Administrative Director Robin Higbee writes a monthly column in our newsletter. Return here monthly to get news from the director's office. Director's CornerApril, 2008An incredible event took place at Linscott Charter School during the spring break. Our school was transformed through the work of a group of volunteers into a beautiful environment with a new playground structure, murals, an edible garden, benches, tables, etc. One day there was a plain little school site and then—KaBoom!—it all changed. For those of you who participated, you know that the day was the experience of a life-time. Hundreds of people appeared and together we worked, danced, sang, ate, played and built an entirely new environment. Community spirit filled the air as adults and children alike became a team. Being the recipients of this playground is special, but even more important to our school was the opportunity to be involved with a project that brings people from all walks of life together to work towards a common goal. Rather than look at our playground as an expectation or entitlement, our students know that hard work and community effort built this playground. It modeled a positive work ethic and hopefully will inspire our families and students to continue to be involved in the community. I want to thank everyone involved with this project from KaBoom and California Volunteers who sponsored and managed the building of the playground. I also want to thank everyone who came out to help get the work done from the build captains (great hats!!), to the children who made the stepping-stones for the garden. These volunteers came from all over—we had the mayor, city council members, high school students, CSUMB fraternity members, neighborhood residents, Hummingbird Hall students…the list goes on and on. You all rock! There are also a few individuals from our Linscott community who have put in a great deal of extra time to make this come together. They deserve a special expression of gratitude so when you see them give them a high 5. Thanks Andrea Williford, Karen Lowell, Jeff Cortez, Noah Stebbins, Mark Damiani, Jessica Rice and Sylvia Banuelos. This core team of organizers put in so much of their own time and energy to make this happen and deserve special thanks. Also thanks so much to parents like Art Siqueiros, Jeff Sieraski, Joe Stern, Josh Billings, Sam Farrow, Kevin Erbe and Kelvin and Janette Ramer for their help preparing the site. Now let’s go out to enjoy our new school campus and begin to think of ways we can pay it forward! Director's CornerMarch, 2008As we made our way through the rewrite of the charter this year we were asked to consider how our educational program meets the needs of students in the 21st century. When we answered that question we looked at our current school practices and those we hope to achieve over the life span of our new charter. Here is a section from the charter revision that addresses that the question “What it means to be an educated person in the 21st century”. Change is the only constant. The story of the last century, in education as well as society in general, featured change in the leading role. All of us with school-age children have seen phenomenal shifts in society within our lifetimes. These evolving norms and beliefs along with an ever-expanding knowledge base are evident in our homes, our neighborhoods, our schools, the nation and the world. This pace is only accelerating in the 21st century. As educators teaching children who will live in a rapidly changing world, we need to help them function in a society that does not yet exist. How can we do that? At Linscott we begin by creating a community that values lifelong learning. Parents participate actively as learners, modeling lifelong learning for their children. Teachers learn from children and parents, modeling the same value for their students. We all view ourselves as a community of learners. The five-year-olds of today will face an entirely different set of challenges as adults. They will work with new tools, form human relationships in ways that we can only imagine, and solve problems we cannot foresee. Therefore, the most important lessons our children learn in school will be about themselves and how they learn. When they recognize their own learning styles, intelligences and what works best for them as individuals, they will have prepared themselves to value and collaborate with others in problem-solving. Given the necessity to keep pace with constant change, we consider lifelong learning to be the most essential value of an educated person in the 21st century. In order that they may successfully face their challenging future, we expect our graduates to use their hearts and minds well. We work together in supporting the development of personal character, habits of mind, knowledge and critical thinking skills, positive personal attitude about learning and global awareness. The charter also includes detailed information about each of the five attributes listed. We are including a graphic of those attributes along with detailed examples. I will continue to include portions of the charter each month for your information. When the approval process is complete we will post the new charter for all to see. Director's CornerFebruary, 2008As many of you have heard we have some exciting news This is a very exciting opportunity for our school. We will update and improve our playground while also taking part in an important community event. I am hoping and expecting to have many volunteers for this project from our school. I also am counting on all of you to recruit as many volunteers as you are able to join us on March 29 for the build. A sign up sheet will go up in the hall and it is most important that you write your name and the names of anyone you know who can help on the sheet so we can track the number of volunteers we have. I am also looking for people willing to go into the wider community and find people to help us. Please let me know if you are willing and able to do this. It all began with a slide…now by working together we will have a beautiful new playground!! Director's CornerJanuary, 2008Happy New Year Linscott !! We are nearing the mid point of the year as our first semester ends January 18. The first half of the year has been very positive. Four wonderful new teachers and many new families joined our community; our town hall meeting set a constructive tone for the charter renewal; students are learning and enjoying school. We now begin the second half of the year and I have high hopes for an equally successful spring semester. Some of the upcoming events include:
