Gillispie Gem - February 2024

FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

GEM A NEWSLETTER FROM GILLISPIE’S LEARNING VILLAGE IN LA JOLLA.

A SMILING HEART

IN THIS ISSUE

ALISON FLEMING, HEAD OF SCHOOL SPECIALTY SPOTLIGHT

A recent quote that the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation dropped in my email read, “Go where your heart smiles and stay as long as you can.” Where might that be for you?

In creating this publication, we thought it would be fun to highlight what brings us joy at Gillispie and keeps teachers, staff, and administrators inspired to do their best work for students. In the first one hundred days of the 2023-2024 school year, students have grown their thinking and stretched their imaginations from their experiences at Gillispie. Whether singing about love, friendship, and connection in the recent Winter Music Performance, working on being their better selves in dealing with social conflict, building an innovator’s mindset in science/design projects, or teaming together to discover a fairy treasure box, it all contributes to raising responsible and caring individuals.

We hope these captured moments make you smile as well!

PN

WINTER MUSIC PROGRAM NOTES OF FRIENDSHIP, LOVE & IMAGINATION p. 2 INNOVATION CORNER

ENTREPRENEURS WITH HEART p. 4 HAPPY HAPPENINGS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

LOVE & GEMS FROM THE FAIRIES p. 6 ICARE

33 STUDENTS JOIN “NO PLACE FOR HATE” INITIATIVE P. 8 OUR COMMUNITY

BLOOD DRIVE BOOTS & BLING p. 9

FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

Grade 3 Violin Presentation

NOTES OF FRIENDSHIP, LOVE & IMAGINATION

BY IAN LEWIS, MUSIC TEACHER

The Gillispie Winter Program was filled with beautiful musical moments centered around themes of love, friendship, imagination, and cultural celebration.

Getting to the final product begins with daily steps that our early childhood students take during music classes.

In our early childhood music program, we focus on fundamental skills. Of the many things we develop, the two most notable are steady beat and matching pitch. The ability to play together, imitate and compose rhythms, and sing the same note simultaneously are essential to the development of each student as a musician and performer. We do this by singing Solfege, “do re mi fa so la ti da”, and by playing unpitched percussion instruments.

Beginning in these early years allows our elementary students to come to kindergarten with some skills. At this point, we begin to read simple music daily. This daily exposure to reading music leads to the huge success we have seen in our first to sixth-grade students in their instrumental presentations.

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Singing “Good Day Sunshine”

Singing “What a Wonderful World”

FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

Singing “You’re My Best Friend”

The fans!

Gillispie Choir members waiting to go on stage.

NOTES OF FRIENDSHIP, LOVE & IMAGINATION (cont’d) The challenging task of learning an instrument in a few months is achieved with small, realistic goals each day. Over time, those exercises of reading rhythm lead our students to be able to focus on the instrument and technique as opposed to learning to read music at the same time.

The instrumental performances of the Winter Program were a great demonstration of the capability and skill that our students work hard to achieve. The songs in the program were selected from various genres and periods of music. In our cultures, we have a wide array of music that can express the ideas of friendship, love, imagination, and exploration.

This Winter Program performance was also special as we welcomed our choir back to the stage, reuniting voices across grades three to six for the first time since COVID-19.

The Winter Program was not just a demonstration of skill and resilience, but also a wonderful community-building event. Our students were very happy to see their families supporting them in something that they have been working hard on for months. Having our MPR full of familiar faces and enthusiasm made our performance fun and meaningful for the students.

On to the Spring Program! See you then!

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FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

ENTREPRENEURS WITH HEART

BY JESSICA COHN, GRADE 4 TEACHER; BRIAN BELSHA AND CHIP EDWARDS, SCIENCE & DESIGN LEADS

Students from Ms. Cohn’s grade four class approached the teachers in Science & Design with a desire to make a difference. Students at Gillispie are encouraged to bring their ideas, inspirations, and motivations to their teachers.

marketing, advertising, and sales strategies in class.

Guided by their teachers, the students explored their interests and what they wanted to accomplish. The result was the creation of the Business Project, a year-long, crosscurricular collaboration between Ms. Cohn and Science & Design.

Students have been divided into three small business groups and are learning product development and production involving concept, design, innovation, materials, and hands-on making. Students will also learn

Their businesses include "Furry Friends" (making dog toys from recycled materials), "Knick-Knackers" (designing endangered species information cards with matching earrings), and "Taste the World" (creating a cookbook and testing one of their recipes for student and staff feedback).

The three student-run businesses will showcase their products at the Spring Arts and Design Showcase on May 24. Proceeds will benefit two charities, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Rady Children’s Hospital. We hope to see you there!

