between 40% and 50%2 of its tuition budget to need-based financial aid, opening the doors of the advantages of independent education to scores of deserving young people. Since we began, this rather small school on the Westside has continued from page 2 provided more than 55 million dollars in tuition assistance. Last month the New Roads School Board of Trustees considered next year’s school budget. The Board approved a budget range: our “goal budget” at one end of the range and our extraordinary “contingency budget” (10% fewer students and a significant drop in fundraising) at the other. Not once during the discussions did a single Board member suggest that we examine our commitment to the school’s mission… not once. Truth, not bubba meisah. bold and REAL efforts toward embracing diversity as well. (Yes, I know, these days everyone believes in diversity… until you go look and see.) But political affiliation is never a consideration. In fact I suspect people would be surprised at some of the political beliefs held by those who work here. I am sure my beliefs would surprise many. And besides … some of our best friends and biggest supporters are Republicans. … Okay… a few. Okay… one or two. Please, please, please… no irate letters. I’m kidding. It’s just a bubba meisah. :-) There are no Republicans at New Roads. I suspect the school’s proud expression of its value for social justice attracts certain people and repels others. I suspect that is true of our 3 NEW ROADS Honestly, it has been a privilege to watch the evolution of the Parent Alliance for Diversity group directed by Elementary School parent Kym Begel for the New Roads School parent body. The meetings began in the Fall of 2008 and convene every few months in Huerta on the High School campus at present, with childcare offered. At one of the first meetings, Cal State Fullerton Political Science Professor, Raphe Sonenshein, a man with a long career in Los Angeles politics, came to speak. He set up some initial ground rules. You are going to make a lot of mistakes when talking to each other across racial and social lines. Allow each other to make these mistakes, he encouraged. He also said you may think you are here just to eat cookies and talk to friends, but what you are really doing is engaging in politics because politics is building bridges between people and communities. And although we form the one community of New Roads, we are made up of many individuals and communities intersecting. Since then, the Parent Alliance for Diversity has been my continuing education class on building bridges. On most occasions, it is New Roads parents themselves who come to inform us. LMU Law professor Sean Scott twice presided over meetings, once to stun us into a deeper understanding of race by questioning its very existence, and on a second occasion to discuss white privilege and how invisible the use of it is, especially in our legal system. In one memorable gathering, the New Roads parents surprised the presenters, who were from a local chapter of the Los Angeles Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Center by their level of openness and acceptance. They said it had not been their experience in the past when dealing with a parent body of any sort. Civil rights attorney and LMU Law Professor, Kathleen Kim, came to speak about human trafficking in the U.S. and specifically in California. The speaker was so informed and spoke so well that everyone attending the meeting found themselves Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 4 New roads school Parent Alliance for Diversity by India Radfar, Santa Monica Middle School Parent Anne Gallagher, Langka Treadwell, Knieba Jones-Rodgers and Phillip Rodgers shared their families’ stories at the February meeting stepping into the shoes of these others, both male and female, young and old and of many ethnicities. We had to throw up our hands and in a sense mourn together as she explained to us the legal difficulties involved in identifying and saving these people. The meetings seem to be encouraging an intense caring for each other, and at moments they open onto that other vista, the one that represents all humanity. There are times I walk away from our evenings together humbled and speechless because all the comments made and opinions shared and questions raised have made a tapestry too beautiful and vast to be simply understood rather than experienced. In our latest meeting, on February 17, three New Roads families were invited to talk about their own family units, a topic more specific than most. And yet the group was able, while listening to these very individual stories, to get to some remarkable truths about the family’s role in general. Of the parents speaking, three had been raised by single mothers who, no matter how disturbed or at times unable, continued to take care of them. All three of them agreed that they would never have wished to give up that parental bond, that the struggles they faced with that single mother, close and sometimes not so close by, is in many cases what now defines them as people. It made me very hopeful for our families of the future. Because contained in even the most difficult of family situations seem to be all the tools needed to create new, better families. And the members from these three families were searching for and actively creating their new visions of family in the world. In one case, this meant adopting children from various countries and raising them together as a remarkable whole. In another, an African-American couple with two daughters who are used to functioning as a role model for family among their friends explained how they came together and why they work. In a third, an eventually single mother who was realistic and resourceful got early help for her son when she was informed that he was on the autistic spectrum (Asperger’s syndrome). As you can see, it is a bit difficult to sum up any of this. That’s because the PAD meetings are the opposite of summing up. They open and open and open even further into issues we often don’t take time or feel comfortable enough to look into sufficiently. I am convinced without a doubt that whoever attends even one of these meetings will come away with something they didn’t know before and never thought they’d learn. And, I might add, it is comforting to see David Bryan regularly at the meetings. I understand it was originally his hope that such a group exist for the parents of a school as diverse as New Roads. He, Kym and many others along the way have brought it into existence. Thank you, all, because now we all have it to enjoy. Check your New Roads Portal Page for details about the April meeting. 