Director's CornerNovember, 2007Recently the San Francisco Chronicle ran an article about children detaching from the natural world. The according to their findings 30% of parents surveyed said their child participated in no outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, etc. during the summer and 11% did not even ride a bike or swim! The idea of participating in these activities is becoming alien to young people according to many polls used for this article. The young people today are not only avoiding wilderness areas, which they deem boring, but fewer are also engaging in activities such as digging holes, building tree houses or catching frogs. The result of the decreased outdoor time is what the article called "a nature gap" and it is found all over the country. The reasons given for the gap range from increased urbanization and technology to too much homework. Environmentalists are concerned that this will lead to apathy toward the natural world. I was particularly interested in this article because of emphasis we place on the outdoors and the environment here at Linscott. Our students participate in gardening throughout the year giving them ample opportunity to dig in the dirt and watch the results of caring for the plants. Every classroom takes part in multiple outdoor field trips from apple orchards to the Catalina Island Marine Institute. Watsonville is considered an urban area and we certainly embrace technology. Our students own ipods, cell phones and play video games but by the time they leave Linscott they have also harvested vegetables, picked apples, visited a slough ( and probably replanted native plants), skied in the Sierras, hiked to Vernal Falls at Yosemite, and snorkeled with bat rays in the Pacific Ocean! According to the article in the Chronicle as the vast majority of our country moves to cities and suburbs, the children of our country are succumbing to a "nature deficit disorder". While I find that troubling, I'm very happy and relieved to know that this is one disorder our Linscott students will never experience. -Robin Director's CornerOctober, 2007Linscott Charter School was one of the first charter schools in California, receiving its charter in 1993. Charter schools are required to have their charters renewed every 5 years and so we are now in the process of preparing for our third charter renewal. Our school is collaboratively governed by parents and staff and it is important that we come together to review our values and goals as a community as part of the renewal process. October 16 we will all meet at the Watsonville High School Cafeteria and hold a town hall meeting to familiarize ourselves with our charter and to give input for the next 5 years. It gives everyone an opportunity to be part of a process that is not available in most schools today. The parents of Linscott are given a strong voice in the direction of the school and the educational program provided to their children. As members of a charter school we share the value that parents know best what benefits their children and should therefore have a choice regarding their education. We are also proponents of public education and believe that every child is entitled to equal access to a high quality educational experience. As we gather on October 16 to share our thoughts on the Linscott charter we will participate together in crafting the document that gives us the guidance for our school's future. I'm looking forward to this event and think our community grows stronger when we come together for a common purpose. We will begin our meeting with a pizza potluck. Linscott will provide the pizza and everyone will bring a dish to share. We will eat together between 6:30 and 7:00 at which time we will begin our town hall workshop. We will provide childcare at the Linscott campus for those who need it (you must sign-up in the office in advance). The workshop will give everyone an opportunity to learn about the charter and express their thoughts. See you there!!! -Robin Director's CornerSeptember, 2007Welcome to our new school year! Our first week of school has been quite a success and has set a very positive tone for the year. Thanks to all who made this week special by helping prepare the school and the classrooms for the students. Also thanks to those of you who were here fulfilling your parent contracts these week by working in the classrooms, office, library or school yard. Our parents are the best! I am very excited about our new teachers and want to welcome them. They are a wonderful addition to Linscott and I'm convinced they will impress all of you as much as they have impressed me. Make sure that you introduce yourself when you get the chance and welcome them to our community. They are enthusiastic about the school and look forward to working with you and your children. I would also like to welcome our new families to Linscott. We have many new families this year who are happy and willing to join our community and participate to support their children's education. They have already shown commitment by attending orientation and helping with our school work days. I'm looking forward this year to all of our many activities and also to sharing thoughts and ideas about Linscott's future. We will be renewing our charter this year and that means reviewing the past and contemplating the future. We will have a town hall meeting in October to get this started. I'll