“Furry Friends” working on their recycled toys for dogs.

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FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

ENTREPRENEURS WITH HEART (cont’d)

“Knick-Knackers” creating earrings for endangered species.

“Taste the World” working on their recipes.

Taste testing the first recipe PAGE 5

FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

LOVE & GEMS FROM THE FAIRIES

BY THERON ROYER, COORDINATOR OF EC OUTDOOR LEARNING

The Fairy Mail Project started when friends in our early childhood classes began leaving notes for fairies in the trees surrounding the Outdoor Classroom. One day, when teachers scattered jewels and gems in the sandbox for the children to discover, the children assumed it was the fairies that left them. They were thrilled to uncover these treasures over the next few days.

When the treasures didn't appear one day, many children expressed their disappointment, and told us how much they loved finding the fairy treasures. One friend announced a preference for large, fancy gems and wanted the fairies to leave more. This was the catalyst for starting the Fairy Mail Project.

The teachers contemplated how to transform the children’s desire for material things into something more meaningful. They imagined ways to flip the script from “I want stuff” to “I find joy in giving.” They thought of ways to weave topics such as kindness, cooperation, persistence, conservation, empowerment, and philanthropy into the children’s interest in fairies.

Writing to the fairies.

Then, one day the fairies left a note, and so began a two-month journey that ended in the discovery of a long-lost fairy treasure box buried deep in the sandbox.

Along the way, the children sought to learn more about the fairies by asking them questions in their letters. The fairies answered all their questions and consistently mentioned the fact that fairies find joy in working together, giving back to others, and appreciating all the beauty in nature.

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Letter from the fairies.

FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

LOVE & GEMS FROM THE FAIRIES (cont’d) Eventually, the fairies revealed that the gems they had been leaving were clues to help the children discover a long-lost fairy treasure box that had been buried in the sandbox so long ago that the fairies couldn’t remember its exact location.

on their hard work, persistence, cooperation, and patience. The fairies tasked the finder of the treasure with one of the most important jobs in the whole world: sharing and giving back. They celebrated that all the friends were finding joy in both giving and receiving.

Over two months, the children created maps, learned how paleontologists mark dig sites, and collaborated tirelessly for weeks in hopes of finding the treasure chest.

The treasure chest contained enough large, fancy gems for all 112 early childhood students to get two each. The finder of the treasure took her job extremely seriously and, when all the gems had been given out, instead of asking to keep the extras, wondered if she could give them to the big kids. We think the fairies would be very proud of her.

When the treasure was finally discovered, it was quite an event. Inside the treasure chest was a note from the fairies congratulating the children

Finding the treasure.

The buried treasure.

Friends discover the treasure and a message.

Sharing with friends.

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FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

33 STUDENTS JOIN “NO PLACE FOR HATE” INITIATIVE

BY SARA JOHNSTON, SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Gillispie is ecstatic to be bringing the AntiDefamation League’s (ADL’s) “No Place for Hate'' initiative to our campus! With hopes of emphasizing the active role our students play in shaping a positive school culture, the No Place for Hate program aligns with Gillispie’s ICARE values. As the No Place for Hate Coordinator, my number one goal is for our students to feel empowered to make an impact by implementing their ideas, using their voices, and sharing their perspectives.

Between our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes, we have 33 students who have jumped at the opportunity to be leaders on campus. One thing they all have in common is their passion for helping students feel accepted and welcomed at Gillispie. Throughout the year, the committee will plan activities and discussions school-wide that promote respect and inclusion for diverse backgrounds and identities.

We kicked off the year with leadership training led by ADL professionals, and here is a glimpse of how our students are feeling about their participation: “I feel confident I can make a difference at Gillispie.”

“I am going to be an ally for others.”

“I feel Gillispie is going to be even better with this committee.”

“I want to help everyone feel included and loved.”

“I have so much fun with this committee and I am excited to work with them and our school more.”

Our students are the heart of Gillispie and are excited to see how they can encourage our community to treat one another fairly, be upstanders, and help classmates feel safe at school.

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FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1

A SERVICE PROJECT NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEARTS A heartfelt thank you to all the community members who participated in our blood drive on February 8.

Together we collected 32 units of blood for local hospitals, saving the lives of 96 people in just one day.

Six participants were first-time donors and this was the largest of the eight drives San Diego Blood Bank held that day!

Way to go, Gillispie!

Come kick up your boots and support Gillispie by being a part of our largest FUNdraising event of the year!

Boots & Bling Saturday, April 13, 2024 5:30 p.m.

Farmer & The Seahorse Early bird pricing is available through March 15!

Tickets and information can be found at tinyurl.com/GillispieBoots.

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