4 NEW ROADS Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 5 New roads school Holocaust Survivor Visits Santa Monica Middle School b y A l e x a n dra Padilla, Humanities Teacher Hanka chronicled the story of Hitler’s invasion into Poland, the disappearance of her father, the death of her mother, the devastating loss of her eighteen-month-old sister whom she had taken under her care, and then her amazing survival while being transferred from concentration camps to work camps for the remainder of the war. After the viewing, Hanka talked in person about her life after the war and reminded the New Roads community that it was imperative that they learn from the mistakes of the past and make sure that those same mistakes are not repeated again. She said that she feels she now has a duty as one of the remaining child survivors of the Holocaust to tell her story so that people will remember. She went on to answer many questions that the students had and was truly an inspiration to all who witnessed her speak. Esther Chang, a 7th grader, wrote in her journal in Humanities that week, “What I felt during those two hours was incredibly different. It was amazing in a way. Later Below: Hanka Kent speaks to Santa Monica Middle School students I knew why I had felt that way. By just reading The Diary of Anne Frank, I didn’t completely feel how hard the situation was. But seeing Hanka’s face, I saw a real hero, and learned the stories of many people from one person’s heart. I really felt the situation and really thought about it. I couldn’t believe that this beautiful woman her age walked into our school and told us her life story. Some kids might say that Superman is their hero or Wonder Woman, but to me she was a real hero. This was a moment I would never forget.” Jesus Barajas, an 8th grader, stated, “I really liked Hanka's visit because before she came to New Roads, I didn’t really have a good idea of what the Holocaust was. Once I heard about it and what people went through, my heart dropped. It was as if her life was dangling from a string; it was almost unimaginable. I don’t know how anyone would survive that pain, and I will always hold a great deal of respect for her and I will take her message to heart – to speak up against any injustice so that nothing like the Holocaust happens again.” Hanka Kent with her daughter-in-law In our 7th Grade Humanities class at Santa Monica Middle School, we studied the Holocaust and read The Diary of Anne Frank. We read the diary as a primary source in order to see the war through the eyes of a young girl. We also had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Tolerance this fall and went through the exhibit on the Holocaust. However, for many of the students in the class, what they’ll remember most from this unit might be the two hours they heard from Hanka Kent, a close family friend of Justine Glaser, a 7th grader, and a child survivor of the Holocaust who visited New Roads Middle School on January 9th to talk to the entire student body. The whole New Roads Middle School thanks Hanka, Justine, and Justine’s mom, Nancy, who helped facilitate this wonderful learning opportunity. A viewing of Hanka’s recorded testimony given to the Holocaust Testimony Project at UCLA preceded Hanka’s direct conversation with the students. In it, she recalled her extraordinary journey. With vivid detail, 55 NEW ROADS Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 6 New roads school Annual Giving PROGR AM 2008 -2009 “It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” – Albert Einstein tuition income, to meet operating expenses. The Annual Giving Program is one way the School fills the gap between tuition income and expenses by asking parents – all parents, grandparents and friends to contribute. act fast. MaKe YoUr GIft todaY (click here to make your donation online) This year, New Roads School must raise $966,750 through our Annual Giving Program in order to close the gap between tuition and the cost of educating our students. To reach our goal we depend on gifts of all sizes from $25 to $250 to $2,500, and more. It is vital to the ongoing success of the School that every member of the community participates with a meaningful donation. WAYS TO GIVE YOUR 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION New Roads School is a charitable organization that is tax exempt under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code and operates under tax ID 95-4823489. GIFTS OF CASH – payable by check, money order or credit card (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) To make giving even easier, you can now make your donations ONLINE! Visit www.newroads.org PLEDGES AND PAYMENT PLANS just because you can’t give today, doesn’t mean you can’t commit today to make your gift later. GIFTS OF APPRECIATED SECURITIES And don’t forget…EMPLOYER MATCHING GIFTS a a a What is the New Roads Annual Giving Program? The Annual Giving Program supports the School’s operating budget with annual, unrestricted gifts that help fund our programs, students, and teachers. Instructional materials, computers, library books, music programs, drama productions, science lab materials, facilities maintenance, and teacher salaries are just a few examples of Annual Giving dollars at work for your children. Doesn’t Tuition Cover These Essential Expenses? Tuition and fees cover approximately 85 percent of what it takes to provide a New Roads education, resulting in a gap between tuition income and expenses. New Roads strives to keep tuitions within reach of most families and work to find other sources of income. This year, New Roads must raise almost $2,000,000 - through all our fundraising efforts, above and beyond a a If you have any questions about Annual Giving, please contact the Development Office at (310) 828-5582. We thank the following supporters for their generous donations to the Annual Giving Program. February Tributes In Honor of Seraj Tannir From Amina Adaya From Janice, Charles, Carl and Jean-Pierre Holland Janice, Charles, Carl and Jean-Pierre Holland Roy Mena In Memory of Benjamin F. Young Jeanette Lieberman Leticia Corral Mena Tributes are a wonderful way to send a thank you, acknowledge a special occasion or send a note of sympathy. For more information about how you can send a tribute, please contact Emily Simmer in the Development Office at esimmer@newroads.org. 6 NEW ROADS “We want to kindle hope for a better future – a better world that we want to leave behind for our children of tomorrow.” — Rita Thewa Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 7 New roads school Kaleidoscope 2009 Click Here for Invitation and Online Reservations Honoring Karen Bass Speaker of the Assembly with the Founders’ Award and The Dolcemaschio Family with the Jonny Eliga Spirit of New Roads Award KALEIDOSCOPE is the largest fund raising event of the year providing critically needed dollars to support our Financial Aid Program. Because the best and brightest can’t always afford a quality education, over 50% of New Roads