be writing to you about this throughout the year. We are off to a great start, so let's stay on the track to making this the best year ever. -Robin Director's CornerJune, 2007As the 2006-07 school year comes to an end, I would like to take time to publicly thank some people who have contributed so much to our school this year. Of course there are many parents and staff contributing to the school community--too many to name here, but a few individual's contributions stand out. These individuals have stepped up in leadership roles and taken on significant responsibility. Andrea Williford, Jessica Rice, Karen Majors, Amanda and David Meyers, Johnny McGuire, Valerie Newcomb, Tracy Dixon, Sam Farrow, Patty Akiyama, Lorraine Stern, Suki Wessling, Linda Martin, Mary Hsia Coran, Mari McGuire and Shelley Oxen. Thank you so much for your support of our students! Speaking of students...there are also students who have contributed to our school in a very positive way. They have taken leadership among their peers to help create a respectful, responsive, responsible and resourceful atmosphere. I would like to give a special thanks to Michelle Diaz-Garza for all her help this year. Michelle is graduating and we will really miss her around here. Although she will be attending WHS, she will still work in our office next year to gain her required community hours. Also thanks to Cristina Fernandez for her thoughtfulness during teacher appreciation week. Finally, thanks to Aurora Gress for her generous spirit. Linscott is a special place with special people. I'm grateful to you all for creating a supportive and caring environment for students to live and learn. Have a great summer! -Robin Director's CornerMay, 2007Well it's May and you know what that means--testing! We begin our STAR testing this week and all students in grades 2-8 are being tested over a ten day period. During this time you can help your child by ensuring they get a good night's sleep, eat a nutritional breakfast and bring healthy snacks to school on testing day. While testing is important we want children to feel relaxed about the experience. The best way to keep a relaxed attitude is to encourage the children to do their best work--if they give their best they are successful. At Linscott we believe that standardized testing is only one form of student assessment. Our students also keep a portfolio of work that moves with them as they travel through their school years. At the end of May we will have the student-led portfolio conferences and you will have the opportunity to sit with your child and look at the progress made this year. The portfolios provide another side of your child's educational experience and can reveal areas of growth not seen on the STAR tests. Linscott's 8th grade students are preparing for yet another assessment--the 8th grade exit project. Before graduating the 8th grade students are required to prepare a 1.5-2K word written research paper on a self chosen topic. They then present a multi-media presentation to a panel of evaluators who score them on a rubric. These projects require the students to use skills they have learned over the years and prepare them for the higher level educational experiences that await them when they leave Linscott. Yes-- May is a month of tests, but our Linscott students are motivated and well prepared. I have no doubt the varied tests and assessments this month will reflect it. -Robin Director's CornerApril, 2007Happy Springtime, everyone! During our final quarter of the school year we are focusing on "Responsibility". Our Linscott Community Curriculum defines responsibility as the willingness to reflect on the role we play in the community culture and in all the little pieces of that culture. Here is an excerpt from our LCC handbook: Responsibility: Willingness to see oneself as cause in a matter. "Personal responsibility is a central theme around which much of the assumptions, visions and behaviors outlined in the LCC document orbit. Many students approach learning as a "have to:" Mom, Dad, Teacher, and Society have all conspired to force education onto these students, making them do mundane, difficult, or pointless tasks for some reason, unknown to the student. This results in extreme passivity or rebelliousness. When a student is responsible for her education, she is engaged. She may not be happy about every aspect of it, but she acknowledges her role in making it valuable. Rather than blaming others for her situation, or feeling like a victim of circumstances, she assumes self-power. Responsibility means making mistakes and accepting consequences. Responsibility does not mean being perfect. For example, a student who generally returns his homework forgets it one day. Rather than blaming the teacher for assigning homework on an unexpected day, calling his mother to come deliver it, or getting angry at the school for making him do such stupid work, the responsible student acknowledges his error, accepts the appropriate grade on that assignment and brings the work in the next day." One of the best ways for us to help children become self-sufficient, successful adults is to teach them responsibility as defined here. By accepting responsibility for their part in a situation, they become empowered rather than victimized. Together we can support our students to achieve their potential by educating them to be responsible and self-motivated. -Robin Director's CornerMarch, 2007Each month I receive a publication called Educational Leadership that addresses a variety of topics and is a way for me to keep up with the research and best practices in the field of education. Recently there was an article by Douglas Reeves about the debate in schools pitting a rigorous, standards-based academic curriculum against the need for exposure to and experience with the arts. As classrooms wrestle with the demand for higher test scores the arts increasingly take a back seat. This article asserts that the dichotomy between academics and the arts is false. Here at Linscott