Student Engagement - Thinking Routines
As a staff we have been talking about the topic of student engagement and what this looks and sounds like in a classroom. Fostering a classroom with inquiry and exploration of topics piques curiosity.
When I was in classrooms this week, I saw students involved in 'thinking routines' or ways of having them reflect upon what they already know about a topic, then building upon these thoughts with coming up with questions they want answers to. Thinking routines were developed by a group of professors from Project Zero at Harvard University and the aim is to deepen thinking and learning for students. For example, students in first grade were using a thinking routine called: 'I see, I think, I wonder'. That is, they were looking at posters of animals and brainstorming what they saw, what they thought about those animal pictures, and what they wondered and wanted to find out. One question a student had was, "I wonder why birds fly together somewhere?" And another one was, "I wonder why that turtle lives in the ocean and not a lake?" These questions are insightful and link to greater learning as the class begins to dive into this content deeper. Most importantly, it taps into the learning that students want to know, which is both motivating and exciting.
If you would like to learn more about thinking routines, you can link to more information here.
Pastries with Principals
Our next Pastries with Principals will be held in November with the topic of Math. As always, at the end of our presentations we allow time for parents to ask general school-related questions of me or Kati as well. We hope to see many of you in November!
Cultural Celebrations
Today we had the chance to come together in an assembly to celebrate some different events. We acknowledged that it was National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 - October 15. To help do this, we had two wonderful fourth grade students share their Spanish by translating in front of the whole school! We also celebrated our commitment to kindness and community by sharing a book about our unity as a school and the 'hands of kindness' we all made in the spirit of October being Bullying Prevention Month. With this in mind, we had another event which Mr. Heinemann's fifth graders, along with their Kindergarten buddies from Mrs. Wright's class, introduced an activity in which all students will be engaged in at Medina. Students, with the help of their teachers, will locate the missing dinosaur 'fossils' which are hidden somewhere in Medina Elementary so they can put together the dinosaur skeleton.
We look forward to more cultural and unifying activities in November, when we will acknowledge and celebrate Indigenous People's Month and the Veterans who have served our country. We will update you our engagement with these events in the upcoming newsletters!
In collaboration with members of our community we have developed a district cultural calendar. This calendar includes significant acknowledgments, recognitions, and observances including those found in the Common Religious and U.S. Public Holidays Calendar of the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Interfaith Calendar (select month and year to view). We will continue to celebrate the many different cultures that make up Medina Elementary families. You can learn more by clicking on the links embedded.
When do we keep our child home from school?
As we enter the time of year when colds and fevers tend to appear unexpectedly, the Bellevue School District wants to remind families of some important guidelines regarding when students should stay home from school. Students experiencing certain illnesses may be required to stay home to rest and recover.
The Bellevue School District's nurses and attendance team have provided helpful guidance on which symptoms indicate a student should remain at home and when they may safely return to school. Keeping sick students at home, along with encouraging regular handwashing, helps protect everyone — especially those with fragile immune systems or acute medical conditions.
This is a helpful link which will share more information for your reference:
Dr. Aramaki's Book Club
Join Bellevue School District families and Superintendent, Dr. Kelly Aramaki, in partnership with the Bellevue Schools Foundation and Bellevue PTSA Council, for an engaging discussion on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt! Take part in a dynamic, partially guided conversation as we explore the book’s key themes together.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore crucial issues surrounding adolescent mental health and the impact of our “phone-based” childhoods.
Date: November 12, 2024
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC), Rainier Room
Address: 12241 Main St, Bellevue WA 98005
PTA Halloween Festival
PTA’s Halloween Festival was lively and fun! Thank you to our PTA for providing so many wonderful activities for our children to enjoy. There was 'Trunk or Treat', a parade of costumes, a pumpkin decorating/carving contest, arcade games and some treats, of course. It was a fun event, and we appreciate our community of parents who helped support another opportunity for our students to gather and celebrate.
If you would like to learn more about the PTA, you can sign up here.
Election Resources
Democracy is at the forefront of our minds, especially as elections approach. The Bellevue School District Teaching and Learning Department has gathered several articles and resources that can be utilized in schools. These materials aim to enhance understanding and foster discussions around democratic principles and civic engagement. We hope these resources will help you navigate this complex landscape and uncover reasons for optimism in the role of democracy in education and society. By engaging with these tools, educators, parents, and students can explore the importance of informed citizenship and the value of diverse perspectives.
Resources for families:
• https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2024/02/13/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-voting-and-the-election
• https://childmind.org/blog/guidance-for-speaking-to-kids-about-the-election/
Pick up reminder
Dear Parents, our children are happy to see you after school and we know that you look forward to hearing about their school day as well. However, we please request that you do not stand in front of the doorway as students are exiting the building as this can make it difficult for classes to get through. It would be helpful for us if parents could stand off to the side so as not to block the exit. Thank you!