students receive financial aid each year, making New Roads a leader among independent schools in Los Angeles and across the country. This year our Financial Aid Program is supporting the tuitions of over 300 children. Please join us in congratulating and celebrating the achievements of our extraordinary honorees this year. An ad in the Kaleidoscope ad journal is a memorable way to congratulate our honorees and recognize their many accomplishments. • If you own a business, an ad in the Ad Journal is a powerful advertising tool. You will be making a meaningful tax-deductible donation while reaching out to a target audience. • The Kaleidoscope Ad Journal is also a wonderful way for parents, grandparents and friends to give your graduating 5th, 8th or 12th grader a commerative keepsake of their milestone year. Families who take out a ½ page or larger ad for their graduate will be eligible for a drawing to win a VIP reserved parking space and 4 front row seats at their child’s graduation (one drawing for each graduation)! • Can’t afford to place an ad on your own? Join other parents within the community whose children are in the same class, on the same team, part of the same play production, etc. and create an ad with the entire group. Don’t forget, the Kaleidoscope Tribute Journal is a great place to recognize someone special, advertise your business, or just show your support of the New Roads Community. We hope to make the Kaleidoscope Tribute Journal a souvenir of not just one night, but the entire year. Join a friend, or two or three…or more and place an ad to show your support, congratulations or gratitude. The deadline for ads is March 6, 2009! Ad journal forms are available online. If you are interested in volunteering to help plan the event, you can have any questions about Kaleidoscope, please contact the Bob Dixon at (310) 828-5582 extension 131 or via Email at bdixon@newroads.org. New Roads School is a non-profit organization that operates under the Federal Exemption #95-4823489, and meets all the requirements of the IRS code 501 (c) (3). 7 NEW ROADS Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 8 New roads school Herb Alpert Educational Village Inventing Educational Opportunities for the Community the HERB ALPERT EDUCATIONAL VILLAGE JOHN BERRY ARCHITECTS If you have not had the opportunity to come to one of the informational session with the Village’s architects, John Berry Architects, we will be hosting them over the course of the remaining school year. Our goal is to break ground on the new construction in June 2010. The dates and times will be posted on the portal page of the School’s website. The Herb Alpert Educational Village, named for its founding benefactor, will be a home for New Roads Middle and High Schools, the New Visions Foundation and other non-profit groups working in the field of education. The Village will be an innovative, interactive and dynamic learning community that brings together and encourages interaction between practice and research, between children and those who will teach them. The Educational Village provides a truly unique atmosphere for all participants. The educational partners serve the students by being role models in a new forum, never before incorporated in an academic or entrepreneurial format. The partners are committed to creating opportunities that compliment the students’ experience in the classroom and allow them to gain awareness and develop tools needed to approach change productively. Located on approximately 2.75 acres on the border of Santa Monica and West Los Angeles, the 115,000 square-foot Village will be constructed on the property which currently houses New Roads High School between Olympic Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue. We are working with John Berry Architects to design the Village as a beautiful, highly functional and ecologically sympathetic. Innovative green building concepts, such as use of building materials manufactured locally, the possibility of ecologically regenerative buildings, and generous use of natural daylight are incorporated into the design. We hope that all of our families will help us ensure the completion of this unique and innovative education center than will firmly establish New Roads School as a premiere innovator in education. For more information about how you can be involved in the capital campaign please contact: Patrick McCabe P (310) 479-8500 Felicia Rosenfeld P (310) 471-7853 Or via email at EdVillage@newroads.org. 8 NEW ROADS 12th graders Antonia Johnson and Devin Reynolds have been selected to be Posse Scholars through the Posse Foundation, which administers one of the most comprehensive and renowned college access and youth leadership development programs in the United States. The Posse Foundation identifies, recruits and trains students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential. Posse Scholars participate in an intensive eight-month Pre-collegiate Training Program with other Posse Scholars and then enroll in top universities where they both pursue academics and help promote crosscultural communication on campus. The Posse Program is centered on the belief that a small, diverse group of talented students can serve as a catalyst for increased individual and community development. As Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 9 New roads school New Roads Seniors Named Posse Scholars the United States becomes an increasingly multicultural society, the Posse Foundation believes that the leaders of the new century should reflect the country’s rich demographic mix and that the key to a promising future for our nation rests on the ability of strong leaders from diverse backgrounds to develop consensus solutions to complex social problems. While the Posse Foundation predominantly selects Posse Scholars from public schools, it understands that New Roads’ student demographic is very different from independent schools and welcomes our students to apply. Antonia and Devin are the fifth and sixth New Roads students to become Posse Scholars. Alumni Nelson Gil, Gina Physic, Erin Whalen and Philip Casal are also Posse Scholars. Congratulations Antonia and Devin! Posse Scholars Antonia Johnson and Devin Reynolds Student Receives Prestigious Scholarship 11th grader Tyree Johnson has been awarded the impressive Beat the Odds College Scholarship. With this award, Tyree will receive a $10,000 college scholarship – quite an accomplishment for a junior! The Beat the Odds scholarship honors outstanding high school students who have demonstrated academic excellence, overcome adversity and given back to their communities. The application process involved a nomination form, letters of recommendation – including one written by K-12 Humanities Director Bill Webb – and a personal essay. From the large number of applications received, the Beat