Charter School we know that is the case. There are examples throughout the country of schools that successfully integrate the arts into their curriculum and provide students with a rich and holistic education. Here at Linscott we have a stated mission that our students will "...become self-motivated, critical thinkers, demonstrating creativity and confidence." This concept recognizes the importance of creativity and artistry. We approach this challenge by providing an integrated curriculum that strives toward the education of the "whole child". While this is our mission we sometimes fall short and we can become susceptible to the idea that learning and creativity are separate. We sometimes hear that there is not enough time--"we need to focus on math"..."what about the reading scores?" and while of course time is limited and academics are critical, we believe that children best learn through an integrated approach. Douglas Reeves suggests three guidelines for schools who aspire to a more creative approach to education: 1. Establish a norm that there is no such thing as a nonacademic class--every subject is worthy of the thought and discipline associated with academic study. 2. Integrate subjects from both directions--i.e. not only should the classroom teachers integrate music into the language arts lessons, but the music teacher can integrate language arts into the music lessons. 3. As a school, refuse to settle for a limited curriculum and allocate resources accordingly. We are doing a good job addressing the creative and holistic needs of Linscott students, but as we begin the budget and resource allocation process for next year it will be important for us to consider these guidelines to ensure the best for our children. -Robin Director's CornerFebruary, 2007Dear Linscott Community, This month I would like to share some of the philosophical underpinnings of the Linscott Community Curriculum. Our focus during this quarter has been "Respect" and the LCC definition of that value, along with an explanation of the concept, are important to understand. Here is an excerpt from our LCC handbook: Respect: Honoring one's ability to make decisions. This somewhat surprising definition of respect also focuses on decision-making. Rather than simply "being nice" to elders or people around us, this definition encompasses the decision-making process in respecting self and respecting others. Self-respect comes from making appropriate choices for oneself and not allowing others to make these decisions. Respect for others comes from not making choices that are for others to make. In many ways, we disrespect children when we make decisions for them about matters that are best left for them to decide, such as what they should wear (within reason), when they should do their homework, or who they should choose as friends. And teachers sometimes don't respect themselves, by allowing certain students or certain parents to influence their decisions in the classroom. Children learn respect when they are treated with respect. Therefore, the school environment must be respectful of students at all times, by allowing them to make appropriate choices, and also by listening to them and taking their concerns seriously. If we truly respect children as human beings, we pay attention to their decision making processes, listen to their needs and desires, and uphold our agreements with them. If on occasion we have to break an agreement, we respect them by communicating to them and explaining the rationale for the change. At the same time, adults must respect themselves by creating environments in which teachers can teach and students can learn. When we allow children to take control of a classroom or school, we are not modeling self-respect or respect toward others. The "art" is balancing two dynamics: giving students appropriate choices wherever possible while, at the same time, not indulging them in their desires. Two concepts provide language for the broadening of decision making toward respect: collegiality and subsidiarity. Collegiality means that decision-making is shared among those that are affected. In a school, that means that teachers who are in the position of enforcing rules help form those rules. Students get to choose who is in their listening groups. A related concept, subsidiarity, means that decisions are made on the lowest level possible. In a school setting, students can be responsible for making decisions about social events, and teachers can be responsible for setting their schedules. Collegiality and subsidiarity are process tools in creating a democratic institution. More information about our LCC is available on our website. It is interesting reading and helpful for those of us trying to understand and implement this implicit curriculum. -Robin Director's CornerJanuary, 2007Happy New Year Linscott! With our winter break behind us, we are rapidly approaching the end of the first semester--isn't it amazing that this year is almost half over? Traditionally, a new year is a time to take stock and make plans for the future. Our school year has been very productive and positive thus far: the new parent participation model is being successfully implemented; our auction was a great success; we have full enrollment in every classroom; our music and P.E. programs are awesome. There is so much going right! Now we need to plan for the second half of the year. We will begin the second half with two events that exemplify why Linscott is so special. The first is the upcoming Town Hall meeting. We will get together as a community in February to discuss issues of importance to our school. One of the most unique features of Linscott is its cooperative nature. We are a democratic organization and have the opportunities derived from self-governance and self-determination. Our town hall meetings are occasions that bring us together to discuss, brainstorm, problem-solve, etc. I look forward to getting together with all of you all to identify goals for our future. The second event we