academic Traditions at Pioneer Springs
At Pioneer Springs we love to celebrate learning! Celebrations happen on a daily basis in classrooms and range from fist bumps when a student has an ah-ha moment to, to dance parties when students master a new concept, to class-room wide projects presented to family visitors.
We also take time several times a year to celebrate our learning across campus. Campus wide events include:
We also take time several times a year to celebrate our learning across campus. Campus wide events include:
folklore & fairytale festival
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Our Folklore and Fairytale Festival is our celebration of the traditional stories that cultures pass from generation to generation. Students in grades K-12 read myths, folklore, fairy tales and classical literature and then write their own stories inspired by their readings. Classes turn these stories into performances. Families come to campus and everyone–students, parents, grandparents and staff alike–dresses up as literary characters for a day of drama, dancing, music and festivities.
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Salamander tales literary journal
At Pioneer Springs every student is an author, and each student has an opportunity to see their writing in print. In the winter months English Language Arts classes across campus study poetry. Students take inspiration from the poems they read in class, and write nature poems of their own. Student poetry is collected and published in the Salamander Tales literary journal.
Standing Os
Standing Ovations are part of the classroom traditions at Pioneer Springs. These come in written and verbal form. Learning not only to give but to receive compliments is a skill that will follow our students through adulthood. The Standing O, among other times is given to each student on their birthday. It gives their peers a chance to express their appreciation or say something thoughtful about them.
The "I am" Creed
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The “I Am Creed” by Mark Scharenbroich is recited daily in each Pioneer Springs classroom. During the first 6 weeks of school classes spend time breaking down each line to reflect on the meaning.
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Morning mindfulness & closing reflection
Each classroom at Pioneer Springs begins each day with Morning Mindfulness. This is an opportunity to build community by creating traditions and routines, as well as by helping students learn how to communicate with one another, and most importantly, how to listen to one another. Morning Mindfulness creates a strong climate for learning by supporting the social-emotional development of students, helping each student to feel that they are a valued member of the community, and by creating a consistent start to the day. These daily meetings support curriculum, not only by giving students an opportunity to practice speaking and listening skills, but also by offering the opportunity for games to review or preview content. Each day ends with Closing Reflection, an opportunity for students to revisit their learning from the day, and to practice mindfulness.
100th Day
What can you do with 100? Our 100th Day of school is not just another day at school. Students enjoy “100” assignments, such as dressing up like you are 100 years-old or collecting 100 items from home. Classes focus on the number 100 too, making arrays and fractions easier to understand, and much more fun!
Bare Books, Author's Teas, & student portfolios
Student literary endeavors continue in the Spring with the creation of Bare Books in the elementary grades and student portfolios in the upper school. Each elementary school class chooses a theme–from “All About Me” to adventure stories to biographies of naturalists–and then students write a book focused on that theme. In the Bare Books project students explore the entire writing process from generating an idea and doing research to creating an outline, writing a rough draft, adding illustrations and final publication. Upper school students work with their teachers to collect their strongest pieces of writing from across the curriculum, and these pieces are put in a portfolio. Teachers host Author’s Teas to celebrate student writing and share it with the community.