the Odds review board first selected ten semifinalists, who were interviewed to narrow down the group to five finalists to receive the $10,000 scholarships. The semifinalists receive $1,000 scholarships. During his hour-long interview, Tyree spoke about how he would use the scholarship, people who have provided a positive influence in his life, his leadership activities within the community and how he “has overcome struggles in life to make the future better than the past.” And Tyree certainly impressed the review board because he was selected to receive the $10,000 scholarship! Tyree plans to study international business and Chinese in college and intends to ultimately pursue a career in the fashion industry. Receiving this prestigious scholarship will help him realize this dream. Congratulations Tyree! Beat the Odds scholarship winner Tyree Johnson 9 NEW ROADS Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 10 of New roads school Life and College Lessons: Tipped Scales, How Do We Regain Balance, and Balance Everything (School, Work, Community Service, etc.)? by Mick Rosenthal, New Roads Class of 2007 and Alumni Association Newsletter Editor The time has come to return to work, not only rebuilding the country as President Obama wants to, but also another month of school, working or school and work. In March spring arrives and it should fill us with enthusiasm because everything starts fresh. Sometimes though that does not happen and we do one thing a lot instead of doing multiple projects. So how do we balance? Everyone has trouble with it, especially in college (I definitely still do as a sophomore at Pitzer). Each of us has different ways of dealing with stress and finding their balance. I, for example, when feeling stressed practice my yoga breath, long and deep (yoga class by the way is a great way to help relieve stress) or take a short break by watching a show or going for a walk around campus. Another way to balance might come from taking a variety of courses so classes stay interesting and engaging, going out once in a while with friends to blow off steam or read a chapter of a different more fun book and then return to the difficult reading or writing of that paper. Or, or if we feel like giving back, find a local food shelter, Habitat for Humanity site or other local community service opportunity and do that for an hour or two before going back to work refreshed. College and life seems more stressful than high school at New Roads. Back then classes seemed fun because the teachers made them fun by playing games to help us study for tests and we read interesting books, but unfortunately college is different than high school and we have to deal with it. College can be anything each of wants our experience there to be, we just have to do the work required, but to also find the balance between work and play. Thank goodness New Roads taught us that success does not just mean an ‘A’ but something deeper, a better understanding of the world we live in and how we can have an impact on it. Alumni Association News Santa Monica Middle School Scene Afternoon Wednesday, March 25th 12:45 – 2:45 p.m. Santa Monica Public Library Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium Parents are welcome! Parent Education Event Parenting Presentation with Susan Stiffelman, MFT (for Middle and High School Parents) Thursday, March 26, 6:30 p.m. Huerta, High School Susan Stiffelman is the author of the upcoming book, Cool, Calm and Connected: How to Steer Clear of Arguments, Negotiations and Meltdowns with Your Kids Topics to include: How to motivate kids to genuinely care about doing their best in school, how to help children and teens deal with frustration and disappointment without aggression, blame or power struggles and getting homework done without your child – or you – having a meltdown For more information, please contact Josie Breger at jbreger@newroads.org. 10 NEW ROADS Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 11 of New roads school Volunteers of the Month Cruz) volunteer to help their peers in Patty’s Math Lab, which meets at lunch time. Amy has also started volunteering at the Santa Monica Middle School. Thanks to their generous spirits, their fellow students are improving their Math skills. Patty says, “Math students at New Roads are fortunate to have peer tutoring from Pablo, Amy and Jordan. These students volunteer their time during lunch two to three days a week to help their fellow students better understand the complexities of mathematics. It’s a lot of fun and we are all better at math. Thanks to all three of our New Roads Math Angels.” New Roads Star Volunteers Pablo Orozco-Castro, Amy Lee, Caitlyn Hoey-Klick and Jordan Fragen This month, we recognize the contributions that students make to help the New Roads community. 12th grader Caitlyn Hoey-Klick (nominated by Allyson Daniels) gives an amazing service to the school by providing child care at Parent Association meetings and other school functions. Because of Caitlyn’s generosity, families with younger children are able to participate in New Roads activities and events. Allyson says, “Caitlyn has been my ‘go to’ girl for childcare at parent meetings for the past two years. In fact, she often sought me out to volunteer before I realized that a meeting was coming up. She is reliable, patient, and most important, the little kids love her!” 9th grader Jordan Fragen, 10th grader Amy Lee and 12th grader Pablo OrozcoCastro (all nominated by Patty Landeros- If you would like to nominate a New Roads volunteer to recognize their contributions to our school, please contact Dawn Fairchild in the Development Office at dfairchild@newroads.org. Pennies for Peace New Roads Board of Trustees member and parent Janice Holland (her son J-P is in 12th grade and her son Carl graduated in 2006) worked with New Roads parents to collect donations to benefit Pennies for Peace, which educates children to be active participants in the creation of global peace by donating change to help children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pennies for Peace was created by Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson. Students from each New Roads campus presented checks to Pennies of Peace to Greg Mortenson at a recent lecture and book signing. Thank you Ines Emquies, Sarah Maroun, Pietra Cohen and Natalia Sagar for presenting checks. 