have to look forward to is our school-wide performance. The students will begin preparing for this wonderful, annual activity in the next week. The performance, scheduled to take place at the Mello Center on March 9, is an opportunity for students to engage in creative, artistic expression. Linscott believes in educating the whole child--activities such as this performance provide students with a chance to learn through a different modality that enhances them creatively, academically and socially. We will once again have Kathleen Henry directing the production and I'm sure it will be high quality. Both of these subjects--democracy in our schools and the promotion of student creativity, are important topics in the world of education today. I will be hosting the monthly coffee this Friday and would love to talk to you more about this. I look forward to welcoming this new year with your input about how we can continue to work together to provide our students with the best education possible. -Robin Director's CornerNovember, 2006Happy November!! We have completed the first quarter of the school year and are quickly approaching parent conferences. School will be dismissed at noon next week to provide the time needed for these important meetings. The conferences are opportunities for parents, students and teachers to meet and discuss the student's progress, classroom/grade level expectations, or answer parent's questions. I include students in the list of those who take part in the conferences because it is important that they be included. If we want to teach students to be accountable for their own learning, evaluate their own progress, and build their self-confidence, they must take part in the process. In order to make these conferences as positive and productive as possible, it is important for parents to come prepared. Teachers spend a lot of time and energy preparing for these meetings and can be expected to have samples of work, evaluations, grade level standards, etc. Parents and students should also prepare by setting personal goals for the conference and having family discussions about what they would like to learn from the teacher. Some examples might be:
Parents and students can also prepare information they would like to share with the teacher, such as:
The time is limited so it is important to be on time to your conference and to prioritize the items you most want to discuss. Again, it is essential that students be involved, so make sure your child has a part to play in the conversation and helps you identify the priorities. Work on an action plan with your child to follow up on the information you take from the conference. Meetings such as this help build strong working relationships between the school and the home. This is a vital partnership that we have long recognized and valued at Linscott. Through this partnership we are working together to reach the common goal of helping the students get the best education possible. 
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-Robin Director's CornerOctober, 2006I was recently looking over the Linscott Community definition for "Responsiveness" and began thinking about the many people in our school who exemplify this trait. There are far too many to name in this limited space, but here are a few recent examples that came to mind:
These are only a few examples of the responsiveness of the Linscott community. I want to thank all of them and all those among you who consistently respond to the needs of the school community. We all know that the best way to teach character development to children is by modeling the behavior we desire. Our school is ripe with models of responsiveness--it gives me high hopes for our students!
Don't forget our Director's Coffee
-Robin Director's CornerSeptember, 2006Hello everyone and welcome to the 2006-07 school year. I am very excited about the promise this year holds for our Linscott community--there are so many opportunities for growth and enrichment. We are fiscally in a much more sound position which means our fundraising proceeds can be directed to some of the neglected areas of the school. We have full enrollment in every classroom, our test scores remain high, our teachers are developing some incredible integrated curriculum (more about that later), the new parent participation plan is in place, and our governing board, the SMT, has set a goal that will support our students' academic and personal development. Quite an amazing beginning, don't you think? Community is our primary focus this year. We have adopted a definition of community that is a perfect fit for the type of community we have at Linscott--an educational community. "A community is a group of individuals who have a serious stake in each other's well-being and who can accomplish together that which they could not do alone. Community in this sense can no longer be taken for granted. And yet community remains central to children's social and emotional development." This quote from Lilian Katz and Diane McClellan's book Fostering Children's Social Competence is so appropriate for our school and fits perfectly with our LCC focus for this semester--Responsiveness. Responsiveness speaks directly to the concept of community and the role each individual plays in supporting it. The SMT goal this year also addresses the concept of community. The board's goal this year is as follows: "In order to promote the highest quality learning environment for each student, the SMT will engage in community education that enriches our cooperative school climate, utilizing LCC as a foundation." This goal is intended to help us all to realize how we can best respond to the school environment in a way that supports our student's ability to receive the very best educational experience possible--which is why we're all here. So with such a positive beginning, we are off to a great start to a wonderful year--welcome back, Linscott!! -Robin Director's CornerJune, 2006On May 25th, I had the pleasure of attending the awards ceremony