5th graders Eva Rosales, Ines Emquies, Nikki Tabatabai and Amanda Mortenson (the author’s daughter) at the book signing 11 NEW ROADS Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 12 New roads school Calendar March 2009 Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 Winter Sports Awards, 6-8 pm, Santa Monica Public Library, Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium 5 6 7 Middle School Play, March 6th 7 pm/March 7th 3 pm, Electric Lodge (see page 10) 8 9 School Closed (All School) 10 Parent Association Meeting (All School), 6:30-8 pm, Huerta, High School, Child care available 11 12 13 14 High School Play, Electric Lodge, March 13th 8pm, March 14th 1pm 15 16 High School Jazz Bands Spring Concerts, 7:30pm, Santa Monica Public Library 17 18 High School Scene, 7pm, Nijinsky, High School 19 6th and 7th Grade Overnight Information Meeting, 6 pm, Huerta, High School 20 NO CLASSES (All School) 21 Kaleidoscope (see page 8) 22 23 24 25 Santa Monica Middle School Scene Afternoon, 12:45-2:45pm Santa Monica Public Library 26 Parent Education Night for MS & HS Parents (see p. 10) Spring Spirit Day, 3 pm, 1715 Olympic, Santa Monica 27 28 29 30 31 March 30-April 10 Spring Break/School Closed 12 NEW ROADS Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Newsletter of Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 13 New roads school Calendar April 2009 Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 March 30-April 10 Spring Break/School Closed 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 March 30-April 10 Spring Break/School Closed SAT Exam 12 13 Classes Resume (All School) 14 Parent Association Meeting (campus specific), 6:30-8 pm 15 16 MMS 8th Grade Shadow Day at High School SMMS and MMS 6 and 7 Grade Overnight Trip to Idyllwild 17 18 Santa Monica Middle School at High School Campus Santa Monica Middle School 8th Graders at High School Campus 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 High School Portfolio Prep High School Seniors Last Day of Classes 26 27 28 29 30 High School Senior Portfolios 13 NEW ROADS Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 14 of New roads school Student Highlights Equestrian Extraordinaire Samantha Littrell Madaline Lee with the United States Virgin Islands Governor John P. DeJongh Jr. at the Good Hope School event Santa Monica Middle School 6th grader Samantha Littrell is an accomplished equestrian. She began riding and taking lessons when she was just six years old. Samantha and her horse, Zippo Graphic, focus on Western style riding and competing. Most people are more familiar with the English “Hunter/Jumper” style but Samantha loves Western riding because “it is a more unique and casual style and English is too stuffy.” In Western, the riders perform in events such as Trail, Showmanship, Pleasure and Horsemanship that emphasize the skills that a horse and rider need to use in real life - skills such as negotiating over poles and bridges or opening, closing and going through gates or putting the horse through various gaits, turns, and spins according to the expectations of the judges and a course pattern. While she enjoys showing, Samantha says that the best part of horseback riding is “just going to the barn and being with the horses.” Samantha competes at the High School level in the Interscholastic Equestrian League and has competed at American Quarter Horse Association shows throughout Southern California, Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona. Last Year Samantha won the IEL 2008 Overall Reserve Championship in her class for her previous school and we’re hoping she can bring that perpetual trophy home to New Roads this year. Malibu Middle School 8th grader Madaline Lee recently travelled to the Virgin Islands to volunteer at the 22nd annual Caribbean Fine Art Exhibition to benefit education. Each year, over fifty local and international artists participate in this art show and educational workshop for thousands of guests. Madaline helped set up the event and worked throughout as studio assistant for her grandmother, a well known professional artist and Virgin Islands resident who is very involved in community outreach activities that help schools and children. A portion of the proceeds from the art sales support the Good Hope School’s Scholarship Fund. Much like New Roads, Good Hope is a K-12 school whose mission is to provide an exceptional education for all students willing to demonstrate a commitment to excellence, regardless of ethnicity or economic status. Madaline also volunteered at a pre-exhibition educational program for children from other local elementary schools, where she led a group of third graders. During this program, the artists demonstrate the techniques they use to create their art and lead learning activities for local students. Madaline’s grandparents are long-time residents of the Virgin Islands and her mother is a former resident. She and her sister spend each summer in the Virgin Islands and this trip provided Madaline with an opportunity to better her “second” community. 14 NEW ROADS Cathy Jarel-Girgis’ and Jeanine AndradeLocke’s Kindergarten class took a field trip to the Heal the Bay Santa Monica Pier Aquarium to reinforce their yearlong study of marine life and oceanography. During the field trip, the kindergartners learned about oceanic life with a naturalist both at the aquarium and on the beach. They learned about living creatures like seaweed, sand crabs and seagulls and spent time identifying these creatures on the shore. They also enjoyed independent explorations of the shark tank, which had many different types of shark species, the pollution corner and in the microscope lab. Minako Yokota’s 1st grade class visited the Chumash Interpretive Center in Thousand Oaks. The students spent an incredible day hiking and exploring the trails, mountains, Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 15 of New roads school Elementary School Field Trips magnificent oak groves and wildlife. They also enjoyed storytelling, rock painting, and study of the Chumash led by a guide. Laura Davis’ 2nd grade class has been learning about Windows on the World, an integrated social science curriculum, this year and educational field trips have helped bring some of the world’s cultures to life for our students. They visited the Pueblo of Los Angeles and Olivera Street to learn about Los Angeles history, visited an exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts at LACMA during their study of Egypt and went to the Chinese American Museum to enhance their study of China and to learn more about America’s diverse cultural heritage. Christy Elliott’s and Erica Selkowe’s 4th and 5th grade classes took a field trip to Aidan’s Place, a fully handicap accessible playground, for a play date with children with physical disabilities. Each year, 4th and 5th graders enjoy a similar play date and learn valuable lessons about diversity, compassion and the universal qualities all children share. Amani Johnson and Jennalyn Patejak at the Chinese American Musuem Malibu Learning Man Festival Wednesday, June 10th We hope that all members of the New Roads community will visit the Malibu Middle School for this student produced academic and arts festival. Students in all Malibu Middle School academic and elective classes will showcase their portfolios that they have been working on all year, with goal setting and portfolio displays from each individual students. Festival guests will enjoy milling through exhibitions like an outdoor art gallery and a sculpture garden between special performances by all music, dance and drama students. Independent student projects like a drumming circle and fashion show will round out this celebration of arts and academics. The festival will take place in the afternoon and early evening. Invitations that the students create using handmade paper made with the campus’ recycled paper will be mailed to the entire New Roads community as the Festival nears. High School students studying Spanish with Patricia Vargas Cooper in the classroom Allende are learning in a room inspired by Chilean-American author Isabel Allende. As one of the first successful women novelists in Latin America, Allende’s works include the novels The House of the Spirits and City of Did You Know? the Beast. She is also the cousin of Salvador Allende, a socialist Chilean president who died during a military-backed coup d’état that brought dictator Augusto Pinochet to power in 1973. 15 NEW ROADS Members of our High School Winter athletics teams were recently recognized by the Harbor League for their athletic accomplishments this season. The Harbor League is comprised of ten schools. New Roads students were ranked as following, which indicates that they are among the finest players in the Harbor League: Boys Soccer Erwin Morozin – Defensive Co-Most Valuable Player Ervin Sanchez – 1st Team All League Emanuel Ellner – 1st Team All League Nicholas Shaffer – 2nd Team All League Michael Diether – 2nd Team All League Girls Soccer Madison Shaffer – 1st Team All League Boys Basketball Brandon Smith – 1st Team All League Camile Gargour – 1st Team All League Matt Lippman – Honorable Mention Alex Farber – Honorable Mention Girls Basketball Isis Grills – 1st Team All League Sofia Leal – 1st Team All League Amber Swaim – 2nd Team All League Christine Lee – 2nd Team All League Rocio Agustin – Honorable Mention Emerson Millsap – Honorable Mention Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 16 of New roads school Congratulations New Roads Athletes! Coach V with Harbor League All Stars Christine Lee, Rocio Agustin, Sofia Leal, Amber Swaim, Isis Grills, Caitlyn Hoey-Klick, and Emerson Millsap (front) Coach Vernon Johnson says of the Girls Basketball team, “This is the most amazingly focused and dedicated group of girls I have ever coached. In my 20 plus years, no team has ever displayed a more extreme desire to improve. I have coached these students for 3 years now and their will to succeed has filtered into every player that joins this team. I couldn’t be more proud to be their coach. They have proven to many that you don’t have to be the most talented players to become winners among them. Give me that team that wants it more any day. Congratulations Girls Basketball 0809!” Athletic Director Nick Davidson agrees, saying “All of our athletes showed passion, work ethic and commitment. They understand that together, everyone achieves more.” 16 NEW ROADS New Roads Summer School give kids an opportunity to learn and focus on one particular class for six weeks. Students have the opportunity to be in smaller classes without the distractions of homework and assignments from other classes. Theatre Workshop Would your child like to spend part of the summer honing their drama skills? If so, the Theatre Workshop is the next step in their path to Broadway! Instructors Antonia Carnevale and Ryan Kitley (with other exciting guest artists!) will explore movement, stage combat, improvisation, acting technique and character and scene work. The Theatre Workshop will culminate with a performance on Friday, July 31st so that all can enjoy the fruits of our students summer study. The Theatre Workshop is open to actors ages 12-18. Please click here for more information. Contact Antonia Carnevale at acarnevale@newroads.org with questions. Environmental Studies This hands-on program gives students a better understanding of their natural surroundings while developing their scientific minds. By exploring, monitoring and interacting with the environment, students will gain skills to assist them in the classroom and in life. The Environmental Studies Program will take place at the New Roads Environmental Education Center at the Malibu campus and will include Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 17 of New roads school Do Not Miss New Roads Summer School! June 29th-August 7th 2009 excursions to State parks, beaches, animal rescue centers and aquariums. The Environmental Studies Program is open to students entering 4th through 7th grades. Please click here for more information. Contact Simon Sweeney at ssweeney@newroads.org with questions. Other summer school and enrichment classes offered: Algebra I Geometry Algebra II / Trigonometry Ecological Biology Molecular Biology Chemistry World Civilizations I and II English I-IV Spanish I-IV Further Studies in Studio Art Transitions Summer Program Spectrum Summer Camp Application material are available for download at www.newroads.org; click on “Summer School,” or call (310) 828-5582. Additional class may open. Visit www.newroads.org and click on “Summer School” for latest updates. All classes offered depend on enrollment. Spring Jazz Concert Enjoy spectacular performances by the High School Jazz Bands! Monday, March 16 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Santa Monica Public Library Auditorium 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404 ~ Please note date and location change ~ Questions? Contact Scott Roewe at sroewe@newroads.org. 17 NEW ROADS On February 11th, 12th graders participated in the second annual New Roads Interfaith Symposium at the Bahai Center in Santa Monica. We gathered with eight representatives of the world’s wisdom and faith traditions to share a piece of their unique human experience and to try to better understand the essence of several spiritual paths and religions. The theme of the symposium is World Religions and World Peace. Although religions have served as reservoirs of wisdom accumulated by generations of human experience, they also have exhibited a destructive dark side that has devastated the human family and the planet. With this in mind, in addition to maintaining a critical eye toward religion, we must also be willing and humble enough to listen to the better stories that are told, to learn from the history of humanity and to engage in I-Thou relationships amongst those with whom live. Religiosity is part and parcel of the human condition, as is scientific inquiry and secular thought. Whether people are religious or not, it is not of ultimate importance. Believers and non-believers must make more of an effort to learn