for the Santa Cruz County Mathematics Contest. The Math Contest provides students in grades 5-8 with both a team competition and an individual test format. The team competition requires that students work together using problem-solving strategies, showing work and providing clear and detailed explanations. The individual test for all grade levels uses a free response format. Students receive certificates of participation and contest winners receive achievement medals. Students from all over Santa Cruz County take part in the contest and for the third consecutive year Linscott students were among those recognized. The students who took part in this competition met for several weeks after school with Jodi, our 7th-8th grade math teacher, to prepare for the contest. They gathered at Aptos High School on May 6 and tested as both individuals and teams. This competition is strictly voluntary and the students who took part were wonderful examples of resourcefulness (they took the initiative to sign up, get the help they needed, problem solved, etc.) responsible (showed up to the practice sessions, took on extra work to be successful), respectful (made good choices) and responsive (worked as a team, responded to the guidance provided). They represented Linscott Charter School well. There were hundreds of students involved in the competition and most of the winners were from large schools with multiple teams. Linscott had a small but mighty group and made a remarkable showing. Congratulations to all of the contestants and thanks to Jodi for coaching them. A final note--as we bring this school year to a close, I want to acknowledge all of the dedication and hard work of the entire Linscott community. The students, staff and parents have all collaborated to make this an outstanding year--good work everyone and have a wonderful summer! -Robin Director's CornerMay, 2006At the May 2 SMT meeting, the board unanimously passed the new parent participation plan for Linscott Charter School. Beginning in the 2006-07 school year parents will choose between five participation options. Each family will select the option or options (if you have more than one child you will select two options) that will provide a meaningful and workable experience while supporting the school. Linscott will remain a parent cooperative school and those who chose to attend must be committed to contributing to the community. The focus groups conducted in April told us that a large percentage of parents will choose to work in the classroom--the opportunity to play a hands-on role in their child's education is what brought them to Linscott and they value the experience. For those parents who cannot work in the classroom, or who prefer to contribute differently there will be many other choices. In order to have the most effective program for students we will begin the process of signing contracts in the next few weeks. We will announce the time, place and procedure for this process soon so start thinking about what your family's choice will be. Copies of the new participation plan are available in the office--they were also distributed in parent boxes last week. This is an exciting time that will provide changes. Change can be challenging, but ultimately will give us new opportunities for growth and a fresh approach to meeting the demands of our school's mission statement. If we pull together we can make this work for the benefit of our teachers, parents, and most importantly, our students.
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-Robin Director's CornerApril, 2006March 1-3 I attended the annual California Charter Schools Association Convention held in Sacramento. This year it was combined with the National Charter Schools Association Convention, and as a result there were over 3,000 attendees from all over the United States. It was an amazing experience to connect with charter school folks from places as far away as Hawaii and New York and discuss the unique as well as the common experiences of those of us taking part in this educational revolution! The charter community is made up of people from all walks of life and varying educational agendas and philosophies. However, there is one thing we all have in common--we want site-based control of our schools so that we can provide the most successful educational experience for our students. Charter schools always involve parents because they are schools of choice. When a parent sends their student to a charter they have selected an alternative--that very action begins the parent involvement process. The level of parent involvement may vary from school to school but it is always present. Linscott was one of the first charter schools in the state and we are one of the most democratic schools in existence. It is very rare to have a public school that is cooperatively governed by teachers and parents--only charter schools allow this. Even as charter schools go however, we are exceptional. The level of voice given to the members of the Linscott community makes us a very special school. Our community has proven that trusting the teachers and parents to make the best decisions for the students at a school site works. There are two activities taking place right now that are examples of democracy at Linscott Charter School. The first is the revision of our parent participation structure. These changes are being designed and presented by a cooperative group made up of teachers and parents as a response to input from the community. The second is the annual SMT elections. This is the opportunity for parents to nominate and vote for representation on the school's governing board. Decisions regarding policy, budget and personnel are in the hands of this body and we select the membership. It was uplifting to attend a conference that confirmed the importance of local voice, innovation and creativity in education. It is also affirming to see that the freedom we have been given by the state is being used wisely to benefit our students. Good work Linscott!!