something about each other’s worldviews and their most salient insights. Once, when I had the chance to interview the eminent religious scholar Huston Smith, I asked him “what is the ennobling vision for humanity that the best of the world’s wisdom traditions communicates?” He proceeded to tell me that he believed that despite the many outward differences amongst the wisdom traditions, that they share important areas of congruence. He used the human body to describe the relationship between wisdom traditions. On the outside they are very different “But, [he Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 18 of New roads school 2nd Annual New Roads Interfaith Symposium b y R o n a n H a l l o w e ll, High School World Religions Teacher Above: High School U.S. History teacher Ronan Hallowell with Interfaith Symposium panel Right: Khenpo Sonam, a Buddhist teacher from Bhutan says], underneath all of those differences the human spine is remarkably the same, the curvature. Now built in to that conceptual spine of forgotten truth is the most successful plot device that the human mind has ever conceived. It comes down to this--it is the vision of a happy ending that blossoms after the most horrendously demanding ordeal has been faced and triumphed over. That is the inspiring vision. If you omit the happy ending it’s a downer. And if you omit the ordeal that we have to face as a part of human life, then it’s Pollyanna wishful thinking. So that’s the ennobling vision and it’s there. We just need to recognize it.” I hope that we may recognize it today and that our conversations can be part of the inspiring vision to bring peace and prosperity to the earth and her peoples.” Thank you to our speakers for sharing their wisdom with our community: Wolf and Lisa Wahpepah (Native American), Maisha Hazzard (Agape), Swami Atmavidyananda (Hinduism), Maryetta Anschutz (Episcopal), Laila Taslimi (Bahai), Adam Momand (Islam), Khenpo Sonam (Buddhism), Chayim Frenkel (Judaism) 18 NEW ROADS It’s hard to believe that twelve years have passed since I received my first grant to integrate math and science curriculum via hyperlinks in the newly emerging worldwide web. For me, hard to believe that it has taken this long, and on the other hand hard to believe that it has only been that long. As I approach another birthday, I’m reminded that I have been working in education since 1972; that would be 37 years. I’m surprised at how much has stayed the same with respect to what happens in the classroom and at school in general in contrast to how much has changed in what we know about how kids learn. Sometimes I am frustrated by the subliminal messages that we continue to unknowingly transmit to our students, and how our systems and maintenance of the status quo often get in the way of us making effective change. In all of my experiences in both public and private schools, New Roads School stands unique in its willingness to continue to develop and improve its student, parent, and faculty perspective on learning. In my last article, I enumerated the five goals we have established for ourselves and the Learning Tool: 1. Improve attribution, 2. Improve student meta-cognition, 3. Formative vs. Summative assessment, 4. Improve distributed instruction, and 5. Improve knowledge transfer. This is our second year of full implementation of our Learning Tool. We are seeing some anecdotal evidence of progress in these five areas. This coming year, we have partnered with several independent educational evaluators to establish protocols and instruments to determine the value of our efforts. I am very excited to be entering that stage of our development. Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 19 of New roads school Center for Effective Learning (C4EL) Corner Teaching Teachers: Our Faculty Development Efforts by Joe Wise, C4EL Director and Assistant Head of School for Curriculum and Assessment We are not just working to effect change in our student’s attitudes toward learning. The Learning Tool is also created in such a way as to help develop research-based best practices in instruction. I have not spoken much yet about our goals for the Learning Tool with respect to faculty development. As you may know, we have been doing faculty development using in-service days as well as funded teacher workshops. We have had guest speakers discuss how students learn, cognitive apprenticeship, cognitive overload, student attribution, and the list goes on. During these workshops we have worked to develop improved instruction and assessment strategies that have been incorporated into the Learning Tool. Currently we have four goals for our faculty: 1. Improving instructional pedagogy We have worked to remove the focus from individual assignments to the development of “Learning Opportunities.” It is clear that students are the most successful in learning settings that include some form of a “learning cycle” including tasks that are developed to allow exploration, synthesis, and reporting. As we work with faculty in the development of the Learning Opportunity concept, we hope to see more instances for students to recognize knowledge transfer. These improved Learning Opportunities will assure that students have been exposed to concepts in multiple contexts so that salient points of the concept may be distinguished from the less important points. In this way, concepts make sense and are not “just memorized.” 2. Effective assessment We know much more about authentic assessment than when I first stepped into the classroom in 1972. When I started as a teacher, assessment was something that was done at the end of a unit. I made up some questions based on our class discussions and the students answered the questions. We now know that though a student may give a correct answer on a test that does not mean the student in fact understands the concept and its ramifications. We now know that students often maintain several “truths” at the same time, providing the “correct” answer for the teacher but harboring a completely different belief outside the context of the classroom. The research is clear that assessment has to be a major part in the process of instruction. Students are more effective learners if they are given continual feedback for which they are held responsible and accountable. We have made a significant effort to make the assessment more authentic by assessing teacher criteria instead of assessing a particular assignment. In this way, the subliminal (and hopefully stated) message is that the task is only a tool to gain understanding and insight, not the end in itself. 3. Curriculum sequencing Extensive research has been done in curriculum sequencing. The most memorable to me is the realization that a third grade student must learn about gravity before he is taught that the world is round. If not, he will indeed claim that the world is round but will not believe it since anyone on the bottom would fall off! The scope and sequence review we are completing this year will allow us to study and tweak our continued on page 20 19 NEW ROADS curriculum sequencing to take into account current research and best practices. Implementing our K-12 scope and sequence into the Learning Tool this coming year will allow teachers to map their Learning Opportunities for even more authentic assessment. This will enhance their ability to see the bigger picture of a student’s strengths and where additional work might be warranted. 4. Effective use of technology The goal for using technology at New Roads has always been to let us do what we have always hoped to do in education but could not do before the technology. We Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 20 of New roads school C4EL Corner continued from page 19 have never looked to use technology to do what we were already doing but instead we have asked how can the emerging technology help our students learn? We have also kept an eye on the technological expectations that our students will meet upon graduation. I’m on many listserves for education and technology and many of the private schools across the country are looking to implement technology training for their students. Most often it is done by taking students to a special room where they learn to use Microsoft Office, manipulate images, and do Internet searches. Our position on the effective training of students is that they learn best in the context in which they are using the tools, rather than in an isolated “technology class.” I am very proud to say that New Roads School’s faculty and students have come a very long way in their use and development of effective learning tools. Currently, there are three or four parents who are actively participating with us in the development of the Learning Tool. If you are interested and feel you have something to contribute, please contact me, jwise@ newroads.org. Santa Monica Leadership Class Carnival by Alison Miller, Santa Monica Middle School Dean On February 20, the Santa Monica Middle School enjoyed an afternoon carnival sponsored by Kika Elias’ Leadership class. The goal of the carnival was to have a small celebration this winter to buoy spirits and it was a success! Students chose from among six activities: a dance, with eighth grader Chase Berglass as DJ; face-painting led by our excellent art teachers Carole Silverstein and Josh Callaghan; a games room where students could play cards, chess, dominoes, and more games; P.E. for those who wanted to work out; a karaoke room to show off their song stylings; and a room dedicated to viewing episodes of “The Simpsons.” Special thanks to our DJ extraordinaire, Chase Berglass, and all of the teachers and staff who helped make this event a success! Far left: 8th grader Chase Berglass Left: 8th grader Darbie Mar Photos courtesy of 8th grader Sandra Martinez 20 NEW ROADS Learning about how to preserve our threatened environment is a cornerstone of a New Roads School education. New Roads is committed to helping students and members of our community learn about the steps that can be taken to improve the health of the planet and introduce cleaner, sustainable energy sources. Check in every month for a new tip on how you can incorporate ecological sanity into your day-to-day activities. Newsletter Volume 14 Issue No. 7 March 2009 Page 21 of New roads school Green Roads our bodies – they kill all germs, even the helpful ones, which leave us more vulnerable in the long run. A great way to be kind to our planet, save a substantial amount of money, and reduce potential health hazards is to mix up your own cleaning concoctions. It is easy to do and you probably have most of the ingredients in your home already. Why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose and much to gain. If you don’t like the results you can always go back to your old favorites. But before you do, consider trying some eco-friendly brands like Seventh Generation, Method, Mrs. Meyers and Ecover. These are great brands to look for in items that you can’t make yourself (like laundry and dish detergent) and should be available in most places you already shop. Check out the sites below for “recipes” for a huge variety of household products to use in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, garden, and more. You will be surprised how much you can do with distilled white vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and a few other ingredients. And don’t be scared off by the thought of your house smelling like vinegar – the smell will disappear soon after it dries and will even help eliminate other household odors. www.vinegartips.com http://www.doityourself.com/stry/ vinegarbakingsoda http://housekeeping.about.com/od/ environment/a/vinbaklemons.htm http://www.wholeliving.com/ article/clean-green-natural-cleaningproducts?autonomy_kw=green%20clea ning&rsc=header_2 This month’s Green Roads Tip: Clean Green Strangely enough, many of the products we use to clean our homes can actually harm us. In fact, our indoor air has been shown to be up to 5 times more polluted than our outdoor air in some cases, no thanks to a number of popular cleaning chemicals which have been linked to asthma among other health problems. Not only are these chemicals dangerous for us to breathe in and get on our skin, but they get flushed down our drains and end up polluting our waterways – 69% of waterways tested in 2002 revealed high concentrations of detergents. Conventional cleaning products pose an extra threat in households with small children, as they cause about 10% of poison control calls. Still think you need to use chemicals for maximum germ-fighting power? A Tufts University School of Medicine study showed that overuse of harsh disinfectants is causing a similar problem that too many antibiotics can cause in Additional Sources: www.idealbite.com http://life.gaiam.com *BONUS* green idea: If you or someone in your household received a paper copy of this newsletter in the postal mail, elect to receive future newsletters electronically and help New Roads save additional resources. Just contact Emily Simmer at esimmer@newroads.org with your email address. Have a Green Roads Tip you’d like to share with the Community? Contact Emily Simmer in the Development Office: esimmer@ newroads.org 21 New Roads High School Drama Presents: An Evening of David Ives Shorts Friday, March 13 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Mary 14 – 1:00 p.m. The Electric Lodge • 1416 Electric Avenue, Venice, CA 90291 Tickets are $8 ~ Reserve online at www.newroads.org Questions? Contact Antonia Carnevale at acarnevale@newroads.org designed by M A R Q U I TA D E S I G N • COM NEW ROADS 3131 Olympic Boulevard • Santa Monica California • 90404-5002