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-Robin Director's CornerMarch, 2006This year parent participation has been a recurring topic of conversation for families, teachers, and the Site Management Team. I have had many conversations about what is working and not working in our current structure for participation. As I look around the school I see so many involved and committed parents who exemplify the original vision of Linscott--parents who assist teachers in the classroom, teach exploratory classes, fundraise for our programs, pitch in to fill the gaps in order to save the school money better spent on students. This involvement is what makes us who we are. Because our families make this commitment we are able to enrich our curriculum and support the individual needs of students. Of course we are all unique with different interests, talents, stresses, family structures, etc. Because we bring these differences with us, each person's participation may look different, and the availability may vary from family to family. We all know that there are parents who contribute far beyond what is required, while others, due to life's demands, prioritize their time differently and are less involved. Our goal at Linscott is to function as a parent cooperative with parents directly involved in the governance of the school and the education of their children. I recently met with parents who either function as a committee chair or SMT parent rep and together we have come up with a parent participation proposal that supports those goals. To be the best model of a parent co-op possible it is important that all members of the community feel valued and useful and we believe our proposal will help. We will present this proposal to the SMT at the March 7 meeting and invite all who are interested to attend and provide feedback. This is your school and your voice is needed and important. I hope to see you at the meeting.
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-Robin Director's CornerFebruary, 2006One of the most exciting events of the year at Linscott is our school-wide performance. With financial assistance from the Woolpert Foundation, the Linscott Charter School annual production is always a creative, fun-filled affair that provides an opportunity for our students to develop and display their theatrical and musical talents. This year our performance showcases the dancing abilities of our students. Red, Hot Linscott is choreographed and directed by Kathleen Henry and will involve students in a variety of dances from around our country with special attention given to ballroom dance styles. Students and teachers are hard at work practicing their dance steps and over the next two weeks will perfect their skills. I'm looking forward to seeing the fruit of their efforts displayed at the performance scheduled for February 10 at the Mello Center. At Linscott we believe that learning takes place in many different ways and that learning opportunities are present at all times. Dance is a wonderful physical activity that teaches us coordination, cooperation, patience and self-discipline. It also provides students with appreciation for music and culture. Even though learning a new dance can be challenging it is worthwhile---and a lot of fun! So let's all support our classrooms as they practice, practice, practice and get ready for an evening of "Red, Hot, Linscott" --- see you there.
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-Robin Director's CornerJanuary, 2006Dear Linscott Community, Happy New Year! As we begin the second half of our school year our Community Curriculum focus is on respect. The definition of respect is: Honoring one's ability to make decisions. This is a somewhat surprising definition that emphasizes decision-making. Rather than simply "being nice" to others, this definition encompasses the decision-making process in respecting self and respecting others. A core Linscott belief is that human beings are decision-makers and that learning takes place through that process. Self-respect comes from making appropriate decisions for oneself. Children learn respect when they are treated with respect. Therefore, the school environment must be respectful of students at all times, by allowing them to make appropriate choices, and also by listening to them and taking their concerns seriously. If we truly respect children as human beings, we pay attention to their decision making processes, listen to their needs and desires, and uphold our agreements with them. If on occasion we have to break an agreement, we respect them by communicating to them and explaining the rationale for the change. At the same time adults in the school must respect themselves by creating environments in which teachers and parents can teach and students can learn. When we allow children to take control of a classroom, playground or school, we are not modeling self-respect or respect toward others. In order to keep a balance in our environment students must be given appropriate choices when possible while, at the same time, not indulging them in their desires. Allowing students to make appropriate decisions, learn from those choices and grow is an important part of the Linscott Community Curriculum. We earn the respect of our children by giving them the respect they need to learn, grow and thrive. Let's make a resolution to work together in modeling respectful behavior toward our students, our community, and ourselves as we begin this New Year.
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-Robin Director's CornerNovember, 2005We are so fortunate to belong to such a productive, caring school community. During these times of wavering support for education in the political world, we have a school full of take-charge individuals who roll up their sleeves and get to work for our students. The "Down By the Bay" auction that took place at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory was a sample of what the people of the Linscott community can accomplish together. The event was organized and staffed by a team of dedicated parents and the results were nothing short of amazing. All who attended were treated to an elegant evening with superb food, great entertainment, irresistible auction items and good friends. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those who worked so hard to make this possible and I want to specifically thank the team who organized and planned the auction. Many thanks to the auction committee -- Andrea Williford, Karen Majors, Sue Caldwell, Lorraine Stern, DeeDee Vargas, Suzanne Buell, Wahillha Erbe, Jessica Rice and Patty Akiyama. I would also like recognize Linda Martin and the Pajaro Valley Schools Foundation for their help and support, as well as Moss Landing Marine Laboratory for allowing us to use their beautiful facility. Finally, thanks to all the parents, teachers, and students who worked on the wonderfully creative classroom projects that were the most sought after items in the auction! As most of you know this event is paying for a portion of programs such as P.E., music, exploratory courses, and River of Words. These programs are such an important part of our school and it is through the hard work of our parent community that they are able to continue each year. The auction is a shining example what parent participation and community collaboration can accomplish. Thank you for all you do for the students and the school.
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-Robin Director's CornerOctober, 2005Next week Phoenix Hall and Hummingbird Hall are taking a joint field trip to the County's Pinto Lake park site. This trip will begin their River of Words program for this school year by providing an opportunity to observe birds and plants in the Pinto Lake wetlands. They will be joined by Patrick Orozco, an Ohlone elder, who will teach them how the native plants were used by the Ohlone people. He will also tell them Ohlone stories and teach them an original Ohlone song. This exemplifies to me what Linscott is all about. As reading buddies they will share in these remarkable integrated, experiential, cross-age, educational activities combining science, language arts, social studies and art. This kind of rich curriculum is what separates Linscott from most other public schools. By educating children in this holistic manner we are able to show regular growth in our student achievement each year. We are able to have this wonderful curriculum because of the support we receive from parents. The field trip is possible because many dedicated parents are driving students and chaperoning the event. Patrick Orozco is coming to visit the students because of his connection to Renee Perez, a Linscott parent, who made the arrangements. Finally, Linda Cover organizes our River of Words program. Linda is a former Linscott parent who started the program here years ago and is continuing to facilitate it even though she no longer has a student attending our school. The commitment and effort of the parents ensures that our students will have the best education possible. Thank you everyone for all you do for our kids.
Don't forget our Director's Coffee
-Robin Director's CornerSeptember, 2005Well, we're off to another great school year here at Linscott. It was fun to begin this year's activities with our Orientation BBQ. Thanks to Karen Majors (Research Room) for providing a great opportunity for our community to socialize and fundraise at the same time. Now that the year is underway, it is wonderful walking around the school and observing students, parents, and teachers working together toward shared goals. This year we will once again challenge our students to read a million words and we will have quarterly assemblies to come together and share our progress. This is an excellent way to improve reading skills and increase vocabulary. It also builds life-long readers. I would like to challenge parents and school staff to join the students in the million word goal. We will be tracking the student's progress on a bulletin board in our hallway --- perhaps we can find a place for the adults of the school community to also record their progress as a model for our children. Anyone interested? If you have seen the reports in the newspaper about school testing, you have read that Linscott's test scores are up again. Our scores for the 2004-05 school year jumped 42 points and we now have an API of 866 making us one of the top schools in Santa Cruz County. The scores are based primarily on the California State Standards Test. We are doing a great job addressing those standards using our unique Linscott approach to education. I will be writing to you more about our school's educational methods (and why they are so successful) as the year continues. I hope to have the opportunity to interact with parents regularly this year. In order to make that possible I will hold a monthly “coffee” to meet with all who are interested. This will be an informal time to talk, discuss, or chat. It will be held the first Friday of each month (exception is September which will be the second Friday) from 8:45-10:00 in the Staff Lounge. I will also post an appointment calendar on my door for those who would like to schedule private meetings and of course, I am available for facilitated conferences. We are faced with financial challenges again this year, but the Linscott community is already coming together to meet the challenges head on! The annual auction is scheduled for October 22 and Andrea Williford has been leading her team all summer to make it successful. Thanks to the efforts of Linda Martin, our Grant Committee Chair, we have received a $5,000 grant from the Will Reid Foundation; Kelvin Ramer has worked with the Road Angels to secure a $500 donation for our P.E. program; and those who pledged last fall to make donations have been making good on those commitments. This is an awesome community of proactive individuals and we can overcome anything the State throws at us! Thanks to all who are working to keep the school climate positive and productive. We are going to have a great year! -Robin
Don't forget our Director's Coffee
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